It was a white knuckle, windshield wipers going 90 to nothing kind of ride to Intercontinental to pick up our Tampa family. We still managed to make it in plenty of time. Then, off to this nice little Airbnb in Conroe where our daughter managed to put over 40 of us on one property. Tom and I had a little house all to ourselves and the Tampa folks were next door in another little house.
The Big House was alive with Denver folks and another Airbnb housed the Tulsa families. Friday night was “Welcome Night” for all. But before that, we loaded up wedding stuff to take to the event venue, The Pavillion @ Vida Bella. The wedding party joined us there and over 20 of us set the tables, the younger group carried in tote after tote of things, I’ve never seen anything so organized! We were back by 7:30 for the gathering at The Big House.
Paul cooked all the BBQ out of his MEI Trailer, the one he takes to competitions. The meal was a plethora of meats, beans, potato salads, etc. You name it! We even managed to celebrate our son, Matthew’s, Birthday. Why not, this was a happy time, full of family and friends.
Some of us retired early, but I heard the gang celebrated until 1 am. Next morning, there’s Hanna cooking bacon and Travis making scrambled eggs, Michael warming up the tortillas, orange juice flowing and me pouring milk for my Littles. Oh, what a feast. After everything was cleaned up, Pool Time! Everyone was in the pool, adults dodging balls kids were throwing, adults indulging, and me, I think, suggesting sunscreen to those frying around me. Some of us went off to the venue again to deliver more stuff and make sure the staff at the Vida Bella were on the ball.
We were reminded several times by the Mother of the Groom what time we needed to be there, cleaned up and ready to party some more.
The actual ceremony was a little walk over a bridge. Chairs were arranged, and the wedding party filed in, then Chyna, the bride, with her Dad to present to Eli. I was sitting by Leigh, Mom of the Groom, she started tearing up, then I looked directly behind us at Kelly, Aunt of the Groom, Oh My Goodness, there’s something about everyone tearing up that brings it on. “Anybody bring tissues?” Nary a sole, I didn’t remember either.
To Be Continued…
