Summer Fun: June – Part 2

Early in June our family got together for a short vacation in Branson, Missouri.  To see Part 1 of Summer Fun click here.

After such a wonderful day at Silver Dollar City, how could Saturday top that?  Well, it did.  We played in the morning, went to my nephew’s wedding in the afternoon at Nixa, MO, ate supper with some family, and returned to Branson to play putt-putt golf that evening.

Saturday morning we all slept in except for the little ones.  They are early-risers…..every. single. day (their poor mom!).  Saturday morning Jade wanted to go shopping and spend some of her birthday money, so her mom took her.   Our youngest son decided to take the two little ones to ride go-carts and bumper boats, so my hubby and I tagged along.  It was a nice, cool morning and lots of fun.

Jackson and Kylee ready to get this race started!

Jackson and Kylee ready to get this race started!

All a board!

All a board!

Then Mike wanted to take the kids on the “big” go-carts, however, they HAD to ride with a grown-up.  When asked who they wanted to ride with, Jackson immediately requested, “Daddy!”  When Kylee was asked who she wanted to ride with her, she looked at Papa and said, “I love you Papa, but I want Nana to ride with me.”  LOL!  😀  I told my husband, “Sorry,” but inside I was doing the Happy Dance and saying, “Oh, YES!!”  Therefore, the husband took some videos, but since I haven’t learned how to upload videos to Word Press yet, I just took some “snap shots” from the videos.

Mike & Jax (foreground) were in front of Kylee and I (background).

Mike & Jax (foreground) were in front of Kylee and I (background).

Kylee and I never caught up with Mike and Jax, but the kids had a blast (“big” kids included)!

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After lunch in the condo, we got ready to travel north of Branson to Nixa, MO, for our nephew’s wedding.  It was such a sweet ceremony and a beautiful outside reception.  The weather was gorgeous, and the reception area was decorated in a shabby-chic setting befitting a magazine layout.

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The kids and grand kids enjoying the outside reception.

The kids and grand kids enjoying the outside reception.

The parents of the groom (Jack's sister, Carol, and Delano).

The parents of the groom (Jack’s sister, Carol, and Delano).

This setup provided fun photo ops for guests to enjoy.

This setup provided fun photo ops for guests to enjoy.

Jack's brother's daughter, Carin, and her daughter, Olivia.

Jack’s brother’s daughter, Carin, and her daughter, Olivia, enjoying a delicious cupcake.

My husband with his mom, Lil.

My husband with his mom, Lil.

Our oldest son, Jeff, with grandma.  As you can see, the outdoor country setting was beautiful.

Our oldest son, Jeff, with grandma. As you can see, the outdoor country setting was beautiful.

For more information about my nephew’s wedding (and more pictures), you can visit my sister-in-law’s awesome blog here.

After the wedding we went into the town of Nixa and ate dinner while enjoying some more time with family.  Jack’s mom couldn’t resist showing off her St. Louis Cardinals World Series ring  that she managed to have sent to her.  If you want the FULL story (you WON’T believe it!) on that ring, you’ll have to ask my husband next time you see him!

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When we returned to Branson, we decided to play putt-putt golf (how can you go to Branson without playing putt-putt?!).  We had fun but didn’t get pictures (DUH!).  Jeff did snap this pic of us at the top of the “Volcano” hole.

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Jennifer, Mike, and I tied for first place.  A decision was made that the person with the most holes in one would be the winner — ME!!!  I had THREE (YES! I said THREE) holes in one!   Did I forget to mention that I made that decision?  After we finished playing putt-putt, we checked in our clubs and told the guy about our 3-way tie and my being declared the winner because of my 3 holes in one.  He asked on what holes we got our holes in one, and we told him.  That evening if you got a hole in one on #8, you got a free game.  Guess who got a hole in one on #8?  YEP, me again!   I knew we wouldn’t be back to play before the coupon expired, so I passed the coupon on to a very surprised young man waiting in line to purchase his tickets.  I told him he had to “pay it forward” if he got a hole in one on #8.  I wonder if he got that hole in one?

Sunday was a “lazy” day. Our oldest had to fly out mid-afternoon from Branson Airport, LLC, southeast of downtown Branson outside of Hollister, MO.  This is an unusual commercial airport because it  is privately owned.  If your interested in learning more about it, click here.

Aerial view of Branson Airport, LLC, snuggled among the beautiful Ozark Mountains (Picture from Wikipedia).

Aerial view of Branson Airport, LLC, snuggled among the beautiful Ozark Mountains (Picture from Wikipedia).

Mike and his family wanted to go to the water park, which is an “all day” outing, and we knew we had to get Jeff to the airport by 2 p.m.  We told Mike and Jennifer to take the kids to the water park, and we would meet them for supper.  We spent some relaxing time with Jeff at Branson Landing in downtown Branson where we ate lunch outside by the river.

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We texted this picture to Mike to make him jealous - he LOVES Joe's Crab Shack!  I know, we're awful parents!  lol  :)

We texted this picture to Mike to make him jealous – he LOVES Joe’s Crab Shack! I know, we’re awful parents! lol 🙂

The drive to the airport is beautiful.  On the way there, we had a little extra time, so we stopped at a country club house which had a view worthy of a camera much, much better than the camera on my iPhone.

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Meanwhile, Mike, Jennifer, and the grand kids had tons of fun at the water park (wish I had more pictures of this).

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We went back down to Branson Landing with Mike’s family for supper and the evening.  We ate pizza, shopped a little (did I forget to tell you there’s an outside mall at Branson Landing?), and watched the fountain show at dusk.

Waiting for the fountain show and watching some ducks t the outside mall.

Waiting for the fountain show and watching some ducks at the outside mall.

When grand kids get bored waiting, they resort to silliness.

When grand kids get bored waiting, they resort to silliness.

After the fountain show we left Branson Landing and went to Dick’s Oldtime Five and Dime store.  This store has been in business since 1961, and it is the MOST UNIQUE five and dime store I have ever seen.  They have merchandise I haven’t seen since I was a kid.   If you want to learn more, you can go to their Facebook page by clicking here.  Photos are from their Facebook page.

Dick's Old Time Five and Dime

Oh, yes, and they DO buy American whenever possible.

Oh, yes, and they DO buy American whenever possible.

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The evening was delightful.  We headed back to the condo to pack up and get ready to go home in the morning.   🙁

The only good thing about leaving was the GRAND KIDS WERE COMING HOME WITH US!!  Be prepared for Summer Fun: June – Part 3 coming soon.

Old DALLAS vs. New DALLAS ……. and J. R. Ewing

If you were a DALLAS fan back in the day when DALLAS was the number one show on television, then you know that tonight is the show to top all DALLAS shows.  Tonight is the funeral of J. R. Ewing and TNT honors the actor Larry Hagman and the character he played so well for so many years – J. R. Ewing.

Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing in front of South Fork (photo by Tony Gutierrez/ Associated Press)

Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing in front of South Fork (photo by Tony Gutierrez/ Associated Press, from the Los Angeles Times website)

J. R. Ewing…..the man on television that we all loved to hate.  Larry Hagman played the infamous character from 1978- 1991.  When the show first started, I was in my mid-twenties, and I can remember thinking that the series wouldn’t last long because people wouldn’t be interested in the complicated and sometimes crooked wheelings and dealings of an oil company and such a devious character.  Boy!  Was I wrong!  The show managed to keep our interest through many years with business deals (legitimate as well as crooked), numerous affairs, family dinners and breakfasts, yearly South Fork rodeos, the Oil Barons’ Balls, divorces, marriages, re-marriages (I think the Ewings started the trend of re-marrying your ex-spouse!), and even one whole season that was written off as all just a dream! I borrowed the complete set of DVDs of the original series from a friend and have been watching all the old episodes since some time last summer.  I’m on season nine now and have five more seasons to watch along with the movie collection.  I remember a lot of the plots, but there are many storylines and plot twists that I had forgotten.  However, there is one thing that has totally blown me away.  I am amazed at Larry Hagman’s brilliant portrayal of J. R. Ewing.  He most definitely was a better actor than he was ever given credit for.  And that wicked smile!  Larry Hagman perfected that look and there will never be another actor who can smile that wicked smile with such finesse, guile, and cunning.  John Ross (Josh Henderson) will definitely have to work on whatever is going to be his “trademark look” when he has just manipulated people into a crooked deal.  So far, his smile is absolutely NO match to that of J. R.’s!! I was an avid fan of the original DALLAS series, and I was excited when TNT announced they were bringing the series back with the second generation of Ewings.  I was skeptical that they would be able to pull off the resurrection of such a successful series.  However, with the inclusion of some of the original cast, particularly in the first few episodes, and some fantastic writers, I think they have done a superb job of integrating the old series into the new series and updating Ewing Oil to Ewing Energies.  Thus far, each episode has built on the “Ewing feud” and entertained viewers with intriguing plot twists, new characters, and surprises.  What a way to end the first season of the new DALLAS with revealing that Christopher’s new wife, who is pregnant with twins and whom he is already separated from, is actually Cliff Barnes’s daughter (WHOA!….I didn’t see that one coming)! Tonight’s episode of DALLAS will pick up where last week left off.  John Ross was on the phone with J. R., who is away on business, discussing their next moves to take over Ewing Energies.  The conversation is interrupted by footsteps heard by John Ross followed by two shots.  There is no response from J. R. when John Ross yells into the phone, “J. R.?  Hello?  Dad!  DAD!  Dad?” And once again, we, the viewers, are left wondering……”WHO  SHOT  J. R. Ewing?!” I will have my popcorn and soda ready!  Will you join me and millions of other viewers?

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