Rhonda's View

"Howie - get up!" I shouted to Howie.
"What? What? What?" Howie wasn't much of an early morning person.
"Okay, you don't have to get up but you have to tell me where your keys are. I gotta go pick up Amber so we can get Missy and then we have to get our hair done and...."
"Oh yeah, today's Amber and AJ's wedding isn't it?" Howie rolled over and looked at me trying to find something to wear. "Were you this frantic on our wedding day?"
"No because I knew what I was going to wear on our wedding day!" I shot back at Howie.
"On the kitchen table."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The keys. My car keys are on the table. Just throw on something to go to the salon. You already have your dress for later."
I looked at the clock and realized that I was suppose to be picking Amber up at this moment so I threw on a pair of overalls, gave Howie a kiss and left the house.

Amber's View

"Oh my god," I said rolling over and shaking AJ awake, "we overslept – I'm gonna be late."
"Late for what?" AJ said as he tried to roll over and go back to sleep.
"Late for all the appointments I have today before our wedding."
At the mention of our upcoming wedding AJ sat up fully awake. "We're getting married today!"
"Yes honey we're getting married today," I said laughing at the expression on his face.
"Hey," he said winking at me, "the baby is still at my mom's - how about some more celebrating like we did last night?" AJ rolled me back over onto the bed and started to try and convince me.
"Hey I'm here - and you better be up and dressed!" I suddenly heard Rhonda yell from downstairs.
"I'll be down in a minute!" I yelled back as I pushed AJ off me and bounced off the bed to get dressed.
"You know I don't know how they do it - but Rhonda and Howie have really bad timing!" AJ grumbled.
"You need to get up too you know. You and Howie still have to go and pick up your tuxes."
"I still say we don't need them." I shot him a 'don't start' look as I grabbed a coat and ran downstairs.

Rhonda's View

"I'm so sorry I'm late!" I said to Amber as she came down the stairs.
"I'm just hoping that the rest of the day isn't going to be like this. AJ and I just woke up. Maybe we should call Missy to make sure that she's up."

"So how are we doing your hair again?" Lisa, the hairdresser, asked me.
"Oh just do something to make my stomach look smaller," I laughed. Amber was sitting next to me with her hair in a million curlers and someone working on her nails.
"Well, let's just play with it an see what we come up with," Lisa said.

When we left the salon, we headed over to AJ's mom's house to pick up Arrianna. Arrianna was playing on the living room floor when we walked in.
"Hey Squeak! How's my big girl today?" Amber asked. Arrianna got up and made it half way to her before she dropped to the ground and decided that crawling would get her there faster. "Thank you Denise for taking her overnight. I don't think I would have been able to get all of this running around done with Squeakers with me," Amber said.
"Honey, you are marrying my son today. I think you can start calling me mom," Denise said.
I grabbed Arrianna's bag and Amber grabbed Arrianna. "We'll see you at the church in a little while," we shouted to Denise. Amber ran back over and gave Denise a hug, "See you later - mom."

Amber's View

Rhonda and I headed over to the church to finish getting ready. "The florist should be here any minute," I said as I wandered up and down the isles making sure all the decorations on the pews looked right. "Arrianna get away from there!" I yelled as I noticed her getting ready to pull a candle off a stand. Her hand jolted back down. "My gosh everyday I realize more and more that she is definitely AJ's daughter. Arrianna Marie McLean I said get away from there!" I yelled as I saw her tiny hand reach for the candle again.

"At least she has the decency to look guilty before she does it again," Brian said walking in and laughing.
"Brian! I'm so glad your here!" I scooped Arrianna up in my arm and headed over to him. "Here hold her and keep her busy for awhile until I can get dressed."
"Doesn't she need to get dressed too. I can do that."
"Yes she does – but I don't think you want to try."
"I can dress one little girl!"
"Fine you can try - but don't do it just yet. I would like her dress to actually stay white through as much of the ceremony as possible."

Rhonda's View

We went into the changing room and I was somehow able to squeeze my stomach into my dress. "Why do I feel like the girl from Willy Wonka who blows up into the giant blueberry?!?"
"Probably because you look like her," Missy laughed zipping the back of her gown.
I was about to strangle her when Amber stepped between us. "You look wonderful Rhon. You're almost seven months pregnant with twins and you look great! Don't let Missy bug you. Besides, there are more important things to worry about....like WHERE THE HELL IS HOWIE AND AJ??"
Missy and I suddenly realized that our little discussion was of no importance.
"Don't worry Amber, Howie ran a little late to our wedding and no one noticed."
"Why don't you just call him and see how far away they are?" Missy asked.
"Yeah, good idea," Amber said as she grabbed my cell phone.
Brian knocked onto the door, he held a squirming Arrianna in his arms. "Ummm…I need a little bit of help. Do the ruffles on the tights go in the front or back?"
"The back," Missy said laughing as she watched Brian walk out struggling to carry the still squirming Arrianna.
Amber handed me the cell phone. "You find out what your husband did to AJ and I'll help Brian."

"Hello," Howie answered AJ's phone.
"Howie - where are you guys??"
"Um, we had to make a quick little stop but we're on our way."
"You guys still have to get here, get dressed and the wedding is suppose to start in fifteen minutes! What in the world would make you guys stop?"
"Don't worry - I'm dressed and AJ is putting his tuxedo on as we speak."
"Okay so you guys are dressed, but where are you?"
"AJ said I can't tell you."
"Howie..."
"Okay, I'll tell you but you can't tell Amber..." Howie spilled the beans about what AJ was up to so close to the wedding.
"He couldn't think of that before this morning!?!?"
"Don't worry - he's dressed and we're leaving right now. We'll be there in like ten minutes. I promise. And honey..."
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too Howie. But if you don't get AJ here soon, I'm not going to protect you from Amber!!"

Amber's View

I walked out to find Brian struggling to get Arrianna into her tights. "Come on Squeaks - I told your mom I could handle this. Stop kicking!"
"Having fun?" I said startling Brian.
"How many legs does your daughter have?" he said still trying to get one of her feet into the tights.
"Well that depends. If she's behaving herself – 2, if she's running or crawling from you - at least 3 or 4, and if you're trying to get her dressed - me and AJ have counted at least 6. I warned you!" Brian was now trying to keep her from pulling off her diaper. I decided it was time to help him out.
"Come here Squeak." Arrianna practically flew into my arms. "Look Brian here's the plan," I said giving my daughter a look that she knew meant behave, "I hold her down and you put those on her." After a couple of tries we finally got her into the tights.
"She is definitely AJ's daughter," Brian said as we watched Arrianna waddling off trying to strip her clothes off in the process. "Is everything alright?" Brian asked noticing the worried look on my face.
"Have you seen AJ or Howie yet?" I asked glancing around hoping to see them walking in.
"No but they're only..." Brian said as he looked at his watch, "My god they're really late!"
"I can't believe this," I said as I stormed back into the dressing room to see if Rhonda had been able to get a hold of them on the cell phone. "WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?!"
"Calm down they're on their way - they had something to do." Rhonda said.
"Something to do! Something other than be at the church for OUR WEDDING?!!!" I couldn't believe that AJ was this late. I had expected it from Howie on his wedding – Howie usually ran late but ahhhhh I couldn't even think about it! The cell phone began to ring.
"Hello," Rhonda answered. "Where the hell are you! There is a very angry bride here!"
"Is that them? Give me the fucking phone!" Rhonda held the phone away from me.
"O.k. I'll tell her but right about now you might want to check and see if she still wants to walk down the isle with you."
"Rhonda if you don't give me that phone right now I'm gonna roll you down the isle like they did with that blueberry chick!"
"Too late," she said closing the phone. "He hung up - besides they are pulling into the parking lot as we speak." I sat down suddenly. "What's wrong?"
"I feel sick! I just realized that I'm getting married today."
"Yes you are," said Missy pulling me up, "So let's get you down that isle and to the man that you love."

Amber's View

"Honey, it usually helps if you breathe," my father joked with me as we waited for the bridal party music to start.
"I don't think I can."
"I have something to tell you," my father said turning me slightly towards him. "I wasn't to thrilled with Alex when I first met him – in fact I had thoughts about grabbing you and taking you as far away from him as I possibly could. I felt it even more when Rachel showed me pictures when we got home of what he looks like on a normal day. But I'm standing here now looking at you in your beautiful dress and I see how much you love him. I also see how much love he has for you and my granddaughter. I just want you to know that you two have my full blessing – I would be honored to have this man as my son-in-law."

Tears filled my eyes as I looked at my father "I love you daddy!"
"Love you too sweetheart. Now let's go get you married," he said wiping the tears from my eyes as the music started.
Arrianna was the first to go down the isle with only a little coaxing from her grandmothers. The bridal party was next, and finally with a deep breath I headed down the isle on my father's arm to the man I loved. My father gave AJ a hug and placed my hand in his. "Take care of her," he said as he turned around to go sit down next to my mother.

"We are here today to celebrate the love which Amber and Alexander have for each other…," the pastor said beginning the ceremony. I looked into AJ's eye's and I knew this was where I was meant to be.

"I, Amber, take you, Alexander, as my husband.
I pledge to share my life openly with you,
to speak the truth to you in love;
I promise to honor you and tenderly
care for you, to cherish you
and to encourage you through all the
changes of our lives.

I, Alexander, take you, Amber, as my wife.
I pledge to share my life openly with you,
to speak the truth to you in love;
I promise to honor you and tenderly
care for you, to cherish you
and to encourage you through all the
changes of our lives.

"May we please have the rings?" the pastor asked Howie and Rhonda as they stepped forward with them. "In offering these rings mark your desire to enter the days of your life together with one another. Repeat after me these words: I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness."

"I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness." I slipped the ring on AJ's finger.
"I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness." AJ tilted the ring so that I could read what was on the inside. Inscribed on the band was the simple and beautiful word "Forever"
"I'm sorry I was late but I had to do this for you," he said as slid the ring on my finger.

"Amber and Alexander, as a ceaseless reminder of this hour, and of the promise you have made to each other, these rings also speak of the oneness you now experience as husband and wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. Congratulations, you may now kiss the bride."

AJ leaned in towards me and whispered, "I love you!" before kissing me.
"It is now my privilege to present to you Mr. & Mrs. McLean."

Rhonda's View

Howie was chasing Arrianna around the park. "This girl just learned how to walk - how the hell can she get around so fast!!"
"You better get used to chasing after kids," Nick laughed at Howie.
"Speaking of that Nick, Patrick is headed for the dock!" Nick ran over and was able to stop Patrick from diving into the lake.
Missy and I stood there and laughed at Howie carrying Arrianna over to Amber and AJ who were taking pictures. I don't know who looked more uncomfortable Arrianna or AJ.
"Can't I take off this tie yet?" AJ asked.
"Just a few more pictures of us, then all the guys and then all the girls and then..." Amber said.
"A simple no would have worked."
"Here's your little princess," Howie said as he handed Arrianna over to AJ.
"How's my little Squeakers doing? Do you want to get out of that horrible dress?" Arrianna nodded yes. "Come on baby, look how uncomfortable she is. Let's hurry up with the pictures!"

Howie came over and sat on the bench next to me. "You look a little tired honey. Do you think you're going to make it all day?"
"Yeah, we'll be fine," I said as I patted my stomach.
"Are we going to tell everyone the names we picked?"
"We only have to tell AJ and everyone else will know," I said.
"Tell me what?" AJ said as he and Arrianna plopped down next to us.
"Aren't you suppose to be taking pictures?" we said in unison.
"Yeah, well, you know...weddings are about the bride. So I convinced Amber to do some 'Bride Only' pictures. If it lets me loosen my tie for a few minutes, then so be it!"
"You're deceiving your wife already…that's not a good sign AJ," I laughed.
"Well, I also said that Squeaks needed a break. Which is true!!"
"Come on everyone," the photographer shouted, "its time for group pictures." And with that our break was over.

Everyone squeezed into the two stretch limos, which wouldn't have been so bad if there weren't so many people in the bridal party. We drove from the lake where we were doing pictures to the hall. We got there a little late, which was the theme of the day, because we had to stop three times. Twice for me to go to the bathroom and once for Nick to get something to eat. I guess he couldn't wait until dinner was served at the reception.