CHRISTMAS WITH THE BREAD COMPANY BUNCH!!

Wednesday was a special day for Ken and I .. we celebrated Christmas with the "Bread Company Bunch"!!  However, before celebrating Christmas we went to Pat and Rich's house .. Sylvia and Carl were meeting us there so Ken could give Pat and Sylvia their Birthday gifts.  Sylvia and Pat are great friends and believe it or not .. they were born the same day .. the same year .. in the same hospital .. isn't that awesome!!!  

Pat and Rich's beautiful 9 foot tall LIVE Christmas Tree!!

Pat was friends with Ken's wife Barb .. they were both schoolbus drivers!!  Ken gave Pat a very thick notebook he had created full of  Barb's favorite recipes.  It had a picture of a very young
Barb on the front and a picture of Barb and Ken on the back.  Pat and Barb were very close friends for years so I know this means a lot to her.   Ken's nickname for Pat is "Princess" and she also got a package of "Princess" napkins that I failed to get a picture of!!! 

And then it was Sylvia's turn .. 

 

Ken and Sylvia pick on each other a lot .. he was practically ecstatic when he found this T shirt and could hardly wait to give it to her and watch her open it!! 

I DON'T HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM .. 

You have a problem with my attitude .. 

and that's not MY problem!!!  

Sylvia also got a Maxine Birthday gift .. you press on the top and Maxine cracks all kinds of Birthday greetings as only Maxine can .. LOL!! 

Three terrific friends in front of the Christmas Tree!! 

 

Our next stop for the day was "Gingham's"  for Waffles .. Yummmmmm!!! 

Billy Paul and his wife Shirley aka "Smiley" met up with us there .. actually they beat us there and got our table all set up for us!!!  The waitress was kind enough to take a couple of pictures for us! 

If you didn't like the other picture check this one out .. here we are from the other end of the table .. LOL!!!  

 After Breakfast at "Gingham's" we all went to the "Bread Company" to join up with others of the "Bread Company Bunch" for Coffee and a yak session.  After which we all went our separate ways until evening.  Ken and I spent the day running in and out of stores .. Goodwill, Value Village, Target, Wal Mart, a couple of others that I can't remember .. LOL!!  

We went back to Pat and Rich's house at 5:00 and picked them up to go to "Pietro's" for dinner!!  Remember that Santa hat I saw at the first show we went to in Branson?????  I haven't had a chance to tell you yet but we eventually found one and of course bought it as you will see below .. LOL LOL LOL!!  He also bought one for his grandson .. LOL!! 

Pestering Pat .. as usual!! 

Every year Ken makes a wooden Christmas ornament for all the ladies!!  He is passing them out .. I can't show you what it is because he also made them for others who just might read this and they don't know what ornament he made this year!! 

And then it was the guys turn!!  he said the guys always complain because he makes something for all the women but never gives them anything .. so he bought them each a red fuzzy pouch that said "Naughty" on it and had a piece of Coal in it!!!  Before passing them out he made a speech about them all deserving the gift they were about to get .. LOL!! 

Time for Sylvia and Pat to make a presentation.  They had to announce who won the SD Award for the year 2012.  Pat won it in 2010 .. Sylvia won it in 2011 .. who would win in 2012?????? 

I love this picture .. they were both about to bust to announce who won the award!!! 

The winner would be one of these 4 men left standing!!!  Jerry, Carl, Mel or Billy??????

The winner of the 2012 SD Award .. Billy Paul!!!  

By the way .. SD stands for "Shit Disturber" .. LOL LOL LOL!!!  

I'm not sure he was thrilled to win but you can tell the girls are thrilled to give it to him!! 

BTW .. I almost forgot to tell you .. Ken creates these prestigious awards each year!!  I'm sure that one of these years the SD award he creates will be HIS own!!  

But WAIT .. the celebration's not over yet!!! 

After a delicious dinner at Pietro's we were all heading for Sylvia and Carl's house for Coffee and Dessert!!!  But first Pat, Rich, Ken and I drove to the Murdock Street area to view all the decorated houses.  WOW!!  It was fantastic!!!  There was "Candy Cane Lane" .. "Snowflake Lane .. and "Angel Lane" .. the houses on all three streets were beautifully lit .. some in white lights .. some in bright colors .. what a beautiful sight to see and a great way to celebrate Christmas!!!  

The ladies filled their plates with delicious desserts and sat in the dining area of the kitchen and talked "girl talk" .. the guys filled their plates and sat in the living room and talked "guy talk"!!! 

Ken was called into the kitchen to open a gift from Billy and Shirley ..

Hmmm .. a camo cap!!! 

A LIGHTED camo cap .. LOL!!!  Needless to say we got a lot of laughs out of this!!! 

Ler's see if I can remember names .. With her back to you is Sharon and then to the left .. Sylvia, Pat, Nancy, Jane, Bev, Nancy, Shirley, Liz and Laverne.  I'll have to have Ken check these names for me .. LOL!!! 

               Ken had brought along the grab bag gift he got at my siblings Christmas celebration!!! 

A "Redneck Briefcase" .. LOL!!!  The legs were sewn shut and pockets were sewn at the waistband to hold a memo pad and an ink pen .. and of course straps were sewn on also!!! 

They really got a kick out of these!!! However, I'm thinking they'll show up in the Men's grab bag at my siblings celebration again next Christmas .. LOL!!! 

Names again .. Carl and Ken

Mel, Ken, Billy, Paul and Don

 Jerry, Jeff and Rich 

It was a terrific day with good, fun people and lots of laughter .. there's nothing I like better than laughter!!!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL 

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!  

BRANSON ADVENTURE .. DAY TWO!!

Wednesday .. Day Two of our Branson Adventure!!  This would be our busiest day .. a voyage on the Titanic .. Lennon Sisters Christmas Show .. and then the Tony Orlando Christmas Show!!! 

 ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ Oh what a  beautiful morrrrnnninngg!!!  ♫ ♪ ♪  Oh what a beautiful daaaayyyy!!! ♪ ♪ ♫ 

 There was sunshine everywhere .. such beautiful weather in Branson!!  Thank You Lord!!  First order of the day .. BREAKFAST in the Hospitality Room ...

 

Scrambled Eggs with Ham chunks, Biscuits & Gravy, Fruit, Strawberry Kiwi Juice for me, Orange Juice for Ken, Krispy Kremes .. Ohhhhh Yeah!!  And Coffee of course!!  What a way to start the day!!!  

And we're off on a voyage on the Titanic!!  Do you think we will survive??????? I sure hope so .. we have a lot more things to see and do!!! 

I think I would have been very uncertain about climbing aboard this huge ship and floating off into the Ocean!!  But then they were touting it as "unsinkable" so perhaps even I would have believed it and climbed aboard .. but I doubt it!!!  

As you're in line getting ready to "board ship" they hand you a "Boarding Pass" with the name and a brief story of one  of the people who was actually aboard the Titanic on that fateful day.  At the end of your "voyage" you find out whether your person survived or not.  I have the boarding passes Ken and I received and will post them .. as soon as I find them!!  I do remember I was a 42 year old woman named Catherine McGowan who was traveling with her 16 year old niece Annie McGowan.  We were traveling in third class.  Ken was John Beaumann who was also 42 years old.  He was traveling in first class.  I won't tell you yet whether we survived or not  until I find the "Boarding Passes" and give you the rest of their story!!  

 As you can see the sun really was shining very brightly .. I could have sworn I wasn't squinting when the lady snapped the camera .. LOL!!  

Going through the Titanic Museum is absolutely AWESOME .. it's hard to describe what you feel as you see the artifacts and the pictures and read the strories of the people who were aboard.  It just really makes you realize that this was not just a movie or a story in a book .. these were actual people who I'm sure were very excited as they were boarding this ship to journey to whatever port they were headed for .. (many of them were on their way to meet up with loved ones) .. only to end this voyage in horror!!  The bad part is .. there are so many things you would just love to take a picture of!!  It's really hard to walk through all the exhibits and look at all the artifacts and not be able to get your camera out and take a picture!! 

After leaving the Titanic we had just a short while to cruise the main drag of this busy place and then it was time to head for Andy Williams' "Moon River" Theater to see the Lennon Sisters Christmas Show .. Wooooo Hooooo!!  

  
Sorry to leave you hanging .. if you were a fan of the Lennon Sisters I know you're anxious to see their pictures .. but the buns are numb and the eyes are crossed .. time to give this up and go snuggle up in bed  .. I promise I will get you to their show as soon as possible .. I PROMISE!!! 

TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!!  

ADVENTURE NUMBER FOUR .. BRANSON HERE WE COME!!

DAY ONE ...  We have arrived in Branson .. Wooo  Hoooo !!!   Departure time .. 7:58 am .. Arrival time .. 2:47 pm!! 

How many days did you say we're staying?????  

Actually the smaller suitcase is my laptop and accessories!!! 

First stop was McDonalds in Sullivan, Missouri for a Sausage and Egg McMuffin and a pit stop!!!  No pics there .. McDonalds is McDonalds is McDonalds .. LOL!!

Next stop was the Route 66 Rest Stop at Marshfield, Missouri .. a must stop when you're traveling through this part of Missouri whether you NEED to  or not!!

This map takes up two walls and these pictures don't do it justice but I thought it was really neat!!!  

Next stop ... Lamberts Cafe in Ozark, Missouri ....

If you leave Lamberts hungry it's YOUR fault!!  You can't see Ken's Meatloaf but it was 3 big thick slices .. and look at that huge BBQ Pork Steak on my plate!!!!  Not to mention the throwed rolls!!!  There was a group of people at the table across the aisle from us and one of the ladies was taking a picture of the group .. I told her I'd take a picture of them with her camera  so she could be in it if she would take a picture of us with mine!!  They were with a bus group from Michigan and they were headed for Branson too.  

Next stop .. Savannah House .. Wooooo Hoooooo!!! 

 The Happy Hoosiers sign was NOT for us I'm sure .. LOL!!!

Can you find Ken????????

We are all settled into our room.  Tickets have been ordered for shows we are going to see .. 

 

Ken is busy on his computer while I am busy on mine .. LOL LOL LOL!!!  

Running short on time .. heading out to pick up all the tickets we ordered and then to supper at the Hard Luck Diner .. they have singing waiters and waitresses!!  Then we're going to see "Hughes Brothers Christmas Show" .. it reads like it will be a really good one!!!  Cobbler and Ice Cream later .. Woooo Hoooo!!!  Hope to have time to tell you all about the show  in the morning!!!  Good Niiiiggghhhttttt!!!

This was meant to be posted last night before we took off for the Hard Luck Diner but alack and alas .. when I clicked on PUBLISH I discovered I had lost my internet connection!!!  I battled with it a while trying to get reconnected but it just wouldn't connect even though Ken's was still connected!!  Bummer!! 

Now we are on DAY TWO .. we have been down to the Hospitality Room for our delicious breakfast .. Scrambled Eggs w bits of Ham .. Biscuits & Gravy .. Fruit .. and we split a Blueberry Waffle .. then of course we just had to have one of the Krispy Kremes each .. Yummmmmm!!!  OH . and Coffee and Juice!! I tried my computer before we went downstairs and I still couldn't connect .. I had called the front desk and they said they would reset the router .. sad to say .. that did't do any good.  I clicked on diagnose problem and it told me my "Wireless capability" had been turned off!!! And to turn it back on there could be an on / off switch on the front or side of my computer .. or it might be a shortcut key ..  YIKES!!  I felt all around my computer and did not find an on / off switch and had no idea what the shortcut key would be so we went down to breakfast and codjutated on the problem.  When we got back up to the room Ken flipped the computer all around AND we found the on / off switch!!  So I am once again connected to the outside world .. Wooooo Hooooo!!!  

We will soon be headed for Wal Mart (I'll tell you why we HAVE to go to Wal Mart when I post the pics and story of last nights adventure in Branson  .. which will be this afternoon sometime!!  After Wal Mart we are going for a cruise on the Titanic!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sure hope we survive the voyage!!  

Everybody have a GREAT day!!!! 

***************************************************************************

The rest of yesterday's adventures ....

The Christmas lights around the Hard Luck Diner ..

We didn't have time to go into Kringle's Shop Christmas Shop .. by the time we got through the line at the Hard Luck Diner and had our dinner it was time to be heading for the Hughes Brothers Theater!! 

One of the singing waiters!! 

Look at this huge Bacon Cheeseburger and all those Fries!!!  And we split a Chocolate Malt!!  They bring the Malt in one of those old fashioned metal containers that they make Malts in .. plenty of Chocolate Malt for two people!!  And NO .. I did NOT eat all that huge Burger!!!!

As you can see Ken was ecstatic about his BLT and Chips also!!!   I wasn't going to post this picture but Ken said "post it .. post it" .. so here you are .. LOL!!!

Part of the decor in the Women's bathroom .. I had to wait a bit for all the women to get out before I took the pic .. I didn't want them talking about the crazy woman who was taking pictures in the bathroom .. LOL!! 

We've got our bellies full and we're off to the Hughes Brothers Theater ..

We could hardly believe what great seats we had .. in the center about 10 rows back from the stage!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K6Z6hD2tao&feature=relmfu

The 4 Hughes Brothers .. their wives AND their kids perform in the show!!  AND the father of the Hughes Brothers does the part of Santa Claus!!  This picture is the 4 brothers and their families .. the ones in center stage are all 1 family .. the oldest brother and his wife have 13 kids!!!  This was a very very good show!!! 

This Santa's hat bobbed up an down whenever this gentleman moved!!  I loved it and thought Ken should have one so during intermission I went and sat down by this guy and asked him where he had bought it.  I was hoping he had just bought it and we could go and get Ken one but he said he'd had it for years and couldn't remember where he got it!!! 

Back to the show ..

After intermission the fireplace was turned around and Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus were in the stable on the other side of it and Santa began telling the real meaning behind the various Christmas traditions.

This baby remained very quiet and yet alert through the whole performance!!!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAOdxK0_xsU

The kids are singing a song to Baby Jesus .. the little girl holding the microphone sang a good part of the song and at the end of it she said "I love you Jesus".   I would love to have been able to film this!!  I was going to buy a DVD of the show but they didn't have one to buy!!! 

http://youtu.be/K1qAnOEGfCQ

http://youtu.be/9QYwP6b-Wgk

http://youtu.be/P6VPyazKhSU 

This was one TERRIFIC show .. I was very glad we decided to go to it!!! 

The performance wasn't over until 10:00 so we were a bit lately getting back to the Savannah Houseb but that didn't keep us from getting our Cobbler and Ice Cream!!  Funny thing .. as we were eating our treats we started talking to the couple at the table next to us and discovered they are from Hillsboro, ILLINOIS!!!  In case I haven't mentioned it .. Ken is from Hillsboro, MISSOURI!!!  

Click on the links to see the performances!!

All right .. I'm all caught up on DAY ONE of the Branson trip.  No time to start on today .. guess I'll post that tomorrow!!!