PAR-tAy

we did it! we travelled with two little ones. i have to admit, while driving to avon lake, i was thinking 'what are we doing?! we're crazy' especially when all of this happened at once: addy loudly crying in the car, being completely stopped on 71 in a construction-caused traffic jam, amelia loudly crying b/c the car stopped & then crying to be fed, & wes trying to climb from front seat to back seat & then squeeze himself in between the car seats to ease the crying. instead of panicking, we problem solved (what else does a social worker & an engineer do when stuck in traffic? we probably could have solved global warming at that point). we took amelia out of her car seat so wes could feed her--no worries folks, we were completely STOPPED in miles & miles of traffic--& then we gave addy a snack! (as a side note: we gerbicks do believe that car seat regulations are a bit overdone & are mostly fueled by car seat companies doing some great PAC'ing with politicians, etc etc which then make all families buy 2 or more car seats for their kids & then freak out over car seat regulations, which then forces parents to listen to babies & toddlers cry in their uncomfortable car seats! but that's just our opinion...). back to the story: within 15 minutes, we were rolling at a speedy 80 mph (okay, maybe 85...heidi was driving! we made excellent time.) we arrived in avon lake after being stuck behind every slow driver in central & northern ohio & were sent to wes' grandma's for a chicken paprikash dinner with the rest of the out of town family(& some in-towners, i guess). then addy, wes, grandpa, & (aunt) bri & (uncle) cliff & even aunt peg & uncle dan went to the avon lake football game! boo-hoo, i stayed at the grandparent's house to put amelia down...which wasn't such a bad deal b/c it was very cold & i didn't bring a warm jacket or coat for myself (just addy & amelia...). apparently, addy loved the game & clapped & cheered, although maybe not at the right times in the game, just whenever she felt a good clap was needed.

saturday we were off to the wedding. UGH, this was the drive from hell for the weekend. one hour straight of addy crying. & at that point, i think wes & i were entertaining the idea of leaving addy on the side of road for another family member to pick up (we passed several aunts & uncles who would recognize her & take pity :o). the wedding was in a beautiful, old catholic church & was gorgeous! i heard the wedding ceremony was also nice, but i wouldn't know b/c addy & i were outside most of the time b/c addy couldn't be quiet once the ceremony started, so i left with her. then she decided to take a big ole crap in her diaper. of course, i didn't have the diaper bag wtih me...so she just cried & was grumpy b/c she has a diaper rash & was uncomfortable with the pooiness. but i couldn't leave her in the foyer to grab the diaper bag in the sanctuary b/c there were lit candles all around. so we just froze outside! (i didn't think ahead & grab anything except the babbling toddler when jogging out of the sanctuary). addy was able to smell all the beautiful flowers outside, though!

onto the reception: addy loved the reception; ms. socialite was meeting everyone & showing off all her talents. amelia did pretty good as well, she slept through most of it b/c of the noise (she also slept through the ceremony!)...except of course when the speeches were going on! then she belted out a few good cries, so i also didn't get to hear those b/c i was jetting out of the room. sigh. both ceremony & reception were beautiful...the bride is an event planner, so this is her element.

we didn't get a good picture of this, but wes' cousin, the groom, re-painted wes' grandpa's 1951 john deere tractor & then built a wood platform for behind the tractor...so the bride & groom made their entrance on the tractor! it was very unique & mid-western-esque & very entertaining (in a good way!). here are some pics from the evening...

addy & her cousin, sierra, on the dance floor

mama with amelia

uncle cliff with addy...they spent lots of time together that night. cliff even danced part of the 'father/daughter dance' with addy (wes was in the restroom).

addy & grandma sue waiting for the bride & groom at the reception