Edmonton trip Part 1: journey and wedding

All I can say is that things went very very well. We started our journey with a 4:30am wake up on the 16th. We got ready and had the car packed up before transfering Paige into the car seat. When I woke her up I told her where we were going. She got very excited and although it was only 5:00 she didn't keep sleeping in the car, and instead was very excited about the plane ride ahead. After a longer than anticipated time at the car park and security we had to get on the plane without stopping for a much desired Tim Horton's bagel, and instead had to eat an early morning West Jet sandwich. Paige was great on the plane and filled her time with eating snacks, colouring and playing with stickers. She only got a bit restless at the end of the flight when she realized she could slither out of her seat belt and stand up. At this point I let her sit with me and look out the window for a bit until it was time to buckle up and land. Her favourite parts of the plane ride were while the plane was accelerating on the ground, and then when it slows down at the end.

We were met at the airport by Zaida Bruce, who drove us to Jen and James' house. Paige was really happy to see everyone, and of course Abby. The first couple of days I spent going to the mall with Janice, getting my dress altered, having mani/pedis, and then of course going to the rehersal for which Mike, Paige and I were ridiculously late, and we arrived half way through. After the rehersal it was off to Janice's house for dinner, but due to construction the journey was very long and Paige peed her pants along the way and spent the rehersal dinner in a pullup with her pants and underwear in the washing machine--good thing we weren't at a restaurant! So the late arrival at the rehersal coupled with Paige as the Wild card flower girl (will she walk down the aisle? Will she want to be carried?) gave me extreme insomnia and anxiety, and daily naps/rests were required leading up to the wedding.

On the morning of the wedding I left Paige in Mike's capable hands while I met the girls at the Huangs, where we proceeded to go to get our hair and makeup done. After this it was back to the Huangs to put on our dresses scarf down some lunch, and rush out the door. Mike in the meantime was taking Paige to the ceremony place to feed her lunch and get her dressed. When we arrived there they were nowhere to be seen, but soon enough they wandered around the corner and Paige was cuter than ever. Mike said she was a bit scared of all the people, so that got me worried. But, right off the bat Paige started to hold my hand and didn't let go. I would also be walking the ring bearer down the aisle and he was a bit older so I wasn't worried about him. When it was our turn to walk down the aisle they held my hands all the way down the aisle, and as I led the ring bearer in one direction and prepared to lead Paige back to Mike I could tell she would just stay with me so I let her stand until she got restless. Near the end of the ceremony, so a good 15 minutes in, she used her old standard get out quick line, "pee on potty", so I sent her over to Mike who she sat with for the remaining few minutes (few people probably heard this since it was outdoors and very windy).

As the bridal party went off for pictures [we went to The Billiard Club on Whyte Ave (also got to have some drinks here and yummy food), and a random spiral parkade], Mike took Paige home for a nap and then eventually got her ready all over again to come back to the reception. Everything went well at the reception and Mike and Paige were strategically placed at the back by the open space and door, AKA escape route. But she was very good and didn't cause any trouble. Closer to 8:30 we called Jen and James and got them to come pick up Paige, while we stayed behind to enjoy the party for a bit longer! All in all everything went way better than anticipated, and the wedding and reception went off without a hitch on all fronts. It was so nice to be included in such a great day.

So...here are some pictures for you to enjoy!