Oh, Grandaddy!

My grandfather had to go to the emergency room today. He had gotten so darn constipated that he had to go in for assistance. Can you imagine? He was in a lot of pain, actually, and I hate that. But part of me is like, "Come on, Grandaddy... would a little metamusil really hurt you?" I mean scientists and researchers develop a new medicine every day it seems like for just this sort of problem!

At least he isn't needing anything like incontinence supplies. He is over 85 and I know he has health issues, but he is really good shape for his age and hates to sit still! It just kills him to not have a purpose. I love him so much.

My family rocks!

And they're beautiful too!

The Game of Life

Since adding Sophie to our family six months ago, we have had to take a look at the amount of life insurance that we have on ourselves. We have small policies on each child... it just seemed like the responsible thing to do. And we have a decent amount on each of us, but we need to raise the amount on Hank. As the primary income for our family, we would be in trouble if we ever, Heaven forbid, found ourselves without him. I hate writing that thought out. I hate expressing these kinds of things, but feel like they should be said. I always get slightly depressed when I deal with this, for obvious reasons! I'm just thankful that we don't need high risk life insurance like my Dad does. He has high blood pressure and sleep apnea and is therefore considered higher risk to insure. I need to send him to the site above to check into their prices on insuring him. As a business owner, I'm sure he is always concerned with making sure Mom and Jennie are cared for.

Branson, Take Me Away!

A group of ladies from my church planned a trip to Branson Missouri a couple of years ago. I was a single college student at the time, and a bit broke, but that didn't stop me from wishing I could go! The trip they took was focused on pampering, shopping, and relaxation.
Now that I'm married with kids... well, I just never thought about Branson being a vacation destination. But with attractions like miniture golf, go-karts, Silver Dollar City Theme Park, Ride the Ducks, and even cave exploration I know that my boys would be in hog heaven! The prices are very nice too! If Hank and I wanted to plan a trip for just the two of us, we could go for $423 on the Platinum package. That would include 3 days and 2 nights in the Welk Resort Hotel, 2 tickets to the Grand Country Jubilee, a $30 gift card to Olive Garden or Red Lobster, a $50 Tanger Outlet Gift Certificate, and a coupon book with over $1500 in savings! The other packages are just as good!

GOLD PACKAGE $451 Total Cost Per Couple
3 Days/2 Night Clarion
2 adult tickets to:
Pierce Arrow
Mickey Gilley

SILVER PACKAGE $465 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Grand Oaks
2 adult tickets to:
Silver Dollar City
Baldknobbers
Legends in Concert

BRONZE PACKAGE $551 Total Cost Per Couple
5 Days/4 Nights Branson Settle Inn
2 adult tickets to:
Magnificent Seven
Dixie Stampede
Shoji Tabuchi

FAMILY PACKAGE $925
4 Days/3 Nights Presidential Condo
2 adult & 2 kids tickets (ages 4 - 11 yrs) to:
Darren Romeo
Ride the Ducks
Hamner Barber Variety Show

GREAT AMERICAN PACKAGE $454 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Welk Resort Hotel
2 adult tickets to:
Magnificent Seven with Dinner
Legends in Concert
Veteran's Museum

TITANIUM PACKAGE $683 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Clarion
2 adult tickets to:
Legends in Concert
Hughes Brothers
Incredible Acrobats of China
Shoji Tabuchi
Red Lobster/Olive Garden Gift Card

I also came across one of the events that will take place in Branson that sparked my interest. At the end of March, they are holding the 15th Billboard World Song Contest Awards Presentation Show & Performance in the Mansion America Theatre. That makes me want to look into the contest and see what kind of music they showcase!

The other thing I really like is that if one of the packages above doesn't work for me and my family for one reason or another, we could design a custom package to suit our needs.

Look out Branson! Here we come!

X No Service X

My family makes anywhere from five to seven trips to Valdosta, Georgia a year. The majority of my husband's immediate family lives there and that makes it a gathering place for the rest of us. We've been making this five to six hour trip for three years now, and have finally managed to find a quicker way to get there. We travel on rural roads and cut-throughs, sometimes traveling a full hour without seeing another car! And although it cuts off about an hour of our travel time, I sometimes wonder if it's worth it. One of the major drawbacks to these rural thoroughfares is the lack of cell phone service. We ride for up to two hours with no service, and when we finally get it back... it's always a challenge to make and maintain phone calls! My family and my husband's family constantly try to call us to make sure everything is all right. I'm sure they have nightmares about us having a wreck and being unable to contact help.

These worries prompted me to look into a universal cell phone booster. This particular one is manufactured by Powerful Signal... just the name alone gave me hope! I mean, imagine traveling on roads where this is one of the only places to stop: Honestly... "Draft Beer To Go?" Who wouldn't want to get a universal cell phone booster just to be sure you didn't have to deal with whoever thought it was a wise business move to sell beer to go? We stopped just to take this picture after Christmas. My husband wants to send it in to Jay Leno! Not only would it be great if we could get service on our trip, but Powerful Signal also claims to extend the life of your cell phone battery! Wouldn't that be great? Especially for this mom of three who constantly forgets to plug in her phone!

If all goes well, I could be letting you know just how great our new universal cell phone booster works on our next trip to Valdosta in a month or so!

Pain in the...

My sister, Tonnie, has a platform beds. At first when she told me she got one a year or so ago, I thought, "Lord, Ton, those things are a throwback to the eighties!" But little did I know that she was slightly ahead of the curve. I've seen platform beds on television, in showrooms, and in other's homes non-stop since she got hers!! It does look chic and linear doesn't it? Very clean looking.
The only thing is, Tonnie needs a new mattress to go on her platform. She said she's had that one since before she was married... eleven years ago!! Can you say back-ache?

Merry Christmas!

From our home to yours! We added a baby and a new home this year. I wonder what next year will bring!?!