Wedding Installment #5 - The Reception

The wedding was over and we all filed back to the limos... I realized that I would have 'squat-walk' more towards the front of that long limo so I opted to sit up with the driver. He told me I looked very 'lovely' probably hoping for a big tip. I was very comfortable except for my feet which were swelling at an alarming rate. I had a thought that it might have to do with my Spanx. My Florida BFF had the foresight to bring me my nasty black flip flops which I put on without a second thought.
Walking into The Crown Room I didn't know what to expect. I had the best of the best decorator Ted Viator of the Gardenaire and the owner of the party room Mark Melancon who did the tables... but I still was in for a huge surprise. It was beautiful, actually it was better than beautiful. I couldn't have imagined how lovely it was. The main hallway was decorated with potted trees and pictures of the kids as they were growing up. At the end of the hallway was a huge urn with cascades of live flowers and under that was the kid's engagement picture and the guest book. When I walked into the main party room it was breathtaking. Surrounding the room were several huge urns like in the front with similar cascading flowers. The dance floor was black and white checkerboard. Above the floor was a chandelier with flowers and gauzy material draping to the four corners. The table settings were lovely in their simplicity. Ted made the room a showplace all for my daughter and her husband. We had the wedding catered by Imonellis and the food never stopped. Brian the owner of Imonellis was there to supervise and we had a wide selection of food that was awesome. There were different food stations situated around the room. We had everything from beef to pork, seafood to pasta, fruit, shrimp, vegetables and a grit station. Grits are the southern potatoes to you people up north. These were served in martini glasses with your choice of shrimp sauce or a beef sauce. YUMMMM. We had two bars and a great DJ. After the initial bride and groom dance Becky danced with her daddy and of course he cried, bless his heart which made me cry.

THE MOP DANCE
Down here there is a tradition that if the younger sibling in the family gets married first the older sib has to dance with a mop if he is male or a broom for the female. I had asked my Florida BFF Jojo to make a face on a mop for me. What she brought was a fully decorated head with eyes and lips with a mop head for hair. The Mop had a hat, tu-tu, arms and shoes at the end of the stick. It even had little boobies. It was the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. Joshua was called out on the dance floor and given the mop by Becky to dance with. It was really funny.

THE MONEY DANCE
Another tradition is the money dance in which the bride and the groom dance with others who pin money on them for the honor of dancing. I really felt that I should have gone out and let them pin money on me except that I can't dance..... maybe give me money not to dance.

THE CAKE
I have been looking forward to wedding cake all year long. Wedding cake is better than birthday cake. My sister Barbara made me promise that I would have a butter cream icing and not that Crisco stuff or marshmallow stuff. The cake was yumm. I have it on good authority that if you have feet the size of bread loaves that wedding cake does not count against the total wedding food caloric intake. Understanding that, I had two pieces. Two large pieces with icing. The groom's cake was a carrot cake bottom with Humvee shaped cake on the top with Yoda driving. Yes, Shane loves Star Wars.
It was a grand affair. I loved the whole thing. I wish that my feet had not exploded into king size because I had just awesome shoes for the wedding. But the best thing is I got a great new son-in-law who loves my daughter and she him. And I got wedding cake.

Wedding Installment #4 - The Event - September 13, 2008

I am sure that you are wondering why I am drawing the festivities out in several blogs.... I don't know. Now moving on to the actual event. Shane had a large limo pick up all the bridesmaids, Stan and I, and of course the Bride at the hotel. We had two photographers, one with us and one following the groomsmen and groom. They took pictures of everything and I am sure of my big butt trying to get into a limo. You have to kind of squat-walk down the aisle of this stretch limo to get to the front. I thank heavens was seated in the back near the door. I just sort of fell into my seat and bounced a little because of my Spanx. The arrival at the church was lovely, no rain and a nice breeze. The prayers were answered. The bridal party was ushered into a waiting room prior to the ceremony and people would come into see the girls and to see Becky. They were a vision. Becky was magical looking. I don't know why I stuck a picture of Becky in my purse that was taken when she was three. Lord knows it was one of the dumbest things I have done because every time I opened my purse I would tear up. Adding to that, I just had to show the picture to everyone. My son Joshua looking handsome in his tux escorted me down the aisle to the wrong seat. We were sitting one row behind where we were supposed to be. Thelma didn't want to move and my daughter's future in-laws were motioning us forward so I just got up and went forward. The closer the better. Becky's concern was that people would be staring at her. She expressed this more than once and I reassured her that when she and her daddy started down the aisle that all eyes would be on her daddy because he would be crying. It really touched me to see Stan. This has to be the most special moment in most dad's lives next to watching the birth. Giving their baby girl away. Stan, bless his heart cried all the way down the aisle. The ceremony was lovely, Becky is not Catholic so they didn't have a mass but the priest did deliver a lovely message. I expected to feel differently but inside I was still the mom and she is still my baby even though she is going by a different last name.

Wedding Installment #3 - Morning of the Big Day 9/13/2008

NOTE: When I can get a disk with some pictures on it I will post in this blog so please check back on occasion.

I got up early and with my sister Barbara, my mom-in-law Thelma went to Salon Indulgence owned by my friend Christy Stelly. We got our big do's (I do so love the Big Texas Hair look)and headed back to the hotel to dress. Stan managed to get me into my Spanx with little problem and a few snickers. I put on my dress and felt that I looked pretty good. Now in the pictures that I have seen since I feel like I look like a brown stuffed sausage.... but my friends all said I looked lovely. That is what friends are for!! I shoved my bea-u-tee ful shoes on my swollen tankles and left for the brides room. Only a mom knows the feeling of the first sight of your daughter standing in her wedding dress. I was struck by how fast time as flown. It was just yesterday that a 10lb 9oz girl entered my world and my heart. It was just yesterday that we did 'eyelash' kisses and she crept into my bed dressed in her daddy's tee shirt(her favorite sleeping attire). It was just yesterday that she narrowed her eyes at me and told me "I do it" when I tried to pick out her clothes. It was just yesterday that Stan had to wash her mouth out with soap for saying 'som-a-bitch' to the neighbor at the age of three. It was just a minute ago that she met Shane and now she was preparing to enter into a pledge that will last a lifetime. Somehow she grew up in a blink of an eye. I thought I was ready.

Wedding Installment #2 - September 12 at 7pm. Party #2 in the Suite

Like I said earlier, the whole weekend was based around food..... what we ate previously, what we were currently eating and what we would eat in the next few hours. After the successful Bridesmaids and others luncheon we had the evening get together for all the guests at the hotel who were invited to the wedding. I think we had a good time. I was pretty much in a haze plus I had a swelling problem. I have been trying to think of a word to use.... if you have big ankles that are just calf extensions then we call the cankles. If your big ole ankles extend to your toes..... tankles???? Help me out here!!! At any rate I had HUGE feet probably from wine the night before at the rehearsal dinner plus a small glass of wine at the evening party. Oh I forgot my friend Ruthie made the must fabulous Sangria for the luncheon. I had a few glasses.... but in fairness the swelling started on Tuesday pre-wedding and just got worse. Thursday morning pre-parties my very thin Florida BFF tells me she thinks she is a little swollen so I give her a Lasix(we are both intelligent nurses just in case you are wondering) and I take 2 more lasix because I can't bend my toes. We set out to pick up the bridal pictures and drop them off at the florist. It dawned on us that we might have overdone it and dropped our blood pressure because she couldn't keep her eyes open and I was slightly tunnel visioned and dizzy when I stood up. Ah well, it still didn't help me as I continued to swell. Stan and I had the evening party catered by Twissted Sisters. They did a marvelous job and I would highly recomend them to anyone, anytime. I didn't have to do a thing, I mostly sat around with my feet up and just looked at all the wonderful people who blessed my daughter by coming to celebrate her wedding. I was surrounded by my sisters and their families and friends (like sisters) who have been so important to my daughters life, my Florida in-laws and their families.... life just doesn't get any better except that tomorrow we are eating WEDDING CAKE.

Wedding Installment #1 - September 12, 2008 Bridesmaid and Others Luncheon...and me with a broken camera

Well the prayers worked. The wedding was not blown away by Ike. My FBFF Jojo came in on Tuesday morning for which I am still thankful for and my mother-in-law came in that night. At the last minute our bridesmaid luncheon had to be moved to the hotel due to family illness with the hostess. I was still doing the small stuff that needed to get done and my sisters and Jojo took that duty over. The decorations and food were OUTSTANDING. We hosted all the female wedding guests that were in the hotel, and the bridesmaids. It was a good time and it would not have been nearly so good if not for my family and friends. I spent a goodly time in tears for various reasons. I was happy, I was tired, I was happy and tired...you know the most obvious reasons for tears. Ike prevented my niece Jennie and husband, Brandon from coming so I cried about that(along with her crying as well) She was greatly missed. I seemed that we moved from one eating event to another and worst of all, I had no camera with which to record all the events. My camera stopped functioning the wedding week. The pictures in this blog are thanks to my niece Carrie. The above two pics are of my sisters Patti and Barbara and the bottom one is of Ruth and Jojo. Becky gave out beautiful robes with embroidered initials for each of the bridesmaids. In the picture below is Jessica Gerrard(Shane's sister) Megan Arceneaux(H.S. Friend and European travel buddy), Becky, Leigh Billeaud(maid-of-honor and friend since 3rd grade), and April Manuel(H.S. friend) Leah her other bridesmaid was ill and could not make the luncheon. Carol Adamson and sister Frances Garrard(Becky's mom-in-law) were in attendance as wellAnd last but not least the proud mama and her baby girl

Wedding 6 Days and Counting.... Yikes....Ike

Okay I believe in the power of prayer. Those of you who agree please start lifting Lafayette and the surrounding areas up in prayer. Ike is breathing down our neck and the wedding is still on. I will admit to being very very nervous and upset with all the stomach and bowel things that go with that. I just want to have the best time and watch my lovely daughter and her equally lovely fiance get married, eat great food, a lot of cake and drink about 30 martinis.... which if the wedding goes off without a hitch I will deserve( just plant me in a corner somewhere). Pray for our airplane travelers that they are not held up anywhere and that all will be well.

Tuesday September 2, 2008 D.A.G.(you got it.... day after Gustav)

Since my last entry things have calmed down. We got hit but not nearly as bad as it could be. We stared a twenty -four hour shift Monday morning to Tuesday am to keep the ER staffed thru the storm. All was well here, we had a small backup generator that kept the ER going and someone who is the smartest person ever, rigged up a portable air conditioner in the ER. My only problem was sleeping. I went to bed Monday morning and the day people decided that our hall where the night crew was sleeping was a corridor to see outside and came thru talking and laughing and having a good time. One unfortunate person came into my room to mop the floor. We had condensation as soon as the electricity went off. Said individual come into my room with her small chatty child with her..... and her small chatty child had toys.... they were all so very chatty until I said 'DO YOU MIND.... STOP TALKING... I AM TRYING TO SLEEP HERE'. I am sure I have the title of bitch of the year but PLEASE some consideration should have been shown. I got maybe 3 hours sleep. I went back on duty at 7pm till this am. When I left the hospital I walked down the same hall, singing and whistling, and slamming doors, just my little way of letting them know what it's like. I am back on duty at 7 pm tonight.... but before you think what a dedicated nurse I am.....I will confess that we don't have A/C at home and no running water. Work looks like a vacation to me and I get paid..... no problem deciding where I want to be!!
With in the next few days I will post pictures of the hurricane crew. Our house is in good shape but we lost a few trees and of course the yard is a mess. Oh well, small problems compared to what could have happened. Stan and Joshua pretty well secured the house with the windows boarded up and all yard items secured. Apparently a tornado whipped thru and did most of the damage down the street. Again we are blessed. Now to all of you who prayed and kept us safe.... continue with the prayers to keep Josephine and Ike away from the gulf...... we have 11 days till the wedding. I Love you all.

Sept 1 at 5:12 AM D.O.G. (Day of Gustav)

The night has been uneventful. No wind and no noise... very very still until a few minutes ago. The wind has started up... it's very gentle and pleasant. We have had a few patients but all in all it has been a quiet night and I was able to read a book and worry about my unmentionables that I put on tonight that are a size to small. It's hard to worry about a future hurricane when you have a constant wedgie.