We wanted to keep our wedding party small and intimate. I'm thrilled to have our children as our attendants!

Sierra inadvertently chose our wedding colors by glowing in a hot pink & black dress she tried on that I just had to get (it swishes)! Good choice because I like the colors ALOT. I finally met Sierra in person this past December, had our first hug and fell in love with her. How could I not... she is just like her Dad.

My honeyboy (I know... he hates that right now) Robbie is giving me zero grief about him having to wear a Black Suit with a HOT PINK tie! His sweet girlfriend Jennifer is joining us on the cruise and seems to be more excited about it than him. To quote him... YOU two are being soooo girly.

Robbie and Sierra had JUST met about 30 minutes before this picture was taken... and Robbie launched into full annoying brother mode in the most adorable way. I was a bit worried that it would be too much for Sierra, but they hit it off! New siblings without the rivalry. Just TONS of laughter!!!! Check our Photo Gallieries for examples. I wish we had video!!!!

Our not-so-much-kiddos-anymore YANK at our heartsrings (forget tug).

Brenda with Jay during our first Christmas trip and when I first met her. This was such a sweet picture I had to use it instead of her portrait. I'm pretty sure she likes me too! ;-D I know I love her! I call her almost as much as my Mom.

Our Mom's are happily being cabin-mates on this cruise. They also hit it off when they met at Jay's 40th birthday party. I think they are planning shenanigans! AND they better include us!

My "little" brother Matthew is giving me away. Although our father is deceased, we will be playing Can't Help Falling in Love with You as we walk down the aisle in rememberence of my father. Dad just loved that song and Elvis.

Matt "chooo" has always been protective of his "seester" - even at 6 years old. Mom even sent him as an unnotified chaperone on a few dates. I was protective of him too but behind the scenes (beating up boys up that threatened him). YES, I was a tomboy.

My kid brother (so he isn't a kid anymore... whatever!) is not only smart, but rivals our Grandpa in honor, ambition, ethics. He has the dreams of our Dad and the heart and soul of our Mom. I am honored to have him walk me down the aisle especially since he has the best of our Grandparents and Parents.

Matt has it hard... I'm getting married and his wife Heather is coordinating... he doesn't get much choice without flack from both of us! ;-D He wouldn't anyway... he is about as easy-going as Jay. In fact, I don't know which one of the two would win that trophy! (By the way... he can make one in his shop!) No cheating Mattchoo... Jay likes you!

Even though he is giving me away... he will never get rid of me! AND I expect a dance with Matt (or at least a karaoke duet) this cruise!

BTW... my nephews Tyler and Brandon are soooo adorable!!! RIGHT? ... Oh yes they are!!!! And even more in person!

Robin, Kyle and Kelsey will all be with us on the cruise!

Not only are Jay and I excited they can attend, Sierra gets to hang out with her cousin Kelsey! Watch out ship... two pretty teens may just take over. Robin and Kyle are so much fun; I expect we will be laughing until our voices are almost hoarse. I plan on Jay and I avoiding them till after the wedding so we can actually say our vows out loud! XO :-D

This is very long because most of you don't know Allen in person and I want you to know him properly.

From the very moment I met and found Allen, he was VERY protective and sweet to me. It took me almost two years of Nancy Drewing to find him (no Internet back then). Although he never met our father, his mannerisms reminded me so much of Dad when we met (except for the Wisconsin accent). "Eh" :-D

Not many of you know my big brother Allen from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin so I will introduce you the long way. I didn't know of him either for 19 years, I thought I was the eldest. But I found out I had an older brother right after my 19th birthday. My father told me during spring break a few DAYS before he died on April 1st (how I hate that day!). How lucky he told me about Allen, how bitterly sad I am that he died.

There are a lot of IFs involved... IF Dad had never told me that day, would Allen and I have found each other (possibly, since he was searching for Dad). IF someone hadn't started a torrid false rumour about Dad and caused cancelling that wedding, would I be here because my mom and dad would have never met? Allen's loss, resulted in Dad meeting my mother in Florida, getting married, and then me and Matt being born. I am sad that Allen never met Dad; AND I wish that Dad had said something earlier to me because I can be a hound on a scent. However, since Dad finally told me; Allen was able to rejoin our family eventually by my tracking him down through my Dad's old high school friends; so as a result it reunited Allen with me, Matt, Grandpa, Robbie and some cousins.

Allen and I got to know each other during the early 90s because we were stationed about 5 hours apart (Louisiana/Texas). I was terrified that I had just met him and would lose him because of the Gulf war since he was infantry. Instead we got lucky and he stayed stateside and I got to spend time with him. He had done quite a few duty stations serving in the Army AND he has some great stories... like Panama - blasting rock music as warfare (such a funny story to me) and the Berlin Wall coming down (just Amazing!) Please ask him because he will not volunteer information. YOU have to ask... great stories... sweet, shy guy.

Jay got to meet him last June (when we were in Chicago for Danieli & Scot't's wedding) and now Allen will be joining us in our celebration too!!!! Allen and Jay met and liked each other during our visit in Chicago last summer.

By the way... he is all Packers... all the time! So play nice Vikings, Bears and Lions fans! He Is not mean, so please don't you be mean either.

I expect at least one dance from my big brother too!