Well, it's not so bad. Nowhere near the level of crazy loudness that Paul threatened.

It's been three weeks and a day now and the wedding celebrations are still going on. We're back in the south, in his hometown. His mom's side of the family has been here for almost a week and leave today. They flew in from Hawaii, Arizona, and Idaho. It's been entertaining to watch a reunion from the outside.

His dad's side is slowly trickling in. Their reason for gathering together is Thanksgiving. "Uncle Arnold" insisted on dinging his fork against his glass all yesterday afternoon while we opened our second set of presents.

Perhaps an explanation of what's going on....

We've just had our second reception. It's been good putting faces to the names we wrote on the invitations. And it was nice that I knew a handful of people. I snagged a couple invites to dinner and a glass of wine, too. (Wine is hard to come by here.)

Strangely enough, his mom stressed about this reception as much as if it was the actual wedding. She even invited a pastor to come and give a special "word" (don't you love the lingo?). I did get to wear my dress again, minus the magical feeling I imagine most wedding dresses bestow on the brides (perhaps because Paul and I got ready in the same room this time).

Thanks to a few forgetful friends, we did not have to re-read our vows or have one of those awkward wedding dances. Phew. We were, however, serenaded by the best man. Post-reception surveys show that the majority of the attendees thought his rendition of a Princess Bride song to be a serious love song. (And I thought our exagerrated swaying would've given that away?)

Yesterday the festivities continued. I slept in while Paul reffed a couple soccer games. Then we drove over to his Grandma's, where we ate (again), opened presents, showed the wedding video (I caught his Aunt Mona nodding off), and played several rounds of Catch Phrase.

Notable gifts that I don't know what I'll do with: silver salad tongs, large silver serving spoons with palm tree handles and matching silver bowl, 59 million bath towels, and a Sam's Club gift certificate. There were also some fun ones -- like stackable candle holders from Thailand, a massive Atlas, and a George Foreman grill. (The lean mean fat buring machine, or something like that.)

I've been so impressed--stuned, even, with people's generosity. I'm continually amazed at how many people were involved in the wedding in some way or another, at how much they treat us as their own family--more so than my own extended family, and at how generous they really are.

When we added up the checks and the cash and counted the number of people who gave us gifts and the hours they helped, I couldn't keep the tears away. Over 120 people gave gifts, their time, and their expertise. The wedding and reception were beautiful -- and not by my hours and hours spent planning it.