Travis and Barb are working very hard on wedding music that they will be providing for JJ and Briana's wedding. We are so excited to have them participate and anxiously await their performance! They will be playing The swan song.

see:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPnyZjqoJUA if you are interested. Also I will try to add it on my music selection on this blog.

So many people working so hard to make this a wonderful day for them! It is so wonderful and the process has been very fulfilling and fun!

Here is the dress/es that I have picked for myself for the weddings. Briana's will be nearly this color, floor length (I chose a taupe as the fathers will be dressed in black tux - with silver/grey vest and tie) For Danny's wedding where I will be MOG instead of MOB (mother of the groom versus mother of the bride.... that makes me smile) I chose to go with the same dress but with a tea length (mid calf) and in a light turquoise color to match the teal blue of the bridesmaids and beautiful peacock theme wedding they have chosen. I finally have an alterations appointment tomorrow for my two dresses - which makes me happy and some of the final details are getting accomplished which should help me sleep! Tomorrow is busy with alteration appointment for me, final marriage counceling session for JJ and Briana (Danny and Andria are already done with this phase) a walk through with the church wedding coordinator regarding details of the ceremony, and an appointment with the Worship leader regarding wedding music during the ceremony. The evening will be pulling a rough draft of the order of service together, and ordering the program paper! How fun!

The preparations have been underway for awhile now... there have been 300 kisses, 300 bookmarks with new address labels on the back, 200 handmade invitations, and much more! It has been a fun process, lots of laughs, giddy late nights to get things accomplished. Briana has had some friends from college come home for a weekend to help - that was wonderful to get to meet these incredible young ladies (at times a little scary!)

The reception will be at Chula Vista, with light pink, silvery grey, black accents. JJ and Briana wants everyone to understand their love for each other, and their love for God.... as more will be explained during their ceremony in June!

Bridesmaides, Build-a-bears dressed like Bride and Groom, cake, friends, presents and fun... sounds like a Bridal Shower!

Brenda decided it would be too fun to have a "high tea" so we broke out the Pope Gosser china and misc antique china cups and saucers, made lots of tea, had great food (Thanks to all that helped!)

Barbara sent many, many roses from Washington because she could not be here... but she is getting ready to come in June!

Guests came with gifts, recipes to share, and sat with Briana while she opened their gifts so that they could explain the gift, tell who they were as some were from the Kortbein side of the family.

From left to right: Renee Renaud (maid of honor) Briana (Bride) Nichol Troyk (Bridesmaid) not shown: Brenda Strike -(Bridesmaid) Barbara Smith - (Bridesmaid), and Andria Garbers (Bridesmaid)

Andria graduated from Eau Claire with her BS - speech pathology and is pursuing a Masters - she has been accepted to UWashington in Spokane and so my sweeties are moving to Spokane. The nice thing is that they are excited, and that they will be close to Barb and Travis as well. It will be nice to have family close by, and we can visit them as well, when we go out west! They are there currently with Trav and Barb checking out the college, looking for apartments, and in general checking out Spokane. Looks like they are having fun.

Engagement dinner party last fall with Andria's parents, and us. Ken Garbers is setting Danny straight - now that he knows his intentions!

Danny is showing his pearly whites?

Engaged! Yes - two in the same summer! Can we do it? Yes we can! The time is now short and Annie and Danny (as I have grown fond of saying) are getting married in a beautiful setting at Riverside Park in LaCrosse which is right next to the Mississippi river - outdoors. So please pray for good weather, yes we have a backup plan. The reception will be at the Radisson in the ballroom... can't wait!

Cute story - Danny (Paul) proposed on Grandad's bluff over looking the Mississippi River in LaCrosse. We are excited to have Andria as a part of our family!

This is the save the date that went out awhile back.

I will add Danny and Andria's next. We are down to dress alterations, music planning, order of service.... its getting close!