A Speech

The bride from Tuesdays post has been a friend since kindergarten.
She asked her three bridesmaids to give a little speech at the rehearsal. The minute she asked us, my heart started pounding. I'm not witty. I'm not funny. I'm not a writer. What was I supposed to say? Especially about a journalism major who is now in sales. She knows how to write and think fast. In front of all these people? And strangers are no problem. I don't really care what strangers think. I'll never see them again. I also am not sure I would have been able to get through it without crying. Even though it's not very sappy.

Nobody wants to be judged by their peers. I used to have a huge problem with role playing for rush too. I know you, why am I going to ask you about your major. I know what it is and why you picked it.

But the rehearsal dinner went by fast and people got distracted and we lost the crowd before we could give our personal shout out to the bride and groom! SUH-WEET!!! However, I took the time to write it and I never got to share it with her. So here it is for her the whole world to read (and judge).

I've known Jennifer since we were 5. In that time we've learned a lot about each other.
When I knew I had to give a speech, I wasn't sure whether I should tell you what I've learned about her or give advice. I thought better of telling you all that I know & I haven't been married long enough to dole out too much advice.
But I'll share my mantra for love and life with you.
Live, Laugh, Love.
I've learned that Jenny knows how to live. Let's face it, the girl has great taste and likes to have a good time. Keep having fun. Keep living. Live for each other.
Laugh. Have you heard our friend here laugh? It's infectious. It can wake a room. It can turn your day around. The first time I heard James' make her laugh like this, I knew he was different. I knew he was the one. Other than all the times I'd heard his name around that time!
Love. We'd all like to think this is the easy one. I'd like to think I even know a thing, or three, about this myself. It's why we are here, right? These two people love each other?
On tougher days (I know there haven't been any) but believe me, sweet babies cry, dinner burns, laundry piles high and dog hair gathers in corners, remember why you are here. What brought you to each other. What brought you, above all else, to this day. A day you vowed to each other to love from this day forward.
So in the almost 30 years we've been friends, I have learned one thing about you that I can share: You've got this!
Salute!
This is where I wish I had a picture from kindergarten to share. Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon in Mexico! XO

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend we spent a nice long weekend on the Outer Banks.
We were home for a friends wedding. Well, a really good friend. And I was in the wedding.

I hardly took a single picture, since we were so busy the entire time. This is why I don't blog for money! I do it for me and I don't have to feel bad that the pictures and memories are for me and no one else. We have quite a few weddings coming up. Maybe I will take some more pics then?!

Friday was a early morning mani & pedi! Always a nice way to get your day started! We left there and went to Duck for a Bridal Luncheon at The Blue Point! Yummy fresh food, an excellent view, great company, and lots and lots of laughs. We left there and made it back in time for rehearsal. After rehearsal we got to rest for a minute and then get freshened up for dinner.

Chad met me at dinner. Always nice to share a meal with new friends and enjoy their company instead of cleaning up spills and pretending that your children really are this well behaved all the time! More yummy food and another great view. This time in Nags Head at Pamlico Jacks! I mean they call themselves "the pirate hideaway". What could be more perfect for two pirate fans, like the hubs and I?!

Saturday morning, I was up and out of the house early to go get my hair did. It was a beautiful morning and it promised to have some chill later! Perfect for this prego! So I just wanted my hair back. Out of my face. Off my neck. But first I had to shove my face full of amazing food prepared by one of the groomsman. You laugh, but Melissa and I took some to the hair appointment. We knew there would be none left upon our return! The old saying "Never trust a skinny cook", is just that a saying. However, Andy did tell me you can trust a skinny cook, if he has fat friends. Oh, ok! After hair is was clean up time. As in clean up ourselves, steam a tie or two and a very important dress. Then it was time to hurry up and wait.
Here is our lovely bride..waiting...dress puffed out to not get wrinkled. Excuse the poor quality, this is from my cell!

Then it was "I DO" time..and introduce to you Mr&Mrs James and Jennifer Michael

(Obviously, I didn't take this picture, but thanks to facebook, I got a few extras)
(The most delicious I've ever put in my mouth)Cake time


Sunset pics on the roof deck. These boys sent my heart racing and my stomach to the floor!! I couldn't take all the jumping running and standing on the roof!! Especially after a few cocktails. And they were wearing flip flops. And do you know that I have two boys, that love to act like boys. These boys inparticular. Eccckkkkk. I couldn't take it. See my face in the corner. Proof enough?!

And here is Auntie 'Lissa with my dancin' machine. Jacket & tie no longer required. (Q told Chad they were wearing their president outfits. Because they looked just like our president....well kind of)

And here are the lovely bride and groom "leaving the reception". When your dad has shed blood sweat and tears restoring a corvette, you don't really get to leave!

Pooped babies

It was a tummies full off yummy food, a fun band, feet sore from dancing, reconnecting with old friends and their parents, assuring them that yes, my children really are this cute and well behaved all the time (ahem), talking with children drinking that I used to babysit, eyes swollen from crying (that may have just been me?!), beautiful, chilled, October kind of night. FILLED.WITH.LOVE