Grandpa Bell

As most of you know, my Grandpa Bell died last month. Sadly it was the same day as Jacob's wedding. We found out as we left the reception. I didn't want to mention that in the post about the wedding, but thought I should mention it here. We knew it was coming, but it was still a shock.

As funerals tend to do, we had a ton of family brought together that week. I took a bunch of pictures before and after the funeral, so I wanted to share them here. Before I do that though, I did want to share a couple of the pictures I took at Grandpa's 90th birthday party last year. All his kids made it down for that special occasion, and we had to photograph it. This was my best picture from the day.

My other favorite picture I took that day was this one. There were a bunch of really old photos on a table at the party and I decided to arrange and photograph them. I'm really glad I did.

We miss you grandpa.

The whole weekend of the funeral, my nephew Jackson was the center of attention.

Dad is obsessed with Jackson the most, and of course gets first dibs as grandpa, but Mandi loves all babies and had to be persuaded to relinquish him. :)

We spent a lot of time at Uncle John and Aunt Becky's house that weekend. It's a great place for big family gatherings.

I swear I didn't put an Instagram filter on this picture, it just turned out this way!

Jared had a story to tell and Afton was a captive audience.

The funeral home was decorated so nicely. Lots of amazing pictures from the past.

That big one was taken by my cousin Kim. It's one of the best pictures any of us had of him.

It's one of my favorites. It's just the perfect picture of him.

I didn't get any more pictures here after this because I just feel weird about taking pictures at funerals. Plus I was a pallbearer and had to focus on that. I'm glad that Mandi was there because she stepped up and took some great pictures that day.

I don't think anyone likes funerals, but grandpa's was really nice, and a fitting tribute to him. I'm really glad I was a part of it.

After the funeral all the pallbearers were given a shell from the guns that were fired at the ceremony. I put mine on my bookshelf, next to a couple of diamonds from Jacob's wedding.

After the funeral we had a picnic in a park, though I didn't get any pictures there either, because it was a lot of people I didn't know and the few I did were too scattered.

After that, the family all headed back to Aunt Becky and Uncle John's.

Sometime later, an ice cream truck came by for some reason, while a bunch of people were outside, and Uncle John bought everyone ice cream!

The rest of these pictures were probably taken the next day. We went back to Uncle John and Aunt Becky's after church on Sunday.

I loved this picture of Grandma and Maggie. :)

Then Jackson was back to being the center of attention.

That's all I've got. It was an emotional weekend, but really nice too.

Jacob & Annette

August was a whirlwind. I had planned to get these pictures up soon after the wedding, but as most of you know, things got crazy after the wedding. But I won't get into that here.

On to the pictures! Full disclosure, some of these pictures weren't taken by me, some are actually edited screencaps from the various wedding footage files I was given after the wedding, as I am in charge of editing that as well. My iPhone doesn't do distance/zoomed pictures well, and as I was an usher, in the back during the ceremony, I did not get that many good pictures on my own, so I improvised. :)

I got a couple pictures from the night before, during rehearsal.

Aren't they just the cutest? :p

By the way, this grainy quality was what most of my pictures looked like, which is why I decided to screencap and edit pictures from the wedding footage. Those pictures are as follows. Mine pick back up after the ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs. North. :)

After the wedding, grandma got to hold her great grandson for the first time. :)

For those of you who may not know, this is Jared and Eva's son, my nephew, Jackson. :)

Cutting the cake.

Someone went all out in decorating the getaway car. :)

Judging from the artwork/letter style, I'm guessing James and/or Jared. :p

A magical sendoff. :)

Into the sunset. :)

A lot more than a wedding happened this month. More pictures to come. Eventually. :p

Joel+Alex

Yesterday was the wedding of my brother Joel, and Alex French. My brothers and I were all groomsmen, and Alex's sisters and friend Rachel were bridesmaids. I don't have any pictures of the wedding itself, as I was in it, but I have plenty of the events surrounding the wedding.

The night before, we had the rehearsal. I didn't get any pictures while we rehearsed, but I got a bunch of the reception hall as the finishing touches were being put up.

Before the lights were lit.

After.

The centerpieces would be lit the next day.

The guestbook station.

They had set up a photobooth with props for the guests to use.

The fake trees were made out of carpet tubes.

After the rehearsal Rachel wanted me to take some pictures of her, Alayna, Amanda, and April.

Then I was playing some music and April began to perform an interpretive dance.

She really got into it. :)

It was beautiful. :p

Then she realized Alayna was filming her and stopped. :p

Jenny was so excited that everything turned out so well, (and to be done) that she also did a dance. :p

And this time I was filming. :p

The Next Day:

I normally don't take selfies, but for today, I figured it was okay.

Plus bowties are cool. :p

My grandma, meeting Alex's grandma for the first time since they were school age! Apparently they went to the same school many, many years ago, and now their grandchildren are getting married. I'm sure that's something that never even crossed their minds back then.

We took wedding pictures all morning.

The French Family

The grandmothers

Joel with both our grandmothers.

The cake

Sarah helped out in the kitchen all day.

Sasha had a secret mission. :)

Shaina did the hair for some of the bridesmaids.

Rachel's kids, Ariana and Judah, were the flower girl and ring bearer.

Alex wanted some pictures with them, so Jared stepped in.

Waiting to begin.

It's almost time!

We decided to take more selfies while we waited. :p

They're almost married!

It's almost time to walk!

30 - 45 minutes later:

Mrs. Alex North signs the marriage certificate!

Followed by Mr. Joel North.

Also Jacob and Amanda, but I got distracted and missed Amanda's signing.

Waiting to go out to the reception.

Another selfie with my now-sister! Just like the other one, but totally different!

Sasha's secret mission!

She told me she was up almost all night blowing up these balloons.

It took her 5 hours!

Joel had a great time popping them all with his knife.

I was taking a picture of Joel but it turned out I was taking a selfie.

I don't think he got them all.

They're off to California!

Shaina, Sasha, Brittany, and I got in the photo booth together.

Cousins!

Rachel and my entrance to the reception was a lightsaber duel. We didn't get any pictures, so we recreated it before the day was over. :)

And that's the end! I have a new sister!

I can't believe I finished a post in a timely manner! I haven't done that in ages! Years? I still have a lot to catch up on though, so after this it'll be back to older photos. :)