My adventure back home took its course pretty early in the AM seeing as how my mom booked me what I am pretty sure was the earliest flight out of San Francisco! It was worth getting up at 2 am because I was pumped to see my family!
Around 4/12 hour later touchdown STL. My first thought:
"DAMN....IT IS FREAKING HOT HERE!!!"
I couldn't believe it... I was a true city girl at this point. I was sweating, all the curl was out of my hair, and I don't think I could have ripped my leather jacket off quicker. Hello Midwest!
You would think that living in California I would be bronzed and beautiful... when my parents saw me in a swimsuit that weekend, I pretty much got called transparent! "Callie, you have never been that white before. " "You are like a ghost." Call it what you will, but there was no way of getting around it. I was so white you could have called it clear.
It was good to be home. Grandma greeted me at the airport and whisked me back to my old stopping grounds at Bar Louie. It was good to be back in the familiar land of the bar scene. Made me feel like San Francisco was not so far away.. haha.
We had a great lunch at Bar Louie. The menu was completely different than what I remember, but all the same faces were still serving the food.
Momma picked me up at Grandmas and what a warm welcome I got! It was so amazing to see her and when I got home I think I almost mistook dad for George Clooney. Than man had lost like 30 lbs! Way to go dad!
I think we were all pretty pumped about the wedding and couldnt wait to get the whole family together since it is such a rare occasion!
On the 4 hour drive out to Joplin. I realized a few things:
1. There are no high rises from House Springs, Missouri to Joplin. If there are... they are a 3 story Gift shop called Ozarkland.
2. Missouri hills, in which I always thought were big, are in no comparison to the mountains of California.
3. Missouri is green. I never thought about it but I miss seeing trees!
4. The cost that it took to fill up in Gas was a far cry from the nickle and dime process of California gas... I was seriously contemplating If I should fill a jug up and take some cheap gas home with me.
When we arrived to Joplin we drove to our hotel the Ritz Carlton.. aka the Holiday Inn.
We threw an awesome "Mexican" themed shower with sombreros and all. I became really fond of this giant black mustache that mom had bought and continued to wear it through the night. It got passed around quite a bit and mom's car ended up wearing it at the end of the night! Later we checked into our room and immediately scoped out the pool. Little did we know that in the following days this would be our watering hole. I think the Schulte clan marked our territory because in the upcoming days we owned that thing!
Did we listen to the fact that we couldn't drink in the pool? No.
Did we listen that you couldn't drink at all period if some of us weren't 21? No.
Did we listen that you couldn't dive in the pool? No?
Did we flash people in the pool from our hotel windows? Yes (Thank you Uncle Tom.. I am partially scared for life... sorry but my ass isn't even that white!)
and last but not least.. Did we really care that we broke every single rule.... Ummm NO!
After having "too much" fun in the sun the day of the wedding we all got dolled up got ready to see Drew and holly get hitched. We all must have died and gone to heaven.. because it had to be a sin to look as good as we did.
Holly and Drew's wedding was adorable. Great touch with the photo sideshows of them growing up. My personal favorite was watching Holly's home video of her learning how to ride a bike and every time finding a tree to run into. It reminded me of the time dad took me sledding and my sled headed right to the creek instead of down the hill...
I think we were all anticipating the reception. We became instant dancing fools. Little Clohe got out there and man did she have some moves. The next dance off I have I think I am going to channel her. It was pretty much chaos out there. You had Allie, Becca, Molly, and I with the new school moves and getting low on the dance floor. Mom and Dad were trying to coordinate their moves while Mom was trying to channel something from a Ricky Martin Video. Aunt Lisa was being sandwiched by the groomsmen because lets face it.. Aunt Lisa you still got it sista, And last but not least your had Aunt Vicky showing people how the electric slide was done with style. Who would have known that we were all in our element and all we needed was a good tune like "Sweet Caroline" to all bring us together.
Overall the trip was great. We got to see a great wedding and spend some quality time as a family. I wish Drew and Holly many years of health and happiness and hope that more weddings are to come so we can do it all over again..
I wonder.. Who will be next??? (Molly did get the bouquet!)
