Uncle Andy's Wedding - part 1

Nearly a month after the wedding and I am still wishing I could go back and do the weekend all over again.  I had the most incredible time!

Truth be told the timing of the wedding stressed me out a bit.  We were coming off a very busy summer of travel, the kids had just started school the week prior, and I was in no way, shape or form prepared to go!  But, once the day arrived to leave I was giddy with excitement.  I was excited for so many different reasons:  the most obvious being the marriage of Andy and Nora, but also, time in DC with my family, my kids being in the wedding, seeing my family...and alot of my family!  I always have a good time out with my brothers, and to throw some crazy fun cousins into the mix is just icing on the cake.

Off to DC!


We decided to fly to DC.  The flights were inexpensive, direct, and at really convenient times.  We were also able to book our hotel on points and get an extra night for free.  An added bonus was that our hotel turned out to be right across the street from the Willard, where the wedding would be taking place.

The kids were ridiculously excited to fly.  Neither of them remembers flights prior.  As soon as we entered the airport terminal, Drew said, "Is this Washington DC?  This place is awesome!"

Drew continued to make us laugh as we boarded the plane.  As we were settling into our seats, Drew started with, "Wait, I don't have a window.  Where's my window.  Aren't I supposed to have a window in this place?"  The laughs didn't stop there...once the no smoking sign came on, Drew says, "Well of course there's no smoking.  It's not like we can open the windows in this place!"  And I don't think I have ever seen someone take the reading of the "do's and don'ts" brochure quite so seriously.  His eyes were pinned to the flight attendant as she went over the safety procedures.  Finally, once we cleared the clouds he asked, "Are we in heaven?  Are we going to be there soon?"  Pete said, "Hopefully not this trip."  And Drew said, "Oh, thank goodness!"

Once Drew got all his commentary out, and we were at cruising altitude, the kids quickly took to playing on electronics.  The pilot announced our flight would be 1 hour and 15 min. and Pete looked at me and said, "We are never driving again!"  We did have one rough spot with the descent and Drew's ears.

Once we landed, the kids checked out the cockpit.


But finally we made it to DC and the kids got to take their first taxi ride...which was almost as exciting at the plane!  We arrived the Thursday before Labor Day and a few hours after we arrived, so did Uncle Andy!



Friday morning we had a 7:15 White House tour.  I think we went through either 2 or 3 security checks before we even entered the white house.  We actually had to preregister for the tour 6 months ago.  Understandably it is quite a process.  Anyway, at one checkpoint the kids in the group in front of us were asked their names and birthdates.  I was SO paranoid Drew was going to give his "new" birthdate (you may recall he decided just prior to this trip to change his birthdate).  I didn't want to lean down and say, "make sure you tell them your real birthdate" for fear a security guy would hear me, and then tag me as a potential person needing a more in-depth security check.  It was a great tour, and by that I mean "self guided". The kids had plenty to look at and were given a neat book as a souvenir.  I find it amazing that when security men, as well as tour guides, are stationed around the white house, my children are able to keep their hands to themselves and listen better.

waiting for our tour


completion of the tour




After the White House tour, my mom, Izzy and I headed to the bridal shower.  I thought the other flower girls would be there, but it was just Izzy.  She did great having to sit around with us older gals!


That evening the girls and guys split up for separate events.  While I got to head out for the night, Pete stayed at the hotel with the kids.  I had the BEST time!  I went for drinks and dinner with the girls and then left with a few of the girls to meet up with the guys.








Saturday we got to spend the day touring DC.  We hit up the Smithsonian.  Highlights included the Hope Diamond


...and well it looks like that was the only picture I took!  The kids were equal parts excited and bored with the various exhibits we took them to see.  Their favorite museum was the Air and Space Museum. In fact while some kids were posing for pictures in a plane, I asked Drew if he wanted to and he said, "Uh, no.  I've already had my picture taken flying a plane.  And besides, it was uncle Andy's fighter plane which is way cooler!"

After some DC touring, it was time for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  Rehearsal went just fine...both kids were eager to hear what they would be responsible for doing at the actual wedding.  They were told were to start, how to walk, where to stand at the end of the aisle...all good stuff and they did awesome with their listening ears!  I do recall myself saying quite a few times over the course of the 5 days, "This weekend is going to be lots of fun for all of us!  However, this weekend is not about you.  You are here to support Uncle Andy and soon to be Aunt Nora.  If any adult asks you a question it is to be answered with a "yes ma'am / no ma'am or yes sir / no sir".  If someone asks to stand, sit, stop talking, etc. you are expected to do it.  No questions about it.  Got it!"  ...thankfully when they needed to be good, they were golden!

The rehearsal dinner was at Old Ebbit's Grill and was a lot of fun.  Andy gave a really great speech and many toasts were made by best men.






Andy and Nora gave all the kids in the wedding monogrammed backpacks.  I helped to fill them with a few things to keep them entertained.










And just a nice picture with Grandpa Dave


As much as I wanted to stay and go out after the rehearsal with the gang, I thought it in my best interest to go get a good nights rest.  The big day was less than 24 hours away!

*going to bed that night, Drew asked, "Is Nora going to wear that white thing that looks like tissue on her head tomorrow?"  Why yes, Drew, she is going to wearing a veil :)

Before, During, and After

Well, I am happy to report that the yucks have left our house. Izzy is back to her fiesty self this morning. She woke up at 7:15 telling me that she was "starving". It was a tad to early for me, but a good sign.

So our day of the crud was spent lounging around all day. I think at some points during the day both the family room tv and our bedroom tv were playing kid shows? Izzy just kind of moved from couch to bed to floor trying to get comfortable while watching a day of shows. Drew couldn't have been happier to sit around playing and watching "Izzy's shows".

This is one of my most favorite toys. I think I like it because I find it "educational". Kids learn to both stack the pegs or lace them. I love that both my kids love to play/build with it.



Drew prefers to stack and build tall towers


While Izzy is more about threading and making necklaces




Drew got in on the necklace making too


So, we only had one real major catastrophe yesterday and it occured with both kids simultaneously. I was changing a nasty diaper or Drew's and Izzy jumped up and told me she was going to throw up. I was stuck, frozen as to who to tend to first? Looking back I should have grabbed Izzy and put her on the hardwood floors, but instead I stuck Drew's diaper back on. Izzy tossed her cookies all over the cream colored carpet and then left a trail all the way to the sink. Drew jumped up and followed in Izzy's trail, literally! So now I have Drew and Izzy both in puke. I wiped Izzy down and took off her clothes and then put her on my bed. I stuck Drew in the tub with the water trickling out for him to play in. Then I went downstairs to figure out where to start cleaning.

All in all the day was just VERY long. As you may remember Drew got up at noon so he didn't take a nap.

Izzy did tell me around 6 or so last night that she wanted to go to the pool. I told her that it was too late and it was closing soon. She knows that bedtime follows shortly after the pool closes. I found it interesting that she said to me "Hey mama, I don't think I can go to bed yet because I am still sick". Funny how she would have been well enough to go to the pool, but too sick to go to bed?

Also, Drew did something yesterday that kind of surprised me with his language skills. Drew likes to hold out his fist and tell you to "pound the rock". Well yesterday he told me to pound the rock and after I did he said "pound the rock, AGAIN". I don't think I have heard him use the word "again" before when he wants something repeated? It just stuck with me when he said it so I thought I would share it.

Prior to the crud invading our home we did have some fun with punching balloons.

Funny Drew

While in Greensboro this past July, Drew had his very first sleepover at a friend's house.  It was with his buddy William and it couldn't have gone better!   The next day William's mom told me how funny Drew was and recalled an incident from the night before.

Drew:  "I might get up tonight to have a midnight snack."

Linda:  "Do you typically get up and have a midnight snack?"

Drew:  "No.  But I think I will start tonight.  ...long pause... "but I won't actually know if it is midnight or not because I can't tell time.  ...so it might be a little before midnight or a little after midnight."

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Drew while in bathroom doing his business...
"Mom, I just pooped so big that it felt like a spear was poking my butt after I finished!"

9-9-21012
Drew's kindergarten logic: "Tomorrow it is only 10 more days til 6 more days til my birthday" (birthday is the 26th)

9-10-2012
Last week was a rough one for Drew at school...lots of tears. So I say to him, "Hey Buddy, let's try and have a no tear day at school. How does that sound? What do you think?" He replies, "Well, okay I can try ...(long pause)...but most likely that won't happen." Lord help me with that boy~

9-16-2102
Drew: "mom, next time you discipline me can you not make me cry?" ...probably not Drew. Chances are if I am disciplining you to the point of tears then you are lucky that is as bad as it got :) (this is coming from the boy who has also asked me not to use my "stern voice" when disciplining him)

9-19-2012
Drew while he was in the bathroom taking care of business:  "Wow, I just pooped so hard that I bet I pooped out tomorrows poop too!"

We may have turned a corner with Drew and school - day 8 of no tears and as we are doing his reading he said, "School is so cool. It is 6 hours of FREE LEARNING!" I asked if his teacher told him that and he said, "No. I just figured it out myself."