Selma! Lived in Alabama my whole life and I can't remember ever making a trip to SELMA before! I didn't just decide to go, actually, CARL CUMMINGS, Pat's best friend since he was a kid, got married on Saturday in Selma! Carl asked Natalie to sing so we got to make the Selma wedding a quick get-away for us! Brad/Nat and little ones picked me up Friday after lunch. We headed to Selma, me not even knowing which direction we were going! How's that for someone who has lived in Alabama her whole life and doesn't know where historic Selma is?! I was surprised to learn we went thro Clanton! DUH! Of course we would! It took about and hour and a half and we were there. First we checked into the Holiday Inn Express where we checked in and threw down our stuff. We quickly ate and then dropped Nat off at First Baptist in Selma. She practiced and called us when she finished. Brad picked her up and she came back and fed Miss Daisy and they were off to the Rehearsal Dinner. Yeah, I went as the Nanny! HAHA! They got back fairly early and we just chilled out in the SUITE! (haha! yes,a "SUITE" in a Holiday Inn EXPRESS, no less!). It was funny b/c our room had 2 double beds but also a couch, sitting area and refrig. Good for us. Kemp was beside himself with excitement! HAHA! well, poor ole Nat, it seems it always happens when she sings in a wedding! She got a bad cold a couple of days before we left so she was trying her hardest to get well by drinking lots of water , taking cold meds, etc. She was coughing and blowing her nose the whole time and I wondered how the HECK she could ever hit high notes the next day! Well, should I ever doubt the Natster? NO! She did awesome! But, I'm jumping ahead of my tale! The next day we had a few hours before she had to go BACK to the church (earlier than the rest of us, i might add). SOOOO , first of all we decided to "sight see". If that's possible in SELMA! Not to knock Selma, but I mean, what do you go see but THE BRIDGE where all the news people hovered over decades ago? Again, disappointment as it was this SHORT little bridge. where Martin Luther King marched. I expected this LOOOOOONG bridge, but it was short! Anyway, we walked around that area awhile and after that we stopped by a little gift shop (QUICKLY as the kids were ready to eat!) and then we took our lunch back to Holiday Inn and had lunch under the umbrellas by the cute pool and THEN , finally , God love him, Kemp got to go swimming! This Holiday Inn was brand spanking new and the pool was so clean and nice! It was perfect! Like having our own pool for the morning. Of course, Brad, SUPER DAD, had him in there playing the whole time. All the sudden several young girls/guys came into the pool area. I didn't recognize her at first, but one of the girls was one of Pat's old friends from high school, her name Natalie, too! So they enjoyed watching Kemp swim (maybe NOT enjoyed having him squirt them with the squirt gun, tho! HAHA) and thought Daisy the cutest thing ever. Soon, too soon, Nat had to feed the baby so she could get to the church on time! (does that sound like a song from MY FAIR LADY or what?!). So, Brad rushes her over there while I shower ,again, and get the little ones dressed. It was HOT, REALLY hot!So, finally we rushed to the church. Brad decided to just find a shady area to take the kids so we wouldn't have to take them inside. I slipped in as Keener, the bride, walked up! It was a beautiful wedding! Of course, when the music started, my heart skipped a beat. I knew she could do it, but I knew she was nervous (something she usually never is) about singing b/c she was singing 2 songs with a guy and one alone. Need I have worried?! NEVER! She sang like an angel! HOW PROUD I WAS as I heard people whisper, "Wow! That was beautiful!" Interestingly enough, Keener wanted the minister to introduce everyone in the wedding party! So, he said something about each one.Then he came to Natalie, mentioned AGAIN, her beautiful voice and not only Natalie mentioned, but so was PATRICK! He introduced Natalie as the older sister of his best friend, Pat, who was in the Navy! SO SWEET! Of course, introducing the WHOLE wedding party took awhile, but it was really nice! After the wedding, I slipped out to find Brad. There he was and soon Nat slipped out of the church. I got to wave to Mr. AND MRS> CUMMINGS and then we rushed BACK to the Holiday Inn for her to fed the baby again and leave to go to the big antebellum house where the Reception was being held. The little ones were FANTASTIC! I had brought along a special surprise for Kemp! A bear who tells stories (kind of like the old Teddy Ruxpin!) who tells stories and rolls his eyes and is very animated! SO SO SO CUTE! He was fascinated and TJ kept Kemp entertained for hours! Anyway , they got back fairly early---Natalie said something was wrong with the air conditioning and it was SO hot in there and since she still had a cold, made it worse. So , they came back after staying for only a little while. After that, we chatted about the beautiful wedding and went to sleep early. We all slept till almost 8! Even Daisy! Then, we packed up and off to the 'Ham we went! Terry was waiting for me so we could leave immediately to head to the WARRIOR RIVER! (more blogging and pix on that tomorrow!). Anyway, it was a beautiful wedding/ a nice get-away and I was so so proud of Natalie for: singing while sick in between nursing a baby and taking care of Kemp! She's SUPER woman! HAHA! It was truly a fun time and I was lucky enough to have a ride there and back and get to keep my angels at the same time AND see Carl get married! AWESOME!
