It's so nice to be a person again

The title of this post really should have read: Congratulations to our wonderful friends, Nick and Ashley, on your marriage!  We loved celebrating with you!

Yes, they're a perfect couple.  Yes, they have a beautiful love story.  Yes, he was handsome and she was radiant at the wedding.  Yes, they are absurdly happy, in love, and hopped up on wedded bliss... blah, blah, blah. 

What I'm going to selfishly write about instead is how ridiculously happy Casey and I were that we had an excuse opportunity to call a babysitter and have a night with the other adults!  (I know - but, it's my blog, so it shall be filled with my memories!)

We had a chance to have a whole, entire, uninterrupted dinner by ourselves.  We went to Maggianos, one of my absolute favorite restaurants.  It was nice to get dressed up and enjoy each other's company!  I love my husband, and one of our biggest adjustments over the last year has been the lack of one-on-one time having a baby brings.

Then, it was on to the wedding.  Our little camera takes terrible pictures sometimes, so you'll have to forgive the horrible photography.

A very pregnant Jessica coming down the isle



The beautiful bride!



Aren't they adorable?!



Casey and John - we tried to keep the heckling from the audience to a minimum.  We're not very good at keeping our mouths shut.

It was a lovely ceremony, and then it was on to the party!  I must admit (and Leah, when you read this years later please remember that Mommy always, always tries to do the right thing.  But honey, there is a time and a place for everything, and this was one of those times!) that I was pretty excited to enjoy some grown-up fun!

It has been nearly two years since I've had a drink (May of '08 was the last time), and it is very possible that I was the happiest person at that wedding to get to have first a beer, then some wine, then a few other choice alcoholic beverages (including something green called an "Alien" something-or-other, put together when I asked the bartender to surprise me!). 

I've never been much of a party girl, but oooooooh is it fun to let my hair down once every two years! I danced, hung out in the bathroom (Don't ask. I assume it was because that's what all the cool kids do!), and laughed. A LOT.

Auntie Jessica and her Shirly Temple.  I was SO glad I got to have something with more of a kick!

 

The girls!




The bride and her cake.  Even brides need a little sugar!


We had a ball.  It was a wonderful opportunity that Casey and I don't take advantage of very often.  I very rarely regret the decision to maximize our time as a family - we don't have much of it to begin with.  But, being out does make me realize that it is important to have balance.  That means time as a family, time with my husband, and time with our friends. 

I think and hope it will be easier to do with a one year old than a brand new baby.

And, of course... Congratulations to a perfect pair on a beautiful day!  We love you both, and couldn't be more blessed than to share in your love story!