Otherwise known as "The Best Week EVER!"... part 1!

We've just returned from a little 10 day family vacation... well, I say "just" but it was 3 days ago and I'm just now recovering from the unpacking of 20 suitcases and the mounds of laundry that ensued!  No worries, it was worth it!  Where to even begin...

We hit the road last Thursday night and drove halfway to Atlanta (ended up in Tifton, GA).  That night was kind of rough... traffic, screaming kids, trying to get everyone to fall asleep at midnight in a Fairfield Inn... but that's okay, when we woke up on Friday morning, everything got better from there!  On Friday I went to Melissa's bridesmaids luncheon, then a Sip and See at her house, and then the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner afterward.  It was so nice to see Melissa all glowing and excited for her wedding, my sweet friend Lindsay, and then Katie and Michael Mazuk, who we haven't seen since they moved to Belgium last year!  I was pretty much on cloud 9 and just so happy to be there!  Oh and then all top of it all, my parents were there too... they were so nice to drive all the way to Atlanta from Charleston to watch the kids for us during all of the wedding festivities.  I only wish that I had been able to spend more time with them!

the luncheon:

 at the rehearsal dinner:

The day of the wedding was mostly spent doing makeup and hair, hanging out with the girls, and eating, eating, eating!  Just check out this "food baby" as proof:

 Okay, just kidding, that's a real baby in there... he/she definitely decided to POP out this week!
 Here we are all ready for the ceremony:

 Isn't she breathtaking!?  Meliss, you really were!!!

And then after the ceremony... oh, this is the funniest bridesmaid story ever!!  Katie, Lindsay, and I jumped in a car to drive over to the reception.  Little did I know... the sash on the back of my dress was stuck in the car door!  We were just driving down the road when I suddenly felt like I was being pulled backwards in my seat and I heard a loud RIIIIIIP!  Um, yeah, it was part of my dress being ripped from my body... I guess it got caught in a tire or something!!  At first it was scary because I had no idea what was going on, but then once we stopped the car and figured out what had happened, it became pretty darn hilarious!  Lindsay was a trooper and ran out into the middle of the road to retrieve my sash, and then Katie found a sewing kit and mended the giant hole at my dress once we got to the country club!  What amazing friends I have!!

Anyway, the wedding and reception were absolutely beautiful and I'm so happy for Melissa and Hunt!  They are so much fun together... can't wait to spend more time with them as a couple!

The day after the wedding, we decided to visit the Georgia Aquarium with my parents and the kids.  It was amazing!  I couldn't believe some of the animals they had there... whale sharks, penguins, beluga whales, and giant rays!  Chase and Siena loved every minute and it was good to finally talk to my parents a bit!

Then we started our drive to Clemson... and that will have to be part 2 because apparently "nap time" is over for today!  :)