Trip to Branson Part 1

We went to Branson last month.  My mom has a time share (yes, please roll your eyes now..I do every time I say it) so we went with them and my sister.
It was an experience.

All gassed up and ready for departure. 

We stopped for lunch at Subway.  

My mom was the victim of a fender bender, so she had a truck as a loaner.  The girls really loved it.  Arden said "Mammy Truck" the ENTIRE way there.  

The place we stayed was pretty sweet. 

It had a kitchen and everything. 

The bathroom would have been way better if we didn't have a whole mess of children with us..oh well. 

First things first.  We went to Dixie Stampede!

All the girls love horses. 

Sissy selfie during the pre show. 

It was 3 brothers that did a little blue grass stuff.  They were pretty good. 

Group photo. They seat you in stands.  And every one eats the same food..even the little ones.  It was an entire freaking chicken..and they don't give you silverware.  I suggest you bring some if you go.  

We were seated on the "North" side.  The show is a competition between the North and South.  

They had buffalo.

And super cool neon Indians that came out of the ceiling. 

Alice LOVED it!

No show would be complete without a little square dancing. 

Or southern belles with parasols. 

There was a kids chicken race. 

And a pig race. 

There was also a lumberjack portion. 

And a big finale. 

Afterwards we went back to the hotel for a swim.  The pool was pretty great.  All the girls love to swim.  

Stay tuned for the second part of the trip.  

Jessica

Fur-Baby Interlude

Because I'm a slacker..(I'm working on a card I promise! and a giant set on invitations) I thought I'd bring you a fur-baby interlude.

I love black and white photography. We're going to put some on our hallway wall...someday. Well since there is 10 feet of snow out there it's making location shoots difficult. The plan is to frame some local places that we like. Oh, and we're the ones taking the pictures (read: just me).

Because it's so cold, and I don't want to go out I decided to use the 4 perfect practice specimens I have right here in the comfort of my own home...

Bean was sleeping, but he's such a ham he didn't really mind.

Lazy cat.

This was after I'd gone back to my room, he was coming to ask if I was sure that I was finished taking pictures of him.

I think this one is my favorite.

I like this one too. Poor Chippy never gets any love..(yeah not true..we slept the whole morning away together.)

This abused cat is sleeping on my pillow. Tough life, I know.

The Olliedog is much more difficult to take pictures of. He's interested in what you are doing and often gets too close. Way too close. But I just happened to catch this at the perfect moment...and it makes me laugh.

The Olliedog is ferocious.

And adorable.

The elusive Aster couldn't be bothered with me and my camera. He was busy typing important documents....or something.

He prefers to sleep on Jonathan's laptop. Even though Jonathan bought him his very own heating pad that is also on the desk. I can't decide if the heating pad is worse than the water fountain...

Anyway, I hope you are all having a good day, and if you weren't that you are now that you've had a little pet therapy. They say pets extend lives...I might live forever.

Jessica

Christmas Beasties 2010

So I haven't managed to do anything crafty lately, but I have managed to take pictures of my fur-babies for our Christmas card this year.

Oliver did pretty amazing! Once he figured out he was getting treats..he was all for sitting still.

And he didn't mind the Santa hat that much.

Adorable!



Bean also did fairly well.

He loves treats. He was eating one here..

Aster did not like it at all.

But I managed to get a few decent shots. He was interested while it was his brother's turn..but when his number came up, he was having none of it.

Chippy is always the most difficult.

19 pounds of cat, it's difficult to make him do what you want. Since he can't smell he is not food motivated.

I think our Christmas cards are going to be pretty cute this year. Look for them coming to a mail box near you...in the next few weeks.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season.

Jessica

Halloween Costumes 2010

It's that time of year again. The time of year when I torture my animals for my enjoyment. Actually it's not that bad..and they don't suffer (that much). Well, this year we didn't get new costumes, and it was way too hard to get all 4 of them in a shot together, but it was fun anyway.

Bean took it the best last year, but I guess he'd forgotten.

He was definitely sorry for whatever he'd done to deserve this.

But quickly forgot and did his trick for a kitty crunchy.

Chippy kept trying to back up out of the bandanna.

We actually got a good shot of him this year. We didn't pester him too long, I feel bad for Chippy cat and that Oliver loves him so much...which translates into bites and scratches.

Aster has the least complicated costume of all, and he throws the biggest fit.

I think this is a pirouette or something.

And his pathetic attempt at escape. He drags is back legs around, even though there is no reason he can't use them. The second Jon took off the skirt he was over that gate and up those stairs so fast if you were to blink, you'd miss it.

Oliver handled it the best this year. He didn't mind wearing his lobster suit, he just didn't like the hood part over his head, he kept shaking it off.

He's a vicious lobster.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday. It's my Monday, so I am not, but I get a 4 day weekend full of activities next weekend, so I'm looking forward to that.

Jessica