A post so long, you'll call it homework

Five months ago, my brother-in-law and his fiancee asked if my sweet little girl could be their flower girl.

Since I would be happy if Madeline wasn't heard screaming and crying from a pew throughout the wedding video, I thought flower girl duties might be too much for her.

Being the furthest thing from a bridezilla, Janna didn't care what happened or what didn't happened; she and Jon just wanted Madeline to be a part of their wedding.

Reason #18374 why I love this couple.

Also, Janna was smart enough to devise Operation Plan B: have Joe's younger sister Joanna escort the kids down the aisle if there were any problems.

Reason #18375 why I love this couple.

So at the wedding rehearsal, Madeline practiced walking down the aisle. And practiced and practiced. Believe me, it was not any form of child labor because she got an M&M each time she met Grandma at the end.

She ate more chocolate and candy dye in an hour than I would ever be comfortable confessing to her doctor.

I told the ring bearer, Janna's adorable nephew Luka, to please hold Madeline's hand because I was confident if he led, she would follow.

The beautiful bride and the kiddos before the ceremony

However, we had one major obstacle to hurdle besides Madeline's age: stairs.

Yes, this is how much I love Janna: I walked down stairs to be in their wedding and Madeline had to as well. I get nervous walking a square foot in front of large groups of people because I've been known to trip, stumble or wipe-out in front of large groups of people.

(Example: slipping in mud in front of my entire high school boys JV and varsity soccer team in a wrap-around skirt that did not stay wrapped-around as I bit the ground. Need I say more?)

And if this little girl has any of my DNA, I'm afraid she might be doomed as well.

Proof that I did not fall down. Take that, boys soccer team.

So the wedding day arrived. I didn't want Madeline to be stressed in any way so I let her casually begin the day by eating breakfast bars and watching cartoons in the hotel bed with Aunt Jen. Oh, to live the life of a flower girl.

We got dressed in a very stress-free, calm fashion.

Being the laid-back mother than I am, in no way did I stress about that apple and that white dress. In. No. Way.

At the church, Madeline and Luka practiced their walk repeatedly while everyone else posed for pictures before the wedding. They were doing great.

Finally, the ceremony began. After much dread and anticipation, I successfully navigated the stairs without flashing my unmentionables to the audience. Then it was time for the flower girl and ring bearer.

Even from the front of the church, I could hear Madeline panicking and crying before I could see her. Then I could see Luka, bless his little heart, trying desperately to grab her hand as she wrenched it away repeatedly while tightly clutching her flower basket in the other hand.

Operation Plan B went into full effect as Joanna grabbed Madeline's free hand to lead her down the aisle. But dear Luka had apparently took my words to heart. He ran to the other side of Madeline to hold her hand since I told him to please lead her down the aisle.

Do you remember what was in Madeline's other hand? Yes, that would be the flower basket with all the petals.

I should stop at this point and mention that Madeline is really, um, let's say struggling with the whole sharing thing right now. I know this because when a kid gets near her while she's holding something she wants, she always throws a fit and launches the toy or book or precious item at the kid. Always.

So when Luka came to her other side to take her by the hand, Madeline CHUCKED THE FLOWER BASKET AT HIS FACE.

As petals were flying everywhere and the basket just maybe bounced off his face, it was such a beautiful, proud moment for me as a mom.

That's when poor, dear, sweet, adorable Luka realized Madeline had failed at her duties as flower girl and could not recover. The mission had failed but no petal would be left behind.

He collected every single one and finished the aisle by himself, scattering the petals as he walked.

He was a really good flower boy.

And what did my sweet, angelic child do as Luka cleaned up after her? She laughed. Hard. And she laughed at him.

She laughed and pointed at him and slapped her thighs. She laughed so hard that she had the entire audience laughing with her. Joe and I wiped tears away as her belly laugh rang throughout the church.

This picture doesn't capture it at all but this is Madeline thinking the whole scene is downright hilarious.

In the end, Jon and Janna had a beautiful ceremony and became husband and wife. I stayed upright and kept my skirt down. Madeline proved that she is adorable in all circumstances and backup plans are always a good thing.

And Luka probably wants everyone to know that ring bearers should wear mouthguards.

I love this little flower girl.