to chicago we go

Today we headed to Chicago to start the Wedding Celebrating for Dusty and Julie. We left home about 1115am, and met Karen and Doug in Wauwatosa to drop Gizmo with them for the weekend as we continued our travels to Illinois! We managed to arrive at The Westin around 230pm! Had some time to visit with family and friends before getting ready for the rehearsal at the church and then the rehearsal dinner.

Rehearsal at the church went fine, the kids walked down the aisle, which was hopefully a sign they will succeed for the actual wedding as well! Ed and Blayne made quite an appearance at the church, although I am lacking the pictures to prove it. For Blayne and Molly's rehearsal (which was cowboy themed) Dusty came as a gay cowboy dressed in daisy duke jean shorts. For our rehearsal (hawaiian themed) Dusty came shirtless and in a bold hawaiian pants outfit, therefore Ed and Blayne owed him an appearance. The original plan was to come in Dumb and Dumber like suits, but that didn't work out. So they went for a rough tattooed look complete with chains and spikes and piercings, etc. I hope to get some more pictures from Molly of the ensembles! Everyone else was dressed up at the rehearsal, so needless to say, they stuck out a bit!

Rehearsal dinner took place at Haray Caray's across the street from The Westin, so that was convenient! Dinner was great and we were in the upper level so Rowan was able to run around a bit. She was totally into all of the Christmas trees that they had decorated! Rowan got her first American Doll piece for being in the wedding, A Bitty Baby! Super cool!

It was very helpful to have cousins and aunts and uncles around to help keep an eye on and entertain Rowan, she was quite spoiled! We managed to get her to bed just before 10pm, hoping for her to sleep in! But 6am is sleeping in for her!