Memorial Weekend in Branson w/Roger and Leslie

This was Roger's way of welcoming Joe by putting out his Cornhusker flags, so much love between these boys when it comes to their team choices. (not! ha ha) As you'll read later, Joe got the last laugh though, poor Roger. It didn't take long before we were out on the strip and the first place we went was to Branson Landing to shop at Bass Pro and ALL the shoe stores for...guess who? Nice shopping area as you can tell.


These are taken at the outdoor shopping area called Branson Landing. This family was playing to earn money for music lessons, they were fantastic. There were fountains going to music and people could sit and watch. We ate our fair share of ice cream during this trip...this was one of those times! That is Lake Taneycomo behind us. The shopping area was on the water, pretty huh?



Ok, the first shot is a picture of a picture taken while touring the Titanic exhibit so it's not very clear. They take your picture in front of a blank wall then put the staircase behind you. From the beginning each person is given a boarding pass with one of the actual passengers name and brief history of that person then you watch for your new name and see if the passenger lived or perished. Very well done and very interesting information. I took some pictures at the camp area of Joe and Roger visiting about coaches and strategies and cute Leslie about to walk her 'boys'.


We shopped a few spots on the strip and sat in the BIG chair at the Christmas Village, shopped at the Amish store admiring their handy work from furniture to snacks, jellies, jams and mixes. Took pictures of the the Ozark sprinklers, the cow tail flips and whips around spraying water everywhere. Couldn't miss taking a picture of the busy hwy 76 strip. It took us nearly 35 minutes one day to go about half a mile. There were times it wasn't as busy and we could get out and about easier and we walked a lot too. Had sooo much fun.


What can make one sport fan happy, can make the other miserable. Say for instance when Roger's team flag flew off the pole during the night in the storm and then his very own dog 'marks' it during his morning outing...oops. Let's just say Joe will never let Roger forget what happened. This flag is now referred to as the 'outhouse'. Funny funny boys You can see how nice the camping area was where Leslie made reservations. It was in the Musicland camp ground which is in town and just off the strip. This is definately luxury 'camping' at it's best. It rained every day for just a bit but the weather was great and the sites beautiful. Thanks you two!!!

On the way home from Branson Joe stopped in Damascus to measure some windows for someone and we passed through this 'tunnel' of trees on a very quiet country road. It was raining creating a rich lush color in the woods. I just thought it was enchanting.

Rock Ledge slowing progress

Working to move dirt and rock around to fill in the massive hole left when chunks of huge rock were removed. That boulder rock lifted the back hoe up off the ground as he tried to push it away...it didn't go anywhere. But progress is being made, they are getting closer to pouring the footings. From this picture one can't really tell the magnitude of this portion of the rock ledge a track hoe worked for hours to try and break apart. What remains here is at least the size of a truck! The gravel on it is one full dump truck load and another was on the way.

Dad and Bo hooking up waterlines on the lot and it wasn't long before the water was flowing.

Excavation and Clearing begin

Working with a transit to determine just how deep the dig on the slope will have to be. The front of the house is 9' down and it will be a walk-out basement in the back with plenty of light I'm told. Just hoping the ridgeline of rock isn't a problem to get through. Such an amazing difference once the back hoe comes in to start the clearing. Doesn't take long for the trees to start to pile up. It was hard to see that many trees come down in one days work, we certainly have plenty more on the lot yet more will come down to allow some of the larger trees adequate sun and moisture for further growth.

These are the Nudura foam walls that came in on a full semi load just piled up and waiting to be put up. More is coming! The guys had to unload each bundle from the semi parked out on the street and carry it back away from the entry, so much work.

Dig continues

Some of the enormous boulders coming out of the hole Mark is digging for us. The one I am standing by is only half the size of the other boulder and several around the lot so far. There is a long ugly ridge of rock he still has to get through to complete the dig. I don't want to be there when he works on the rest of them, his backhoe comes off the ground at times...scary to me.
Our excavator is getting close to getting the hole dug out. It's taking a while with just a backhoe to do the job though. We are excited to see the progress. One of two very large piles of trees which were cleared away to make room for the house. I'm thinking dad needs more than one chainsaw, don't you? Let's just say, we have our work cut out for us. We had a visitor today when we came to check out the dig and see if the water was drying up from a recent rain. I was trying to get as close as I could without him tucking away inside for cover and I was so close I could see his pulse in his neck! But as soon as we stepped away he was out of the clearing and hiding in the leaves! He was so cute and the sun shone on him perfectly in the shade of the trees.

Toad Suck Daze....

Don't you wish you were here??? Well it seems everyone and their um, 'frog' was. It was so crowded with people you could hardly walk. My kinda place. No really we had a great time checking out the booths, smelling the BBQ and watching the venders and entertainers. The day was very cool early on but by afternoon it warmed up significantly with beautiful blue skies and bright sunshine. Missed out on the toad suck race it was just too crowded. I wanted to get a picture of the various toads but that didn't pan out. So this frog will have to do. Bo, Kate and Darienne enjoying a day at the fair. Sorry for the double picture of the fiddlers..not sure how to take it off quickly. We were sure to eat funnel cakes and kettle corn don't ya know. Darienne wanted to find the booth to make her own candle that she saw last year, which she did. She has been looking so forward to today with her sisters and family to enjoy the festivities.
A family of fiddlers entertains the croud. They were so good it was hard to leave the area. It made you just want to stand there and tap your foot and clap your hands to the wonderful beat. Good 'ole country fiddlers with fast fingers. Raquel, Des and Darienne before they brave a carnival ride. FUN! It took Raquels breath away but no one got sick...this time. I forgot the name of the ride but it spins in circles, certainly not my idea of fun anymore. It was fun watching them scream with laughter. Car Gazing....ah, they've spotted their dream car...again and again and again. Have to admit, there were some pretty awesome cars to gaze upon. They take their 'Hogs' very serious around here.

The Frog Mobile with his horn that sounds like a Toad croaking checking up on the fair patrons as he makes his rounds.

Girls weekend with Jenna & Cory...

Maime loved some one on one time with some of her favorite girls in the back yard while the others went for some pizza and grocerys. Marley loves to do whatever her big sisters does, and that meant jumping off the block wall over and over again. We saw a rabbit in the back yard and later Kennedi and I watched a Robin gather twigs for her nest. Sweet moments were mine to enjoy!

As the girls were growing up, they spent many happy hours sitting in the hall or in Krista's bedroom on the bed visiting and catching up on the weeks events and what each one was thinking about and maybe getting into. Loved those times...so it was only natural for us to crash once again in the hall and chat while the little girls played around us.

Fun times as we hang out in the family room. Notice who Kennedi is sitting by! What a great weekend we had. Look forward to many more...thanks for hosting Jen and Cory.

Kennedi and Marley spent a lot of time coloring...right Aunt Jenna? Kennedi was tickled to pieces to have her Aunt Jenna around for entertaining and playing. Ok, Aunt Jenna loved it too. I think we all had marker on us at one time or another we kept thinking someone was bleeding from the red marker lines on our arms. I think Kennedi colored everyone a picture in the family, even Uncle Caleb and Aunt Alanna, Uncle Jake and Papa Joe.

Ah, fun visiting around the kitchen table while Kennedi enjoyed a yummy donut. We kinda like our girls! Makes me want to lean down and kiss that cheek of hers, sweet girls. Had sooo much fun.

Marley ate a very nice serving of stawberries and loved every bite. Cute!

Enjoyed walking through the neighborhood on one of the many wonderful pathways in and around Jen and Cory's home before I left for home. The views are spectacular from nearly everywhere you look around. We love their new hometown.

Before Jenna and Cory drove me to the airport for my flight back home and after Ellie, Krista and the girls headed back to Utah they showed me the views from a beautiful place called Daniels Park just minutes from their place. There are picnic tables here and there on rock ledges. They were right, definately not a place for young children. I loved it!

Ok, so I chickened out and didn't climb out to the same rock Jen and Cory look so great on as we viewed this gorgeous area in Daniels Park! There was a little to much distance between the two rocks for my comfort zone these days. It seems my hair catches the wind in every outdoor picture! Oh well...