[kretzklan]

Hee, hee...we just got home from Missouri. I'll have to start by saying it was a nice time. My mother actually did really well - no complete meltdowns at all. My sister was happy and her new hubby seemed happy. DH and I just laughed the whole time because my parents did all they could to save money - I know weddings are expensive and heck, I pretty much eloped - but if your DD wants to do it - just do it! A few highlights:
*My sister informed me at 1:30 am the morning of the wedding that I was supposed to give a toast...then I couldn't sleep as I was trying to think of appropriate things to say to a group of very religious folks (including my parents).
*My kids were the candle lighters but only got their lighting stick things 10 minutes before the guests arrived and no one had shown them what to do.
*They had Hy-Vee (the grocery store) cater the event - very intriguing!
*At the rehearsal dinner my mom introduced my kids like this: "this is my grandson R and the two that are adopted from Russia C and D"...more on that later!

Mom always struggled with the adoption - but she has done really well and treating them equally...until that introduction. So, the next morning I couldn't hold my tongue. I said "Mom, I know that you may not understand this, but introducing C and D as adopted really makes my whole family uncomfortable. They are simply all three my kids and I'd love it if you could introduce them like that". She tells me that she is so proud of how we created our family that she wants to tell everyone. I tried to be nice - but explained that it's their story to tell. She did NOT introduce them that way at the wedding! BUT, sitting at the wedding during pictures my grandma is behind me and I hear her whisper to my aunt "you know one of those kids isn't real...she's adopted" - she was talking about the new hubby's niece or cousin or something. I turned around and said "you've got to be kidding me...she looks like a very real kid to me...OMG she even moves - amazing" and stomped out. I was hot, hurting feet...hurting soul. GOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLYYYYYY. Neither of us apologized. Oh well.

Over all, we are happy to be home, but also very happy that my family has married off the last of this generation!
Here we all are after the wedding - I got ZERO pictures in the full suits - time just gets away!

[EZ2Luv]

What a nice looking family you have there.

EZ

[momraine]

Hey I think that is a great picture, we have no pictures of all of us. People keep asking for one, so I am going to have to get it done, but I get tired just thinking about getting everyone together in one place and all smiling at once for a picture, plus I hate pictures of me!

[bromanchik]

Personally I am impressed you got the whole family to agree to wear green. In my family they would have been revolt! My daughter barely agreed to mommy-daughter dresses when she was five.....

[kizibits]

You handled the "real kid" comment better than I would have! Sheesh! Where do people come up with these ideas?

[kretzklan]

We were all IN the wedding and that green was the color - there was little choice there as when Aunt Annie asks the kids to do something - they do it! And, they got plied with gifts by her the whole weekend...so I guess it was worth it!

[crick]

Love the pic!! The wedding sounds fun if not a bit stressful, and think you handled grandma just fine.

So, apps...what kind of apps does the Hyvee serve?

[heikewould]

Great coments by you and way to go. People don't realize what and how they say things...all the time.

Your family is beautiful...I didn't know you were Irish!

[angelkisses0102]

Love the picture...and I like the jackets off.

And good for you with your comments...I hate the 'real' comment.

Sounds like an interesting weekend...family can be so and !

[JustBarbara]

What a great storyteller you are! And I love your comments re: real children. I'm looking at your beautiful family and really I can't tell who's from where - you all just look like a very happy, loving family.

[MamaChinch]

What a nice picture! The kids look so great, I can't believe how tall R has gotten!
I am feeling with you ~ we just had three weekends of graudations and weddings...where grandmas and aunts and other relatives introdcued DD in interesting ways! This wekend my aunt says...."And this is our Russian baby!" Well, Russian baby takes care of herself and said, "No I'm not...I'm Delaney!!!"

Plus, last week, I got the "Why didn't have a kid of your own?" comment from a very ignorant client! I said, "I do have a kid of my own!"
M ~ we have got to talk....I've been so "UGH!" from everything. I know people don't get what they are saying, but then they should just shut-up! I was prepared going in, too!

You handled everything very well !!! But it's to bad, we just can't make everybody get it! It sounds like all-in-all was well !!! Love the green!

[maddensmom]

You have a beautiful family.

[GCS]

Great picture! I love the green - its totally not traditional!

Sounds like everyone had fun!

[MamaS]

The girl looks like her Daddy, but the boys look just like you! Are you SURE they were adopted? Maybe you had them and forgot?

[kretzklan]

The green was color choice number THREE. My sis was a little undecided! Thanks for saying we all look like a family. I feel like that as well although DD thinks she sticks out because of her blonde hair. My sis that got married has blonde hair (real or not, I can't remember) and they actually look a lot alike!