An Instagram tale of woe and engineering triumph.

First, I interrupt my dated stories of summer to bring you something seasonally relevant.

Second, for the tech-impaired (i.e, Dad), Instagram is photo app for smart phones that I recently learned is actually meant for sharing photos and not just snapping shots with cheesy edits. The app because the best camera you have is the one you have with you, and the edits because why not.

Moving on. So Husband and I have this tradition that we started back in 2005 when we got our first tree together. (Not surprisingly), we were at Target getting a bunch of generic filler ornaments, and we decided that we needed to fill our tree with something unique, too. So that year, we each picked the ornament of our choice from Target. The tradition stuck and became one of my favorites, as is the whole putting up the tree thing. And when you have a favorite anything that you look forward to all year, well, you build expectations.

All was well when we got to Target this year. I was actually in a good mood, and Lily was doing OK. (Khan is always OK.) I found two that really needed to go together: An ugly recliner and a camera – the two things I felt I needed before having another baby. Perfect, right?

Meanwhile, over by the princess-themed ornaments, Lily found a pink and purple castle and quickly decided on it…until she saw a fugly “princess” ornament with a crown. Then she wanted both, and I had to tell her that we only get to pick out one because that’s the tradition. With two ornaments in my hand, I told her this.

So of course she wanted two like Mommy. Oh, fine, then. So I tried to lead by example, and I put the ugly recliner back and kept the camera.

My example was not enough. Suffice it to say she chose the castle, but it ended badly. Not the happy joy of picking out one all of our own that I had in mind, but I was still determined not to let it ruin my magical Christmas tree experience. And I was pretty proud of myself for that.

Fast forward to Sunday evening when we were decorating our tree. Lily asked and asked for our Target ornaments, and finally I grabbed them, and a couple of small pieces of glass fell out of the bag. Pieces of my camera ornament.

Me: “Baby, can you fix it?”
Khan: “Um, no…what do you think I could do?” Probably wondering how stupid I really am.
Me: “Well, can we break the rest of this part?”
Khan: “Um, no…it won’t break clean.” Seriously, woman, how stupid are you?
Me: *sadz*

Lily: “Mommy, do you want to share my castle with me?”
Khan and Me: *heartmelt*


Me: *Sits on couch and pouts*
Khan: “We can just pick up a new one.”
Me: “But...but…but…”
Lily: “I have an idea! You are goin’ to love it.” Runs off. Returns with paper, tape, and scissors.

Lily: “Just wait. You will love it. Just wait.”
Khan and Me: *just kind of sit and stare at our kid.*

First, she starts cutting some small pieces of paper.


Then she starts taping them together.

Khan: “I think I know what she’s doing.”

Me: *confused*

Then it begins to take shape. She constructed something of a cap to cover the broken area. When she was finished, she stuffed it with some tissue paper. Then she put the whole thing on top of the broken area, and taped it on securely.

Me: “I knew she would be smarter than me, but I thought that would happen later.”

Khan: *impressed*

Me: “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she’s got some engineer in her.

And no sooner than those words came out of my mouth and she was drawing plans so I would know how to fix it myself next time.

Seriously.

(My favorite part is the heart that means Mommy is happy.)

A shamelessly self-indulgent post.

No story to tell here, just some more pictures of my flower girl. More pictures of Lily than anyone really needs. Hell, I don't even know what to do with so many that are very similar.

And I still can't figure out why they are looking sort of fuzzy on the web.

So anyway.

Pretty Lily. Lily with Daddy.

Lily with baby Renee.

Lily adoring the beautiful bride.

Flower girl on the monkey bars.

Here are a bunch of pictures that all look the same. And yet I can't choose between them.
Lily balancing.

Lily just being cute.
And that's all I got.

In which Ben and Jen get married for realz.

Even though most of these photos aren't mine, I think this is a story worth sharing. I'm betting you've never seen a wedding quite like this one. This is the story of my little brother's wedding to his beautiful wife, Jen.

(As for the photos, most of these are the wedding photographer's. I have a few, but there's a reason people hire a professional to take photos. His are watermarked, and he did a fantastic job. If you know anyone who needs a photographer in the Bellingham area, here's his link.)

First, I got to do something I never imagined I'd do with Jen. She wanted me to curl her hair. Fortunately, she also had someone skilled with hair to come and finish the job. But it was fun while it lasted.

Jen made the corsages and boutonnières. Impressive, no?

The mother of the bride was more than a little emotional. And can I just point out that they were staying in a cabin with bunk beds?

And here comes the groom, Chippewa proud and all.

From here, I'm going to let Lily tell the story. I'm typing, she's talking. With some questions/prompts from me.

"Here come Ben and Jen. They are going to the weddin'."

"Lily's coming to the wedding."

"Lily is the flower girl. I'm going...she's going to the wedding. Putting out leafs."

(She was so adorable and so happy. I'm getting all teary just looking at this picture. Stupid pregnancy hormones.)

"They are watching in the boat."

(Some people stood on the bridge and the rest gathered in various boats around. Because why not.)

"That's Ben and the Funny Guy."

(Their officiant came in character as Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet. He stayed in that character through the reception. Because why not?)

"They are doing paper-rock-scissors. They did it six times. Because they did the same time."

(To decide who would read their vows first, they threw paper-rock-scissors. They tied six times before Ben forced a tie-breaker.)

"Ben is reading his note."

(His vows.)

"Um, she was singin' a song."

(Jen's mom surprised them with a song. I didn't think she'd make it through without crying, but she did great.)

(And then it was time for the rings.)

"Then Piko came because they had to get the rings."

(And she was rewarded with pancakes. Because every wedding should have a pancake-loving ring-dog.)

"They are huggin'."

(And they are husband and wife, and Lily is no longer interested in helping me tell this story.)

And our little family got a little bigger.

After portraits, the bride and groom arrived at their reception in a way that only they could. (Perhaps not surprisingly, this bus belongs to Robert Goulet.)

Everyone brought food to their reception -- needless to say, there was a ton of food. If I learned nothing else from this day, I learned that Ben and Jen are well-loved within their community. Wow.

I also learned where Jen gets her infectious love for life, kindness, and warmth. Her mom is the same, and they are obviously very close. It helps in having to be so far away from my little brother to know that he has family that loves him so much.

Just a note to Jen: I’ve always known that my little brother has a heart that’s too big for him. I knew that when he found the right girl, he would have so much love to give, and he would never hold it back. But I always hoped he would find the right girl who would be able to see it and recognize how rare it is – and never take it for granted. He found that in you, but he found more. He found someone who is just as rare and gives it right back. The two of you are matched perfectly, and I couldn’t be happier for you both.

And note of personal thanks to the newlyweds: Thank you for including Lily in your wedding day. I'm not sure if you would've done that or not if I hadn't been so pushy. (Though I know my brother knows how to tell me to STFU and stay out of it.) That said, I’ve learned since becoming a mother how profound an effect adults can have on children; I’m not sure I ever understood this the way I do now. Lily was so happy and proud to be your flower girl – obviously. She was talking about it constantl for weeks before the wedding, and she hasn’t stopped yet. (She still tells random strangers she was Ben and Jen’s flower girl.) I think your wedding day was one of the best of her life so far – and I’m very sure she’s never felt so special. There is no way I can thank you for giving that to her.