I think I ate glass.

Sure glad this day only comes once every four years as my throat is sore, I have a headache, I'm whiney, my Diet Cherry Coke is not cold enough (I like it with ice crystals) and I want a nurse/slave. I originally typed I NEED a nurse/slave and that is a lie but if one happened to knock on the door let's just say I wouldn't turn them away.

I know, I know...I have been lax.

Well folks, if you page down you will notice that I am caught up to Monday and I SHOULD be current by Friday!

I have been out of town for a wedding and will catch up this week. So in answer to your email questions....no, I have not been sick, held captive, met a man (yeah, right), in the hospital, on a business trip or have a houseful of company. But best of all, I am not dead and thank you for your concern....I think.

Home again.

Sarah and Avery had so much fun last night. They talked and giggled for hours past Avery's bedtime but I didn't have the heart to insist they go to sleep. Oh yeah, like I have that kind of power. We had breakfast at The Waffle House (yes again) and I think Avery ate them out of bacon AND sausage. After breakfast we headed to Mamaw's to meet up with the rest of the family for one last visit. We just missed Tony and Tory as they had gotten last minute tickets to see Duke play Virginia and I can't wait to talk to Tory and hear about the game. Katy, Polly and Mamaw were still in church clothes and looked like they were trying to get up the energy to go change. Yep...all this running around finally caught up with us. Sarah and Avery went outside to pick more onions and visit Fat Back while Matthew and I read a book. Polly, Mamaw and I visited for awhile and then it was time for Avery and I to hit the road. Neither one of us were ready to leave but it was time to go to Pinehurst to meet Avery's Mom and Dad at Nana and Poppy's house. I feel like I've been in, around or right down Main Street of every little town in NC and most of SC. Cameron at least acted "semi-happy" to see his sister but I'm willing to bet that didn't last long. When we left Charlotte I had a clean, well rested, freshly shampooed, beautifully dressed little girl in the car. However, when I returned her to her parents she was definitely grubby, tired and crabby. Yep...time to go home and now I'm going to bed and am very much looking forward to sleeping in MY bed without somebodies feet planted in my kidneys.

The Wedding

It's OVER! Trying to get 9 people ready for a wedding is a real challenge and enough to make Mother Theresa say a bad word, and I do mean a real BAD word. All four Montana kids were in the wedding so while I pressed three floor length dresses on a countertop (don't ask) Polly curled hair and did makeup. Tory hadn't eaten anything other than crackers and part of a sliced apple but her fever was gone and after her shower she decided she would at least try to make it through the pictures. The poor thing was so pale that I swear if she stood in the sun, you could see right through her. Polly told Tory if she couldn't do the ceremony that was fine and she would bring her back to Mamaws after the pictures. Matthew was the ring bearer and all during rehearsal he made it very clear that he was NOT happy to be a ring bearer. First he very nicely suggested they find another little boy and then he said he didn't know why Jason (the groom) didn't just put that ring in his own pocket. Tony "won" the opportunity to get Matthew into his tux and of course that chore was put off until the last possible moment. Trying to keep a 4 year old boy clean is not an easy task and we weren't taking any chances. Tony was buttoning Matthew's collar and putting on his tie when in a very resigned voice Matthew said, "Oh man...this thing is going to choke me to death." Typical man. Tory made it through pictures just fine and decided she could do the ceremony too. The tough part of the ceremony for her was the standing for 30 minutes and a couple of times we thought she was going down but she made it just fine. There were 36 people in the wedding party and of course Tory, Katy and Sarah did beautifully but the shocker was Matthew not only walked down the aisle but he also waved and spoke to everyone he knew on his way down to the alter. Avery and I were sitting on the aisle and as he got closer I was thinking ohhhhh, this was not a good idea as I could just see Matthew stopping and sitting with us instead of going on down to the alter. I needn't have worried as he not only waved as he went by but he also stage whispered, "Hi Grandma...I'm doing it!" And he did! Whoever tied the rings to the pillow did an excellent job and the Best Man could not get them untied. Matthew proceeded to tell him that he needed a knife to cut them off but he didn't have a pocket knife anymore because he cut both "fumbs" and his Mother took it away. Apparently the minister hadn't cut his "fumbs" and his mother let him keep his knife because that is what they used to cut the rings off of the pillow. The reception was held at the country club and was lovely. Polly and I helped serve cake and after the bride and groom departed under a blaze of sparklers we came back to Mamaw's and collapsed. Sarah came back to the motel with Avery and I and they are watching Hannah Montana while I am struggling to keep my eyes open. Oh my goodness, we had so much fun and am I ever glad this day is over.

On The Road!

Avery and I made it to Benson in record time in spite of eating our way from Charlotte to Lillington. There was also one very interesting bathroom stop that required copious amounts of Purell and possibly a lobotomy to erase the trauma. We decided to stop at Mamaw's house and visit with everyone before checking into our motel especially since our motel is the only one in town and we were in no big rush. Katy, Sarah and Matthew were very excited to see us and Tory managed to raise her head off the pillow to give us a little wave but looked like she was near death. Polly said Tory had been sleeping all day and saying she didn't feel well but Pol is 99.9% convinced that Tory has a major case of pre-wedding I don't want to wear that dress and walk down the aisle in front of all those people virus. Polly, Mamaw and I visited all afternoon while the kids (except Sarah Bernheart) played outside with Fat Back. In case you hadn't figured this out yet Fat Back is a baby pot bellied pig. About 5 PM Avery and I went to check into our motel and let's just say we were underwhelmed. The first thing we noticed was half of the motel sign was missing and the remaining part of the sign had bullet holes. There is a Mexican Restaurant connected to the motel so the lobby had a very pungent aroma and we were anxious to get out of there. In hindsight we would have been better off in the lobby as our room was a potpouri of Mexican food and feet. We walked in the room, Avery looked around and said, "Grandma, I liked it better at Mamaw's." Me too Avery, me too. Rehearsal went very well UNTIL Tory bolted from the alter toward the bathroom and in her defense, she came thiiiis close to getting to the bathroom in time. Thank you Aunt Lisa and Dad for cleaning the carpet and Polly....you didn't really like those shoes anyway.

PS: Tory said, "I TOLD you I was sick." OK...we are convinced.

Charlotte...you can't get there from here.

And that is no lie! Until we moved to the Carolina's I assumed all cities (especially major tourist destinations) were connected by interstates. Well...ha ha, maybe they are in other states but they sure aren't around here. You would not believe how many turns, small towns, jogs in the road, cotton fields, boiled peanut stands and tobacco barns I have to pass before I get to Charlotte. At first Cameron was all, "HEY...no fair!" because Avery was going away without him but when it was pointed out that she was going to a wedding he decided he was very happy staying behind and having Mom and Dad all to himself.

Packing

Oh man, Morty saw the suitcase come out of the closet and he was not happy. I put the suitcase on the chaise in my bedroom and Morty immediately climbed in the suitcase. I took him out, put in my shoes, turned around to get my camera and Morty got back in....I think this is going to be a long process.