A couple weekends ago we drove all the way to Milwaukee for a wedding. I was pretty annoyed with the drive by the time we reached Chicago, so Mom and Dad took an exit and, as luck would have it, found a park!
Dad was very cold.
I sat in a train with Mom.
And dug dirt with Dad. And then we got back in the car. I was. not. happy. about. that.
Finally, we got to the hotel. There were chandeliers everywhere! It was definitely the fanciest place I’ve ever been to in my whole life.
Even the bed was fancy.
And check out the view from our room!
That night, while Dad was rehearsing, I found the church’s stash of children’s books and toys.
Then I got to eat yummy food while …
Mom and Dad caught up with good friends. (That’s Joe, the groom-to-be, in the middle and Matt on the right.)
Always with the family pictures!
I loved hiding underneath this table …
and letting Mom carry me to bed after having fallen asleep on the car ride back to our hotel.
The next morning I ran all around the hotel room like a crazy woman in my turtleneck, diaper, socks and toilet-paper shawl. It was quite fun.
Then I had to sit very, very quietly for the wedding.
Thankfully friends sat behind Mom and me. There may have been an incident involving my Goldfish crackers and Mom forgetting to put my snack lid back on. (Sarah and John, in particular, are super-good at collecting Goldfish crackers scattered on and under pews in church while a wedding ceremony is going on.) Mom took me out of the sanctuary shortly thereafter.
I don’t know why this picture is such a big deal.
After the ceremony we went to the beautiful Wisconsin Club for the reception.
Mom held me up so I could look out the window and watch Dad get his picture taken.
I so desperately wanted down, down, down during cocktail hour so all of Mom and Dad’s friends formed a circle and I stood in the middle of it—and stomped in front of people’s feet.
We matched! (Not on purpose, though. Mom was able to re-wear the dress she wore in Aimee’s wedding! Although she had to get it altered. Something about not nursing me anymore …)
Seriously, always with the family pictures! I refuse to smile for family pictures.
My favorite place to hang out at the reception? The Ladies’ Restroom. It was lovely. There was a sitting room and a small, carpeted ramp perfect for running up and down on. And there were all these girls hanging out in there. We all became fast friends. Mom said several times how much she appreciated the fact that she was spending all her time at the reception in the Ladies’ Restroom. What can I say? I aim to please.
Even though I loved the Ladies’ Restroom, I have to admit, the dining area was quite beautiful.
As were the flowers.
There was lots of silverware to play with.
The beautiful bride and groom!
Girls.
Boys.
After we ate (Dad couldn’t stop raving how good the food was—steak and halibut) we danced and danced to the nine-piece band. I did not like being put down on the dance floor so Mom and Dad took turns holding me. Then, I fell asleep. Mom took me back to the hotel room while Dad stayed out with friends.
It was such a fun weekend. Congratulations, Elizabeth and Joe! Thanks for inviting us!
“After all there is something about a wedding-gown prettier than in any other gown in the world.” —Douglas William Jerrold