Branson, MO Trip 2012

So every year Doug's parents, Sister and I always go to Branson around the first weekend in November. This year Doug decided to go with us since we have the twins, usually he is hunting!

We left Thursday night after work around 5 pm. Around 7 or so we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel. Normally we just go through Stake N Shake but thought it would be best to let the kids have a break and then it gives us a chance to feed them and hopefully they sleep the rest of the way there. And of course we had to do a little shopping while we was there, and my mother in law made a mistake and didn't catch it till we was already at the vacation house but she paid double for the purse she bought Lilly, she just thought the price was $20.

But anyway we ate dinner which was terrible and got back on the road. Finally around 10 we arrived at our vacation house in the Ozarks. We got all un-packed and tried to put the kids to bed. No such luck, one they were in a strange place and two they didn't have their bed and that's usually the only place they will sleep. Lilly didn't give us much troubles and went to sleep, Bryce on the other hand not a chance. We fought him for hours before I gave in and just said let him sleep in the big ass bed with us. Doug was opposed to this but finally gave in and it worked. The first night Doug didn't sleep scared he was gonna roll over on Bryce, I slept OK but would wake up if there was any movement from Bryce at all. And of course several times he did wake up screaming and I would hold and rock him back to sleep.

Friday morning rolled around and around 9 am we all headed out. First we had breakfast at Ihop (Yummy)! Then we headed to the outlets.

(Lilly getting her very own Coach purse from aunt Susie) and her ears pierced. 

We then headed to dinner at Joes Crab Shack (a fun time) 

I love Getting Crabs

Crabby Momma

Crabby Daddy



Crabby Pants



After dinner we was headed to see the Baldnobbers Show, If you have never been to this show you should really go. It is so funny and tons of fun! This year for the show we had shirts made for the twins that read: Our First Trip to the Baldnobbers. These were a big hit by the staff and thought it was a great idea and may start making them.



My First Trip to the Baldnobbers



All the singers in the show are all family and generations of family. One of the singers Joy Bilyeu-Steele became very close to our family so we decided to get a few pictures of her holding the kids at intermission, but it ended up just being Lilly since Bryce fell alseep half way through the show. Then we got one more with all of all the girls Joy, Megan and Patty. Patty is the mom of the show and Megan dates Pattys son Brandon who is also in the show.

After the show was over and as we was leaving Joy stopped us in the parking lot and talked to us for a few more minutes. We thanked her for a great evening and cant wait to see them all again next year.





Joy



Joy, Megan, Patty

Finally it was time to head home and hopefully get some sleep.

This time taking no chances Bryce was laid down in our bed and the kid and I slept all night long, Doug not so much because he got to listen to us snore all night long, and actually recoreded it on his phone. The next morning we also found out that his Dad didnt get to sleep much either as mom kept him up snoring all night long to.

Saturday morning Dad dropped Sue and Mom off at Silver Dollar City and then met Doug, the kids and I at Ihop for breakfast again (yummy)!

After we was finished since dad got no sleep he went back to the house to sleep while Doug the kids and I went exploring. We was going to see another show or the Ripleys Believe it or Not place or other shops, but we ended up just doing more shopping. We first went to the landing where we popped into my Step Mom Rosyln whom we have never met but adore. While there she bought the kids a shirt for Christmas. (Thank You Rosyln).

After we was done there we happen to see earlier in the day a sign for a craft store that I wanted to check out so Doug took me there. This turned out to be a awesome store that Doug even loved and wanted to take his mom back there the next day. After that store we headed to the Christmas landing so I could get the kids first Christmas ornament and do other shopping.

After we was done there it was finally time to meet his parents for dinner. We went to an all you can eat buffet. It had whole lobster, crab legs and tons of seafood side items for $31.99. So worth the money and we are for sure going back there next year. After dinner we headed back to the house to relax. Doug finally got to sleep through the night!

Sunday morning Doug got up early with the kids and I slept in for a little. When I got up the kids were playing and watching TV everyone else was anxious to get going so I hurried up and got ready. First we took his mom back to the craft store and then we went to lunch and then more shopping before heading over to Springfield MO to the Bass Pro shop there cause the one in Branson sucked this year.

After shopping there it was straight home with a small pit stop in Sullivan for gas and dinner around 7. Around 10 we finally made it home and all went to bed.

Thanks Mom and Dad for a fun filled Vacation and cant wait to do it all over again next year.

Re-cap of Our Weekend

We had a busy crazy weekend:

Friday night Doug and I decided to meet our Farm Family/Friends at a bar in Venedy, IL around 8. Before then they was headed to dinner so we also decided to head to dinner and went to Carlyle, IL to the Lighthouse for all you can eat Crab legs and buffet. We finished around 7 and headed over to the bar, we got there a little early so Doug and I sat in the car talking and playing a game against each other on our phones. Around 8 no one was there yet but the hubby was getting thirsty and wanted to go so we did. On our way in I forgot I didn't have my Drivers License and wanted it in case she asked for it since we have never been to this bar before so we headed back to the truck when Doug looked at me and said you didn't lock it did you, I said no you did from the inside, let me guess you locked the keys in the truck and he said Shit! Yes! Great we are over an hour from home in the middle of no where. Doug goes into the bar and gets a hanger but it wont reach so he calls his sister and asks her to bring the spare set. No more then he calls her his buddy from work who lives out that way drives by and says I can open it I will be right back don't have her come out this way. So after 10 Min's or so he returns and sure enough opens it in 10 seconds flat. Glad I know Doug's truck can be broke into easily. LOL!

After that was all taken care of that was about the time everyone showed up so we all headed in and drank it up. This is where everything turned ugly! The owner Tom decided it was a great idea to take care of all of us girls all night long and feed us shots and beers. So all the girls got wasted and the men got to watch. The night came to an end and everyone headed home. I don't remember much after this point but one thing and that was I couldn't close my eyes all the way home because I was getting dizzy and sick and that once we got on highway 255 I had to pee and get sick so bad that Doug pulled off and I jumped out. WARNING:This is were it gets gross, remember I said earlier I had crab legs well that stringy mush crab doesn't taste great when it comes back up, so mental note don't eat crab legs before a night of drinking. Finally home, pic up kids and put to bed ( hope they sleep in the next morning) and good night it was! Guess what Bryce decides to get up early, so thankfully so does daddy and lets mommy sleep till 10. After that mommy gets up and lets daddy take a nap. When he gets up and Bryce had his applesauce we all get dressed and head to the park, where it doesn't take long for Bryce to get crabby and want to go home for a nap. So we head home and stay in for the night since we was getting up at 4 am the next morning to go to Chicago to bowl the Peterson Classic.

Sunday morning we woke at 4 got ready and headed out the door around 5:30. Doug's mom came over till the kids woke up. We arrived in Chicago around 10:30 and bowled around noon. Doug bowled great and took over a high game, hope it stands up cause that a $500. pay out and then was in the lead for the squad for the first 6 games and had the potential to take over the lead over everyone but he had a friend also bowling in our squad on his butt. After the 8 games Doug finished Second overall and is in it to win $10,000.00 so far. Congrats to Tim for take over 1st and is in the lead to win $20,000.00. So now we just hope their places hold up and no one comes in and bowls better and we all get to win the big bucks! Bowling is over and time to drive back home! Mommy's tired and feels bad cause Daddy's driving but he lets me fall asleep all the way home. We get home around 10:30 pm get the babies and all go to bed.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend- A crazy, busy weekend!

On Friday after work, which I got off early I headed to the grocery store for a few items to take on the trip and then to the meat market. After I was leaving there to head home I realized I may have left my heater on under my desk (yes a heater, I know its 100 degrees out but for some reason I am super cold since I got pregnant) but anyway I headed back to work, fun fun!

Finally I got home at 3:30 and packed all the clothes and toiletries and grabbed anything else we was taking to the lake house. My family this year bought a lot down at Lake Egypt and put a 4 bedroom trailer on it, and then bought a boat and wet jet so you know it was going to be a fun weekend. Finally all packed and ready to go we headed into town to pick up my ring from the mall where it had been sent off for its lifetime warranty and then headed to moms to pick her up and head on our way.

Its only about a 2 hour drive but it didn't seem to take that long and in no time we was already in Mt. Vernon stopped for Dinner and then got back on the road we was hoping to be there by dark and we made it. Unloaded the car and headed in to a house full of people. We all stayed up talking and playing with the kids till about midnight and headed to bed. Doug and I got the pull out coach bed and my mom slept in the chair due to her sleep apnea and everyone else had a bedroom. Cousins Dawn, Jason and Blake rs in one room, my uncle in the room next to them with a joint bathroom. Then Cousin Jeff and Summer in room down the hall and then all the kids Jake, Peyton and Paige in the last room with all the bunk beds. It was perfect but we all knew it wasn't going to last long as more people were joining us Sunday afternoon. By the way we ended up having 16 adults and 4 kids staying in one house and 1 adult and 3 kids that said not a chance and got a hotel 20 minutes up the road. Do you blame them!

Saturday morning we woke up at 6 am to Jeff and Jack headed out to go fishing. Jack loved this and jumped out of bed every time, which they said was odd cause they cant get him up any other time to go to school. Then around 8 everyone was getting up but a few lazy people and we cooked some breakfast and had a fun filled day boating etc. Saturday night we had a steak dinner and then played cards till midnight.

Sunday morning up at 6 to Jeff, Summer and jack heading out to fish. We decided to get up ourselves after they left and get breakfast started which the smell woke everyone up just in time to eat. Around 3 or so the rest of the family showed up and we was then a jammed packed house. Since we was running out of places to sleep Jeff and Summer cuddled up with one of the kids in the bunks and we took their bed and my Aunt Kay and Uncle Len took the couch bed since they went to bed later then us because they, my mom and Jason headed to Metropolis to go to the casino. We was going to go but Doug and I was way to tired and went to bed. I was woke up at 3 am to them just getting home.

Then around 5:30 am I was woke up again to my alarm on my phone blaring away waking up everyone that just got in at 3. oops forgot to turn the alarms off. LOL

Finally up and at them we had breakfast and just laid around all day. Had lunch and then headed home to get some sleep before having to return to work on Tuesday.

Oh yeah and then on Tuesday night we headed to the Cardinals game so we have been on the go. I am so looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday and especially by myself since Doug is leaving early to go to the farm to get his deer stands up. YES! the house to myself

Training in Virginia for my Job

All Site Admins

MaRhonda & I

Lisa & Tia

Last Night Together @ TGI Fridays

Famous Daves

Lisa enjoying those Ribs!

She didnt know I was taking this picture, I caught her off gaurd!

Previous Boss Gena & Lisa

All the Site Admins

So all of you know I am a Site Administrator that works for VSE Corp. We have several sites all over the world. And our Headquarters in Alexandria, VA. But Here at this site in Hamel, IL we restore military equipment. My job is to maintain all the paperwork, and get parts or items ordered needed to get the jobs done, plus tons of other office duties. But ever year around March all the site Admins all fly into Virginia and we have a meeting and learn new training. This year was fun, this is how my trip to Virginia went:

Flew out Monday afternoon and landing in Virginia at 6 pm. The hotel driver (Glenn) picked me up and remembered me from the year before we chated all the way to the hotel where as soon as we was pulling in my boss Lisa was calling. Lisa was calling to find out where I was to invite me to dinner. I advised her I was in the parking lot and would be inside in just a minute. When I got inside Lisa and 4 other Admins where sitting there on the couched getting ready to head to dinner but said they would wait for me. I checked into the hotel, ran upstairs to my room and headed back down stairs to meet the ladys. So this year is a little diffrent then last year that I was there. Last year I had a diffrent boss and she lives in Virginia. And last year when I went there was only 1 other admin and the rest were site managers. None of us had a rental car so we had to take the shuttle to dinner and the shuttle only went so far or to certain places. But this year I have a new boss Lisa and she is from San Antonio, TX and she rented a car. Having a car this year was nice. So back to the story we all loaded into the van and started searching for somewhere to eat. Well we ended up at TGI Fridays. The food was very good but the service was terrible. We all finished up and headed back to the hotel when Lisa says do you mind if we stop at walmart I need to get a few items for the meeting tomorrow. So we stopped at walmart all of us had to but something. I of course bought me my Mt Dew. I cant live without a Mt Dew each morning especially since it was my second week of no smoking. So after walmart back at the hotel we are, all heading to the elevator when this Lady stops me and asked me how the restraunt was? Lisa and I both said Food was great Serviced sucked. I was thinking to myself shes was staying at the hotel and was looking for somewhere to eat for dinner, but NO she was the GM and was with the owner of the Company and shewas learning how things were from out of town people. After she learned how our experience was she invites us back for another night of dinner on her. We all said thanks you and went on our way. Lisa invited us all up for some wine she bought, but I declined I went to my room and hoped on my computer and watch TV. Then off to bed. The next morning was breakfast then off to work. There we trained all day. Tue night Lisa and most of the others decided to stay in, so Lisa gave me the keys to the van so 2 other admins and myself met our old boss at Ruby Tuesdays. It was a long night of talking. Wed morning back at work and more training. Wed night we was invited to Famous Daves, when we got there, tons of people was there and munching away on food. We all sat down and joined in. Thur Morning back at work for one last day. Thur night we decided to go back to TGI Fridays we all met up there for one last meal together. It was a very nice night. We finished our dinners, took pics of ach other and then hugged each other good bye and said see you next year. Michelle and I decided before we got to dinner that it was our last night there so we was going to take the train and go site seeing and do some shoping. Well dinner ended up running later than we thought and good thing it did. The stop where Michellle and I was supposed to get off at, The pentagon City stop. At this stop there was a shooting where some guy shot at two cops gaurding the Pentagon. I guess the lord was looking out for us that night. So since it was late and the stores where all closed we decided to just hang out in Michelles room and just chat. But Elaina another Admin and I decided we wanted some wine so Lisa gave me the keys and we ran to Target. Back to Michelles room we went and Lisa ended up meeting us there later in the night. We ended up chatting to 1 in the morning, everyone started to get tired and decided to go to bed. I on the other hand wanted to stay up all night because I set my flight to fly me home at 7 am so I could get home early and sleep all day till hubby goto home from work. Well that didnt happen, I got to my room packed up my suitcase and decided I was getting tired it was now 3 am and I knew I had to be down stairs to catch the shuttle at 5 to catch my flight at 7. I set the alarm and off to sleep I went. I swear it seemed like it was 20 minutes but the alarms goes off and I get up grab my belongings and head downstairs. There I check out and sitting the lobby watching TV till the shuttle guy is ready for me. I get to the airport, check in, drop off my baggage and go to security. There the security was super tight for the day, because of the shotting the night before. It ended up taking me over and hour to get through and the guy that was in front of me, he held me up even longer cause they had to search him and his bags. Then they ended up searching everyone in that party. Im not sure what was worng, but I had a feeling they was introuble and up to something. Well finally I got thru and headed to my gate when I spoted a dunkin donuts, I was thinking sweet Im hungry . I ended up with a donut and a coffee. I finished it just in time the plane was loading and I couldnt be happier all I wanted to do was get home and see my hubby or at least call him. I couldnt even call him just yet cause it was 6:50 am and normal he is up that time to go to work but I am an hour ahead of him so it was only 5:50 and I didnt want to wake him. So I loaded the plane and it was so empty I ended up with no one sitting next to me. Sweet I pulled out my travel pillow, laid the seat back and legs spread all over the other seat and went to sleep, I slept all the way till we was about to land and the stourist woke me and said raise your seat please. I was so tired at that point I was kinda angry for him waking me, but then again I realized that we was almost home. Well we landed I was shuttled to my car. I loaded it and called my man we talked as I was driving the gas station to get gas cause on my way to the airport my light came on. Well I got my gas and headed home. When I got there I left everything in the car went in and went right to sleep. I slept till hubby got home. Wow that was a long tiring trip and now we get to do it 4 times a year now and not 1 per the CEO.