Understudy Bridesmaid

My SIL is getting married this summer to her high school sweet heart. We love her soon to be husband and he has felt like family forever. Long story short SIL did not ask me to be a bridesmaid but instead asked me to be her personal attendant. I was hurt b/c I felt like we were more like sisters than that. She was in my wedding, she lived with me for a year, I have been in her family for over 10 years, etc, etc. I told her my feelings were hurt, she felt bad, but was set on having her BFF's be the ones standing at the alter with her (she is having 5 bridesmaids). Fast forward several months and all was well. I got over it and was excited to help with the planning.

Then a couple of days ago I saw her facebook status and it said something about being super stressed about the wedding and something about not everything was going smoothly for the first time. So being the good sister I called her to see what was up and how I could help. Little did I know the "how I could help" part was going to be key.

One of SIL BFF's brothers just got engaged and are planning on getting married in Vegas on the same day so she had to bow out. So here I am trying to convince SIL that this isn't that big of a deal. She can have the Best man stand at the alter with the groom, she can had two guys escort one girl, or she can ask one of her other BFF's to stand in. Then there was this awkward pause where she starts to say that if I want to say no she completely understands but she really wants to ask me to be a bridesmaid.

My response was of course. I want her to be happy and I want things to go smoothly for me and it doesn't matter if that means I am standing outside handing out programs or in the front of the church besides her. Where ever she needs me that is where I will be. I am not some sort of hero because in all honesty I am kind of secretly thrilled. It's like the understudy who worked their butt off and then the lead gets hurt and the spotlight is now yours. In my SIL's defense if I was in her situation I probably would have done the same thing. I am sure that she and her future husband were going to have 6 bridesmaids I would have been next in line (shh, just let me go with this) and now here it is. The wedding is saved and everything is as it should be. (Bret said...see I knew everything would work out the way is was supposed to.)

Then I saw the "Dress" that I am supposed to wear and I started to panic. I have to say that I have been slacking in the slightest in the exercise and diet area and it was kind of nice to not have to worry about looking like the skinny hot college students that will be standing next to me. So I ran 3 miles last night and have started a major low carb, low cal diet, and started looking at tanning places for a good deal. I will keep you posted on the progress (or lack there of as I start to panic).

Oh there's no place like home...

For the holidays. So it is Christmas eve and I am at work for half a day and Bret is at work until tomorrow morning. This is the first year that we have been away from home for Christmas. I really didn't think it would bother me this much because we are leaving for home on Saturday. It is hard. I am thrilled that Kyla (Dr. Heskett's sister) and her fiance Lucas are here to spend the holiday because it really makes it much much better. This morning my coworker that goes to the same church as I do was talking to me about what mass we were going to. I told her that although it would be nice to go tonight it wouldn't feel right going without Bret so we are going to go in the morning. I starting thing about the many years of midnight mass with my parents and Brets and I realized how homesick I am. I felt horrible because she then gave me a very creative gift and I started to cry. It was kind of funny because the gift was very nonsentimental...it was a sampler of all things Berks County (ie Berks beer, Faller's pretzels, a couple ghost story books, etc) and here I was with tears streaming down my cheeks. She got that I was just homesick.

I am hoping that once I get off work today I won't have time to be home sick. We are taking dinner to the hospital to spend part of Christmas eve with Dr. Heskett. After I get off work I need to hit the bank, pick up some beer, stop at the grocery store, get a couple loads of laundry done, and try to clean the house a little. Call me my mother's child but I want a clean house for Christmas.

Sometime tonight I still have a ton of wrapping to do for Santa gifts. Tomorrow morning we are having a big breakfast, church and then presents (I'm not 100% on the order). Then in the evening we are having Christmas dinner after Dr. Heskett gets some sleep. I realized this year that at least for a while our holiday tradition on when we open our gifts will depend on when Dr. Heskett works and that is fine.

The excitement level at our house with the kids has reached an all time high. I think this is the first year that both kids are excited and at a great age. They won't be disappointed. After Christmas I have a few things left to buy for the family in KS and I need to pack. At some point I also need to take kids back to the airport. It is going to be a busy week in deed.

I hope that all of you have a safe and happy holiday. I wish the warmest thoughts your way. Merry Christmas!