Monday, November 17, 2014

The Big Fat Southern Wedding

Last weekend was possibly the busiest and craziest weekend ever for me.  Professionally and personally!  And it all went off without a hitch and was a lot of fun!

Friday night was one of my two biggest work events of the year.  Friday night was the Signature Chefs Auction.  A gala type event for 400 people.  I had worked all day and all night all week (and most of last week too) finishing everything up for the big day.  Thursday night I didn’t leave work till 10pm and I was at Walmart at 7:45pm on Friday morning.  And I got in bed at 12:30am Friday night!  aghh!
The event went well and we raised a lot of money for babies!  It’s always fun to get dressed up once in awhile while raising money for a good cause!

No rest for the weary though because Saturday was the big day for Aunt Anna and Uncle Goofball – their big fat Southern Wedding.  Well I guess it was technically a big fat Carlton wedding!  I was up at 6am Saturday and in Charlotte by 9:30am.  I picked up Lindy from Bob’s and headed to Lynn’s where all the girls were getting ready.   We spent the morning putting our faces on and dolling up our hair.  Well actually someone else did all the hard work and we just paid them.  Around 2pm we headed to the Dairy Barn in Fort Mill, SC for the big event.

They did it!  They finally got hitched! The wedding was beautiful!  Aunt Anna has a husband – that sounds weird!  It was a total family affair.  Drew performed the wedding – with the pastor who also married Drew and me.  I was a bridesmaid and the kids carried in a sign that said, ‘Here comes the bride.”  On the way out it said, “Happily Ever After.”  The wedding was in the upstairs of an old barn and then the reception was downstairs.   The day was beautiful but a bit chilly.  Taking pictures outside in sleeveless dresses was a bit chilly.

The kids had a blast.  Will danced and danced and danced.  He even did some break dancing.  He did have to take some breaks because he was wearing himself out.  Lindy danced and danced and danced until her shoes hurt her feet and until she hit a brick wall and was done.  She was tired and became weepy because her feet hurt.  They had been to bed late the night before and had not slept in at all and it had been a long day.  They did have a blast though!

They both looked so cute in their wedding outfits.  We were able to find cheap, affordable outfits for both that were perfect.  Lindy hates dresses and she actually liked her dress.  She hates being called pretty but she actually said we could call her that on Saturday – but just Saturday.  Will was looking most dapper in his 3 piece outfit.  He matched the big guys perfectly!  Oh – Aunt Anna and Brian looked good too!

What a great day and great celebration! Aunt Anna got married!

Getting all dolled up!!
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Mollly and CorbynDSC_1679
Me and my pretty girl!DSC_1680
The ‘maids.  Man I’m short!DSC_1685DSC_1688
Bob and his harem!DSC_1690DSC_1697
Be still my heart.  SO HANDSOME!!
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What a pair!
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Ed and Jamie
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They love Aunt Anna!DSC_1716
Beautiful bride!
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Me and the little man!DSC_1722
Lindy stuck like glue to Allison, her new best friend!DSC_1726
Me and the Big Man!  ha!DSC_1736
First Dance!
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The father daughter dance started out to the old song ‘Anna,’ a nice slow, perfect song. 
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Then they broke it down to Happy!  It was great!DSC_1785
And Happy is Will’s favorite songDSC_1786DSC_1788
Which then produced break dancing.  Which I had to put an end to, right after I took some pictures! ha!DSC_1790DSC_1795DSC_1799
These two cousins bonded over the 3DS!DSC_1806
Lindy and her cousin, Isabelle.DSC_1808
A family picture where they are smiling?   This never happens!DSC_1821
Hokey Pokey with Nana!
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Lynn and her niece, Lauren (Isabelle’s mom).DSC_1830
Fun times!
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And then she was done!
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The getaway car couldn’t get away very fast! ha!DSC_1858
Weepy, tired little girl who needed to hug the bride one more time!  Getting changed into pjs when this happened!DSC_1868

Will’s Special Day

Holy busy weeks.  The last two weeks have been so incredibly crazy and busy but it all came to a screeching halt this weekend.  I’m finally coming up for air and can slow down now.  I look forward to living a real life again!

The only thing of importance happening two weeks ago was Will’s special day on Thursday, November 6.  Seven years ago on that day we busted him out of the NICU after 100 days!!  As I’ve said before, we celebrate these days because it gives them a chance to have a day all to themselves.  They will always share their birthday but this is a day dedicated all to Will.  The kids had a big discussion about which day was better – their birthday or their special day.  They never came to a conclusive answer but they debated about getting presents on their birthday and being able to do something fun on their special day.  I think they enjoy both but I think they do enjoy having their own day.

I had a sign and balloons for Will when he woke up and Drew and I went and had lunch with him and his friend Luke.  We didn’t get to celebrate on his actual day because there was a Wake Forest football game on that Thursday.  We did bring them to the tailgate and they got to share milkshakes (Will’s treat of choice) with Micah and Claire.  Then Suzette took the kids back to our house and got them in bed while we sat out in a very chilly November evening freezing our butts off.     

We did however celebrate Will’s special day on Friday, the 7th.  He kept talking about wanting to go back to the same bounce house in Greensboro and I finally talked him into trying another one.  There are three of them in Greensboro.  After a little convincing and showing him pictures online, he chose to go to Safari Nation.  They picked me up from work on Friday night and we headed out to Greensboro to Steak-n-Shake for dinner and then to Safari Nation.  I thought Friday might be crowded but it was actually great.   The kids had a blast and did like the new place.  I liked that it was a little smaller and it was not crowded and had some new stuff.  We all had a fun evening.

Saturday was another busy day.  My parents drove over early that morning and my mom, Will and I went and walked in our local JDRF walk in honor of my niece Hayley.  The whole family was planning to go but Lindy had been hacking up a lung all week long and she just didn’t need to be out in the cold.  Will didn’t want to walk the whole way but we distracted him and before he knew it he was done!  We got to see his old preschool teacher and he was happy about that.  Hayley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6.  We walk for her and I truly believe in her lifetime that Type 1 will have a cure.  We wish we could have walked with her but we were walking for her!  We love her so much!

We came home to warm up and then Will and I headed back to Greensboro for a birthday party.  Both kids were actually invited but we chose to keep Lindy home to keep resting.  We headed to a laser tag birthday party.  I wish I had prepared young Will for this party.  I wish I would have showed him a video of laser tag or explained more about what it was.  I really wish I would have compared it to the Toy Story Mania ride at Disney World.  Instead I talked a little bit about it and told him it would be a little dark in there and then he flipped out.  He was crying and did not want to go.  I ended up going in with him and the birthday boy tried to reassure him it wasn’t scary.  I wore the vest and he helped me shoot the laser gun.  He alternated between laughing when we got someone and telling me he wanted to leave.  We made it through one game but we did not play the second game.  They each got a $5 gift card for arcade games and he did enjoy those.  He played ski ball and air hockey with a buddy.   They got to eat and then they were supposed to play another game of laser tag.  When he felt sick and had to make a quick trip to the bathroom, we skipped the last game too!  I thought it was fun and should have gone back to play those two games.  ha! 

Sunday we went to church for the first time in a month.  Drew took a one month sabbatical from church and it was over November 9th.  Back to church we went.  The kids were a bit confused as to why we played hooky all month and were anxious to see their church friends.  Right after church Drew and I left for a play and my parents watched the kids.  My dad dropped my mom and Lindy off at a birthday party for a girl in her class.  It was at a horse barn and she got to ride a horse – and sweet talked them into two rides – and got to feed the horses.  While they were at the birthday party my dad took Will to a putt putt course and driving range.  He got to hit his first golf balls at a driving range. 

It was a fun and busy weekend and we enjoyed having my parents around.  They don’t stay with us hardly ever since they live just an hour away. 

Sweet Will on his special day!DSC_1651
We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast as a treat!DSC_1653
The JDRF walkers!
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We love Hayley!
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Walk day selfie!
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Will brought Lindy home a balloon dog.DSC_1656
Cute girl in a cute outfit striking a pose!DSC_1658
Celebrating Will’s special day at Safari Nation.IMG_5904IMG_5906
They had a fun mini zipline.
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Will at his party on Saturday afternoon.
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Happy when not playing laser tag!
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Lindy at her birthday party on Sunday.IMG_6005
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Lou with her friend Ellie
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Will playing golf with Papa.
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First time at the driving range!
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Golf selfies with Papa!
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