Meet Mr. and Mrs. Adam Murray – the happy couple. This is the nicest picture that I have.

First off, you MUST know what a quick and very low-key wedding reception this was. Clearly nothing fancy. There was no wedding gowns to pick out, bouqets to throw, centerpieces to create, favors to give out. Nope – simple. They are a very quiet, no frills kind of couple.

So what’s left? Oh yeah – the caterer (that would be me), the photographer (that would be Chris), and the cake (that I ordered). I have to begin this post by saying that although I LOVE to cook, I could NEVER be a caterer for real. Man, that was a lot of work!

As far as the photographer goes, I learned that Chris photographs still objects and landscapes with much more enthusiasm than he does PEOPLE. . . especially grumpy and unwilling people. While the new DIL, who HATES her picture being taken, did quite well despite her angst. Youngest son. . . not so much. He thought one picture and he’d be done. NO! I wanted LOTS of pictures. But since I was so busy catering and Chris was not interested in bickering with his brother, I didn’t get very many pictures.

I did get a picture of this sad cake. Heck, I could have made this cake. I was slightly disappointed, but too exhausted to argue. In the catalog we chose this cake from, the cake AND the cupcakes were decorated with fondant – much cleaner lines. And since I’ve never used fondant, I chose to let the bakery do the cake and save me the headache and the hassle learning curve in a tight timeframe. But I don’t think the kids minded. They are much too “chill” to worry with details like that. Nope, I’M the anal one.

They were just happy being together with their family at their little “barbeque style” reception.

And I was happy too. That was until I saw how big this dress makes my behind look. I don’t have an a$$ at all, but boy, it looks like I’ve got one here – a big one. But my favorite part of this picture is how happy the kids look. I love my daughter-in-law! She’s a sweetheart! Isn’t she a cutie? And I think she likes me too.

My favorite part of the reception was when MY mother-in-law arrived. She hugged me tightly and then said to me, “Now YOU’RE a mother-in-law.” And I distinctly remember the first time she ever hugged me. I remember being terrified and how completely at ease she put me. And I told her, “I’m going to have to take a page out of your “Mother-In-Law Handbook” so I can become as good a MIL as you’ve been to me.” **gushy sweetness** And I meant it! She’s been the best and I LOVE HER!!

Here she is with her son, my children’s father, my ex. (She’s just finished chemo for breast cancer and is in the middle of radiation – so that accounts for the new hairdo. I’m diggin’ the white!)

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’m still editing photos, cutting them down to size and such. I’ll post more later hodgepodge style.