On the road again

This is my last blog about our trip and I think just about catches me up with what we've been up to in July.

It was a good trip, but we were ready to get home. Even Adam was saying "Mommy get in car. I want to go home."

And we got a special treat headed home... the company of my sister, brother-in-law, and neice and nephews.

A brief stop was made in my daddy's "hometown". We drove by the inn we stayed at many times when I was a little girl and a little ways down the road... the location of "granddaddy's store" (now a place of storage units)



Along the way home there were also several stops made at little roadside parks for a break and some refueling.

Joe insisted we stop and get some fireworks too.

Adam, his "pireworks", and his "little bag" of candy from the wedding--

The beautiful blue ridge mountains... almost home!

For their first day in DC we took the Cokers out for some real fine dining!

Then we enjoyed some museums.

It was back to work for me the next day, but the rest of the gang took a ferry and spent a beautiful day at Mount Vernon.

The visit would not have been complete with a fight (or two... or three) between Ella and Adam. Once over Adam's Elmo that Ella wanted, once over Ella's leapster that Adam wanted... and then a bathtub fight over something VERY serious... a red cup.

Adam TRIED to appease Ella with an orange one.

Much too soon it was time for the Cokers to head home as well.

Adam was quite distraught about his cousins leaving.

The house seems MUCH too quiet now. And I miss everyone dearly. But it is also nice to get back to normal... and by "normal" I mean our standards of normal... which probably isn't SO normal for others, but is PERFECT for us!

Husband and Wife

Another addition was added to the chaos that is the Knight family. The wedding events were a frenzy of fun and I'm sure my new sister-in-law has lots of pictures to share of her own... but here are a few of my favorite captured moments.

The marriage ceremony Friday--



The kiddos at the rehearsal and dinner--

The big wedding day!

Zachary was fascinated by the ring box. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

When we were young children my grandmother started a hope chest for us. Each Christmas we would recieve a special something for our wedding day (goblets, cake knife, etc.). One special something we received one year was a garter and Lauren wore this special garter as she wed Justin. This garter will be kept and perhaps one day passed down in the family... so Lauren also wore a different one as a "throw away". Explicit directions had to be given on which garter Justin was seeking...

and who would be the lucky catcher...

Grayson... don't leave you're mother hanging. Give her a five.

My favorite part of the wedding was when Ballerina showed off her dancing skills during the couple's first dance. Everyone just stared and laughed at her as she twirled around in the middle of the dance floor. Not sure where Eric and Taylor were, I ran from the back of the room to scoop up the little princess before she stole the show any more.

But with a beautiful couple like this... the show is really all theirs.

So sweet!

Adam and his new best friend-

Grayson- much more interested in finding a place to play his DS than in wishing the couple good luck as they leave through a scene of bubbles.

A short time after this last picture, my LEAST favorite part of the wedding occured. I was standing and chatting with friends and family when the wife of one of the groomsmen started swatting at her feet and shouting "ants". I too started feeling them crawling all over my feet. I flipped off my shoes and was trying to brush them off my feet... when I started feeling them elsewhere... I went screaming back into the reception hall... running to the bathroom... Lauren's mom asked if I was okay, to which I simply replied... yes, but I have ANTS in my PANTS!

All in all, it was a great day. It reminded me of the glory that is God and how blessed I am that He has granted me with the gifts of a loving family, an amazing husband, and precious little children.