The Other October Mentionables

Joe's fall baseball season came to a close.

Team Red took 3rd place in the final tournament, and should I mention that they won that final game by forfeit?  Nah. 

Lucy's kindergarten class took a field trip to the pumpkin patch.  I didn't go this year- I might still be traumatized from last year's pumpkin patch field trip.

 

 

Devon and I took Max on a little field trip of our own.

We went to the Salmon hatchery.

Max was a little scared of the huge fish.

 

 

 

One of our frogs died.

And then our snail died.

And then another frog died.

 

 

 

Lucy lost a tooth!  Her first lost tooth!

She actually lost it at the wedding.

Literally.  Lost.

The Tooth Fairy was very generous.

 

 

My mom kindly drove home with me from California,

since the kids and I were sick.

She stayed for a couple of days,

and Max put her to work, baking muffins.

Clothing was optional.

 

 

A Saturday morning spent as superheros.

("Yes, Lucy, your missing tooth is in the picture")

 

And while some kids get to go to a farm to pick a pumpkin,

other kids go to Home Depot.

 

 

And while some kids wear a muscular costume or an Easter dress with a pink fur coat to stay warm in October....

 

 

Other kids ignore mom's advice and wear shorts and a t-shirt when it is 49 degrees outside.

These kids quickly pick a pumpkin and then wait inside of Home Depot.

 

 

Pumpkins have been carved,

and the seeds have been toasted...

 

 

and everyone is happy.

And that just about covers everything!

 

A Big Fat Italian Wedding, Part Two

Seth and Carlee's wedding reception was at the historic Holbrooke Hotel in downtown Grass Valley.

 

The Rantzs were not feeling 100%, but we couldn't possibly miss this event, so we rolled with the punches, which for Devon meant holding a feverish, sleeping Lucy in the hotel entryway.

There were drinks and appetizers,

and many, many people who love

The Happy Couple.

 

They danced to Ray LaMontagne's "You Are The Best Thing". 

(This song was also playing when Seth proposed to Carlee.  Love this song!)

 

 

Carlee's father gave a very sweet toast, and he left them with beautiful advice for life from Mother Teresa-

And Adam gave a heart-felt toast, describing Seth as someone who has passion, and when Seth feels passionate about something, "he jumps in with two feet."  Adam recalled Seth's days as a pirate and how he would dig pirate traps in our yard.  And when Seth became passionate about baseball, he was obsessed and became a human encyclopedia on the sport.  And next was cooking and gardening...  "and now, Seth is passionate about Carlee, and he has jumped in with both feet."

 

 

Carlee danced with her dad to "You Are The Sunshine of My Life".

 

 

Everyone visited with family and friends...

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we danced...

 

 

 

And there was an Italian cultural dance...

 

 

 

Seth and Carlee cut the cake, and there were cannoli and scoops of gelato...

 

 

And then the dance floor got a little funky!

 

 

 

What a fun party!

The newlyweds said 1,000 goodbyes

and then rode off into the sunset

in the back of a black limousine.

 

The End

A Big Fat Italian Wedding, Part One

There is a new girl in the Miller family!

Carlee!

 

 

Seth and Carlee got married yesterday,

and we traveled to California to take part in the festivites.

 

Molly and I took a road trip with Max and Lucy.

thank goodness for the DVD player in the van!

 

First there was a wedding rehearsal at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church...

 

 

And then a rehearsal dinner at Goomba's Italian Family Restaurant...

 

Devon and Joe flew in from Seattle,

and Aaron drove down from Eugene,

and so we were all in attendance

and ready to represent as Seth's immediate family on his big day.

 

The Big Day!!

 

 

 

 

 

(I didn't get any pics of the ceremony, but it was very nice)

 

And then we partied!

To be continued...