Post by sunshine on Jun 29, 2005 2:26:38 GMT 10
We left last Wednesday and spent the night in Ohio, then headed to Niagra Falls on Thursday. We had tons of fun there, even though we didn't do any of the tourist stuff like the Maid of the Mist boat, etc. We did that a few years ago when we were there. We stayed on the American side this time, and even stayed until they turned the lights on that night.
On Friday we went to Rochester NY and went to my nephew's wedding rehersal.
Saturday was the wedding--- so beautiful (and our preferred wedding on this vacation) We stayed in Rochester that night and headed to Utica NY on Sunday, to meet Rena. We met at Denny's and ate lunch- we talked to over 2 hours, like we'd known each other forever (well, we have "known" each other for quite a while).
We spent Sunday night on the road, and on Monday we went to Hershey PA. We did not do the big amusement park (too much like our Six Flags) but we went to the factory and took their free tour, paid to see a 3D version of the history of Hershey (WAY COOL!) and bought too many souveniers.
We then headed to Gettysburg- we spent Monday night there, then on Tuesday we did an auto tour of the area. I was appalled at how little my 15 yo dd knew of the era, the Civil War in general, or the battle of Gettysburg. Guess I need to supplement our school's history a bit more. History was my mom's college minor, so I grew up knowing most of this by osmosis I guess.
Tuesday night we got to my aunt's and spent the rest of the week there. Wednesday, I found out I was supposed to make my cousin's garters for the wedding. I winged it without a pattern and made 2 complimenting ones (she didn't have enough lace, etc. to make identical ones). Wednesday night another cousin flew in to Philly and we picked her up at the airport.
Thursday, we found out just how disorganized this wedding was---- the cousin that flew in, dd and I- made the table decorations (none had been started even) for the reception, made the favors to hand out, and so on.
Friday- the bridesmaids (including dd)and bride had their nails done, while my aunt , cousin and I tried to sort out what still needed to be done (way to much for one day!) Friday night was the rehersal and dinner. Dinner was at a VERY fancy restraunt, but the food was nasty! I much preferred the cold cuts and chips at my nephew's rehersal dinner! At least they were edible. After we returned to my aunt's after the rehersal, we discovered that the bride STILL had not printed the wedding programs- she had not even made the layout or started it. We were up until 2:30 AM getting those done.
Saturday-- WEDDING day. The bride's maids and bride leave to get make up and hair done at a salon (forgot to mention that when they had nails done, the idiot at the salon put tips on my dd! Then she couldn't even get her contacts out). We decorated the reception hall and the church and discovered that no one had printed directions for people to get from the church to the reception! We were frantically googling online and printing less than 1 hour before the wedding. Ahhhhh well. wedding started only 15 minutes late. My cousin messed up the bride's veil- had both parts over her face and the back was open. Hehehe- had to have something go wrong I guess and it was minor. We loved the DJ at the reception. He was so funny- did quite a job of entertaining. Dh and dd danced nearly every dance (and I missed getting a picture of them dancing together
) The groom's family all left as soon as we were done eating- so we had the dance floor pretty much to ourselves. . . . there wasn't much of our side present, but we had a blast.
Sunday- we discovered that our rear brakes on the van were shot-- probably from all the mountain driving we did earlier in the week. Thankfully my cousin (the bride's brother) is a mechanic. He had us fixed and on the road by 11:00 AM. We drove straight through from Lancaster PA- to Palmyra IL. 15 hours of hard driving.
Monday we did laundry and got dd to church camp- I was SOOOO glad we prepaid and talked to the deans. They had to turn kids away as they were full.
On Friday we went to Rochester NY and went to my nephew's wedding rehersal.
Saturday was the wedding--- so beautiful (and our preferred wedding on this vacation) We stayed in Rochester that night and headed to Utica NY on Sunday, to meet Rena. We met at Denny's and ate lunch- we talked to over 2 hours, like we'd known each other forever (well, we have "known" each other for quite a while).
We spent Sunday night on the road, and on Monday we went to Hershey PA. We did not do the big amusement park (too much like our Six Flags) but we went to the factory and took their free tour, paid to see a 3D version of the history of Hershey (WAY COOL!) and bought too many souveniers.
We then headed to Gettysburg- we spent Monday night there, then on Tuesday we did an auto tour of the area. I was appalled at how little my 15 yo dd knew of the era, the Civil War in general, or the battle of Gettysburg. Guess I need to supplement our school's history a bit more. History was my mom's college minor, so I grew up knowing most of this by osmosis I guess.
Tuesday night we got to my aunt's and spent the rest of the week there. Wednesday, I found out I was supposed to make my cousin's garters for the wedding. I winged it without a pattern and made 2 complimenting ones (she didn't have enough lace, etc. to make identical ones). Wednesday night another cousin flew in to Philly and we picked her up at the airport.
Thursday, we found out just how disorganized this wedding was---- the cousin that flew in, dd and I- made the table decorations (none had been started even) for the reception, made the favors to hand out, and so on.
Friday- the bridesmaids (including dd)and bride had their nails done, while my aunt , cousin and I tried to sort out what still needed to be done (way to much for one day!) Friday night was the rehersal and dinner. Dinner was at a VERY fancy restraunt, but the food was nasty! I much preferred the cold cuts and chips at my nephew's rehersal dinner! At least they were edible. After we returned to my aunt's after the rehersal, we discovered that the bride STILL had not printed the wedding programs- she had not even made the layout or started it. We were up until 2:30 AM getting those done.
Saturday-- WEDDING day. The bride's maids and bride leave to get make up and hair done at a salon (forgot to mention that when they had nails done, the idiot at the salon put tips on my dd! Then she couldn't even get her contacts out). We decorated the reception hall and the church and discovered that no one had printed directions for people to get from the church to the reception! We were frantically googling online and printing less than 1 hour before the wedding. Ahhhhh well. wedding started only 15 minutes late. My cousin messed up the bride's veil- had both parts over her face and the back was open. Hehehe- had to have something go wrong I guess and it was minor. We loved the DJ at the reception. He was so funny- did quite a job of entertaining. Dh and dd danced nearly every dance (and I missed getting a picture of them dancing together
) The groom's family all left as soon as we were done eating- so we had the dance floor pretty much to ourselves. . . . there wasn't much of our side present, but we had a blast.Sunday- we discovered that our rear brakes on the van were shot-- probably from all the mountain driving we did earlier in the week. Thankfully my cousin (the bride's brother) is a mechanic. He had us fixed and on the road by 11:00 AM. We drove straight through from Lancaster PA- to Palmyra IL. 15 hours of hard driving.
Monday we did laundry and got dd to church camp- I was SOOOO glad we prepaid and talked to the deans. They had to turn kids away as they were full.
