A Wedding To Remember

Seven years ago I was in desperate need of a babysitter, and I put an ad out on Sittercity.com.

I didn’t really expect anything to come from it, but I figured it was worth a shot.

That one decision led to an eventual knock on our door from a beautiful, smart, funny, ballsy, super cool college student who became the kids favorite babysitter and before too long, pretty much a member of our family.

At the time, she was a sophomore at UCONN, and she became known here on the blog as CCB — Cool College Babysitter.

She was a swimmer and she lived in the same town as us and she was the perfect fit for our family.

She didn’t just babysit.

She came to see the kids at baseball games and dance recitals,

and she’d stop by for birthdays.

When she went back to school at the end of every August, we stayed in touch. We got to see her swim in her last college meet.

Eventually CCB graduated from college and got a real job.

So instead of babysitting, she took Number 4 with her on Take Your Daughter To Work Day since she didn’t have her own daughter.

Then she took Number 5 to work the next year.

She also coached the swim team, so she went from being our babysitter to one of our swim coaches.

And then a couple years ago, she got a new job and moved about an hour away.

And then she met a guy.

And they started dating.

And they dated for a few years.

AND THEN THEY GOT ENGAGED!

And last year, after they got engaged, CCB asked Number 5 and 7 if they’d do her the honor of being her flower girls. (She gave Number 4 a different assignment).

This was a dream come true for Number 5 who had begun asking CCB if she would be the flower girl in her wedding about seven years ago.

And after years of waiting, yesterday the big day finally arrived.

Number 5 and Number 7 were going to spend the afternoon with CCB and the bridesmaids.

Let me just say that the past couple weeks have been crazy, and I was not very prepared, and on Saturday I drove a total of 235 miles to get the kids to where they all needed to be, to get to the wedding, and to get home.

I had to leave the house yesterday at 11 am to get the girls down to the reception venue where they would hang with all the girls and take pictures and do whatever was going on before the wedding, and after driving Number 3 and 4 thirty-five miles each way to their swim practice in the morning, I was home Googling hairstyles for flower girls at 10 am.

I found something I thought I could do — and I did it!!! — and everything managed to get done.

At 12:15, I dropped the girls off with CCB.

After few hours rushing to get showered and dressed and driving around and traffic and stress, we made it to the church one minute after the ceremony was supposed to start.

Luckily they weren’t quite ready to go yet.

This is what we saw as soon as we walked into the church:

SO CUTE.

We found a seat, and minutes later, the procession down the aisle started.

Number 5 and 7 were so sweet.

They started walking down the aisle and Number 5 started scattering her petals and a somewhat confused Number 7 was like, “NOT YET!!!”

Then she realized it was okay, and they were on their way.

It was ADORABLE.

They were a pretty big hit, and they did a great job.

They sat up with the bridal party for the whole ceremony, and then they made their way back when it was done.

They had so much fun.

So they were super cute because they are just super cute.

But Number 7 was especially super cute because I never see her like this.

She will only wear dry-fit clothing — like it’s literally all she will wear — so she’s always in Under Armour or Addidas or whatever.

She’s also very often kind of disheveled because she’s a tomboy and an athlete and she has two settings: full speed or asleep.

There isn’t much in between.

So seeing her in a dress and cute little shoes with her hair still intact was nothing short of a miracle.

But she was only able to maintain that for so long.

Then the real Number 7 came out.

She wanted to refill her basket with petals, so she started crawling around on the floor picking them up.

She picked up petals, 

and more petals,

and more petals,

and more petals,

and more petals,

And then she did round two.

Number takes all her job assignments seriously.

After that since all the kids were dressed up, I tried to get a picture of them.

This proved to be quite a challenge.

Number 7 was cooperative for a couple seconds.

Everyone else? Well….

Not so much.

And then Number 7 started really running out of self-control gas.

Poor Number 5. She was a trooper.

I didn’t get a picture that was perfect.

But I did get a bunch that are representative of real life,

That’s for sure!

Then I had to try to get some with me and my husband in there. That’s when Number 7 completely ran out of gas.

But again, this is our life.

Six out of seven isn’t too bad, I guess.

We went back to the reception venue for a little bit with the kids because the girls really wanted to ride back with the bridesmaids in the van.

CCB let them stay and have a little bit to eat.

And drink.

The reception was at the CV Rich Mansion in White Plains, New York.

I could have sat in this room for hours. It was cold and rainy all day as a Nor’easter came through CT and NY yesterday, and this room was warm and cozy and gorgeous.

But the kids only stayed for a little bit because it was an adults-only reception.

Which is just as well, because the real Number 7 was really starting to come out, and it was only a matter of time before something really embarrassing happened.

So I told her to shove a few more crackers in her mouth, and I brought them outside to my parents who were waiting to take them home.

And that was that.

One era has ended, and a new one is beginning.

And a couple years from now, I think the tables may be turned.

Instead of CCB babysitting for my kids, my kids will be babysitting for hers.

And then, maybe one of her kids will be a flower girl for one of mine.

Our CCB is all grown up.

Or Mrs. CCB, I guess I should say now.

Congratulations to our tenth family member and her handsome husband.

It was a beautiful day for an even more beautiful bride.

We love you Mr. and Mrs. CCB!