Pandora's Casket

One year the entire family went to Missouri to visit my fathers sister that lives there. It was the first time that I personally had ever been to there. As I have always heard of the fun things that one may experience we were all looking forward in going. Not just to see my aunt but the sites. Since they live fairly close to Branson Landing I knew, by doing some research on the net, that there were some great things to see and do.

The first location that we visited when we arrived in Missouri was the Pythian Castle. Really a wonderful historical site that the children really enjoyed. Especially with the dungeon that they thought was really cool. It is only around 20 or 30 miles north of Branson so it made it a short ride.


During the holiday season there are four packages that you may choose from. Starting with a Thanksgiving theme to the New Years theme you are able to have a jammed packed fun experience. When I found out about the Thanksgiving package I asked my aunt if she was aware of this and she was not. If all goes right we are actually planning to get the family together and have a family reunion there choosing this package for the holiday. Especially since the weather is not yet that bad during November for those to travel.

I would love to visit the Tanger Outlet Mall this next time we go. We were going to go shopping but my father was not up to it so we passed on that. I know that my aunt and her daughters go there all the time and are always raving about the prices and what they purchased!

For the first time visiting Missouri I would say that our family had a great time and looking for to 2009 and going back to explore some other sites that we ran out of time to and did not get to visit. Plus the planning of our possible purchasing of the Thanksgiving holiday package that the Hilton has made available!

I am a little more than relieved that the holiday shopping rush is over and done with. It seems that my customers are all enjoying the end of holiday days off.

Although business was good, it is nice to have a couple of days with the light shipping. One thing though I had an over whelming amount of VooDoo dolls to make. Hmm, makes me wonder about what they will be doing for the new year. haha

After the New Year it will be time to do a stock and inventory check for all re-orders. Hate that but has to be done. I have already began the purging of the year end files. I still have a lot more to do. Get ready for the 2009 year.

Tax time is right around the corner so I like to get my things over and done with early...

More work than it is worth to tell the truth

Dad acted OK but he did have a few things that were just not nice that he did all that week. He threw a fit a few times about getting cleaned up. One fit happened when I was trying to figure out how to use the compact flash that I received. He just kept it up and kept it up.

He was seeing things that were not there so I told the hospice nurse about this. They think that possibly the cancer may be going through his spinal column and hitting his brain now. Which will make people see things that are not there. Since he is not taking pain medicine yet it is not the med's doing this.

His actions during the week just reminded me of a normal Christmas. Every year he acted like an ass and dying made it no different. Either he or my mom would pull some stunt to ruin or put a damper on the holiday. This was normal childhood into adulthood.

Other than acting out, seeing things, playing in his feces he was OK

My son in law, Jamie thought that his main gift this year was an xbox 360. He really did not want one as he really wanted a PS3 but Sab's told him no way as it is way to costly.

This went on and on all month long. There were even a couple of fights about it. Which made everyone that knew what he was getting laugh a lot.

Christmas Eve he talked her into opening his main gift which was the PS3. His face when he opened the unit with the two games he got was priceless. He ended up with another game as well so he is good to go. Spoiled guy

The boys were surprised as I bought them a new PS2. They had no idea that that was under the tree at all. So they were jumping for joy. The door on their old PS2 broke so it was a good idea for a present.

Colt was thrilled that he received a new MP3 player with the external speakers so he can annoy his sisters with his music. haha

Nicky got so many electronic things it is hard to list. He did get his new bike which has flames on it and there will not be a lot of kids that will have this particular bike.

Sab's got her mixer. You know ladies that big, fancy industrial type. Boy, was she happy. Along with the diamond ring that Jamie got her she did pretty well

Shaina got her silly Giga pet and a fancy art set. Plus a lot of other things that she liked. Her best gift was the Mothers Ring with her and Jeremys birthstone on it. On the side it states I love you on it.

All and all they did well