Family - It's About Time and Travel

What a wonderful weekend we had as many members of the family came from all over to celebrate Darren and Richelle's wedding on Friday, February 12, 2010, at the Seattle Temple with us. The weather wasn't cooperating, but

that didn't stop the smiles or anticipation.

Meet the Newest Brother and Sister Walton

Somebody was very happy about FINALLY being able to legally wear the wedding ring that he insisted on wearing from the day Richelle bought it. November was a month to be forgotten as Richelle left with her family to spend the entire month in Australia and New Zealand just days after their engagement. Now there would be no more Darren wandering around the house forlornly calling, "Richelle? Richelle!!!"

This is the REAL Grandpa Chapman. After Richelle's sister, Shauna, tried to pin the "Grandpa Boutonniere" on Rhonda's husband, Art, things got a little confusing.
We just needed Grandma Chapman there to make it a perfect picture.



Three very cold bridesmaids, though they did remarkably well at retaining their cheerfulness in spite of the cold and the rain.

Here's the Luncheon, Where's the Bride and Groom?

There was no end to the food. Literally. We ate it for the next week -- but the real question was: Where are the bride and groom? This was actually the real reason we kept eating and eating and eating -- we were waiting and waiting and waiting. There were still a few people hanging around when they finally showed up to THEIR luncheon that had never really kicked off in the proper way on account of their absence.

Surviving the Reception

Wedding Receptions make great reasons for cousins to spend time together.

The last half of the reception was a dance which began with the Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dance. For any of you that know me very well, to be one of only two couples on the dance floor with everybody watching, is right up there on my list with cooked raisins and root canals.

Fun Times in the Hospital

The day after the wedding, all the family that had flown into town wanted to go to the Children's Hospital in Seattle to visit Lincoln, who is fighting cancer. We blew away the staff when we showed up and all of us had to clear security and get our own photo ID badges.

The traffic was terrific and after our visit with Lincoln, there wasn't much time to get Carla, Barrett and Nathan to the airport. Art and Rhonda provided the taxi service only to find that their airline seats had already been given away. Thankfully, due to some bribery by airline officials, there were those willing to fly later and allow the Smiths to get home.