Thanksgiving/Wedding Weekend

Alrighty...here's a recap of the weekend...for myself to read someday and remember.

Wednesday:
---We arrived around lunchtime (because we'd spent the night in Mid-Boo-Foo PA...you know, just west of East Boo-Foo). Jeff promptly unpacked the car, and when the last bag was unpacked shut the back door...and watched as the back window SHATTERED. Yikes! So off our little car went to the shop. Lovely to pay $200 on a car you are selling in a month or two. Thank heavens it didn't happen while we were en route!
---I took off to help decorate (a laugh is appropriate here, folks. You know they are being polite when they ask ME to decorate anything...and that they are ignorant when they ask me to actually do things like tie a bow). Jeff was left at his parents' house alone while the other men went to pick up the tuxes. Jeff was amused (note sarcasm) that he had driven 8 hours to hang out with his kids alone. I had a blast pretending to look busy while chatting it up with Chad's girlfriend Monica. Tuxes arrived in a mess...as an example, Andrew's teeny tiny tuxedo jacket was paired up with a men's Small dress shirt. Panic ensued.
---Andrew is still in love with Monica. He was all winks and marriage proposals. Poor girl is going to have to wait quite a while for Andrew...but he sees no problems with this. To make up for losing his girlfriend to his nephew, Lily fell head over heels in love with Uncle Chad. She lit up every time he walked in the room, and was soon calling him "Dada". Jeff was a bit miffed to share his special title...but I thought it was sweet.
---Andrew enjoyed Chicken Tetrazinni for dinner. We told him that Grandma made it. Andrew turned to Grandma with a wise-guy face and said, "Nicely done, Grandma." Weirdo.

Thursday:
---Since my MIL is the hostess with the mostest, she hosted Thanksgiving for 18 people...on the same weekend as her only daughter's wedding. There's a reason when Jeff proposed to me I said, "Just so you know, I'll never be as wonderful as your mother." Lots of reasons. Anyhoo, she had quite the spread (thanks in large parts to cooking by Aunt Bonnie and Great-Grandma).
---Andrew had the opportunity to educate Uncle Colum's Irish family about Thanksgiving...since he'd just been an Indian in his school feast. It was fun.
---Thanksgiving was also spent planting seeds in the mind of my reluctant ring bearer. At one point, Grandma showed him a pile of gifts, "These are for people who help in the wedding." Andrew said softly, "Like Me?"

Friday:
---No naps + Rehearsal = Happy Kids? My children defied all odds. Lily took no nap, and did awesome. Andrew was fantastic, despite being dead-set against doing the actual ring-bearing. They made us look good. ;) Even though we really just got lucky.
---Andrew was more than the reluctant ring-bearer. To Sara's credit, there was no pressure put on Andrew (or us ;) ). He just didn't want anything to do with it when he actually saw the aisle. We kept trying to explain what it was like. He eventually came up with, "It's like a parade." Oh, yea. That's a great explanation for a 4 year old. Thanks for coming up with it, Andrew.

Saturday:
---The Big Day. Which for the bride and groom and bride's mother is full of last minute to-do lists, wardrobe, stressful moments, etc etc. Which for the ring bearer is full of...waiting. Andrew did great at waiting. Better than Jeff and I, to be honest.
---We arrive at the wedding for pictures. My parents arrived to help with Lily (praise the Lord). Andrew was in one or two shots and then there was more waiting. He practiced walking down the aisle. He climbed in and out of the choir loft. He became very relaxed in the church. I still thought there was a 90% chance he would flake out. And then it began. Lily fell asleep in the nursery so we could all enjoy it...except for my mother, of course (this from a girl who literally slept 40 minutes of our 8 hour drive!!!) And Andrew walked slowly down the aisle with a smile on his face, holding that little pillow in front of him. In his chocolate brown tux. And I was practically sobbing out loud. What a pansy. I was so proud of that little man. And then Colum gave him a great big hug as he took the pillow, and I almost lost it. Couldn't really see Sara coming down the aisle, I was so busy wiping those damn tears away.
---4 minutes after joining me in the pew, Andrew was antsy. His part was over. He leaned toward me and said, "Are they married yet?" Nope. More waiting, Andrew.
---Arrive at the reception. "Can we dance yet?" Nope. Gotta eat. More waiting, Andrew. "Can we dance yet?" Nope. Gotta give speeches. More waiting, Andrew. And he did AWESOME. After going to bed late and playing hard each day, he did so good. I was just beaming inside. And outside. What an amazing child I have. Oh, let's include Lily in this as well. My little Lillian was working on almost no sleep, and she was charming and pleasant and so stinkin' cute. Momma's heart was just swelling right out of my chest. No pressure, #3. You've got awfully big shoes to fit into.

Sunday:
---No Naps + Late bedtime + Wake up at dawn = Grouchy kids. FINALLY, my kids were grouchy. Zombie-like little grouches. And I was almost relieved, because if they had been good again...I would have wondered if they were human.
---Andrew enjoyed his football birthday party, courtesy of Grandma (did I mention how crazy she is...I mean what a great hostess she is?). Andrew got to spend it with all his grandparents, all his aunts and uncles (minus Andrea), and his one and only cousin Colin. If he hadn't been so tired, it would have been a dream come true.

Monday:
---The long drive home. Lily did okay...but it's hard to entertain her in the car. She can't really do anything. Andrew did AWESOME. Seriously. So excited about the 4's.

-gasp- So that's it. Did I forget any cute Andrew stories? This is the time for family to speak up. I'll add it in and delete this little part, so it looks like I actually remembered it. ;)