Baby Face

Have I mentioned how much I love this little boy?

A Newport Wedding

The Nathans are becoming known for their week long wedding extravaganzas! It started with our wedding in Kiawah back in 2006. Both sides of our extended family came together to party and ended the week with a huge celebration. Because we all live so far apart we love getting together and making the most of our time. Newport was no exception! The whole family stayed in a sixteen bedroom mansion and used the week to explore town, tour mansions, and spend as much time together as possible. At the end of it all, we toasted newlyweds Kathryn and Ryan in a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Astor's Beechwood Mansion!

Bride Kathryn, Mary, Tricia, Ryan, Kristin, and Jess

Carter and his Poppy swinging on the porch

Uncle Rick and Uncle Lee grilling out for the entire family!

Our backyard was always filled with people playing games!

Aunt Cindy helping C get ready for the wedding!

Baby C did such a great job during the ceremony!

Our Little Family!

The beautiful bride Kathryn and groom Ryan saying their vows!

The Astor's Beechwood Mansion

Mom and Dad during the cocktail hour

We enjoyed the sushi bar (and champagne) most of all!

Cousins Kate, Zach, Hanna, Aunt Jen, and Alex

Aunt Krissy and I out on the lawn

Linc and Ryan enjoying a cocktail

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Coller

The Nathan and Laux Girls

Dancing Queens!

Most of the "adult" cousins at the wedding!

Alex is officially the last Nathan girl!

Kathryn's bouquet toss

Baby C did not last long

Showing off our pretty dresses


Everyone had such a great time!

Newport Mansions

By the turn of the 20th century, many of the nation's wealthiest families were summering in Newport, Rhode Island. They came for a brief social season (usually only eight weeks) to grand, gilded mansions with elaborate ballrooms. We were lucky enough to have time to tour some of these impressive homes and even though we couldn't take pictures inside, we made sure to document the excursion! We saw seven houses over the course of three days but here are my favorites:

The Elms was the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York who made their fortune in the Pennsylvania coal industry. The house was one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity. It was also my favorite and I would have loved to bring Westin and Tessa to play in the back yard! The property was massive and had a gorgeous garden and carriage house at the back of the property.

Looking back towards the house from the gardens

Alex in front of one of the giant Beechwood trees

Sisters in the formal gardens!

Kris and Ryan touring outside

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and was built by the Vanderbilt family. It was constructed between 1893 and 1895 at a cost of more than $7 million (approximately $150 million in today's dollars adjusted for inflation). The mansion has five stories and an impressive yard overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Every room is decorated impressively from floor to ceiling with no detail left out!

Welcome to the Breakers!

If I had a million dollars.........

Even Baby C enjoyed the audio tour!

Alex touring around the beautiful gardens!

The whole family outside the massive entry gates!

Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt as a summer house, or cottage as they would have called it! It is now an historical landmark worth more than $260,000,000. It was constructed mostly of marble and also has a Chinese Tea House overlooking the seaside cliffs.

Welcome to Marble House

The gardens were so pretty!

Beautiful hydrangeas

Who needs a paci when the Bjorn is right there?

Ready to start our tour!

Baby C loves history...

The whole family enjoying the views!

View from Marble House lawn

Dad, Kris, Ryan, Kat, Mary, Uncle Lee,
us, Alex, Aunt Sue, and Greg

The Chinese Tea House

These tours are exhausting!

Rosecliff is another palatial house usually open for tours. While we were in Newport this house was hosting a flower show so we only got to tour the main floor. Outside vendors had set up displays of exotic flowers and the whole house was filled with blooms. Carter and I posed in front of a giraffe made entirely of mums!

Entrance to Rosecliff

The rose garden was right off the main entry

The theme of the flower show was African safari!

I think that's enough house tours for today!!