Myrtle Beach

The Pepper clan recently went to Myrtle Beach (thanks to Mama and Dad Pepper!) for a week to hang out with some family.

Luke had a BLAST. Drew got burnt. I got tan. The usual.


Look at my chubby boy!


We LOVE this picture!


Peppers


We took family pictures while we were there. They turned out really good.


Okay, Luke's a model.


Isn't that SWEET???

A+

Drew had these waiting for me when I got back from California. He gets an A+ in being a husband. I LOVE HIM!!!

Steph's Wedding!

Steph {Oliver} tied the knot. To Mitch Maertens. (It's pronounced like 'Martins.')

It was magical. We got to the Oliver's house at 10 am to get our hair done. We were there until about 2:30 and then the photographer came. We took lots of amazing pictures and then we all hopped in the HUMMER LIMO (yeah, that's right!) and we had to have the driver drive around because Steph didn't want to be dropped off at the church until 5 minutes before the ceremony.

The ceremony was performed and it was beautiful. By that time all the bridesmaids wanted to chop their feet off because of the painful shoes. Seriously, I wanted to cut my toes off. Anyway, we took lots more pictures, hopped back in the limo and went out to UC Merced to take some more pictures. Then we went to the reception and partied the night away! We got back to Lacey and Guy's at about 10 pm...so it was a full 12 hour day.

And since I was IN the wedding, I don't have a lot of pictures from my own camera. But here are a couple:


The tables:



The Hummer Limo:



Me and my beautiful date:



High school besties AGAIN:



My HANDSOME date and I:

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth with my brother and sister-in-law and their two adorable kids. My brother was manning a fireworks stand, so we didn't get close to the fireworks shows, but Luke probably wouldn't have liked it and their little guy is only 5 months old, so he probably wouldn't have liked it either.

Berlynn! (my niece)


Luke liked the sparklers


My crazy brother


Natalie and Frankie



I am so proud to be an American. I remember 9/11 and my high school put "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood on the loudspeakers and how I just got goosebumps hearing it. I highly recommend going to YouTube and looking the song up. I am so grateful to be living here and to have the opportunity to practice my religion and to have a career if I wanted it and to marry the love of my life. I feel very blessed.

Steph's Bachelorette Party

Right now I'm chillin' in Monrovia, CA (near LA), hanging out with Steph. Last night, her old roommates planned a bachelorette party and I tagged along. Mitch graciously agreed to watch Luke for the evening.

We went on a "Sunset Cruise." Unfortunately, the weather was not in accordance with a sunset cruise, but we still went. It was FREEZING! But we had a lot of fun and most importantly, we celebrated Steph's last week and a half of being single! Woohoo!!


Me and Stephy



All the girls that went on the excursion



Who let her steer the boat?!



That diamond is totally real



She had to reenact the Titanic scene


9 days to go until Steph is married!