roadtrip!

my cousin got married this weekend so we made a mini-road trip out of it.  Daddy was away at scout camp and couldn't leave so we hopped in with Grammy and Papa as well as Uncle Booga and his little girl (since his wife had to work and couldn't go either).  Our little entourage fit perfectly into his suburban although several people assumed we were just one giant family, Booga and I being the parents to four rambunctious little girls.  (my mom thinks this is hilarious.)  oh well.

The drive down was a blur of movies and junk food.  The little girls did great, especially for how long the drive was.  We used some favorite treats (ring pops, candy necklaces, snickerdoodles and red vines) to keep them busy and I had brought special traveling coloring books and games for them.  Eventually we arrived and stopped for dinner at El Pollo Loco (a childhood favorite that doesn't exist where I now live).  We devoured our dinners, tried to keep Ladybug from climbing the walls and teased Booga about his makeshift fajitas (chicken and avacado wrapped in chicken skin).  Despite being almost 9:00 at night, it was hot and muggy so we took a quick dip in the pool before settling into bed at the hotel.  Butterfly slept with Grammy in the other room, apparently quietly and contently, going to bed without any protest.  But in our room, Ladybug insisted I make her a bed on the floor and then took turns with her cousins keeping each other awake until midnight.

Saturday was a beautiful day starting with a quick breakfast and trip to them temple.  I left the kids with my brother so that I could attend the wedding with my parents and it was an incredible experience.  The bride and groom make a beautiful couple and seemed so happy.  They never seemed flustered or upset about any family or wedding drama but the whole day actually seemed very leisurely and elegant.  During their wedding, the gentleman that married them shared some beautiful thoughts about marriage.  It was a powerful and wonderful experience that I feel lucky to have been a part.  After the wedding, I collected my kids and we hung around for a few pictures before attending the wedding luncheon.  That was mostly chaos for my family since my children are so young and were ready for naps.  But overall, it was a very nice lunch and fun to see family.  My cousintwin (and a favorite auntie to my girls) got to sit with us and I really loved getting to spend the time with her.

We had some time before the reception started so we spent it in the hotel pool, eager to cool off from the heat that lingered despite the rain.  (rain in July, in St. George!  dirty trick.)  We got a quick dinner and then attended the reception.  We arrived just in time to go through the line and offer congratulations and then indulge ourselves at the soft serve ice cream bar (the girls were thrilled!) before the first dance/cake cutting/bouquet festivities. My big girls danced and twirled in their fancy dresses (I know receptions and such are becoming increasingly casual but I still firmly believe it's a special occasion that warrants dressing up) and tried to make friends with everyone in the room (especially the women refilling the ice cream machine).  But eventually the long, hot day with no naps caught up to them and Uncle Booga took our tired girls to the car to watch a movie until we were ready to go.  They were almost asleep when we reached the hotel and then suddenly hit a second wind.  Again, our room was an obnoxious cycle of squealing and shushing until 11:00 at night.

But eventually we slept, awoke far too early and were ready to play again.  We stopped at the grocery store for donuts, chocolate milk and fruit (breakfast of champions) and went swimming one last time before the quick packing frenzy.  The car ride home was equally long as the first but we managed and eventually arrived at home again, eager to see daddy and run around for awhile (and repent of my weekend sugar binge).