The big event

And the process was grand!

I admit, I was a bit emotional this past week, leading up to Jud's much awaited wedding. It's milestones like these that make one consider our paths in life. How did I get to be a 58 year-old woman with this amazing son about marry a talented, beautiful, caring woman?

While in my car this week running an errand, a song came on that elicited thoughts of Jud through various stages of his life. (I was at one of West Des Moines long stop lights)
Picturing him:

• newborn - looking much like his big sis, but still like himself
• toddler, towhead blond - full of himself and impish
• temper tantrum boy - tough to wrangle because he was so strong
• those grade school years - when his love of all things sports emerged
• junior high and high school filled with sports practices
• entering college, a new Jud emerged - talkative and funny - meeting lifelong friends his freshman year, finding his way in life
• at his cousin Leslie's wedding in 2010, he started talking about a girl he was interested in. By Christmas that year, he was smitten
• following a career path in logistics, starting in St. Jo, Missouri - but staying kinda close to this very special girl
• Watching this relationship grow and mature - to when he called to tell me he was going to ask Kara to marry him

I admit, sitting at that traffic light, I went all "Diana McKim watching a Hallmark Commercial" and got teary eyed.

Right then I was sure I'd be a basket case at the actual wedding ceremony.

Fast forward. We traveled to Saint Louis, where Jud and Kara have made their home for the past two years, on Thursday morning. Kara had channeled my mother (AKA "the YMCA Director" Pat Bullock) and emailed an itinerary out that week. We planned to pick my sis Cindy and her son Colby and girlfriend Liv up at the airport that afternoon. Sis Betsy, husband Wayne and their oldest boys Alex and Paul flew in that afternoon and rented a car.

All our bags are packed - plus two long dresses!

Our home for the weekend was the Hyatt located right by the St. Louis Arch. So close I could spit on it! Okay, not really - but almost! Fabulous facility if you're ever looking for a place to stay, or hold a wedding. Kara and Jud decided if they were going to get married in STL, they wanted to embrace the location - instead of heading to the suburbs. 

Paul and I headed to Jud and Kara's apartment to meet up with her family that night for a picnic. It was nice to see them again in person since we hadn't gotten together since the kids graduated from ISU in 2011. Kyle and Renee's son Nate arrived shortly after we did with his wife and their baby Alexander. The weather forecast was looking promising for the big event! It was nice to have a casual event to meet with each other and talk - before "stuff got real".

Later we were able to hang out with family in our room which was "party central" - a suite. Daughter Amy and her boyfriend Corey had arrived that afternoon and went out to eat with a work friend of Corey's.

Paul was busy on Friday picking up tuxedos and shuttling groomsmen for theirs. After lunch at a burger place with the clan, I was able to hang out with Cindy, Betsy and Wayne at the free zoo in Forest Park. We didn't have time to see the whole thing, but the bugs and reptiles were cool. Amy, Corey, Colby, Liv, Alex and Paul toured Budweiser and got to see that neighborhood. Sister Susi and husband Jim arrived late Friday afternoon - we had a bit of time to catch up with them before heading off to the next act. A few of the Goldsmith siblings were starting to trickle in too. It was surreal having all these people there for us!

Friday evening was the rehearsal, followed by a meal Ballpark Village, a short walk from the hotel but right near the St. Louis Cardinals ballpark. Not a favorite team for either of my two guys, but hey - they can still appreciate a gorgeous park. Paul gave his toast at this dinner. He did a wonderful job. I'm glad I didn't have to speak! (I'm more the writing type!)

pretend wedding

My honey looking hot in his new sport coat

Jud and Kara on the walk to the restaurant

Jud with Whiteds

Rehearsal dinner gang

with Amy and Corey in front of the ballpark

When we got back to the hotel, my fam had arrived back from the Shaved Duck restaurant in the Hill neighborhood. It sounded like they enjoyed the food after a bit of a wait. We had fun chatting with family members for a while when Jud and Kara and some of her friends stopped in to say Hi. They were pretty wound up! I must say I didn't even hear Jud come in later to sleep on the fold out bed in the other room of our suite. I did get it all set up for him so he wouldn't be stumbling around in the dark! The wedding day deserves its own blog...