A Wedding and the ultimate compliment!

I started the day off today by being asked the funniest question from Matea. She woke up, looked around and said "When are we going to go jelly fishing?" I said "What" She said "jelly fishing." and then said she was hungry and wanted breakfast.

This week was the first week of school so very stressful for the kids. Two nights in a row I put Ella to bed an hour earlier than the older kids because she was way too cranky. She was sad that she wasn't at the same school as last year. But in her stress would say things like "i want to jump out the window." We discerned from info from Grace that they used to jump out their window when they were in ethiopia onto a big soft pile of something. We reassured her, told her why not to jump out the window but also followed the advice of counselors experienced in kids that have gone through trauma in their lives. So, I decided I was going to have some heavy "time in" with Ella.

We had a great day today. I made the girls really happy by braiding Ella's hair. They were putting make up on when I did her hair. When I was about finished Grace came up and said in Amharic to Ella that I was braiding it just like their mother did in Ethiopia. That to me was the ultimate compliment since I am a blond waspy eligible for the Daughter's of the American revolution type girl. I have been terrified of BRAIDING. So I was totally complimented until Ella decided later it was too messy and didn't like it..She is threatening to take it out tomorrow. But the braiding experience was clearly therapeutic to her.

Also, Ella has been insisting for about a month now that Mark and I 'get married". We had tried and tried to explain that we were already married but everyday she asks us to have a wedding. Finally tonight we just decided to go for it. So the girls handed us both clothing that was way too small and put make up (bright red lipstick on me). Andrew had a bible in his hand and wanted to "marry us." He was the minister. Grace was the photographer (photos to come later). My dress was one of my band dresses. Matea was supposed to sing. Ella was the bridesmaid and Jared escorted me down the steps. Mark, Andrew, Matea and Grace were down the steps (Sam is in Hilton Head). I was getting ready to walk when I clearly heard HERE COMES THE BRIDE being played. Andrew had found the laptop and set up the song. So I came down the steps. Mark forgot the ring Ella had given him and had to go back upstairs. He couldn't find it so just took his wedding ring off.

Andrew started to speak. He was so organized with the music and everything and then said "What do I say? I don't know what to say?" He was holding the bible open while we read him some vows to say..."Dearly Beloved...blah blah blah." When the ring time came Mark placed his ring on my finger and I took it off and put it back on him. We were announced husband and wife and then said a prayer which included "dear lord please sell our old house..." HA!!!along with blessing our family. When we kissed the kids were extremely loud and hysterically laughing.

They then went in the other room while they played the Naked Brothers song "Do you love me?" they came back into the foyer with pretzels on a paper plate, water and napkins. Then they all danced the electric slide and wanted us to dance so I told them what our first dance was (Anita Baker "Sweet love") we danced, we danced with the kids....all did the MACARENA (things my brides would never allow) and went upstairs and I quickly told them they all better fold the laundry...It was a super sweet night...When I put Ella to sleep tonight in her princess bridesmaid dress that she is sleeping in, she said "mommy I love you. I happy." I will post wedding pictures soon....HA! Tonight is the honeymoon....(at least that what my husband reminded me of when they said they wanted us to get married).

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