Wonderful Weekend!

I didn't have time to write yesterday, and I most certainly didn't have time to write at any point during the weekend.  I want to go back and do the entire weekend all over again.  The rehearsal was at the church at 4pm on Friday.  At dinner, we were at the same table as Justin and Kristin, and I am constantly reminded just how thankful I am for their friendship.  I love the casual conversation, the laughter, and the inside jokes that are constantly flowing when we're together.  After dinner, Renee and I drove to Party City to get decorations for the boys to decorate the get-away car.  Afterwards, we went to the House of Beer across from our apt and hung out with all of the boys (groomsmen) and Jamie.  Erika's aunt rented the pent house at Beso del Sol (less than a 1/2 mile north of our apt) for all the bridesmaids that night.  I debated back and forth on whether I was going to spend the night there with them since it would be so easy to travel the short distance to my apt, sleep there, shower there in the morning, and then go back to the pent house to get ready with the girls.  Renee and I were both contemplating this, and when we discovered that the groom and 2 other guys (besides John and Jared) were spending the night at our apt, Renee and I decided that the pent house might not be such a bad idea.  We were able to convince Jamie to stay with us, so in the loft above the master bedroom where Erika and Amanda slept, on 2 pushed-together futons, Renee, Jamie, and I made our bed for the night.  Because we could see and hear Erika and Amanda below us, it was seriously like a middle school sleepover.  After the magic mic (karaoke,) we talked and literally giggled until after 1:30am.  

Saturday, November 13, was a whirlwind.  Thinking it was 7:50am when it was actually 6:50am, Jamie woke us up and was ready to head back to our apt so she could get Crossman so they could go home and sleep a little longer and shower at his parents' house.  Renee and I went to Duncan Donuts for coffee, and I absolutely loved sitting and talking with her about life and marriage and kids.  While it's always exciting to anticipate our couples get-togethers, this weekend reminded me just how much I wish that we all lived in the same place.  Having seen them 3 times this year and now not knowing the next time we'll see them is sad to me.  Anyway... after Duncan Donuts, we went home to some sleepy boys who told us some funny stories about the night before.  John and Pic shared our bed.  Jared and Crossman tried to share the futon.  Wes, the lucky guy, had the couch to himself.  After I showered, I went to get flowers to take to Erika from Pic.  I also checked into their hotel room for them so all of their stuff would be there after the reception.  It was so much fun to think back on our wedding and look forward to what Pic & Erika have ahead of them.  The remainder of the day was filled with make-up, hair, pictures, and getting ready for the 3:00 wedding.  We took a party bus from the pent house to the church.  The wedding was beautiful, and Erika was beaming.  The ceremony was short and sweet, as all ceremonies should be.  There was a small reception at the church and a big, super fun reception at the Dunedin Community Center with really good food, drinks, and dancing.  As exhausted as I was, I really wasn't ready for the night to be over.  Being with great friends, watching Evie break it down on the dance floor, and watching Pic & Erika enjoy their big day was just too much fun.  John and Amanda sat with Pic & Erika, so I was assigned to a table with Justin, Kristin, the Crossmans, and the Davis.  It had to be the best table at the reception! 

The father/daughter dance is always difficult for me to watch, but the tears are usually short-lived - thank goodness.  I had fun dancing with friends, slow-dancing with John, dancing with Pic's dad to "Oh What a Night," and dancing with Erika during the dollar dance.  Once the reception was over, we all pitched in to clean up and get out of there.  Lots of people were going out to Eddie's, but we were exhausted, so John, the Crossmans, the Davis', and I went back to our apt, got gas station subs from next door, and hung out long enough to eat.  I'm pretty sure we were all asleep w/i about 3 seconds of falling into bed.  I didn't have any alcohol that night, but I truly felt drunk because I was so tired.

Jared, Renee, and Evie left around 8am Sunday morning to start their drive back to SC.  John and I were up long enough to tell them bye, and then we went back to sleep till noon.  It felt great to sleep in, and I probably could've slept the rest of the day.  If we didn't have tux returns and grocery shopping and 9 loads of laundry waiting for us, we probably would've just stayed in bed.  Sunday ended up being another great day, though.  Pic and Erika stopped by for about 45 minutes to drop off tuxes, pick up gifts, and chat for awhile.  John and I were starving by the time they left, so we ate at Five Guys - YUMMY- after dropping off the tuxes and before grocery shopping at Target.  After we dropped the groceries off at home, we went to Home Goods, Kirkland's, the mall, and Kohl's to look for Christmas decorations.  I loved knowing that what we bought will always be Christmas decorations in our home, things we'll remember and things our kids will remember.  I am so excited to be married  to John and so excited to continue on this journey together.  I can't wait to see what else is in store for us! 

Pictures of the weekend to come...