Thursday..

Wednesday went well...we left our house after i got everything packed which im surprised is SUCH a chore for only one nite! but i got everything loaded into the truck and waited for becca to wake from her nap so she'd be good for me..we left about 5pm and got to my parents 30 minutes later..we waited for heidi to bring the family chinese food..then all the grandkids went swimming and we all visited outside by the pool together..then my brother brian helped me set up jons makeshift "room" in the piano/livingroom of my parents house...then heidi took the 2 older to her apt to spend the nite and i got becca and anna down for the nite..then i took care of jon and prepared him for the nite as well..then i found a book from my moms library and read a little to calm my mind..
Thursday morning i awoke and prepared jon and myself for the big day ahead..all went REALLY smoothly!! im so thankful!! i was surprised to find out that we were the FIRST ones at the temple!!! AMAZING!!! we entered in and the first person inside was one of my most FAVORITE people in the whole word- bishop demar baron- i LOVE this man!!! he's known me my entire life and was my bishop in the singles ward..he's just a wonderful man and it was awesome to visit with him- i was surprised and excited to learn that he was sealing seth and katie that day!! how cool!! he wrapped his arms around me and jon and gave us each his greatest hugs-i miss bishop baron - he was the best!
We then waited for the rest of the family to arrive and we walked into the sealing room together..we then realized we were one brother short! where was scott and kellie?? so todd stepped out of the room to make a quick call- we had only talked to them 30 minutes prior and they had just left - todd came back in to tell us that they had "gotten a ticket!" so we waited 15 minutes and they came rushing in- their hearts racing - poor guys- but it was no problem waiting in the quiet sealing room of the temple and feel the love that was encompassed in the room...soon thereafter, katie and seth came in-- they looked remarkable!! i was thinking, katie has never seen ANY of her other 6 siblings be sealed to their spouses, and yet every one of her 6 siblings and spouses were there to witness her sealing of time and ALL eternity to seth on that day..it was pretty special! Bishop Baron did a great job and some of the words he spoke were dear to my heart..he spoke a bit on "in our marriages we will have trials and tribulations"..i broke down and was touched by his sweet words..it was a reminder and comfort we both needed at this time in our trial..
he then preformed the sealing and i was SO grateful that he let the parents congratulate them first-- (im sad to see that now they have the parents go last)..in our sealing our parents went first- and i loved it! i think the parents deserve to go first!! i'll never forget my dad jumping up to congratulate me and say "ive always wanted to be the first to say this! Congratulations Mrs. Hales!" it was so sweet and so cute! i loved it and will never forget it!!! we then gathered outside and waited for seth and katie to walk outside thru the temple doors..i hope you enjoy my pictures i took!!
we then took lots of pictures around the temple..the photographer was AWESOME and AMAZING!! and SUPER cooL! here is a link to their website- the family was just THRILLED with the job he did!! http://www.amelialyon.com/
We then headed over to mimi's cafe in Irvine for lunch..it was yummy..jon was starting to feel like he suddenly was going to throw up so i had to move some people out of the way and ran over marks entire foot! sorry mark!! robert figured something was seriously wrong and came out rushing behind us..mark followed suit and found a wet towel and a bag to throw up in and a nice fresh glass of water..jon got settled down..he wasnt sure if it was heat exhaustion or the fact that he only had a banana all day or what...his poor body cannot regulate itself..so going from heat to AC to heat to AC..its so hard on his body! he didnt end up throwing up so he just relaxed for a few minutes with his dad outside in his pressure release position..he said he felt better and we brought him back inside..we got him settled back at the table and then becca wanted "on my lap" and she was miserable..todd and celene noticed and offered to take her outside..todd said she was happy as ever out there and never cried or complained!! im not sure what her deal is with me..its so frustrating and makes life hard..but im just happy she's good when "im not around" type thing!! we were able to finally eat our lunch and then we headed to my parents place for a quick nap..we got there at 330 and had to leave in one hour..i put becca down, anna down and then jon down in his bed..i had 45 minutes to prepare ourselves for the reception..my parents offered to keep the younger 2 so they could sleep and not be miserable and make it harder on my for 4 hours at the reception ..that was SUCH a big helP!! my brothers brian and clay helped to pack all of our stuff and get jons medical stuff back into the car and everyone loaded up again..we were suppose to leave our homes at 430 to get to the reception site by 5pm..but after arriving with jon and the 2 older girls at the site to see sandra in her regular clothes- i knew we werent having pictures- WHOO HOO! we could still relax!! they were SUPER BUSY trying to tie up the loose ends at the reception site which was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! in the beginning before jons accident i had offered katie to help and she said she wanted a "garden wedding" so i (of course) got online and went looking..i found this place..centennial musuem and it was just perfect- both katie and seth LOVED it! i now want all my girls to have their receptions there!! (too bad i cant do it all on the same day though!!)
The 2 older girls went off and running with their cousins..jon and i went around and took photos of the site...jon was doing great- he just loves to be with his family- he was holding up really well and doing great..as people would visit with katie in her line they would walk down and visit with jon and give him words of encouragement--it was so wonderful to visit with so many people from our past and to hear how they were praying for us and our sweet little family..were so grateful to all of them..and they all kept commenting about "we hear your ward is just remarkable and are doing so much for your family- how lucky you are!!" so thanks orangecrest ward! your famous!!! the ward continues to still bring in meals for our family along with members of other wards and families and neighbors- were so indebted to all these people and so thankful!!!
There was a chocolate fountain that jon kept having family members get him some "grub" from..only they'd fill up their plate and it was half gone by the time they got back to jon for some strange reason!?!?!? hehehe how can you not help yourself!!
Soon the dancing started and rachel was DYING for me to go dance with her, jon said go enjoy yourself with the girls..so i went..it was fun..it was mostly all the family and katie's close friends dancing -it was a riot to see the little kids dancing especially chad's boys- they were hilarious and actually pretty good dancers!! Katie then threw her bouquet and rachel was crying because AGAIN she didnt catch it--such drama...then we realized there were tONS of little flower bouquets everywhere so all the little neices got to have their own..
about 830pm my parents came and had my little 2 girls with them..it was SO cute to see my dad with little becca..they were excited to see us and were SO good for us while they were there- i thought becca would get nervous with so many people and loud music- but she happily ate strawberries and chocolate as some of the later pictures you will see..
Katie and Seth left for their honeymoon and the family stayed to clean up after the reception..everyone pitched in and did a good job of cleaning up and we all left about 1030pm to head home..
we arrived home at 1130pm and i got the girls into their beds and then got all of jons stuff to prepare his bed and get him settled in for the nite..at 1240am i crawled into bed..super super super tired..jon liked the caretaker we had and i was grateful that he was coming to care for jon in the morning so i could rest..only morning came and no caretaker came..UGH!! so i got up and began our day dreadfully tired..i got jon prepared for the day and sandra called saying the family was going to the beach and they wanted to pick up the 2 older girls..at 130pm they came and offered to take anna and said they could all come and sleep at their house and then they'd all come back to our house tomorrow to swim and eat and let the family all visit with jon..so that will be fun..jon LOVES his family so much and he misses them when they are gone..so he'll be excited to have them here tomorrow!!

All in all - the day went REALLY well- we know HF (Heavenly Father) was looking out for us..we had no problems with jon other then the almost throwing up incident..the weather wasnt as hot as last weekend and it made a HUGE difference for him..he slept comfortably at my parents home and did really well during the wedding and reception..he looked TONS better in the photos WITHOUT his neckbrace!! he looked SO handsome!!! were so grateful jon was in a condition to be there with his family and experience his baby sisters wedding...thank you to everyone who visited with jon and encouraged him to keep working hard, thank you to my family for making our stay wonderful and at ease and for always helping me and finding ways to help, thank you to jons family for being conscience of our needs and offering to take the kids or give jon his pressure releases..it was all so helpful and made our day smooth..thank you!

Today is now friday and we are resting! jon is just staying in bed and watching more Lord of the Rings..im catching up on emails and the blog and picking up the house a bit and will rest...it will be nice and quiet here today and tonite just having becca here too...hope you enjoy the pictures!