A Wedding, A Baby & Charlie Manuel

This weekend ended up being quite the whirlwind trip for us. We woke up early on Friday morning, dropped Bo off at my parents house for a sleepover with their dog Roscoe, and then started the drive towards our favorite state of Virginia for a friend's wedding at Smith Mountain Lake. GPS had us going through D.C., and down the middle of the state, which we knew would be a nightmare during the morning rush hour traffic. So we google mapped an alternate route and started on the beginning of our very long trip. 


All was great until we got off of good old interstate 81. We continued to dive as civilization seemed to get farther and farther away. We went up winding mountains and down the same treacherous mountains in the middle of the pouring rain. I, as the passenger and the Criminal Minds addict in our relationship, felt the need to continuously remind my husband, that this would be the most opportune time and place for a serial killer to come after us and make us meet a grisly demise. I am nothing, if not imaginative. Luckily, my husband let me stay in the car after said comments, most likely because he would have felt guilty leaving my friend a bridesmaid short on her wedding day. 


Finally the rain let up a bit, and we landed on a blessed stretch of non-curvy road. I still felt the need to constantly question where in the world we could possibly be, when Ryan lit up like a Christmas tree, and yelled, "We're in the hometown of Charlie Manuel!!!" You have got to be kidding me, I thought. I'm pretty sure we're somewhere God forgot after 1952. But, alas, my husband was right...we were, in fact, in Charlie's hometown. Want proof? Here ya go:

 A little piece of home in VA

Rock on Charlie. 

This restored my faith in the fact that this weekend would indeed, be awesome, and after our photo op, we hit the road again. 


It was about this time that my phone started to ring, and I got the much awaited news via text message that my friend Ashley's little baby boy would be making his much anticipated grand appearance sometime over the weekend. Ashley is a Jersey girl at heart, so of course this news made me feel the need to follow up with a text saying, " I hope your baby comes out fist pumping, and that his first words are "caaaaaaabbbbsss are here!'" This statement may or may not have come back to haunt me later. 


We eventually arrived at our destination, and headed off to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The next day it was up and at it early in the morning for hair and makeup, and then getting ready. It was so wonderful to spend the day catching up with the bride, Meredith, and my fellow bridesmaid Susan. Meredith, Susan and I all went to VT, and spent a month traveling after graduation through eleven European countries. Meredith and I were also in the same major in college, and did not realize until Junior year that we grew up 20 minutes away from each other. Delaware- the home of one degree of separation. 


Finally, it was time to get married! The bride was absolutely beautiful, and the ceremony was perfectly filled with tears, laughter and love. 

 Making it official 

 Double fisting bouquets

 Unity candle

The new Mr. & Mrs.!

We then went off to take some fun photos, and hit up the cocktail hour. I use the word hit-up loosely, as my weird food allergies prevent me from being able to drink alcohol. Trust me, the irony of the fact that my family owns Irish pubs, yet I cannot drink is not lost on me. Life is a funny thing. 

Here are some of my favorite "fun" photos: 

 Susan, Meredith, and I cheer on the Hokies

 Touchdown!

 The groom went to Georgia Tech. Yup, another mixed marriage. 

 How many blondes does it take to bustle a wedding dress? Apparently, three. 

Success! 

Before we knew it, it was time to be introduced and celebrate! The couple chose an amazing wedding band, and I seriously did not get off the dance floor the entire night (nor apparently, did I feel the need to take my sunglasses off). So much fun!

 Let's get the party started! 

 Yay for the newest members of the married club!

 One of our table members is not like the others (*cough*cough*Ryan)

1st Dance

 I wear my sunglasses at night. Ryan perfects "blue steel."

 Nothing shows people how tough you are like throwing gang signs while wearing pink sunglasses. 

 Amazing wedding band! 

We seem to lack the ability to ever take a nice couple picture together. It's cool, we've accepted it. 

We had such a great time, and it was definitely one of the best weddings we have ever attended. Unfortunately, we had to be up pretty early the next morning to make the long trek back home. Fortunately, I am an amazing wife and let my husband take another alternate route home that allowed us to stop in Charlottesville for some brunch. It was such a beautiful day, and it was nice to get out of the car and relax for a little bit. I may have been in enemy territory, but my stomach never turns down good food, and trust me, Charlottesville has a lot of it. 

 Sunshine and coffee, two of my favorite things. 

Ryan made friends with a waiter, hence earning him lots of free samples of beer. 

After brunch, we hit the road (again), and that is when I got the wonderful news that Ashley's baby was finally here! She was such a trooper, as it ended up being quite a long delivery, made more difficult by the fact that her son decided to enter the world fist first (hence the reason I felt guilty for making my previous text message). I am going to have to buy this to make it up to her.

Luckily for us, the hospital was on our way home, so we got to stop in and meet Baby M. He was so adorable, and I am so happy that he held off on his arrival so that I could meet him! I'm pretty sure it was the first time I've ever held a baby that young...I have 3 younger siblings, but the youngest was born when I was six, and since I threw a fit about getting a sister instead of the brother I wanted, I can pretty much guarantee my parents didn't let me near her alone (love you Laura!). It was so wonderful!  

Go ahead, insert obligatory, "when are you going to have one of those" comments. I'm pretty sure I get them about once a week anyway. 

So, in a time span of 36 hours, we managed to see where Charlie Manuel grew up, watched two amazing people get married, and met the newest and cutest little boy (and future Hokie). Our hearts are full! Congrats Meredith & Andrew, Ashley & Charlie!