We headed west to Missouri to celebrate my Great Aunt Etta Mae's 90th birthday !!  Etta Mae was my father's mother's sister.  My father has one sister - Patsy, and Patsy has six children - who I call my Oklahoma Cousins !  Five of my OK cousins and their families were were at the party, as well as my brother Richard and his wife Lorraine who we flew in with us from Boston. My mom and her friend Dutch drove up from Florida in their recently purchased travel trailer.  We were also able to spend time with Jon's brother Tim and his wife Dawn and family who live in Springfield. It was a fabulous trip surrounded by our family  who we do not get to see that often.  Mom, Dutch, Richard Lorraine, Tim, Dawn, Jon and I spent a few days in Branson before heading to Springfield to be joined by the rest of my family to celebrate Etta Mae's birthday. I am still smiling thinking about this trip…...

Jon at the World's largest toy museum !

Jon and I

Downtown Old Branson

Heading to the historic Owen Theater to catch an afternoon comedy show

Inside of the historic Owen Theater

Richard and Lorraine on the Duck

Tim and Dawn

Cloudy but a beautiful day to "Duck" it on the lake !

A "duck" in the water

Mom got a bit of a splash !

Duck heading out of the water

View of the lake

I never can see this beautiful flag too often !

We survived the trip !! Dutch, me, Dawn, Jon Lorraine, Mom Richard and Tim

Irish Pub at Branson river front - Richard, Lorraine, me, Jon, Dawn and Tim

Jon and his southern Belle at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede

Richard and Lorraine at the Luau

Cousin Cindy, Cousin Mark with wife Jennifer

The kids table full of Cousins kids ! Kaitlyn, Ben, Hunter, Michelle, Shaina and Lina

Cousin Larry and wife Beverly

Cousin Paul and wife Donna

Cousin Darryl and wife Lori

Etta Mae and her friend Robert who was also celebrating his 91st birthday !

Taking over the conference room at our hotel for the after party and card playing !

A good game of Texas Hold Em - Paul and Larry

Michelle, Lina, Shaina, Mark adn Kaitlyn

Lorraine, me, Paul, Larry and Aunt Patsy

Every age got in on the fun !

At the family breakfast - Lorraine, Richard, Dutch, Mom, me Dawn and Tim

Cousin Cindy, Cousin Larry, me, Cousin Paul, Cousin Mark and Richard - we were only missing our Cousin Ray !

Richard, Lorraine, Larry, Cindy, me, Mark and Paul

Richard, our Aunt Patsy and me

The girls ! Front row is Great Aunt Etta Mae with her 2 dtr.'s - my cousins Lina and Patricia. Back row- me Mom, Patsy and Cindy

Me, Mom, Etta Mae, Patsy and Cindy

Aunt Patsy - this is how wonderful 80 years old looks !

and, my Great Aunt Etta Mae - this is how fabulous 90 looks !!

Lorraine, Richard and Dutch

Larry, Susan, Mark and Paul

And we here we are !

Aunt Etta Mae and me…….