The Last of The Wedding Stories - I swear!

All of the professional shots from the wedding are finished, and last night dad's new wife painstakingly sent me about 20 e-mails with photos attached.

Even though she's also already got the CD with all 400 photos in the mail and on the way to me. She just wanted to make sure I had some (or all) of her favorites in the meantime.

The woman cracks me up - she fits in perfectly with our family!

Because let's face it - I'm just impatient enough to have done the SAME exact thing had the roles been reversed!

One of my absolute favorites - Me, and my two brothers!

My beautiful sister-in-law hopping in with us... no idea how it is that she puts up with that brother of mine!

I've got to say, I kind of feel like this angle or the bow on the dress or something makes me look bigger than I am in this picture, so I don't love it as much as I otherwise would, but.... The look the boys have on their faces almost completely makes up for how I feel like I look in this one! It's just too classic a picture not to share!

Yep. That one's getting framed and hung up immediately.

See - she fits RIGHT in!

I can't really explain why, but I just adore this picture of my brother and grandmother. Maybe because he looks so happy, and because my grandma looks so gorgeous in that dress. I just love them both so much.

Their photographer was a really sweet young girl who had never photographed a wedding before - don't you think she did a wonderful job?

I did have to give my dad a hard time though. As a girl who has never once dreamed about her wedding, I can tell you that if and when that event occurs - it will be a small and understated affair. We're talking flip flops, a sun dress, and a BBQ. I'm just not big on ceremonies at all. The whole wedding thing doesn't excite me like I suppose it probably should. So, more than once I had to tease him for having a third wedding that had more put into it than my first ever will. Still... everything really did turn out beautifully. A gorgeous ceremony, incredible food, and pictures that couldn't have turned out more perfect. They did pretty good!

I can't remember if I shared this story or not, but I did win $100 on this wedding. Last year, when he was so hurt and heartbroken over his divorce, he made some comment about feeling like it was too late for him. He was afraid he had wasted too much time with my stepmother, and that now - he was going to end up alone. I, of course, knew that wasn't the case. My father is a good man. A kind man. A wonderful, and giving, and caring man. And more than anything - my father is a serial monogamist. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would not end up alone. In fact, I knew that there was a far better chance that I (his fiercely independent and mildly afraid of commitment daughter) would end up alone before he ever would.

And so, I made him a bet. Right then and there, I bet him $100 that he would be married again before I would find myself in a serious relationship.

He of course told me I was crazy. That there was no way he would be getting married again anytime soon. That it would be a long time before he would ever be ready to make that leap again.

But I knew. I knew my father. And I knew that this day would come.

Of course - I didn't know it would come quite so quickly. But then again, I can't say I'm surprised either.

This is my father after all. And when he loves, he loves with everything he's got.

It was a bittersweet $100 to win. Especially right on the heels of my breakup with the boy - a relationship I really hadn't wanted to see come to an end.

A relationship that in many ways I still think there may be some hope for - but that's another post for another day.

The old man stayed true to his word though, and gave me my cold hard cash once the "I do's" had been exchanged.

At the reception I overheard him mentioning to a friend "Where did she go? I've lost my wife!"

I couldn't help myself. "Wouldn't be the first time..." Came barreling out of my mouth before a beat had even gone by.

It's a good thing my dad has such an appreciation for my sense of humor.

After all - I'm pretty sure he is the one who is responsible for it.

If nothing else, we are really good at laughing at ourselves in my family.

And even better at laughing at each other.

Which goes even further to explain the $100 I walked away with as a consolation prize for my inability to maintain a relationship.

It was a beautiful wedding though. To a beautiful woman who I am so happy has joined our family. Everyone from both families meshed together perfectly, and I'm looking forward to years and years of get-togethers where we can all grow even closer.

Get-togethers where from here on out, I'm actually welcome in the family home.

And hey - you can't beat that now, can you!

P.S. The sun set a little after 9:00 last night, and the new moon rose in the sky. Jack arrived at 10:00. I kid you not. The healer was right on, and Jack came with the new moon. Not only that, but I had more than one comment yesterday from other people who said their periods came yesterday when they shouldn't have as well (either too early or too late). So maybe there was something to this whole cycling with the new moon thing?

I love it when the hippies in my life are right!