Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

We all make plans.  However, plans have a way of going awry.  Especially when there are lots of people involved AND some of those people are traveling by plane.

It is quite difficult to get our whole crew together at one time but we had been planning this past weekend for a while.  The ball gowns were purchased along with tuxedos for all of the guys.  Babysitters were set up because we were staying overnight at the venue.  And yes...although it would be only one week until Ryan and Allison's baby was due, we were going to the Winter Ball to hear Neal McCoy perform and basically all be together and have a little family fun.  Friday was Kevin, Caitlin and Holli's flight date from Cleveland and getting out of there was not the problem.  The problem came in the form of snow and ice that Dallas had.  So, with only a 50 minute flight keeping them from being here, the adventure of making yet more lemonade out of lemons began.

I was tied up with a family emergency at the hospital while most of this was going on but I was well aware that things weren't looking good for our Ohioans getting to Louisiana that night...or maybe the next day for that matter (ugh...).  After sitting on the tarmac, in the plane, after it had landed for two hours, they finally moved inside to sit at the gate for another two hours before their flight was actually cancelled.  That's when the real chaos ensued.  If they tried to get on another plane the next day would they even make it here in time for the Ball? (Like I said, "It's always something!)

The decision was made and after about another couple of hours a car was rented and they started driving here.  Through the snow and ice.  But HEY!  They've driven in worse in Ohio.  Around 1:30, they could drive no more and stopped to spend the night in Natchitoches and got here by the middle of Saturday morning.  With no luggage...

Luckily Caitlin's ball gown was here because she was having it altered and she was borrowing a pair of my shoes.  She had purchased Kevin's shirt, tie and cuff links online and had them shipped here but the poor guy's tuxedo and shoes were still in Dallas.  That's when the search began.  Robby had an extra tuxedo but the pants were a little long so we called someone who was kind enough to call their tailor in and hem them for him.  Robby also let him borrow some socks, while a friend let him borrow a pair of shoes and cummerbund.  All of the girls pitched in to let Caitlin borrow make-up and hair products.  This wasn't an easy lemonade to made but we were doing it.  Finally leaving around 3 p.m., we were all ready to drive to our destination and check into our rooms early so we could catch our breath before it was time for the Ball to begin.

After all we went through to actually make it to this event the guys didn't even fuss too much about me wanting to snap a few photos.  And so here we are...can you tell how stressed out we had been squeezing all of those lemons?!

                          Not too bad, huh?  But GEEZ...I sure am getting tired of lemonade!