November Trip to Branson, MO

3 Neighbors met every other week for 2 months planning this great adventure to Branson

Home of Great Entertainment
From when we would leave, airport lay overs, flight times, cars and where we would stay.
Len & Kris Hoffman, Dennis & Carla Hammond, and Tim & Syd Crockett

We flew out November 8th......Kris McIntire was our shuttle service to and from

the airport. Service to help pay for his Madegascar Mission Service coming up!

We landed in Kansas, rented cars and drove straight to Branson where the boys went

grocery shopping while the girls went to see the Oakridge Boys Performance

Early the next morning, we were off to see the comedian, Kohov

Out to eat was a common event.........I mean you need to feed the hungary!

And of course ....... one must have fun! Right, Conheads!

7 full days together...........can we still be neighbors and friends after 7 days?

How wonderful to meet up with our Park 1st Ward Ward clerk.....Arnold Knudsen

You learn in Branson.....never to get down in the mouth!

Which snow man is Tim?

Visiting Silver Dollar Cit gave us a completely different angle on things!

And finding a cute bear for our "Bishop Hank" at Grand Village, helped us from going off our rocker!

One time fee gave us two days in Silver Dollor City where the lights are
beautiful, the shows inside are great & the hot chocolate keeps you warm

Inside the bar where we were entertained while cracking peanuts
and drinking "Snowball Hot Chocolate" This is what having fun looks like!

Talking with the delightful Brett Family after their show

Mother Brett wrote the most tender tribute to our Military Service men

Ready for the show to start at the Moon River Theater where we got to hear 82 year old

Andy Williams who still has a golden voice!

Driving north 30 minutes to LAMBERT's.......home of the "throwing rolls"

Whether they're close or far away, if you want a hot roll, you hold your hand up

and they chuck it clear across the room to you!
Delicious Prime Rib to go along with it! YUM!

M-m-m-m good company.......and Good rolls!

Visiting with the 12 Irish Tenors

Happy and Gay! Now to the best show of all......."SIX" alias the Knudsen Brothers

Four generations of Knudsen's

"Fred & Susan" socializing with the brothers

Powerful voices and magical rhythms

Jack embarrassed us in the audience

Attending the "Miracle of Christmas" theater

Wonderful Stephanie........Arnolds friend

Let the show begin!

Flying into the Great Salt Lake........There is no place like HOME!

Especially when Candice had cracked all the buckets of nuts for us!

WOW! Now that is pure love.

The Christmas Tree at Silver Dollar City

Halloween......Whoopie!

I try to be a good mother and grandmother........its the center fold of my life! Children over look and forgive you quickly and make every little thing you do MAGIC. Since the children were young, I've tried to take the "GET & GO" out of Halloween and try to make a tradition memory. Allie wanted Grandma to paint a butter fly a pretty as Aunt Julie's!!!!! Now the holding still power of a 30 year old vs a 4 year old is W---A---Y different. But Allie was very patient and once again, anything and everything I did for her was perfect. But the real magic of Allie is how much she loves her little brother Cooper......the Halloween Pirate

This vibrant, attentive, mature, and very smart little butterfly can talk you leg & sing your leg off.......but put her in front of a group of strangers.........she is still and motionless!

Princess Sydnee Sage tried on more Halloween Costumes this year most adults this year.

And her mother made her the Treat of Everyones Eye! This little princess is ready to walk!

And then Travis & Julie Kaye will know the real meaning of her BEEZY BEE costumn.

Because Sydnee Sage is curious about everything and loves to use her hands as much as her parents. HONEY! It's going to BEE a little sticky around the Gardner home soon!!!

The Crockett kids took their little ones to "TRUNK or TREAT" to satisfy their need to gather candy. Then it was over to Grandma & Grandpa Crockett's for the annual Halloween party.

Treasure Hunts, pin the mouth on the pumpkin, chicken enchilads with Hauni's delicious savory Strawberry, spinach & bacon salad...........the party was underway!

Max was handsome Incredibles "Mr. DASH" It was the perfect outfit for this handsome brown eyed Prince! Sensative, tender, and FAST!

Pretty Samantha Michelle, has been really really sick, but wasn't about to miss this special dress up night! And for a moment, even her Dad allowed her to enjoy Halloween activities and treats.

And all the funny faces that go along with it! Don't I have darling Grandchildren?

As for the adults........Well the fatigue that surround this annual activity this year was more than evident. Hauni Lynn is early in pregnancy, David & Becca are on burn out having pushed themselves building & moving into a new home, Scott has made more overnight trips to Colorado, back again, Phoenix, back again, California and back again driving U-Hauls and moving furniture, while Candice has been battling sick children, supporting neighbors by baby sitting, and getting little rest herself. Tim attacked his MAJOR Box Marathon and MADE his dead-line......but it was very stressful the last few hours and tension built up between us......so my spirits weren't in the highest sort. (But Hallelujah! The garage is a garage again!) Julie & Travis have been to more Halloween parties this year than EVER before......Sydnee Sage was tired and Travis took her on a 45 minute ride, trying to get her to fall asleep. Shauna is always up for a party and it felt so good to have her around since she has been a very busy full time school teacher as well as be nanny to the Bishop family for the previous 9 days after and before school!

Need I say more! Fatique seemed to loom over.....However this scarey witch was the Queen of Energy......but Abby is much like her Aunt Shauna and loves to party!

I'm just happy to have the family around, and they love to talk and be together so I just go with the flow. I really missed having the giggles & life that Mary Ann & Ryan have always brought to our annual affair. Halloween pictures have had to be our connection with Alan & Karen's family for the past 9 years. I have no doubt that Sam, Chase, and Connor could have done some serious damage to the pinyata. Let alone little Elle who thinks she's as old as Sam.

Cooper was so tired and just couldn't understand how come he didn't get to just hit that candy queen all the time with the others swinging. Really! His Dad was pulling the rope and it was "HIS" Dad.......not everyone elses. Scott had made the pinyata dance for many many years. (We're glad he made it back safely from California!") Julie Kaye cracked the pinyata, but in his total exhaustion, David took the bat and beat that thing until it exploded........he wanted to go home!

Dad's garage seach treasure hunt almost took Hauni over the edge.....but he had made it really difficult because Travis solved his last year one too quickly. Problem was, Travis had taken Sydnee Sage home to bed!

Well the night ended with glee as there was plenty inside the pinyata for everyone.

Julie Kaye said, "It's really something when you leave with more than you brought!"

I was just more than grateful that Shauna, Julie Kaye and Candice stayed around to help put my house back together for the Sabbath! Happy Halloween Everyone!