Let me tell you a little bit about my cousin Heather. Heather and I grew up wearing matching dresses that my grandmother made for us, and the only reason I REALLY loved those dresses (I hadn’t learned to appreciate that my grandmother made them or that they were darling dresses) was because it was SO cool to me to dress just like my cool older cousin. Heather changed my life in so many ways growing up, and I always wonder if I make the same impression on my little cousins. Heather kept a journal that she would show to me when she came to visit, so I started journaling when I was in 5^th grade and faithfully wrote in journals every night until about a year ago. That means I have about 15 years of my life documented down to the detail, thanks to Heather. Heather also introduced me to No Doubt, which in turn led to my love of patent leather (I had 2 pairs of patent leather pants, a blue patent leather suit I wore to my graduation in 5^th grade and patent leather boots). I sang “I’m Just a Girl” with two of my best friends in our 5^th grade talent show. I also fell in love with Heather’s #1 love: Gavin Rossdale from Bush. I had a poster of him on my wall, but I most likely wouldn’t have heard of him if it had not been for Heather. Heather also introduced me to every single one of my favorite movies when I was a kid, and they all happened to be musicals. I grew up watching Newsies every night (and loving Gabriel Damon, just like Heather did) and I can STILL remember the entire movie script (you can test me on this if you really want to hold me to it). Heather showed up in Louisville at our house one year with her clothes in cardboard boxes instead of suitcases, and I begged and begged my mom the next time we went on vacation to let me put my clothes in boxes like she did (to no avail). So all that to say, Heather was a hugely important figure for me when I was in my most formative years, and I have always had a special place in my heart for the Heather Show.

Dejenme contarles un poco sobre mi prima Heather. Heather y yo crecimos vistiendo los mismos vestidos que nuestra abuela hacia para nosotras, y la unica razon por la que me encataban esos vestidos (todavia no aprendia a apreciar el hecho que mi abuela ls hizo o que eran preciosos) era porque era genial vestir lo mismo que mi genial prima. Heather cambio mi vida en muchas maneras, y siempre me pregunto si yo tengo el mismo impacto en mis primos. Heather tenia un diario de vida que me mostraba cada vez que la visitaba, asi que yo empeze a escribir un diario cuando estaba en 5to grado y siempre escribia cada noche hasta el ano pasado. Eso significa que tengo mas o menos 15 anos de mi vida documentados en detalle, gracias Heather. Heather tambien me introdujo al grupo No Doubt, que luego me hizo adorar pantalones de cuero. Cante “I’m just a girl” con dos de mis mejores amigas en el show de talentos en 5to grado. Tambien me enamore del amor platonico de Heather: Gavin Rossdale del grupo Bush. Tenia un poster de el en mi muralla, pero lo mas seguro nunca hubiese sabido de el si no era por Heather. Ella tmabien me mostro cada una de sus peliculas favoritas de nina, y todas eran musicales. Crei viendo Newsies cada noche (y me encantaba Gavriel Damon, como a Heather) y TODAVIA puedo acordarme de toda las canciones de la pelicula (me puedes probar si quieres). Heather llego un dia a Lousiville a mi casa con su ropa en cajas de carton en vez de maletas, yo le rogue y rogue a mi mama que la proxima vez que saliera de vacaciones pusiera mi ropa en cajas de carton. Asi que todo esto dicho, Heather fue tremenda influencia en mis anos de formacion y siempre he tenido un lugar especial en mi corazon para ella, el Show de Heather.

Which brings me to my next point: Heather is known as the Show, or the Heather Show, among her dearest friends. This name is pretty self-explanatory: Heather is a SHOW. My dad officiated her wedding and told the congregation that Heather shines and she absolutely does. Everywhere she goes she makes her presence known; she’s an amazing singer, speaks Spanish, has a loud laugh and loves to use it,  and her style and the way she carries herself tells everyone around her that she’s going to be who she wants to be whether you like it or not. She and Brian, her new husband, have known each other for several years and they clearly love each other. I felt like I’ve known him for a couple years now too because of all of Heather’s posts and pictures on facebook, but this was the first time I actually met him. He has an adorable daughter (3 years old) named Arya who has a personality like she’s a little show herself. She isn’t afraid of anyone and came running up to give me a hug the second I walked through the door. She’s so full of life and Heather is an AWESOME step-mom; if anyone can keep up with Arya it’s Heather (and of course Brian, who is an awesome father).

Lo que me guia a mi proximo punto: Heather es conocida por sus amigos cercanos como el Show, o el Show de Heather. El nombre lo dice todo: Heather es un SHOW. Mi papa oficio el matrimonio y le dijo a la congregacion que Heather brilla y en verdad lo hace. A cada lugar que va hace notar su presencia; ella canta muy bien, habla espanol,  tiene una risotada y no tiene miedo de usarla, y su estilo y la manera de ser de ella dice que va a ser como ella quiere ser te guste o no. Ella y Brian, su esposo, se han conocido pero muchos anos y claramente se aman. Siento que lo he conocido por un par de anos ya que Heather pone fotos en facebook pero esta fue la primera vez que lo conoci en persona. El tiene una hija de 3 anos muy adorable llamada Arya que tiene una personalidad increible y es un mini show. No le tiene miedo a nadie y vino corriendo a abrazarme al segundo que abri la puerta. Ella tiene mucha vida y Heather es una madrastra espectacular; si alguien puede estar a la par con Arya es Heather.

Heather’s favorite holiday and arguably favorite day of the year is Halloween – every year she throws a crazy Halloween party complete with a potion-looking punch that’s spilling over with smoke in all the pictures I’ve seen. Every year she has an awesome costume and from what I’ve seen the last couple of years Brian has also had pretty elaborate costumes as well. When she got engaged, we all assumed her wedding would be a Halloween wedding – and we were right! It wasn’t on Halloween weekend (which is good because it’s much colder this weekend in Denver than it was last weekend!) but the reception hall was totally decked out in spider webs, pumpkin lights, stuffed spiders and other Halloween décor. It was perfect. Her dress was a black and white damask dress that fit her like a glove – it was totally unique and perfect. Brian wore an all-black kilt with spiky boots and belt. We had a perfectly beautiful, mild fall day for the wedding. I wasn’t the photographer but of course I had my camera, so I took photos the whole night.

La celebracion favorita de Heather y posiblemente su dia favorito del ano, es Halloween – cada ano hace una fiesta tremenda con bebidas que parecen pociones y tiene humo alrededor. Cada ano tiene un disfraz genial y por lo que he visto Brian tambien ha tenido disfrazes  muy elaborados estos ultimos anos. Cuando se comprometieron, todos pensamos que tendrian un matrimonio en Halloween – y teniamos razon! No fue exactamente en Halloween ( lo que es bueno porque este fin de semana esta mucho mas frio que el pasado en Denver) pero la fiesta estaba decorada para Halloween. Su vestido era blanco pero con harto negro en forma de flores y decoraciones – era totalmente unico y perfecto para la ocasion. Brian vistio una falda escocesa toda negra con botas con puas y un tremendo cinturon. El dia estuvo precioso – las fotos quedaron fantasticas. Yo no era la fotografa pero claro que tenia mi camara asi que saque fotos toda la noche.

 

Instead of a first dance, Heather and Brian did a first song, with Brian on electric guitar and Heather singing. After dinner Heather got back on the mic and sang, among other songs, “I’m Just a Girl” which obviously made my YEAR. She sang a few Lady Gaga songs, which got everyone dancing and we didn’t quit until the end of the night. Especially fun was watching my cousin Andrew dancing to Michael Jackson – pretty classic!!

En vez del primer baile, Heather y Brian hicieron una primera cancion. Brian en la guitarra electrica y Heather cantando. Despues de la cena Heather se adueno del microfono y canto, entre otras canciones, “I’m just a girl” lo que me hizo muy feliz. Canto unas de Lady Gaga, lo que hizo bailar a medio mundo y no paramos hasta el final de la velada. Especialmente entretenido fue ver a mi primo Andrew bailar a lo Michael Jackson – un clasico!

 

All in all it was a one-of-a-kind wedding experience and it made me so happy to be a part of my awesome family. It was so much fun to spend a whole weekend with my cousins and aunts and uncles who I only get to see a few times a year, if that. Congratulations again to Heather and Brian!!! And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Despues de todo fue una boda unica en su tipo y una gran experiencia, me hace muy feliz ser parte de esta familia. Fue muy entretenido pasar todo el fin de semana con mis primos y tios los cuales veo, con suerte, un par de veces al ano. Felicitaciones de Nuevo a Heather y Brian!!! Y feliz Halloween!!!!