There's No Place Like Home

We are home. We had a great time in Pittsburgh, despite the Pens loss to Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals (spoken like a true hockey fan, eh?). Don't let me fool you. I didn't even pay attention to hockey until James and I went to that one Stars playoff game this year and, while it totally rocks, I'm still a baseball fan first. Of course, we were in the Steel City when their very own Pirates took two of three from my beloved Astros but, I will survive.

OK ... so we went to Pittsburgh for my cousin's wedding. My mom, Megan and I flew up there on Wednesday and James flew directly from NYC on Thursday. Megan was a real trooper on the plane. She didn't sleep the whole time, which would have been ideal, and she let a few cries escape but never reloaded. Our flight was late but the baggage claim and car rental (er... mini-van rental) went smoothly. We were those people who had to get one of those carts to schlep all our luggage. Then, we hit the traffic. Poor Megan was so good to be cooped up all day in that car seat. We checked into our hotel then set out on our quest to buy some beer. We were staying at one of those suite hotels so we had a fridge and definitely needed some beer to fill it but in PA you can't just pop into the nearest stop-and-rob to buy beer. You have to go to a beer distributor ... and they only sell it by the case (or keg). We thought we were on a wild goose chase since the directions the hotel gave us were not quite accurate. We turned down this street, like a residential street, and I told my mom I felt like we were trying to find that beer store that would sell to minors ... or score some drugs or something! We stopped at the Chili's by our hotel for dinner and Megan was still a super-trooper! Thursday was fun. We went to my aunt's house and hung out there with my cousin (the one getting married). We had a good time but Megan took exception to the fact that she didn't get a nap and had an absolute melt-down later that afternoon. That night, my aunt had a party at her house so we went back there. James was wonderful to agree to take a car from the airport with my other cousin who arrived from Arizona around the same time. He came straight from NYC to my aunt's party (still in his suit too) and was so happy to see Megan ... and be introduced and re-introduced to most my cousins and their kids. It was fun but apparently we took the heat up there with us because it was hot and humid, which is not normal for early June in PA. They had two kegs on the back deck and some bbq (though not Texas BBQ it was pretty good). We didn't stay too long because of Meg's earlier meltdown and poor James' long week in NYC. Besides, finding your way down the twisty twervy hilly roads of Fox Chapel after a few beers wouldn't have been much fun for me, let alone my passengers, so it was best that we left before having too much fun. ;-) My brother arrived Friday so my mom had to take the party van to the airport which left James, Meg and I without wheels. Luckily, we were across the street from a mall and shopping is what the Starkes do best. Unfortunately, the mall sucked. There was a Macy's and a JCP and a Sears Grand, which is a limited selection of grocery items. Never seen one of those. Other than that, and the 4 Pittsburgh area sports teams merchandise stores, there wasn't much to see there. Later that afternoon, we walked to Sonic for a treat but it was just HOT!! My ice cream melted before I finished it. Poor Megan was a super trooper again that day, and that night hanging out in a bar waiting for the rehearsal dinner to be done, but we cut our night short before going to my cousin's house for a swim. Saturday we finally got to see some sights. We drove around downtown Pitt and then through my mom's old neighborhood. We went by the house she grew up in and the houses her mom and dad grew up in. We happened upon some steel industry history for James along the Monongahela River (that's the dirty one). It was the highlight of the trip, except the wedding of course, which was that night. My cousin got married outside by the 18th hole of the golf course at Oakmont (home of many US Opens in the past, most recently in 2007) beneath some huge old trees. It was a beautiful setting and was an absolutely perfect ceremony. The bars were open inside the club so we were able to take cocktails with us to the ceremony, which was strange ... but I'm not complaining!! The reception was inside the club just up the steps from the ceremony so it was very convenient. The food was great, the band was good (and loud), and the cocktails were flowing. I have always had fun at the weddings at Oakmont, and there have been a few over the years, though we no longer sit at the kids table. I have 9 cousins on my mom's side of the family and we were ALL at the wedding. I don't remember the last time we were all together but if it ever happened, I'm sure it was at someones wedding. We took a picture just because we could and I heard someone say something about who will be the first grandparent. I laughed because I'm pretty sure it won't be me considering Megan is 6 months old and one of her second cousins just turned 17.

Yes, I had to look that up. My cousins' children are my first cousins once removed and they are Megan's second cousins.

Megan spent the wedding upstairs with a couple of babysitters. It was nice that we were able to take her there, and check on her multiple times throughout the wedding. It was our first time leaving her with a babysitter (other than grandma of course) and it might be the last for a while. No matter how experienced the girls were I'm not sure they really knew what to do with a 6 month old ... and I know we didn't really know what to tell them. It had been a rough few days for her so she wasn't on her typical angelic behavior that night either. I can't say it enough ... Megan was such a trooper.

We came home Sunday and it sure was nice to be home. Megan slept the whole way home on the plane so it was a great flight for me and James. She is back on schedule, sleeping great and eating like a horse, like we never took her on this great adventure. I'm glad we got some pics!!

Megan's first plane ride!

Some history for daddy and his little girl!

All smiles while sight-seeing!!

The wedding set up!

The cousins!!

James decided to not be silly at the last minute!!

Booger head!

Megan at her first wedding!