Adventure is Out There!!: In Which: We all survive the Haynie Invasion!

It has been a while since I posted, but boy has it been BUSY!!

Scott's little sister Solangie (So-Lawn-Gee...it roughly translates to Sun Angel) got married on Saturday the 16th! Woo! It has been a long and stressful road to get to the wedding day, but it happened and it was great!

On the 9th, after I got back from Arizona, we had a bridal shower at cousin Shellise Watson's home in Bountiful, UT. I loved the theme, "My Favorite Things." We were each supposed to bring our favorite household item that made our lives easier, or made the house feel like home. She was showered with handy kitchen gadgets, favorite dishwashing tools, and a WhirlyPop Popcorn maker (Solangie's favorite of MY household items)! And we were showered with delicious brunchy breakfast foods prepared by Janet Moyes, another cousin. We got to meet Solangie's sister in-law Megan and visit with Haynie and Miller cousins that we don't often see, despite living in the same state. Very fun!

After the shower on the 9th, we officially entered wedding week!! I had been assigned to sew colorful table runners and centerpieces for the reception, so I was madly working away at my machine for hours each day--a perfect excuse to watch movies instead of doing housework. The Haynie parents were set to arrive with Natalia and her three children by Tuesday evening. On Tuesday, Baylee (sister in-law) brought Solangie and her boxes down to move into her new apartment in Provo, after which she helped me with my sewing and ran errands while I got to babysit her two adorable girls. We received word that the Haynies were arriving soon, so we ordered pizza and soda and hosted a welcome/crash party at my house. The nieces loved getting to see each other, and the travelers ate, showered and rested before driving up to Midvale where they had rented a house to serve as Haynie HQ for the week.

All week, we visited up in Midvale after work and prepared for the big day on Saturday. Finally, Friday arrived--set-up day. We loaded up the decorations and headed to the chapel in south Salt Lake City. It was a beautiful building. This particular chapel is the oldest LDS chapel still in use. It was made of beautiful brick with grand spires, a stained glass window in the chapel, and beautiful woodwork throughout. Most importantly--the cultural hall floor was carpeted! Much fancier than the usual basketball lines. From 10am until 2pm, we worked to set up tables, centerpieces and the archway. I was in charge of weaving tulle and silk flowers into the arch to incorporate the floral theme. It turned out beautifully!

At two o'clock, we were mostly done; just waiting on some pictures and miscellaneous items to arrive, so Scott, Jared, and I decided to go back to Haynie HQ. A few minutes after we left the chapel, we received a troubling phone call that the Haynie's car window had been smashed, along with the window of the groom's car. Out of all the valuable items in either car, the only thing to be stolen was the groom's temple bag, which contained the marriage license, his temple recommend, and Solangie's wedding band. Without the first two items, the marriage was not going to happen by the next day!

Although I was not there, I later heard reports of a hysterical, sobbing bride (who wouldn't be, in her shoes??), a hyperventilating groom, and shocked and angry parents. The bride and groom immediately got on the road after calling the police, and drove to the licensing department to buy a new marriage license. If the theft had happened an hour later, the office would have been closed! The groom's bishop in Boise was called, and a new temple recommend was made out and signed by the temple president at the Jordan River Utah temple. We were all glad that he did not have to go back to Idaho to get it in person. Unfortunately, the only problem that couldn't be resolved before the next day was the stolen wedding band. But the wedding must go on!!

During this time, we were assigned to pick up Uncle Sid Haynie from a small, obscure airport nearby (he flies his own plane), and to find replacement windows for the cars at a junkyard. We returned to HQ with the windows, and the boys proceeded to dismantle the car doors and put in the "new" windows. How handy to have such tool-savvy men in the family!!

After a long and stressful long-distance engagement, a stressful wedding week, and a horrifying day before, Saturday came and was beautiful and smooth sailing! We all arrived at the temple beautified and on time, and the bride and groom beamed through the whole ceremony. It was wonderful to see them so happy. After the pictures at the temple, luncheon provided by the groom's family, and pictures, pictures, pictures, the party began! Food, family, dancing and cake. Surprisingly quick clean up, then home for the after party for all but the newlyweds, of course!