The Final Countdown

The day before the day we've all been waiting for arrived this morning,
because Dave and Kara get hitched tomorrow.

That meant that today was obligated to be full of family, fun, and last minute preparations.

We started off with breakfast with Grandma & Grandpa Kooistra at a diner near Keith and Marisa's house.  

(I just have one thing to say--Yum.) 

We ate to our heart's content, in celebration of our boy.  

Then, there was the requisite mother/daughter mani/pedi,

(which marked my 2nd mani/pedi in a week--a treat for a girl who typically averages one every three years...)

followed by the all-important flower arranging:

All of this, of course, was just filling time until Kara arrived at the hotel,

 where the bride and groom happily reunited after being apart for two whole days while Kara was with her family.

The rest of us happily joined them for some sibling togetherness.

Soon, however, it was time for Keith, Marisa, Dave, and I to return to Mom & Dad's 

in order to get ready for the evening ahead.

The boys and I crowded into the bathroom, 

and reminisced on days gone by as we primped.

Somehow sharing a sink was a lot easier when we were littler...

but despite the lack of mirror space our primping paid off,

and we gathered at the rehearsal dinner with family and friends.

After some good eats, we headed off to the church.

We took our appropriate places,

and behaved ourselves (for the most part)

as the reality hit us that this is for real...

...tomorrow our Davy becomes a married man!