We're back!

Here's a recap of our trip:
Thursday: We planned to be on the road by 2:00 AM, but I didn't wake up until 3:00, so we didn't get started until 4:00 AM. I drove the first leg of the trip (3 hours) and then we stopped for a bio break and then Tom took over. We stopped once more somewhere in Ohio to eat and feed Stasa and then continued on. Stasa cried the first 45 minutes of the trip and then passed out after having a bottle. She slept the majority of the trip, only waking when we stopped and then again when we hit Dearborn.
We checked in to the hotel around 1:30 PM and got settled. I showered and changed and Stasa and I headed over to the Bagga's for the Mehndi party. Tom and the boys came a little later. We ate, drank, danced and got adorned with henna (even Stasa got some done).

Friday (aka partial Free Day): We got up and had free breakfast with the family and then headed out to go on the Ford factory tour. I think every school had the same idea because there were a TON of kids there on a field trip. Unfortunately the factory isn't in production on Fridays, so we just walked around and looked at the set up. After that we went to lunch at bd's Mongolian Grill. DELICIOUS! We went back to the hotel and got ready for the wine and cheese party for the attendants.
The wine and cheese party was nice. They had four different rooms set up, with different wines and complimentary food in each room. We began with sparklings and champagnes, moved to whites, then reds and finished with dessert wines. Joe and Sharlene gave their attendants gifts - shaving sets for the guys and bags of goodies (beach bag, pashmina, jewelry for Sunday, bath products) for the ladies.
We stayed out pretty late Friday night - past midnight and poor Stasa was exhausted.

Saturday: The guys went out for a straight razor shave in the morning while Aunt Peggy, Grandma and I went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I met my second cousin, Pam and her husband for the first time ever at the restaurant. From there we headed over to the ballroom for rehearsal. There was a ton to rehearse - the vow exchange, Sikh ceremony, walk through the Milni and Barat...
We had a couple of hours between the rehearsal and the dinner/reception. Tom and Stasa took a quick nap so I headed over to Aunt Peggy's suite to hang out with her and Jennifer. Then back to get ready for the reception. We met up with the family for a gift exchange (I can't remember what it was called) and then we all headed down for cocktail (Shartinis and Johitos). After eating, drinking and dancing, Tom and I called it a night a little early since we had a big day ahead of us.

Sunday (The Day): We were up at 6:30 AM to begin getting ready. We got dressed and headed down to Aunt Peggy's suite to meet up with the family. We stopped by Joe's room and then grabbed some breakfast. Then it was a whirlwind of pictures - family pictures, bridesmaid pictures, groomsman pictures...I was running back and forth since I was in both. After the bridesmaid pictures, I ran over to join the Barat since I was part of the groom's family, too. After lots of dancing and walking, the Barat arrived for the Milni. The families exchanged garland and took more pictures and then we all went back inside for tea and snacks. Then we went up for the actual ceremony.
Then, you guessed it, more pictures. LOL The photographer, Heather, is a pro and got us in and out quickly. After the ceremony, we went outside for lunch, then the bridal party separated for dessert and to prepare for the vow exchange. The vow exchange was officiated by Greg and consisted of Joe and Sharlene exchanged vows they wrote and their wedding rings.
Break time! We got a few hours to hang out before the reception. We went and hung out in Aunt Peggy's suite with the rest of the family and had snacks and drinks. Then we got dressed again and headed down for the reception. After drinks, dinner and dancing we said our goodbyes and then went up to our room to pack and put Stasa to bed.

Monday: Tom wanted to be on the road by 5:00 AM, but we didn't wake up until 5:00, so we started out around 6:00 AM. I was exhausted so Tom started out the driving. Stasa and I both passed out and then woke up almost 3 1/2 hours later. I woke up with a ginormous headache and uneasy stomach. I think my stomach was still adjusting to all of the Indian food and spices. I changed and fed Stasa and then we got back on the road - Tom still at the wheel. Stas and I passed out cold again. We woke up somewhere in PA and got a bite to eat. I still felt ill and tired so Tom continued driving and we fell asleep again (seeing the pattern yet? lol). We hit Virginia around 2 something and finally got home around 3:00 PM.

So all in all a pretty easy trip with a baby in tow. We're all tired from all of the events and the long drive. Tom was the smart one and took tomorrow off, so he'll get to rest a little more than I will. I'll post pics of the Mehndi party and factory tour in the next post.