Wedding Weekend #2

I'm pretty much a week late posting this, but last week was crazy trying to recover from two trips back to back and having sick babies. Praying we're all on the mend now. 

Last weekend we traveled up to South Carolina for my brother's wedding. Jacob wasn't able to go because he had a symphony concert with rehearsals all week and the concert Saturday night. One of my brothers drove for me and our babysitter went along to help me and keep the kids when I had stuff to do (I was a bridesmaid). I'm so thankful she agreed to come - she was a lifesaver and I certainly couldn't have done it without her. 

We left around 7:45 Thursday morning. I got to ride in the back of the van between L&L. It was fun (most of the time. ha!). We took lots of pictures to send to Daddy. We missed him soo much!

A wonderful lady from church rode up with us and brought some of her fun toys for the kids to play with. 

Lily always does the etch-a-sketch upside down. So funny!

A water bottle kept Asher happy for a good 30 minutes. 

We ate supper at Cracker Barrel with Jer and some of his friends. The kids were so happy to be out of the van and be able to play at one of their favorite places! :)

Uncle Judah helped keep them occupied with a "game" of checkers. ha!

After supper, we went to the church where the rehearsal dinner was going to be held. We played outside a little and then went to help my mom and sister set up for the dinner. It took longer than planned and we didn't make it to our hotel until nearly 9pm! What a day!

Levi was up coughing alot each night (his allergies have been so bad the last two weeks) so everyone was pretty exhausted. On Friday, Asher and I went to the bridal luncheon while Hannah kept L&L at the hotel. 

Friday evening rehearsal.

Myra completely transformed this room and made the rehearsal dinner amazingly beautiful!

L&L at the kid's table. Playing on their cousin's ipod. :)

Jer and Anna (bride and groom) giving a speech. Very sweet!

The kids were sooo tired by the end of the dinner (or rather, by the time the food was served). Hannah and I tag teamed keeping them. We ended up spending most of the evening in the nursery. 

Late Friday night, all of my family (just the siblings) piled in my parents' hotel room on the sectional sofa. We looked at pictures and told memories. It was a sweet, sweet time!

Bright and early Saturday morning I headed to meet the wedding party for pictures. After 2 hours of pictures I rushed back to the hotel to get us checked out and to the church for family pictures. Hannah had gotten a lot of the stuff packed up and a couple kids dressed - such a huge help! My dad came and loaded the luggage cart and we checked out with three minutes to spare. My sweet dad also packed up the van for me and bless his heart, he was in such a hurry to get back to the church, he drove off with my key! I had to call him and wait for him to come back before we were on our way.

This is just a phone picture from my brother-in-law...obviously Anna and I were deep in conversation about something. Ha! Yes, I did bribe L&L with lollipops if they smiled and behaved during the pictures. I know, bad mommy. Oh well. Our sweet friend from church gave me a bunch of organic, dye-free lollipops to use in times of necessity during the two wedding weekends, so I figured it was as good a time as any to pull them out! 

Random side note- I watch the Duggar's show early in the mornings at the gym. I have to say, it was kind of encouraging to me to see in a recent episode that one of the little girls (who was a flower girl in a wedding) was crying when it was time for pictures and when it was time for the ceremony. My little ones are pretty normal, I suppose. :)

Isn't my mom's dress beautiful?! She was the prettiest mother-of-the-groom I've ever seen!

My three handsome brothers.

Jer and Anna right after the ceremony.

Anna and Lily.

By the reception, my kids were done for. They needed their mommy. It was way past nap time and they were just done. I felt really bad because there were so many of my old friends (from knowing in college and at the church I attended then) that wanted to talk to me and see the kids and take pictures of us, but it just didn't happen. I had to be all mommy by that point in the day.

Finally we were on our way home. I don't think I've ever been happier to be headed home. Ha!

More pictures for Daddy.

Once the kids fell asleep, it was a pretty good drive back. 

Levi's glasses crack me up in this one! :)

I can't tell you what a relief it was to get home! It was one of the most draining yet incredibly joyful weekends of my life - does that even make sense? :)