Jones Family: Weekend of fun & celebration

This past weekend was one jammed full of fun and celebration. We spent the weekend in the Shoals celebrating Ashton and Josh's wedding. Jack was asked to be the ringbearer in their wedding so we got to enjoy all the festivities.

Ashton and her family is what I consider my "not blood" family. I joined the Self clan in January of 1999. I was hired in my 2nd semester at UNA to tutor the Self's 3 daughters after school and help with running the girls to all their activities. Alexandria in particular was my main focus. At the age of 4, Alli had started having multiple seizures throughout her day. The seizures were minor in that she would stop whatever she was doing and her eyes would begin to flutter. They usually lasted under a minute but she could have as many as 20 a day. They started without any warning and several years later they also stopped without warning. Melissa hired me to help her keep up with her schoolwork, so she wouldn't be behind. Alli was in kindergarten when I started. (She will be a senior this year. Man, do I feel old!) My relationship with the Self family was pretty much just business for the 1st six months and then I would stay and eat supper with the family and maybe stay a little late and talk to Melissa about college and of course boys. Over the years they became my family in the Shoals. I kept the girls while Mike and Melissa went on a business trip to Rome. I was SOOO lucky to spend my spring break one year with them in Hawaii. And as a graduation gift to me, Melissa and the girls took me on my 1st Cruise to Mexico. They have been there for me through all the big changes in my life. The girls were junior bridesmaids in my wedding. They were there when my babies were born. As you can see, very important people in my life. Of course with Ashton's wedding, we wouldn't have been anywhere but there to celebrate with her and Josh.

The festivities began on Thursday night with her lingerie and bachelorette party. I will not go into details because I am blushing just thinking about it, but I had a great time and I was VERY grateful it was Ashton's party and not mine. heh heh

Friday the boys and I meet Will at the Marriott in Florence and checked in for our weekend away. It was actually like a mini vacation because we had most of the day Saturday together as a family. Friday night was the rehearsal dinner at Dale's...Delicious!!!! And then the rehearsal was after dinner. Jack did pretty good practicing but we left early because he was so tired and we had a big day on Saturday!!

Saturday, after breakfast we hit the Marriott's pool and had a blast!! I wish I had taken some pictures but Will and I were on a man to man defense, so I don't see how I could have anyways. We walked down to the splash pad near the Conference Center. It was fun. I will say the water is pretty powerful though. I was chasing Max through the water and one of the sprinklers shot me right up the nose and tore my contact in half. Luckily I packed more contacts because I am almost blind. We had a great time splashing around the Marriott!!

The wedding was beautiful!!! Ashton was such a beautiful bride!! Jack didn't fulfill ALL his duties but he did good. He was suppose to walk down the aisle and give Josh high five and then go to his spot. During all the practices, he did great!! But with all the people in the church he couldn't see Josh, so he wouldn't go down the aisle. He walked around the back and then up to his spot. He LOVED walking back down the aisle with the flower girls!!!

It was an amazing wedding and reception. It was so beautiful!!! The boys had a blast playing with the flower girls and bridesmaids. When the music started, my boys busted a move. It was hilarious!! It was a great weekend!