The Wedding

Well, let's see if I can sum up the weekend in a reasonable amount of words....yeah, right;) There is so much to say (to quote one of my favorite songwriters:) but I'll just do some quick thoughts...

It was so fun to start the weekend on Thursday, getting pedicures in La Crosse with Kylie, Kelsey, Mary and Mom! I stole Mom for the ride home and I'm sure she wished she was in the other car...Collin cried and cried, there were detours, ugh. These days, my car rides are either wonderful or horrible. It is one of the most frustrating things - ever. To be driving and hear your child cry. But, we made it in one piece and headed to Mom and Dad's to see Tony!

Collin loved coming along for pedicures:)

 Since some friends of Tony and Tara's were staying at Mom and Dads Thursday night, the kids and I were privileged to stay at Andy's for the night! Kate was super excited and after Kylie told her that he had brought some toys there for her...she couldn't wait! It was pretty special for her and I'm thinking she will request going there in the future.

Sleeping at Uncle Andy's

Thursday night was the BBQ at Huinker's and we were excited to see everyone and let the kids run around. It was perfect out and they have a really lovely home. It didn't take Kate long to jump in the mix with Max, Mya, Ivy, Olivia and Grace:) She had told me she wasn't going to play with Max, just the girls, but then proceeded to hang very closely with Max the whole night! Collin did pretty good, though I struggled to get him to sleep with all the commotion. I wish he was at the point I could just put him down when sleepy and he would go to sleep. Not yet. But hopefully we get there soon.

A great party!

The kids were obsessed with gathering apples

The girls!

Friday morning it was time for the guys to golf and the gals to decorate the barn. Dave had to be on call Thursday (and then until 7 a.m. on Friday) so he was driving down to meet the guys at Oneota. Though I didn't think I would be much help (with kids in tow) I wanted to be at the barn to assist in decorating. Luckily, the Huinker-Hoden clan had a couple babysitters and allowed Kate to join them and so I dropped her off and headed to the barn with Collin! (side trip to drive-thru coffee...:) I wasn't much help with Collin there, but it was fun to see the barn transform and see the decorations for the first time! It was a gorgeous day and after eating some sandwiches on the patio we headed home. 

Rehearsal - It was so gorgeous at the venue (DeNovo Barn) and I am kicking myself for not taking a million more pictures. Rehearsal went well, though I had to step away and take care of Collin midway through. We then headed to the Hotel Winn and watched as our kiddos ran around and played (constantly picking each other up ??! :) and we ate. Good food, great company, Beth and Chris made a photo slideshow that was super sweet and I ended up tearing up! I didn't think I would, but as soon as I saw the first picture of baby Tony, I was grabbing my napkin! We were just, the best of friends and enemies as children, always together and having so much fun. There were fights, but it (usually) was brief and we were back playing together again immediately. He really is and always will be my "little" brother and best friend of many, many years.

The amazing venue - DeNovo Barn

Kate with her Uncle Andy

The girls

The happy couple!

Saturday morning came early (of course the kids slept great that night, but I had to get up and let them all sleep in!) However, it was just Mom and I driving down to the salon and I relished the time by ourselves. Oh - so, it was just as we got in the car that I felt a raindrop. The clouds looked dark. The forecast said no chance of rain. Ridiculous. Now, I knew everyone would be nervous and worried, and I wanted to be a positive view for them, but I also just had this gut feeling that it would be fine. Even when the forecast changed to rain up until the ceremony and when the radar showed the rain staying put....I just knew. So, as all the girls were conversing and getting their hair done and drinking coffee (BIG thank you to Mary Kruse!) I was in a great mood, how fun - we are getting ready for the wedding! I liked my hair and the gals who work there were fun. We were telling Tara all would be well though I could tell we weren't doing well at convincing her:)

When it was time for Tara to get dressed - she, Beth and the photographer went upstairs to take pictures. I snuck up the stairs to peak, I hadn't seen the dress yet and I was taking any opportunity to witness these special moments! Everything was just so gorgeous, the dress, Tara, watching her sister help her into it...I don't have a sister, well a "blood" one anyway, and Beth and Tara's relationship makes me think I missed out on a LOT. I can't tell you how precious it is and I am so happy that they have each other. I felt honored to just be a bystander and then actually got to help and cut the hanger string things out of her dress:) 

Well, then Tara said, "Oh, there's Tony." We look out the window and both of my brothers got out of the car. One in a tux and one in uniform. I had to look away cuz I was tearing up. Again. I didn't know he was going to be in uniform. I had hoped, but I know he hates doing it and getting all the attention, so I had forgotten about it. Truly. As they both walked down the road to the barn, I just smiled and cried a little. Then, Tony starts looking in the windows and I had to wave him off and shake my head. Moment over:) I went outside to say hi and give him a hug. I said Tara was inside and he couldn't go there, so we went into the barn. They were setting up and for awhile it was just me and my brothers. I am SO happy we had that little time. Just a little chit chat, me admiring them and me getting to put on Andy's bowtie. I then saw Chris and Brian walking down the road and stopped them from going in the schoolhouse too, asked them to keep my brothers company until we were ready for pictures. I hopped over to the schoolhouse to finish getting ready. 

We took pictures, enjoyed the cooler weather! wrangled adorable kids and watched guests arrive by trolley and shuttle. It was fun to be together, get great memories on film and then.....we started getting nervous! Pastor popped into the schoolhouse and gave us the T-minus 10 minutes call and I noticed many people starting to say they had butterflies. I was doing well, and was distracted by making sure both kids were ready for Grandpa to take them down the aisle, but once they were gone and we were lining up...Kylie and I were almost shaking! It was so funny, all we have to do is walk down the aisle. With our partners, no less, not even some guy we don't know! Of course, we did walk and stand up and watch as Tony and Tara were married. I tried really hard and didn't cry much during the ceremony. Though they surprised the parents with a song, "Borning Cry" and the readings were a surprise too and I had to stare off over the hills and not think about them too much to keep it together. Thank you Beth for giving me a kleenex for the super cool pockets in our dresses! I needed it! 

After we processed out, it was party time! A special thank you to Ron and Bobbi for the whole weekend! Collin did great during the ceremony and Ron and Bobbi both were so awesome with the kids. I fed Collin right away and then went to the barn to start relaxing! It was so wonderful, Tara has the best taste and everything was gorgeous, smart and thoughtful. I felt like I got to chat with a lot of people and then we sat at the beautiful head table and were served a super yummy meal. Toasts. The toasts were amazing. Both Dads spoke and did great. Then Andrew, and I wasn't nervous for him, but I just had no idea what he would say. He blew everyone away. He was funny, he was genuine, he was brief and he was just a little emotional. Dave and I were grabbing our napkins once again. Then it was Beth's turn. I knew she was nervous, so I was eager to hear her speech but then eager for it to be done too! Her speech was awesome. Well-written and from the heart. I'm sure Tony and Tara were so incredibly moved and touched by everyone. 

It was a great dance, I missed some parts when I was feeding Collin or trying to round up the kids' things for the evening. Kate of course, did not want to go, but Gpa and Gma Lenninger were troopers and took them back to go to bed. The other kids stayed later and for awhile, I was sad that Kate was gone - I didn't get to see her dance. But it was best to get them home:( We stayed until the end but it wasn't an outrageously late night. We're too old to be truly ridiculous anymore:) 

The next morning we had brunch at Mom and Dad's, thank you to Dave who got up and helped a lot. The kids were up a bit more overnight and I was also feeling all the "fun" I had the night before:) The brunch was very yummy and it was a nice way to see everyone again and make sure we all said our "see you laters." After thinking about it, I decided I didn't want to go home on Sunday! As Tony and Tara were leaving, we realized we weren't sure when we would see them again in the near future and they said they would stop by on Monday. Dave and I drove separately to Iowa, we would have to go separately back and he had to be on call Monday. I was also really craving some relaxing time at Mom and Dad's, one of my favorite places in the world is on their porch and on their deck. I wanted to just sit there and relax. So, we stayed. I hated that Dave had to go, again, we were apart, but he understood. 

It was lovely to have Monday as a "buffer" day. We got to ease out of the wedding weekend a bit and we did get to see Tony and Tara (and Roger and Pat, Andrew and Kylie:) I drove home later and got home late, but Dave was there to help with bedtimes and unpacking. It really was nice to be home and in our own beds. It also helps that Mom, Dad, Andrew and Kylie are going to come up this coming weekend to do some relaxing. Everyone really needs some time to just float in the water and rest. So, we will do our annual family vacation, with maybe a FaceTime call to Tony and Tara. 

Me and my little brothers

Tara playing with Collin

What a phenomenal weekend!