The Sound of Silence

What a whirlwind of a week! The early part of the week was spent getting ready for company and doing the wedding cake. We left the house about 10:30 Thursday morning and didn’t get home until about 8:00 that night (the whole time in wedding clothes and dress shoes!). We first went to Sheila’s (we thought, to help with Nam…but he decided he wanted to stay with Matt) and watched her get her hair and makeup done. We also left the cake there until time for the reception. We were supposed to be at the chapel by 1:00, but we were running a little late. Sheila got dressed, and then they took most of the group pictures. By time that was done, guests were beginning to arrive. Everything was very informal, so we spent a lot of time visiting and playing with the kiddos. The ceremony was short and sweet, and then the photographer took a lot of outdoor shots. He was really good at his job. Sheila had requested a lot of pictures of the audience, so he focused a lot of his time on getting pictures of all the kids. He was great with Nam, who loves taking pictures! He even let him take a few pics with his camera! Tonette was kind enough to bring Daddy and Bobbie to the ceremony, so Daddy could watch his only granddaughter get married. They were too tired to hang around until the reception, so she took them on back home right after the ceremony.

We spent so much time visiting after the ceremony that I lost track of time. It was 4:35 before I knew it, and we still had to drive to Sheila’s apartment to get the cake to take to the restaurant (by 5:00!)! So we ended up being about 15 minutes late arriving to the reception. Again, everything was very casual, so it wasn’t a big deal. The guests were still working on the appetizers, and the wait staff was just beginning to take orders for the meal. All of the little boys were running around having a blast together. (We were in a covered patio area of the restaurant.) Ian had prepared a slideshow as a surprise for the newlyweds, and he did a great job on it! I got a bit teary-eyed watching it! Sheila and Matt had to leave before eating their entrees to make it to the airport on time. The photographer was upset that they didn’t cut the cake, so we got the three boys to do the honors! (We saved a couple of pieces for when they return tomorrow.) It was a beautiful day and a very joyous one! We are so happy to have Matt and Ian and Caleb as part of our family now! 

Stephen’s family came back and spent Thursday and Friday nights with us to help keep Nam entertained. Those boys had a BLAST! Between building and playing with Legos, putting puzzles together, playing with wooden guns and swords, going to the park, and climbing the tree in the front yard, they were seldom still. Gracie tried her best to keep up with them! She is at such a cute age right now…right on the verge of walking and talking. Everything is something new to explore! We turned her loose last night with an iced cupcake. She never hesitated! She tore into that thing and devoured it! Icing was EVERYWHERE! Then she was wired and didn’t want to go to sleep!

This morning was more playing, more eating (It is hard to keep that many little ones fed…by time you finish breakfast dishes, they are ready for a snack!) Stephen’s family left right after lunch, and Nam went down for a nap. I expect he will sleep awhile! I hope the others will sleep in the car going home.

The newlyweds are flying home tomorrow morning, and we are planning to meet them at HC for the second service to hand Nam off. He has done SO WELL this weekend, but he will be VERY happy to see his mom and dad when they return! Sheila is taking next week off, so Dennis and I will have a free week. I’m hoping he’ll be able to finish the bed for Sheila and Matt. I also hope we both get over this crud we’ve been fighting for the past 3-4 weeks. Dennis was about over it, then it came back with a vengeance right before the wedding day. He had to go yesterday to get a steroid shot and some antibiotics. He’s feeling better, but we are both still blowing and hacking like crazy.

Unfortunately, I have no wedding pictures to share yet. I didn’t take any pictures all day, so I’ll have to wait to get the professional ones (unless someone else has some to share before then). I can’t wait to see them! Sheila was a beautiful bride, and happy faces were all around.