Last day in PA! :(

Today was our last day in PA....

We went to church with my Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Emery. I had not been yet and was excited to see the choir my Uncle Emery is choir director of, he had also told us before that the hand bell choir was also going to perform.  It was a lovely service and the hand bells were great!

Went the service was over, we decided to go back to my aunt and uncle's house to eat leftovers.  I had so of the pulled pork for the day before and it was just as good as the first time!

After lunch, some people took naps while everyone else just hung out and watched TopGear! I had only seen clips of the shop, but watching the while thing was pretty entertaining.

After everyone was well rested, we went to Lititz, PA. We were trying to go to the Wilbur Chocolate Company, but turns out it's closed on Sunday's. We were able to buy some chocolate anyway which I was really excited about.  What I got were the dark chocolate Wilbur buds. They sort of look like a Hersey’s Kiss but are way better!

For supper, my aunt and uncle had one of their good friend's over, Gene Oliver. We started out with cheese & crackers, and white wine (per Gene's liking). And then we had hot dogs and potatoes (that I made). It was a very nice evening and a great way to end a great weekend!

The Wedding!!

Today was the big day. We started the day by sleeping in a little! Yea! And then Uncle Dan had a special brunch. It included immediate family and two of his closest friends, Dick and Billie. It was at a cute 50's looking dinner. Just about everyone had breakfast. I had bacon and cheese quiche, with fruit and 2 blueberry muffins. It was so good.

After breakfast, we were able to rest a little before we had to be at the church. It was nice to have a little downtime before we had to go and to be able to take our time getting ready.

Picture of the ladies!

We arrived at the church about a hour early. My mom, sister, and I were responsible for passing out programs, and getting people to sign a matting. (John saved our seats while we were doing this.)

The wedding started at 3:00 p.m. It was a wonderful ceremony! Uncle Dan and Jen's vows were the sweetest I have ever heard. Their wedding was non-traditional and custom to fit Uncle Dan and Jen's personalities. One of the best parts was at the end of the ceremony when the preacher announced the groom and bride as married, He said, "I now introduce the 'new & improved' Jen Meyer and Dan East!" It was funny and sweet all the same time!

After the ceremony, as everyone was leaving the church, they had some stones set up on a table with a huge ornate bowl. So everyone left the church, you were supposed to take the stone, and place it in the bowl with your warm wishes for the bride and groom. It was great idea, and now every time they come home, they will think of everyone that was there for their big day.

There was also lots of picture taking after the ceremony! I only got a couple, I'm depending on other family to get more to show my Gramma. Here is a picture of Jen and Uncle Dan:

The reception was held one of Jen and Uncle Dan's favorite restaurants, The Pressroom. By the time we got to the restaurant from taking pictures, the room was packed and my mom, sister, John, and I almost didn't find a seat together. The dinner was very good. It was buffet style. They let each table go one at a time. Our table was one of the first tables to get to go. And i was so grateful! I was starving by the time were able to eat. I tried just about everything they offered. It was a baked chicken breast (with a champagne sauce) or beef tips with rice... I had a little of both! It was very good. But what I was really interested in was the dessert. Instead of a wedding cake, Jen and Uncle Dan picked their favorite dessert for the restaurant, a Black and Tan. It was a brownie layered with cheese cake, ice cream, hard shell chocolate, and a strawberry on top! It was divine! Another neat thing at the reception was the two man jazz band. There was a very hip bassist and a piano man, it were awesome! Here are a few pictures:

The New and Improved: Uncle Dan and Jen

"We're married!!!"

All of the family!

The Wedding Cake

Jazz Band

Rehearsal Dinner!

The main event today was the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner...

But before then we did several things as well.  We woke up and had breakfast around 9:30 a.m. We were trying to get to the market by 10:00 a.m. All the family in town wanted to go to the market and do some shopping. 

By the time we got back to my aunt and uncle's house, more family had arrived in town. We all sat around visiting for a while while Uncle Emery fixed hot dogs and Bratwurst.  We all sat around eating and visiting. It was nice getting to visit with everyone.  And the food was great!

Once everyone was stuffed, we all caravaned over to my Uncle Dan and Jen's new house.  I had already seen it yesterday, but went to see it with everyone else. While we were there everyone was taking lots of pictures. Everyone in this family has a camera and everyone was taking lots of pictures.  The best picture I got was a picture on my mom, Aunt Mary Ellen, Aunt Betty Gene, and Uncle Dan.  All the siblings together!!

Here's the picture:

After we had all looked at the house, half the family went sight seeing and the rest of us went back to my aunt and uncle's house to take naps! We were go tired.

We napped for about a hour and then got to get ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal was nice, they only read out a few things that would be said tomorrow at the wedding. And for the sound of it the wedding is going to be a tear jerker! It's going to be a very sweet wedding.

When the rehearsal was over, we headed to Carr's Restaurant, where the dinner was held.  The visited for a little while and then found seats. My mom, sister, John, and I ended up at a table all by ourselves.  It was alright. There were so many good choices for dinner, it was hard for me to decide.  But I finally settled on the salmon with a creamy crab sauce on top. It was so delicious!! I was so stuffed when I was done, and we still had to eat dessert!! I got the espresso torte! It was super chocolate and I ate it all up!

Lancaster, PA - Dinner with the Family!

So we made it to Lancaster, PA. My mom, sister, and I had to be at the airport at 5:00 a.m. and arrived in PA round 11:30 a.m.... that's 10:30 a.m. Mississippi time. Even though it was an early start to the day, I for thankful how short the trip was!

My Uncle Emery picked us up and the Harrisburg airport and then took us to his house in Lancaster.  Once we got there we headed out to lunch where my Aunt Mary Ellen joined us.  We went to Issac's Restaurant.  I had a pizza which was delicious!! It had a horseradish sauce, with shrimp and mozzarella.  After lunch we all laid down and took naps. It was wonderful and needed.

After our nap, my Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Emery took us to look at my Uncle Dan and Jen's new house. It was gorgeous!  For two people it was a little bitty mansion.  But I thought it was justified.  Both my Uncle Dan and Jen had both lived alone for so long it would be quite a shock to move into a starter house and they have earned it!!

For supper, more of the family came in town, most of which were from Mississippi.  Most everyone that was there I had seen recently but it was still great to see them all.  And it was a little crazy having everyone in one place all they way in PA though! I also got to meet Dick and Billie, two on my Uncle Dan's best friends.  I had heard a lot about them and it was great to get to meet them.

Other great news... John came to town! Yea! He was planning to come to the wedding, but was not going to be able to make it until after the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. But turns out he had to do some work in Pittsburgh, PA and was able to come down tonight, so now he will be at the rehearsal dinner and I get almost two more days with him! Yea!!!

Will post pictures later.....

Packed and Ready to Go!!

So my bag is packed and I am ready to go.  I'm taking 3 days off from work to go to Pennsylvania. Tomorrow morning at 6:20 a.m., my mom, sister, and I will be on our way to Lancaster, PA for my Uncle Dan's wedding. (This is my mom's brother).  We should be in PA by lunch time if our flights are all on time.  I'm really looking forward to this weekend!! I'm going to get to visit with lots of family and John is coming in town for the wedding too!!!!  Yea!!

Will make sure to post recaps and pictures soon!