Branson

Pat and I planned a trip to Branson, MO in late October.  I have wanted to go there for years and it seemed like it was a good time to go.  I was finished with officiating volleyball and the basketball season had not yet begun.

We had several shows planned but nothing for Monday night.  Therefore we bought tickets to see SIX.  This is a group of six brothers who are an a capella group.

Some of them have a full head of hair while others are bald.  This brother wanted to stand out with his choice of hair styles.  They were phenomenal!  I really enjoyed them immensely.

On Tuesday late afternoon we went to have dinner and a show on board the Branson Belle paddleboat.  We were to paddle around the lake while we were on board but due to weather, we stayed docked.  I didn't mind that at all.  

The dinner was excellent and the show was entertaining.  Music with singing and dancing as well as a magician.  He did the normal magic tricks which I really liked.  We were finished in time to get to our next show which was Pierce Arrow.  

Pierce Arrow is a quartet of very talented singers.  They sing mostly country music which I always enjoy.  Between sets they had a comedian name "Gene" who came out and entertained us.  I laughed and laughed.  Maybe too much but he was funny!  I would highly recommend this show!

During the day we found some local things to do.  We toured the Veterans Museum which was very detailed with all the wars beginning with WWI.

This room had the walls filled with names of those who died in WWII.  It was the one place while walking through the museum where I got choked up.  Behind each of those names is a real person who didn't come home. 

One of our freebies was to go to Shepherd's Chapel and go up in the tower.  This is the view from up there.  Another week or two and it would be even more impressive with the fall colors.  

Outside the theatre where we saw SIX were some classic cars including these two.  As I walked in front of Mader, he said some phrases.  It was so cute.  

We had to FaceTime Henry and Eddie.

A morning show we saw was a tribute to the Beach Boys done by these four talented people.  They did some other "beachy" songs as well.  It was a cute show!

Queen Esther was by far the most impressive in the Sight and Sound theatre.  It began with this huge stage before us but then the side curtains opened up and it was really impressive.  

It was a long show but telling the story of Esther surely wasn't an easy task.  The set was massive.  This theatre does shows from the Bible.  Previously there was a show about Noah with real animals.  Queen Esther also had horses and goats and hawks flying.  We both loved it!

The Shanghai Circus was our last day show.  So many incredible agile people doing amazing things.  Again, I am not a big fan of the circus.  It was entertaining just the same. 

When we saw this giant chicken we figured that we neeed to eat at this place.  It was ok.  Nothing to write home about but a great server!

The final show we saw was REZA.  He did some really over the top illusions that were so unbelievable.  We both really enjoyed watching a double stuff oreo refilling itself rather than watching a lady get impaled by a giant drill or having another sucked into a giant fan.  He did involve the crowd and those were my favorite illusions.

We visited the Titanic museum which was very interesting. 

This was a recreation of a First Class suite.

The ceiling above the Grand Staircase.  Everything was decorated for Christmas.

The wheel that steered that giant ship.  Outside of this was a room where you could see the night sky.  Walking through that room was cold.  They keep it at the temperature of that fateful night.

The Grand Staircase is very impressive!

I love the intricate carving around th eclock.

We enjoyed our time there.  When you enter you are given a card of someone who was on board.  Each of our people were First Class and ultimately survived.  Then, Pat of course, had to look them up on familysearch.org to see if they have their temple work done.  They do!

What trip to a southern state is complete without a trip to the Waffle House?  We had breakfast coupons for the hotel we stayed in but I didn't need a 4th day of the same exact food.  Waffle House for the win!

It was a great trip and I think we need to go back again sometime to see and do some of the things we didn't get to do and see. 

Erin’s Bridal Shower

I know how much Erin detests being the center of attention so when we planned her bridal shower, we made sure we didn't play any games that would embarrass her.  

The twins were more than helpful when it came to giving gifts to Erin to open.

The shower was well attended by the sisters in the ward as well as family and a few friends.  

We had it on a Saturday mid-morning so we could make it a brunch.  Breakfast foods all around.  Erin got some lovely things to outfit her home.  I believe a good time was had by all.

Jacob showed up right at the end to help clean up and haul the gifts out to the car.   What a great thing a gift registry is!

 

Cami’s Volleyball Season

How I LOVE volleyball.  I always love when I get the chance to play and when I get the chance to watch.  

Cami's junior season of volleyball had her playing mostly on the JV team but she had chances to play on the Varsity team as well,  

Her serving got better as she practiced.  And she practiced a lot.

She played the middle blocker position and was really good at it.  

She mostly played only the front row but was great at the back row when given the chance.  

I believe it was a successful season and I'm glad she didn't play mostly on the Varsity team as there seemed to be a diva or two there.  Also, she would not have had the opportunity to play as much as she did.  I look forward to watching her play again next year!

 

Expensive Dentistry

Pat had a bottom front tooth that died many years ago.  He had it capped a long time ago.  

He was at the dentist just before our Alaska trip and Dr. Walsh wanted to pull it.  He said he wasn't going on vacation without a tooth.  It has been loose for over a year but really got loose over the summer.  Once we got off the plane and were headed home he pulled it out.  That saved us $400.  There is not enough bone to do an implant so a bridge was done instead.  It may have been expensive but it was so worth it when I look at his handsome face and see a smile without that gap.

 

Erin is Engaged

This summer, Erin and Jacob Fagersten began corresponding with one another via their phones and texts.  He moved from St. George, Utah back to Iowa where he moved in with Matt and Becca Fillmore.  Becca and Jacob are siblings.  

They saw one another a couple of times and he decided he needed to live closer so they could see where their relationship would go.  Just after we got back from Alaska, we had a picnic at the Gourley house where Jacob proposed to Erin.  I went but kept my distance due to the positive Covid test.

They are so good together.  He is chill and I think will compliment her beautifully.  She is stable and practical which will be good for them.

It's interesting how well he fits into our family.  Anyone she previously dated just didn't fit.

Erin has waited for so long to get to this point in her life.  I have prayed for her for years to find her person and leave the one that wasn't right.  Prayers answered in Jacob!

He currently has taken up residence at the Fillmore home and found employment at Seagrave.  It may not be his forever job, but it pays the bills.  

We love him and we love that Erin loves him!

 

Anchorage & Seward

Anchorage is a big city.  We took a tour of the city on a bus.  It was pretty interesting.

For instance, the photo below was commissioned by the high school class of 1971.  They had this put on the side of their school building and hired the painter to hide "71" in the mural.

Peggy Crowe came and got us on Saturday and we went touring to Seward with her.  

We rode up a mountainside via tram and got to see some beautiful vistas.  

I love the green of this mountainside.  

Peg drove us to Seward where we did a pretty easy hike up to see a glacier.

This glacier has receded a lot in the last 100 years.

  

Just before leaving for the airport we had breakfast at Gwennie's.  I had French toast and reindeer sausage again.  They gave me so much sausage that there was no way I could eat it all.  

This is Jen.  She was our tour guide for a week.

On our way back from Seward we saw this mama black bear with her three cubs just off of the road.

I love how the glacier has so much color and texture.

We spent our Sunday by going to church with an aunt and uncle of Erica Hoffman.  Later in the day, Jay and Peg picked us up and took us to their daughter, Janelle's home.  We spent our afternoon and evening with the Crowe family.  It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed being with family.  We laughed and talked and just connected with family we didn't know.

It was an amazing trip.  I'd like to go back again some day.