Wedding Stuff

So it has been a while since I have written here. Starting last Thursday I have been prety busy with family type stuff. My youngest brother got married Saturday and so the family started gathering in for this event. It started Thursday when Deb & Gabe arrived in town along with the youngest member of the clan, little Paralee. It was my first opportunity to see my little niece so that was pretty cool. Got to hold her a bit and of course Gabe took lots of pics.

Fresh off picking them up from the airport we visited Grandma. She was, as always, super excited to see family members and especially Deb & Gabe whom she does not get to see as much. She also held Paralee for a bit, though her years were showing as she interchangably referred to Paralee as a boy and as a girl, repeatedly forgetting...but it was a good visit regardless.

Then we visited Dad for a while before going our separate ways. Gabe, Ken, Eric, Phillip and I went out for his bachelor party while the girls did some stuff with Tracy. We guys went to pick up our tuxes, had a quick bite to eat, then went to Mailbu Gran Prix. Maniacs. Nothing but maniacs on those roads. We were maniacal but in a good way, sliding our way to some fairly fast track times. Some of the other people were maniacal in less productive ways...such as the dude who went rocketing across the grass when he could not hold the turn. It was pretty funny.

Friday was more of the same. I picked up some stuff to complete the gift Emily & I were giving Phillip & Tracy and then met Deb, Gabe, Paralee, Kenneth, Stanica, Isaac, and some little girl Stanica was watching at Lloyd Center. We kept trying to call Pam & Nich because we knew they were supposed to arrive in town about that time. We left Lloyd Center about 3 to grab a bite at Applebees before heading out to St. Helens for the rehearsal.

At the rehearsal we caught up with Pam & Nich. Turned out they could not hear their phone because they got no signal...in the mall...at Lloyd Center....which they were at from about noon to 3. Hmm.

The rehearsal was...uhm...interesting. It quickly became obvious Tracy had been planning her wedding for a while. Apparently she started the planning about 30 seconds after conception which gave her plenty of time to work out every detail. And the wedding coordinator was also quite...uhm...exacting. Here is how long a stride you will take, how long it will take you to escort so and so down the aisle, here is where you will stand, this is the angle your shoulders will be set at, this is where he will be when you start walking here, etc. I am pretty sure how many breaths and heartbeats per minute were supposed to be regulated...

And the minister was on that wavelength too. We got a nice lengthy speech about facial expressions since our attitude would be reflected by the audience, they would have the same attitude we on the stage had. Then we had perhaps the longest rehearsal I have ever seen. Every song, including the ones on cd, was played full length, beginning to end at the appropriate spot. I guess I am still not sure why that was necessary, but hey...not my wedding.

Then we had the rehearsal dinner at Sunshine Pizza. It went so smoothly that Emily and I are now giving serious consideration to having our rehearsal dinner at a pizza joint.

The wedding itself was...uhm...interesting. With 20 some years of planning behind it Tracy had quite the list of pictures she wanted taken. Fortunately at some point we had to let the guests arrived (a little light hearted jesting; it was her day and for her to make sure she had the memories she wanted was a fine idea. At the time, with three people giving directions and about 8 people taking photographs it was...well...hectic. And demanding. But in the long run it will be a good thing)

Isaac, in all his 2 year old glory behaved about the way you would expect a 2 year old ring bearer to behave Very little ring bearing was accomplished. Much holding onto poppa was, however, accomplished until he was sent off to hang with Momma for a while.

After the wedding and reception we retired to Ken and Stanicas. No particular plan for what to do...well, for some inexplicable reason we decided to watch Barnyard which we followed up with Ice Age and Happy Feet. Imagine, if you will, myself, Nich, and Brenda providing running commentary with occasional interjections from Pam, Deb, Gabe, Kenneth, Stanica, and Emily...it was quite entertaining. Good times.

Yesterday was basically church, then dropping off Deb, Gabe & Paralee at the airport. It is always sad when the family starts to go their separate ways again.

So now it is past, Phillip and Tracy are off on their honeymoon and tonight we are getting together with Pam & Nich one last time before they head back home. We will see everyone except Pam & Nich in July. Looking forward to it.