A Homecoming, A Gala, & A Pre-Wedding Celebration

Our Rick Tew Family Reunion was a little different this year.  Originally we had planned to go to the Martin Family Cabin in Island Park, go see a show at the Playmill, and spend a long weekend together in Idaho.  Then the Hardings return from Virginia got delayed by one week and we all wanted to be in Utah when they returned.  So we made a complete change to our agenda and Ryan & No'el's family and my mom & dad came to Utah for the weekend.  As I already blogged about, we went to Lagoon all day Saturday.  Then we decided to plan an outdoor dinner for Sunday afternoon (August 15th), as soon as the Hardings got home.  But everything is more fun when you give it a fancy name, right?  So we began calling it the "Gala."

Spencer picked up Emily, Jeff, & Miley from the airport Sunday morning and took them to their house.  They had left Virginia Friday, stopped in Texas for Jeff's brother's wedding and festivities (all day Saturday), and caught the early flight to SLC Sunday morning.  Needless to say, they were exhausted.  They were troopers though, and after a quick nap, came to our house to join the rest of the family for the Gala.  When they left Utah in May, Miley was still a baby, but when they came to our house that August afternoon, Miley had grown up!  She was very interested in getting reacquainted with the twins...

We served Teriyaki Chicken with a grilled pineapple ring, Strawberry Won-ton salad, Pasta Salad, Orange Parfait, Grilled Corn on the Cob, and a dinner roll.  Yummy!  We also celebrated Miley's first birthday. (She wasn't very interested in the cake or candle.)

After that, we gathered in the living room for a small program to honor Callie & Mike:

Cam, Gavin, and Owen sang "Never Tear Us Apart."
Abbie, Avery, and Jette sang "Firework."
Gavin, Avery, Owen, & Jette sang "You Are So Beautiful."
Abbie & Cameron sang "Darn it Baby, That's Love."
Dad, Ryan, No'el and I sang "We Wonder Why."
Then Emily joined No'el & I to sing "Do-ta-do" and we added Callie when we sang "Happy Together."

Then each family gave Callie & Mike some advice for their upcoming wedding.  My dad gave his traditional toasts, "We hope that when you look back on your wedding day, you will realize it is the day that you loved each other least."  And of course," Happy Wife, Happy Life."

Then Ryan told a story about when he and Callie were a lot younger.  Callie had received a brand new bike for Christmas and Ryan had received a new scooter.  They wanted to go show Grandma Baldwin so they both rode down to her house.  Grandma gave them a grocery bag full of newspapers to take back to our mom and Callie had it hanging from her handlebars.  Ryan suggested they race home and he was so proud of himself for beating her until he turned around and saw that the bag had gotten stuck in the spokes of her front wheel and she had flipped the bike and was lying on the road.  He hurried back to her, happy to be able to help his little sister.  He then told Mike that he (Ryan) will always be Callie's big brother and will always be there to help her if she falls.  But Mike & Callie should now be there for each other, helping each other at every opportunity.

I had been thinking about the importance of names and how Callie would be taking on the last name "Beidler" soon.  I just reminded them that Mike will also be taking on the last name "Tew", though not physically.  I said (to them and the rest of us) that we need to live so that if someone asks if you're related to so-and-so, you'll be proud to say Yes.  Names are kinda important that way.

Jeff represented the Hardings and talked about trying to make each other happy every day.  And that they will only be truly happy if their spouse is happy.  He said that many people say the first year of marriage is the hardest but that if you focus on making your spouse happy, rather than thinking of yourself, you can overcome that obstacle quicker.

Mike & Callie then said a few words of thanks.  Mike said he is excited to be part of our family unit. Callie added how grateful they are for the love & support.  Then we quickly made our way to our backyard.  Callie & Mike had invited friends and family to join us in a Pre-Wedding Celebration (see how that sounds more fun because of the fancy name?) We had done a lot of yard work, decorated with their wedding colors (black, yellow, & white), prepared fabulous refreshments, and made a CD of background music.      

The Happy Couple

Refreshments

Decor & our Backyard

Aunt Sylvia

Aunts Sue & Karen came from Idaho

Niki & Doug/Chopper (Spence's brother) and Dave & Tisa came to support us.  

There were so many fabulous friends and family that came to support Mike & Callie.  These are just a few of my favorite pics. (Thanks to Emily for taking pictures.)

When YMCA started to play, the kids were happy to sing and dance and perform for all of us!

Our Baldwin family had organized a long-distance bridal shower for Callie.  Each family sent a gift with Sue & Karen to help Mike & Callie decorate their apartment and stock up on food storage.  We all watched as they opened their nice gifts.

And then it was over.  The kids LOVED playing with the decorations as they came down!  

We got cleaned up quickly so that the Tew's could get back to Idaho...and the Hardings could finally get some sleep!  What a great (and exhausting) weekend!