Erin 'Gurdy' Rock's Wedding

Sunday, September 6th Gramm, Mommy, Madison, and Kennedy piled into Aunt Nancy's Subaru and headed north toward Tallahassee.
Uncle Matt requested we stop in Gainesville to visit with him on the way up and back.
Since Gainesville is about half way, it was the perfect place for the girls to stretch their legs.
On the way up, we stopped at Target and let Uncle Matt run around the toy department with the girls.
Madison raced Uncle Matt down the long aisles at first, then she let him carry her on his shoulders as we headed toward the check out.
Of course, both girls ended up with a special treat to play with the rest of drive (thank you, Gramm).
While Uncle Matt, Gramm, and Madison filed up the car with gas and grabbed a quick drive thru lunch, Kennedy and Mommy waited in Uncle Matt's car for a little nursing time.
Kennedy quickly finished her snack and enjoyed her alone time playing in the back seat with a huge bouncy ball Uncle Matt bought for our upcoming beach trip.
After a short scare, (we thought Gramm lost her wallet at the gas station-turns out she stashed in a safe compartment she forgot about- Aunt Nancy's car has lots of great hiding places!), everyone was strapped back into their seats and we were on our way again.
The girls ate their chicken nuggets and cheese burger in the car then fell fast asleep for most of the remainder of trip to Tallahassee.
We were staying with one of Uncle Matt's good friends from Undergrad's parents, Shirley and Bob Campbell. Mommy knew Uncle Matt's friend, Drew and his brother, Parker, too.
Ironically, Parker knew Mommy's friend Gurdy, too!
They went to University of North Florida together several years ago.
We arrived at the Campbell's gorgeous home in plenty of time for the girls to play off some steam.
Bob and Shirley have a grandson who is between our girls' age and two grand babies on the way.
Their house was the perfect place for our girls, since they are already set up with a pack-n-play and an entire room full of awesome toys!
After a couple hours of visiting, it was time to get dressed for the wedding.
Gurdy and Brett got married in a cool historic home in north Tallahassee.
It was a small ceremony with family and close friends.
Madison sat with Gramm, while Mommy and Kennedy spent most of the processional outside.
Kennedy was pretty wound up and wanted to touch the candelabra on the fireplace along with just about everything else breakable she could get her hands on.
She (very loudly) let us know she was dissatisfied with being denied her 'toys'.
Kennedy calmed down just in time for us to see the breathtaking bride walk down the stairs and down her aisle.
She was a timeless bride.
The ceremony was perfect for the couple.
Short, funny, and sweet.
After the ceremony there was a cocktail and appetizer time outside while the bride and groom finished up their photos.
(We got to sneak over and give Gurdy a big hug before she was too busy- she was so surprised to see Mommy with her new dark hair!)
Kennedy and Madison spent their 'cocktail hour' running back and forth across the lawn under the big oak trees.

They had a ball.

Our girls have very sensitive skin

and it's super humid in Florida

which means lots and lots of mosquitos and other bugs.

So we were SURE to pack our OFF bug spray.

As we took our seats under the reception tent for dinner we took time to spray the girls again.

One by one, each of the parents at the reception borrowed our spray for their kids, too.

Mommy bumped into one of her other high school friends, Elizabeth Dykes, who was there with her parents, too.

Liz flew in from Kentucky for the wedding.

She is there studying for a degree in Nutrition.

After dinner, we got to spend a little time with our friend, the bride.

Kennedy is usually pretty picky about who she will let hold her.

I'm not sure if Gurdy reminded her of Mommy with blonde hair, or what- but she practically lept out of my arms and into Gurdy's.

(Did I mention Gurdy is her nickname? Her name is- ok WAS Erin Marie Geraghty. Somewhere along the way Geraghty turned into Gurdy and it stuck. Now she is Mrs. Erin Rock)

Mommy's great friend, Jen was a bridesmaid in the wedding.

On Daddy's desk at home is a picture of Mommy and these girls back when we were all high school cheerleaders.

It's so neat to be together again at this stage in our lives.

Gramm took a silly picture, too.

As the meal ended and dancing began the girls were off and running again.

Gramm was fantastic and let Mommy have a little time visiting with her friends.
Just call her the baby wrangler.

Madison thought it was so cool to see beautiful Erin, the bride.

She kept asking me, 'Mommy, where is Erin, the beautiful bride?'

And leave it to our little accessory queen to notice the fun red flower in Liz's hair.

Kennedy was having so much fun running around with Mommy and Gramm chasing her- she walked right out of her shoe!

There was no keeping it on her foot

So we gave up and let her go without

A few minutes later both shoes were gone

And there was dancing

and moss...which Kennedy was fascinated by.

We had cake

(which was gorgeous AND yummy- and geez- isn't Erin beautiful?!)
and danced

and visited with friends

and cruised the lawn

and danced some more...with a napkin as a cape

and took some pictures inside, on the stairs

(who IS this grown up girl?!- Thanks Kendall for letting us borrow your dress!)

Then managed to snap a few photos of the new Mr and Mrs Brett and Erin Rock

(Aren't they lovely?)

before Kennedy finally gave up the ghost

and fell asleep on Gramm.

(isn't she sweet?)

It was getting late, and everyone was tired so we started on our goodbyes.

Madison got her sparkler ready since Brett and Gurdy were getting ready to leave, too.

Mommy carried Kennedy to her car seat and Gramm sat with her while the rest of us helped the newlyweds depart on their honeymoon to Italy.

Madison stayed with Jen while I got Kennedy settled.

Jen taught her to Gator chomp at me with her sparkler when I got back.

Jen was talking to the DJ when Mommy got back but Madison still remembered to start Gator chomping the second she saw me.

Jen was so proud.

We let Madison light her first sparkler and play a little before the grand exit.

She wasn't sure what to do at first

but it didn't take her long to become addicted.

Then it was time to line up and say goodbye to the bride and groom

Madison got to hold Mommy's sparkler, too.

She even got a little help from Erin's friend, Tate.

We think he and his wife will be fantastic parents one day.

When the last sparkler was extinguished it was time to go back to the Campbell's to go to sleep.

Kennedy was exhausted.

Madison was too.

We thought.

When we got back to the house both girls were awake.

Kennedy fought a little, then went to sleep- half way thru her pj change.

Madison...well she tossed and turned and FINALLY fell asleep....