Nobody said the trip to get home would be easy, but so far it hasn't been too bad. After our tumultuous evening when we met up with Dylan, we had a nice night at the hotel and then reunited with family the next day for the big Miller/Schwartz wedding festivities. Friday included volleyball, the rehearsal, and the rehearsal picnic at an awesome park. Saturday was the big day, and I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid and hang with the ladies all day long. With a couple of talented girls among us, we were all able to tidy up quite nicely. Sadie got my hair into a nice looking low bun, thankfully, because without her help I would have been a hot mess. My dress was cute, except for the fact that I looked like a giant pink whale in it. But hey, it wasn't about me...all eyes were on Mikaila, the image of beauty.
She was perfect and elegant in her gown, and the ceremony and reception were exquisitely planned out to the very last detail. It was beautiful. I've never seen so many people so full of emotion...the message at the ceremony was long, the vows were long, the toasts were long...because everyone had such wonderful and heartfelt things to say. Tess and Jordyn pulled off the best song to toast their little sister and brother, and the rest of the night included multiple choreographed dances, cornhole, a photo booth, a balloon release, contra dancing, dinner and dancing and a cool send-off.
Gavin and I had to hit the road at 10, so we missed the last couple of hours of dancing. Gavin had reached his limit of being tired before the ceremony even began due to non-existent naps and late bedtimes, so Dylan had his hands full for the night with a cranky baby and watched the ceremony from way, way back on the lawn between screams and cries. Gavin was crying and howling in every photo, little stinker. But then, the over-tired hyper-mania came over him, and he was a complete wild man. Partying on the dance floor, squealing in delight, clapping for everything, saying "hi" to everyone at the head table and running around like a wild person. It was hilarious, and he was so delirious by the time we left that he was stumbling around worse than the drunkest person at the reception. (I'm pretty sure nobody was drunk, though.)
We had breakfast with Tom and Tilly and Cody's family before hitting the road today. We stopped in Grants Pass to let Gavin play in the park and just found our home for the night in Redding. Gavin just drifted off into dreamland in the next room (thank goodness for suites), and can you believe the little turkey didn't sleep a wink the entire time in the car? He's so sleep-resistant, I don't know how he and I are even related. Dylan is out picking us up dinner, and we are all looking forward to catching up on some Zzzzs tonight after a couple of restless nights. We'll get an early start back on the road again to head down the hot California valley tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately I did not capture a single photo from the wedding, as I was all wrapped up in the events of the day, though I'm sure many will surface on social media over time. But, I do have a few over the course of the last several days to share.
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| He's all into accessorizing these days |
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| Our last few walks involved Gavin pushing, rather than riding in, the stroller |
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| The big thrill of his day on Tuesday happened at the Lincoln Beach Thriftway |
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| He would get the sand in the shovel, show it all to me, toss it everywhere, and then say "all dirty." And repeat. |
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| He loved to run far, far away from me. I always hoped he would turn around, but usually I had to chase after him. |
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| Riding the luggage cart in Portland before the night fell to pieces. |
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| Oh, but when dad pushed the cart the next morning, even with the green lawnmower on it, it was the most fun ever. |
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| He was SO happy to have his daddy back. |
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| Child King |
We will be back to the comforts of home before we know it with fond memories of our summer, and I cannot wait!
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