The Wedding Wrap-Up

Finally, a glimpse of the reason the circus traveled to South Dakota. Granted, this isn't much of a glimpse. Mama and Daddy and Kathleen were in the wedding party, and that made it a little difficult to take many photos. But since we're all about sharing, here's what we've got:

1. Aunt Annie was a beautiful bride. She and her best friend Kevin were married in a darling white clapboard church that was decorated with candles and autumn leaves. We wish them every blessing.

2. Aunt Katherine and Kathleen hanging out before the ceremony. Kathleen was so excited to have been asked to be a flower girl for the wedding -- except that she called it being "a flower fairy." And sometimes a "flower fairy princess." Mama and Daddy were a bit nervous about her role, since our three-going-on-four-year-old can be, well, fickle. But Kathleen was a natural. The doors opened and she strolled down the center aisle of the church, beaming and tossing autumn leaves from her little basket. She was darling. And we were very much relieved.

3. Aunt Annie and Kevin asked Daddy to wear his uniform for the wedding. Madeline was only a few months old the last time that she saw Daddy wear his blues (not that she'd remember), so she was impressed. I love how she's gazing at him. He's her hero, after all. (Mine, too.)

4. Madeline can find fun anywhere, even in a sanctuary. For that reason (and since Mama and Daddy weren't exactly free to restrain her during the ceremony), Madeline and John David hung out in the church's nursery with a nice teenage girl (recommended by the pastor) during the wedding. That poor girl earned her money, as our sweet, extremely tired, monumentally put-out baby screamed for the entire (though, mercifully not lengthy) ceremony. (We couldn't hear it. That's the beauty of the basement nursery.) Consequently, by the time we got to the reception, he was tuckered out:

After a little nap he joined the party, too. He might not be much of a conversationalist, but Indy loves to visit. Just look how happy he was to sit with Grandma and Aunt Eileen! It was such a treat to be able to catch up with family we've haven't seen -- in some cases, ever. Aunt Eileen, for example, hadn't gotten to meet Madeline or John David before the weekend. And the last time she'd seen Kathleen, our girl had been just weeks old!

And then, we danced. And danced and danced and danced.

When our feet could dance no more, we headed back to our house and tucked our littles into bed while we repacked our suitcases.

The next morning, just after we took this photo, we all headed our separate ways. Our girls are already asking when they can see their cousins again...

The cousins, minus Matt and Ethan, who were home for their football games...