Have you been to Gubat?

Ted’s brother got married this weekend, an event much anticipated by all but especially Kate. She just couldn’t wait to be a flower girl, particularly ever since she heard that she had her very own hair appointment the morning of the wedding. So Friday morning we schlepped out west to pick up Ben from sleepaway soccer camp, then headed down south to the wedding locale. We got a lovely tour of the Virginia countryside that afternoon. Actually, it turned out for the best as we avoided the dreaded Friday night commute down I-95, which is bad enough normally, but is unbearable on summer afternoons as the hordes head off to the beaches.

Things were a little tight getting down there since Ted still had to pick up his tux (grumbling all the while about how he already had a perfectly good tuxedo of his own hanging in his closet) and we had to check into the hotel. But never fear, we actually beat the bride and groom to the rehearsal! The wedding was the next day at 3 but we had to be at the church by noon for photographs. I snuck in a couple of pictures myself during that time.

The ceremony went off beatifully with both kids playing their parts with aplomb. Kate marched down the aisle with a charming smile and Ben passed out programs like no other. Ted’s speech at the reception garnered some hearty laughs. Unfortunately, we ducked out shortly thereafter because Ben was hit in the back of the neck with a party popper. He was already exhausted from soccer camp and the injury didn’t help matters. He fell asleep on the drive up and slept through the next morning until 10:30, sleeping for 14.5 hours.

I could go on, but instead, I offer these pictures (including a lovely sequence of Ben demonstrating how scrumptious cheese puffs are when you are famished):

Why you ask? Because it’s signed by Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards you see. Last night we went to our local fireworks show. Well, our hometown also happens to be the hometown of several well-known folks, including professional athletes, one of whom just happens to be Agent Zero. Ben and his friends spotted Gilbert Arenas waiting for fireworks with his family and they strolled over and introduced themselves. Arenas was apparently quite charming and kind to the boys and offered to sign a few things for them. Of course, none of the boys had a pen so they ran around the park grounds for several minutes trying to borrow one. The only thing Ben had with a decent surface was his shoe, so he pulled it off and handed it to Gilbert Arenas, who signed it graciously. At one point Arenas handed his infant son to Ben to hold while he signed an autograph for one of the other boys, which Ben termed “really cool!”

One of the boys asked the quite pertinent question of why Arenas opted out of his contract. Now we all know the real reason is so that he could get more money, but according to Ben, Arenas smiled graciously and simply said, “I can’t tell you guys that since we’re still in talks.” It just cracks me up that these kids would get right to the heart of the matter, which is no surprise given where we live!

The shoe is now sitting reverently on Ben’s dresser, awaiting some kind of case to keep it safe. Thanks to Gilbert Arenas for taking the time with the boys. Ben couldn’t stop talking about it for the rest of the night.