The Hopwood Happenings: Pity Party--and a long one

Well, this weekend we went to Holland for Mark and Brandie's wedding. It did not get off to a good start. We woke up Friday morning, fed the kids, and took off. Things were good until we were driving for about 20 minutes...then the screaming and yelling started. Both kids. Nick was driving, I was trying to interact with the kids (while painting my toenails and fingernails), but they were not having it. Hunter has an ear piercing scream. Then Jack copies him. Then Hunter gets mad b/c Jack is screaming and yells at Jack. Then Jack cries. And on and on and on. I have a video to prove it if you don't believe me. At one point Nick and I were laughing, but I wanted to cry. We stopped around 11am at a Wendy's, just to get the kids out of the car. There were only about two people were in there, so the kids ran laps around the inside and I didn't even care. I wanted to cry. We had smoothies, went to the bathroom, and back into the car. We got to the hotel around noon (I think). What I envisioned for a "suite" was nothing like what we had. I don't want to be a snob, but this is exactly why Nick is not allowed to make arrangements without me. We stayed somewhere in Vegas that was super ghetto in 2005 and I swore I would never let him do that to me again, so he has been banned for life when it comes making travel arrangements. So shame on me I guess. The problem is, had I suggested we stay elsewhere (at least somewhere with a pool), Nick would have refused b/c everyone else was staying here, so it was a lose/lose situation for me. Our room smelled like poop and smoke mixed together. The whole reason I wanted a suite was b/c Hunter wakes up early and Jack sleeps late and I wanted to have a space to keep Jack so he could sleep. Needless to say, we were in one small room with a microwave/mini-fridge/sink, so they call it a suite. This got Nick and I off on the wrong foot for the entire weekend. Somehow he was mad at me, but I was more mad at him and the situation in general. Once I found out there was no pool the day before, I wanted to call and switch hotels and he wouldn't even let me call around. Uhhhh. Nick took Hunter to Chucky Cheese with the other ring bearer and his dad that afternoon b/c it was pouring rain and I wanted them to leave so Jack could nap. No nap...Jack just walked around the room crying for two hours. It was overwhelming b/c I had no snacks, no car, etc and was stuck at the hotel. Before we left for the rehearsal dinner the tears were flowing--it had already been a long day. Thank GOODNESS our previous nanny, Monica (and her fiance), were there to help us. Monica took Jack for the evening while we went to the rehearsal dinner on the boat with Hunter. Hunter was a disaster for the rehearsal. He cried, screamed, and acted terribly. He had not had a nap and it was just too much stimulation for him in one day. Nick was doing his part as best man, so most of the kid stuff was on my shoulders. I wasn't able to sit with Nick at the rehearsal or actual reception, so that made it double hard for me. Mark and Brandie even offered to let Hunter NOT be in the wedding b/c they could see we were having a hard time. Anyway, we get back to the hotel Friday night and Jack was sleeping--yay (thanks Monica). Nick wanted to go to the bar with everyone so I got to stay in the room and deal with Hunter (insert sarcasm). Hunter was totally rebelling against me and I just could not handle it. I was literally crying in the hall holding Hunter's hand calling Nick telling him to come back to the room to help me. This was the first time I feel like my child actually broke me down to a point where I could not control my tears. Nick had no sympathy and I won't go in to how he was being mean to me...it just made things worse. Finally we all got to sleep and Nick went back out to the bar until 2:30am. Yes, I'm a little resentful that both nights he was out partying and having fun while I was in the room, even if it was sort of my choice. Saturday morning Monica took Hunter to play--this was a much needed break from him. They went to this bumper car place and had lots of fun. Nick, Jack, and I went to breakfast. Jack yawned the whole time and crashed in the room immediately following breakfast. Monica then came back with Hunter and took Jack so we could head to pictures and the ceremony. That was also mass chaos b/c the itinerary said 1pm pictures, but Mark is texting Nick saying 11:30am and we told Monica not to bring Hunter back until 12:15pm. I don't get it. On the way there, we discovered that Hunter's shoes did not fit. I had to make a mad dash to Meijer in my dress/heels...Mark wanted Hunter to go barefoot, but I was not going for that. My hands were shaking b/c I was in such a hurry and so stressed out. We finally got on the boat for the actual ceremony. The best part of the weekend was that Hunter did his job well walking down the aisle. No crying, screaming, etc. Then he actually sat in my lap for most of the ceremony (I think I gave him 10 mints from my purse to keep him quiet). After that, I took Hunter back to the hotel to pick up Jack and get back to the reception. More chaos. Hunter was running around, would not sit still, and I had blisters on my feet, and was just exhausted. I forgot to mention my back was KILLING ME from sleeping in the hotel bed and pull out couch (we played musical beds the night before b/c of the kids). I was in so much pain and my arms were actually sore from carrying both kids around so much. The reception was nice...I really liked the room they had it in. Unfortunately, I did not get to eat. It was just too much to even get the kids to sit together for five minutes. Nick tried to help a little, but he could see I was on the verge of tears. We just decided rather than having the nanny pick the kids up, that I would just go back with them. I was not in the mood to hang out and party. I feel like a mean party pooper, but I just could not do it anymore. I was in too much pain, too cranky with everything, and Hunter was crying that he wanted me to take him to bed. So that's what we did. Monica helped me get the kids to bed thank God. I hope Monica didn't think I was rude, but I just didn't have it in me to be a happy camper by that point...and I hope she knows I appreciated her being there to help us!! Nick didn't come home until 4:30am. He was in the bathroom dropping all sorts of stuff and being dumb. I finally got up and told him to be quiet and get in bed. He was like "I have the door shut. What else can I do? Leave me alone". I said, "Well, I'm helping you b/c if Jack wakes up, it's on you." He is just not smart when he's drinking. Hunter and Jack were up at 7am and Nick was not happy about that. I packed up the entire room by myself, we loaded the car and were on the road home by 9am. I drove us all the way home, back pain and all, kids screaming again, etc. Jack napped from 11:45am until 5pm yesterday. haha. That was our weekend in a nutshell. I feel guilty for not hanging out more. I am sad that I didn't get any pictures of Jack in his cute outfit. I'm sad I didn't get one picture of Nick and I together or a nice family picture with us all dressed up. I feel guilty that I had such a hard weekend when it was supposed to be so fun. We are going to another wedding in August in Baltimore and I'm happy we are not bringing the kids. I am happy for my brother-in-law and new sister-in-law. They looked great and seemed to have a great day together.

Here are a few pictures from my phone :) I don't know why they are so small. I have more from my camera, but have to load them on my computer.

Me and the handsome ring bearer...

Nick during the ceremony...he was SO HOT wearing all black. Not a good day to be wearing that when it's 95 degrees out.

Saying their vows

On the way back from breakfast. He seriously yawned 20 times in a row...poor baby was so tired!

On the way to the rehearsal dinner...of course he falls asleep five minutes before we have to get out of the car. We let him sleep until the boat was about to take off!