The let down

The festivities have ended. The last of our party guests have gone home. I wonder what happened and the days seem a blur. I will recount them here in a blow by blow report.
The festivities start with Adriel coming home and her friend Adria flying in to help with the preparations. Joel arrives shortly thereafter. We managed to avert a disaster with interpersonal relations between father in law and new son in law. All turned out well and Joel was welcomed with open arms. It was great having him around to get to know him, as that was a missing link. The friends from England arrived on the scene as well, staying their first night by invitation at our home. the family of five enjoyed the pool and our place with all its trappings. The future in laws arrived as well and introductions were made. Our family began to arrive in stages, Lasha Joe and family first, Naarah following close behind. GG stayed with Jason to arrive next day. The whole clan was here.
Tuesday: Then guests began to arrive, sexy farmhand in a suburban drove up. Not sure he wasn't a wedding crasher, but his ID checked out. He indeed was in the wedding party. The sister in law arrived and then off and on Joel's groomsmen.

Wednesday: Airport runs and final preparations were made around the place and people began to arrive causing intense tension and an unfortunate motorhome escape. Adriel, Charlie, Joel, Adria, Lasha, Jada, Myself and others were making final decoration runs. Wednesday night pizza was purchased and consumed in great quantities. Dennis came out of hiding feeling hospitable and refreshed, Johnson's came in and regrettably didn't come over to be with us.

Thursday: Dennis had help from Charlie, Joe and Josh the wedding crasher doing final clean up. Dennis, Ed and the boys pulled out the guns for shooting, Joe took the Corvette for a 156 mile an hour spin. Charlie put together the winger... and wanted to look for spinners... otherwise known as a wrench in America. The clay pigeon shooter I got Dennis for his birthday last year came into play in a big way.

It felt as if things were finally ready. Dennis settled in to being gracious host and I started worrying about small details. Jada arranged for early morning massages and pedicures. We gave up on the lengthy manicure ordeal, which undid any relaxing we got for the earlier massage. We went for marguarita's at the bar next door. Still final touches to be done and flowers to be arranged and the arbor set in its place. Last minute decorations were purchased and the day wizzed by. The girls were off finding clothes for the small boys who were in the wedding and it was four before we finally heard from them. We all relaxed after we realized the time pressure was self imposed and we were the ones who were attending... no one cared if we started on time...The girls came, rehearsal was had, the music was set up and the grooms dinner at the pool was ready to go. Jason and Joe managed the grill. The fonnesbecks served steaks, Idaho potatoes and salad. Everyone had a wonderful time.A little too much alcohol was consumed, but other than that all went very well. The four wheeler incident notwithstanding.. which by the way will make a great wedding story for Adriel and Joel some day. Joels groomsmen girlfriend being all of 4 feet tall standing neck high in water somewhere in a field after Steve her boyfriend took my four wheeler out of the yard to who knows where. Someone finally realized they were gone too long, Josh the wedding crasher actually, and went to rescue them. Turns out they needed rescuing. The four wheeler was stuck somewhere, I still have no idea where.
Then there was the incident of the groom and father of the groom trying to escape with my arbor... still not sure where they were going with it... but never mind. It struck me funny, and I had a bit of a laugh over it. Adriel did a little hollering and caused a fuss. A bit of drama. But all is well now I presume.

Friday: Wedding Day.
We were up at the butt crack of dawn, as your dad likes to so eloquently state it. The weather looked like it was going to hold all day...There was final work to be done. Adriel was up too late and was tired. We girls mustered up the energy to go off for the beautification ritual..
When I returned there were many food and table decoration runs to be made by adria and leah to the golf course. Drea of course was happy to do it as she would be driving my escalade. She was like a puppy with two peters.
When the final hour arrived, the photographer was awesome, she took some great shots.

Adriel looked so beautiful. Her hair was up perfectly, her dress looked beautiful on her. She had her make up applied by beautiful Sara and her heart was bursting with love. It showed all over her lovely face that day. I have never seen her look so lovely. Everyone gathered, photos were taken, it seemed as if everyone was relaxed and out to just enjoy the day. The flowers looked beautiful, Linda made wonderful brownies, Johnsons bought toppings for them, the chocolate fountain was prepared and fruit made ready for reception.
We prayed over Adriel in the kitchen and Adria and Leah prayed over Joel in the yard outside.
Everyone was so helpful to make everything go smoothly. Then the wedding songs began and the couples started down the isle. A final touch was the boys pulling the carpet down the isle. They did wonderfully well. Quite comical for all, a nice touch.

I cried as we walked Adriel down the isle. Our final wedding march. Bitter sweet however. So happy she found someone to love and to love her, but sad the day came when she is no longer ours.

The upside is that I am proud of all of my daughters and sons in law. Enjoyed them all so much... they are all great people. Nice to have another one aboard to add to the family dynamics. Will be great to see their family evolve.

The married couple came back the next day to open cards before heading off to San Fransisco.
Lasha, Joe and family left Sunday. Jason left Tuesday. Naarah stayed until Saturday.
Today is Sunday. I am exhausted.
Next week we go to Idaho. The following I go to Atlanta.

Then, I hope to settle in to some kind of routine.