Although this blog is designed to highlight my passion for exercise and Pilates, it is still a blog; essentially a journal to help remind me of special days and valuable experiences. I would be remissed if I did not make an effort to capture the past memorable 5 days.
We were thrilled this summer when my brother Mike proposed to his lovely girlfriend Amy on a romantic get-away in the Florida Keys...think rose petals, private beach, fancy dinner...you know, fairy-tale things! They are a perfect match and wasted no time setting the date for 1/10/10. Amy was immediately favored in our family as she envisioned our avocado grove as being the perfect setting for wedding festivities. With a little thought, my parents agreed hosting the rehearsal dinner in the midst of the grove, patio, and tropical setting would be ideal. They encouraged Mike and Amy to consider their beloved Keys as an option for the wedding itself.
When my family flew in this past Thursday from Wisconsin (yes, we were all given brooms for snow removal and hair dryers for plane de-icing prior to departure) and my sister and her family arrived from North Carolina we knew we were going to have to push the party plans into overdrive. My parents had done enormous work to add additional lighting in the grove (dig trenches), replace our 1975 kitchen counter-tops with a beautiful granite (this was completed 5 days before the big party), cook food to feed 100, plus add thousands of lights to the patio and carport for an elegant appearance. Amy chose fun tropical colors in orange, green and yellow to accent her decor and this theme was followed for the rehearsal. Mom and Amy made little party favors from "avocado" honey in small jars with special printed labels of Mike and Amy on each one. They rented tables, linens, ordered additional food and specialty items in the weeks leading up to the party.
My first job was to fill small bags with sand and candles to be luminaries. My dad has a Guatemalan farm-hand, Felix, who helps him in the grove. Felix suddenly found himself as part of the decorating crew filling sand bags by the dozen. We had a good time with Felix, communicating our broken Spanish with his broken English. When he asked us why we left S. Florida, "you don't like it here?" my sister responded, "No, mis padres es loco!" We laughed in unison as anyone who knows my dad recognizes the extremes he works to complete a task to his perfection--it is a bit crazy.
By mid-day we became well aware our mild temps would be replaced by frigid cold. We were able to rent portable heaters on Friday. By Saturday morning it became obvious they would not be enough to keep our guests warm on Saturday evening. So, with a little creativity, the rental company converted portions of a clear tent into clear hanging plastic shields to help partition the patio from the pool. Meanwhile, all tables by the pool had to be relocated to the indoors.
My parents have a beautiful home but it lacks space...particularly because they love to collect useful items (furniture, player pianos, pump organs, knick knacks). Beau and Ron, the respected son-in-laws, gingerly began suggesting some serious rearrangement of furniture-- lounge chairs, massage chairs, and recliners were piled into my parent's bedroom. We managed to bring in 4 round tables to increase seating within the warmth of our home.
Everybody was ordered to participate in the rehearsal duties. Each child had to shuck twice the number of ears of corn as their age, from little Brian (3) to Auburn (9). Trey celebrated his 7th birthday that day but swore since he was born at noon and we were shucking corn at 8am that he was still 6 years old. By noon most of my family had to leave for the rehearsal practice in Key Largo. My husband begged special permission to miss the festivities in order to help me with last minute details. My mom is one of the most gracious, hospitable people you will ever meet...consequently she had multiple friends deliver coconut cream cakes, appetizers, pineapple upside down cakes..you name it, friends were delivering. In addition a number of them flew in from Colorado and Texas to attend the wedding but also to serve as helpers for mom. They cleaned, scrubbed, cooked, swept...they even started the huge propane burners to roast 100 ears of corn before my parents returned from the wedding practice. The depth of her friendships speaks volumes of the kindness she shares with others.
Anyhow, by the time they returned the place looked great, the patio was warm, and the rain was diminishing. We had 4 shuttle vans begin delivering guests from the Key Largo Hilton to our grove at 4pm. My husband instinctively found his way behind the bar and his quick wit and humor as well as his persuasive technique to drink and be merry endeared him to the crowd. Most were also amused by his polo, shorts, and bare feet in the 30 degree temps.
The night was beautiful. The months of planning, unexpected expenses, small and large details all faded when the guests arrived. It is always the friends and family that make any evening special and this was clearly true at the rehearsal dinner.
I love my brother and it became clear to me that so many others feel the same way. Great friends from high school, college, work, and the neighborhood shared huge hugs with my parents as well as to Mike expressing their appreciation for his friendship. I must have heard "I love you man!" a dozen times. To me, as his sister, I think that is super cool.
When my family flew in this past Thursday from Wisconsin (yes, we were all given brooms for snow removal and hair dryers for plane de-icing prior to departure) and my sister and her family arrived from North Carolina we knew we were going to have to push the party plans into overdrive. My parents had done enormous work to add additional lighting in the grove (dig trenches), replace our 1975 kitchen counter-tops with a beautiful granite (this was completed 5 days before the big party), cook food to feed 100, plus add thousands of lights to the patio and carport for an elegant appearance. Amy chose fun tropical colors in orange, green and yellow to accent her decor and this theme was followed for the rehearsal. Mom and Amy made little party favors from "avocado" honey in small jars with special printed labels of Mike and Amy on each one. They rented tables, linens, ordered additional food and specialty items in the weeks leading up to the party.
My first job was to fill small bags with sand and candles to be luminaries. My dad has a Guatemalan farm-hand, Felix, who helps him in the grove. Felix suddenly found himself as part of the decorating crew filling sand bags by the dozen. We had a good time with Felix, communicating our broken Spanish with his broken English. When he asked us why we left S. Florida, "you don't like it here?" my sister responded, "No, mis padres es loco!" We laughed in unison as anyone who knows my dad recognizes the extremes he works to complete a task to his perfection--it is a bit crazy.
By mid-day we became well aware our mild temps would be replaced by frigid cold. We were able to rent portable heaters on Friday. By Saturday morning it became obvious they would not be enough to keep our guests warm on Saturday evening. So, with a little creativity, the rental company converted portions of a clear tent into clear hanging plastic shields to help partition the patio from the pool. Meanwhile, all tables by the pool had to be relocated to the indoors.
My parents have a beautiful home but it lacks space...particularly because they love to collect useful items (furniture, player pianos, pump organs, knick knacks). Beau and Ron, the respected son-in-laws, gingerly began suggesting some serious rearrangement of furniture-- lounge chairs, massage chairs, and recliners were piled into my parent's bedroom. We managed to bring in 4 round tables to increase seating within the warmth of our home.
Everybody was ordered to participate in the rehearsal duties. Each child had to shuck twice the number of ears of corn as their age, from little Brian (3) to Auburn (9). Trey celebrated his 7th birthday that day but swore since he was born at noon and we were shucking corn at 8am that he was still 6 years old. By noon most of my family had to leave for the rehearsal practice in Key Largo. My husband begged special permission to miss the festivities in order to help me with last minute details. My mom is one of the most gracious, hospitable people you will ever meet...consequently she had multiple friends deliver coconut cream cakes, appetizers, pineapple upside down cakes..you name it, friends were delivering. In addition a number of them flew in from Colorado and Texas to attend the wedding but also to serve as helpers for mom. They cleaned, scrubbed, cooked, swept...they even started the huge propane burners to roast 100 ears of corn before my parents returned from the wedding practice. The depth of her friendships speaks volumes of the kindness she shares with others.
Anyhow, by the time they returned the place looked great, the patio was warm, and the rain was diminishing. We had 4 shuttle vans begin delivering guests from the Key Largo Hilton to our grove at 4pm. My husband instinctively found his way behind the bar and his quick wit and humor as well as his persuasive technique to drink and be merry endeared him to the crowd. Most were also amused by his polo, shorts, and bare feet in the 30 degree temps.
The night was beautiful. The months of planning, unexpected expenses, small and large details all faded when the guests arrived. It is always the friends and family that make any evening special and this was clearly true at the rehearsal dinner.
I love my brother and it became clear to me that so many others feel the same way. Great friends from high school, college, work, and the neighborhood shared huge hugs with my parents as well as to Mike expressing their appreciation for his friendship. I must have heard "I love you man!" a dozen times. To me, as his sister, I think that is super cool.
I am too tired to write about the lovely Key Largo wedding, however it too was amazing. I go to sleep tonight feeling blessed to have been a part of a special gathering, with incredibly special friends and family, celebrating the lives and marriage of Mike and Amy. May they live happily ever after!
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