the Missouri extended family in our Matthews shirts

More and more often we find ourselves making trips south to be part of family celebrations.  The baton has been  handed to Robbie and Christi in Missouri.  They are more centrally located than we are and it is easier for us all to gather there.  When we move close to them we will be within a days drive from all the boys except one, as well as both Bob's and my sisters.  Getting anxious to make this move.

steaming table cloths

This year the first week of May was again time to head down.  We arrived at my sister's in KY on Sunday night, a day later than planned.  Visited with her on Monday and Tuesday headed to MO. Wednesday we attended Azia's choral concert and Bryten's orchestra concert at different schools (good thing they were a few hours apart). Thursday was Tristen's graduation from high school.  Friday we spent a day turning a gymnasium into a dining area for a wedding reception. (I steamed 30 tablecloths while others made center pieces, bouquets and boutonnieres). Saturday was the wedding of Tristen to Lacy, his high school sweetheart.  They left on their one night honeymoon and we returned the gym to it's previous state.

the Happy Couple

Interspersed with this was visiting with out of town family, guests and grandchildren.  None of the brothers were able to attend the festivities so a video was taken (now I just need to figure out how to get it off my ipad!).  Sunday (Mother's Day) we all collapsed.  The bride and groom returned to present the mothers, and me!, flowers.  They opened gifts and said good bye to departing guests before heading out to see her mothers. Monday we started our trip home.

While we were out of town and the B&B  was in guest ready condition but unoccupied, there was an open house for prospective buyers.  Our Realtor indicated there was interest and he is following up with answers to questions they had.  We are hoping this is going to prove fruitful, sale wise.  It was very difficult to return home, even knowing I had guests within days of returning.  As Azia left for school that Monday morning she asked if we could finish the sock monkey we started Sunday night and I had to let her know we would be gone when she came home from school.  So very hard.

Ride home was uneventful. and we jumped right back into the swing of things once we arrived, no rest for the travel weary.  June first Tristen leaves for boot camp and the new Mrs Matthews starts the paperwork that will allow her to go with him to his duty station.