It Starts with True Love and Ends with Vomit

This past weekend was a doozie. Both in the "best weekend ever!" and "worst weekend ever..." sort of way. You can't taste the sweet without tasting the bitter, right? Although I wouldn't mind if life was always rainbows and unicorns.

Every member of my family flew into Dallas, for the upcoming nuptials, which meant that we had to drive ourselves down to San Antonio. An initial team, we'll call ourselves Wave 1, needed to leave at the buttcrack of dawn early in the morning so that my brother could pick his girlfriend up from the San Antonio airport. This wasn't your regular airport pick up mission. Matt had found the girl of his dreams and fell hard, real hard. A ring was purchased, permission from her father was given, and Matt was going to propose when she got to the baggage claim of the San Antonio Airport. Wave 1 included Matt, a videographer (my dad), a photographer (me), an adorable toddler (Grace), and someone to run interference with said toddler (my mom). Off we went.

The ride was snug, and the adorable toddler bounced from total crank to cute angel.

We finally arrived, and personally, my stomach was full of butterflies.

Matt waited, checked his phone, waited again, checked again. He picked a spot, and the other members of Wave 1 took their hidden positions

He popped the question

And she said yes.

We love her. The girl makes Matt so happy. I can't wait to celebrate their upcoming wedding.

Wave 2, and Wave 3 arrived shortly thereafter and excitement was in the air on the Eve of Stacey and Cade's wedding.

I wish I could describe the feeling of Stacey and Cade's wedding day. Peaceful, right, amazing. If any of you have had the privilege of knowing my sister personally, knowing what she has been through, and knowing the type of person that Cade is, then you understand how incredible this moment was.

(Photos courtesy of Ashby Hatch Photography)

I have never seen my sister happier, and we are ecstatic to have Cade as part of our family. Not to mention the fact that Stacey looked drop dead gorgeous, I'm just sayin'.

There was a luncheon reception where the families fraternized, ate delicious food and pie, and celebrated the union. We had no idea what would come of it.

Saturday night Grace screamed and cried all night long battling an ear infection that later ruptured. 

Moments of sleeping baby blissfulness were scarce. 

Very few people actually slept that night, and it was downhill from there.

The very next night Grace started to projectile vomit. All through the night. My mom called the next day to say that her and Matt, along with Cade's side of the family did the same. The stomach flu spread like wildfire through everyone at the luncheon. My poor brother's face says it all. It was rough.

A few more people are dropping like flies but most are on the up and up, and despite the throwing up, the crazy amount of laundry, and sleepless nights, it was definitely a weekend for the record books. An engagement and a wedding? Amazing.