Considering a Wonderful Wedding Weekend

This weekend I had the privilege of officiating the wedding ceremony of a great friend who was marrying a great woman.  They are … a great couple.

Since it was nearly 2 hours away drive-time, and CavGirl was the flower girl, we ended up staying in a Residence Inn about 30 minutes away from the wedding site.  We packed up the car and headed out Friday morning, hoping to enjoy some time at the hotel before naps.  Alas, that was not to be so since it took longer to get there than I had anticipated.  It was farther north than I thought, which was advantageous when it came to going back and forth for rehearsal & the wedding with 2 toddlers.

The front desk informed us that due to a lightning strike, they would have to test the alarm system that afternoon.  But they checked our room before we even got settled in.

After I unloaded the car, I set out to iron my clothes for that evening.  I wouldn’t be able to do it with the kids down for a nap.  At that point CavWife asked about the dresses for CavGirl, and her own clothing for the festivities that night and the next.  “Huh?  What clothes?  I thought you got them?”  I was informed that I actually had to move them off my suit to load it into the car.  She was without appropriate clothing for the rehearsal and dinner to follow.   Neither of us was happy.

Now I’m checking out the LG HD LCD TVs in the rooms.  I have TV envy- the picture is so incredibly sharp.  After the kids enjoy their lunch it is off to bed for them.  I wonder, what are we eating?  Apparently I’m off to hunt up some grub for 2 starving adults.  After splitting a McDonald’s Asian salad and some McTenders we settle in for the afternoon.  All was going fabulously until I started to get ready for the rehearsal.  Suddenly the alarms for the whole building are blaring- the kids are screaming (well, they had to get up anyway).  It is so ear-piercing we take them out by the pool to calm them down.  I couldn’t even think in there.  This is the effect they wanted them to have.  But I had flashbacks to 3 am fire alarms in college.

We made the rehearsal in time, and since there was no wedding coordinator I ran the rehearsal.  It had been awhile, but it went well and we were out on time.  Off to a local place for dinner.  I feel very sorry for the young couple that shared the table with us.  They may have now sworn off children.  Actually the kids were great, but CavBoy was quite messy and active.  My iced tea maker died a few months ago, so when I first tasted by sweet tea I must have looked like a guy who fell off the wagon- it was so good, and I had forgotten how good it could taste.  I was in ectasy.  The food was quite delicious as well, and the staff was incredibly helpful.  With the kids now very tired, and a 30 minute ride ahead of us, we took our dessert to go.

It was not the most restful night of sleep I ever had.  CavGirl had her own room, but was deathly afraid the alarm would go back on.  It took her awhile to settle down.  CavSon was in our room.  Although this supposedly worked okay while in China, he kept thinking that it was play time or something.  I had to keep telling him to go back to sleep.

Up at our usual time, we went to the lobby for a pretty good breakfast.  In no time at all we were by the pool so the kids could enjoy their new tubes.  CavGirl was kicking around the pool, within reach of a parent should something go amiss.  One of us usually had CavBoy, or rather he had us, pulling him around the pool.  Around 10:30 it was time to head in for baths/showers before lunch so the kids could get an early start on their naps.  I was exhausted from not sleeping particularly well.  And I felt a mini-migraine coming so it was nap time for me after finishing off some leftovers.

The kids were up on time, we were dressed and ready to go.  Okay, I was dressed.  A friend of ours was going to meet us at the church a bit early bearing the clothes for CavWife and CavFlowerGirl.  All went well and it was a beautiful service.  The only mistakes were 1. I forgot to give the homily at the proper time, so I switched it to after the rings but before the solo and unity candle.  Then during the recessional, one of the grandmothers was forgotten.  So, I offered her my arm and escorted her to the back.

One of the great unexpected surprises was seeing the Jolly Blogger and the rest of the Jollys!  I had not seen them since Christmas of 2002, when I was stranded in Baltimore after the Albany airport closed due to snow.  We enjoyed some time catching up on what is happening with his congregation and my job search. 

As commonly happens at these things, the proceedings take much longer than anticipated and we had to leave before the main course was served.  The kids were beginning to meltdown, as evidenced by the photo above.  It was a VERY long ride back to the Residence Inn and the kids were promptly plopped into bed.  I strolled over to Carrabba’s for a take out order of calamari to sustain us through the night.

Again, CavBoy woke up repeatedly and played.  At one point I heard him trying to sing “Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up.”  But, everyone slept in (YES!).  Around 9 we shuffled off for another good breakfast, then it was a quick dip in the pool for me and the kids.  We discovered the world’s largest water bug.  It was like a prehistoric water roach or something.  It had to be 3 inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide.  While in the water, CavGirl says she doesn’t want to go home, but stay at the hotel.

We were hasta la vista at 11 am.  But sleeping in didn’t catch the little one up on their sleep.  They were tired, whiney and cranky the whole ride home.  But since I drove a different route, the trip was only 70 minutes.  Home at last ……. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.