This was my 9th year to plan the Armor Seeds MAP conference in Branson! Crazy!! I just love Branson at Christmas time and I look forward to this meeting all year! The meeting was on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. I needed to go up Wednesday night so that I could be there first thing Thursday morning to make sure things were set up correctly and everyone’s presentations were up and running. . .ect. . . So, Arden and I rode up with my mom and dad on Wednesday. Jarrod had to work on Thursday so he and Stratton came up on Thursday evening. We had a great time. It was a little rushed and chaotic and my dad ended up getting a migraine, but other than that we had a good trip. We took Stratton to some shows and he loved it! Jarrod and Stratton met us at Branson Landing Thursday night and we ate at Texas Land and Cattle. Jarrod took him to a show Friday morning and then Friday after the meeting we headed to town to eat lunch at Mel’s and did a little shopping at the outlets (with both kids in tow and they were both really good!) We had dinner at Landry’s with my parents and let them take Arden back to the hotel with them then we went to the Haygoods. Stratton really loved that!! It’s a high energy show with lots of special effects, and (if you don’t know) the performers (all 6 of them in the show) are all brothers and one sister. They are younger, probably all under 30ish, and they do a great job. Saturday was Breakfast with Santa at the Chateau. And I couldn’t believe Stratton jumped right up on his lap and told him what he wanted! Santa was surprised to hear all he wants is Lincoln Logs! Out of the 200-250 kids he saw that morning I bet no other kid said they wanted Lincoln Logs! After that we went up to the room and took a short nap. Then Jarrod, my dad, Stratton and I went to the Dixie Stampede again while my mom stayed at the hotel with Arden. We went to the 3pm show so when it was over we went back to the hotel and got mom and Arden and headed down to Branson Landing and did a little shopping before ending the day with a trip to Coldstone Creamery. Then we got up Saturday morning and headed home. We only stopped once on the way home, at Mt Home to eat lunch and feed Arden. I started to feel sick to my stomach so once we got home Jarrod and Stratton went to church while Arden and I stayed home and I started on the mountains of laundry!
As usual I wish I had taken more pictures. But lugging my big camera around is so inconvenient and my small camera hadn’t been charged up and the battery went dead! Here are a few I did get. . .
Ready for Breakfast with Santa!
Here comes Santa!!
His shirt says “Willing to trade sister for presents” heehee
He wanted his pic taken with Santa by himself!
Stratton and Arden both did SO GREAT!!
Santa said “You want Lincoln Logs?!”
Santa rode in on this vintage fire truck, Stratton could have played on it all day.
Attempt to get a family picture. . .
In front of the horses at the DS
Thankfully, my parents get to go and are such a big help!! My mom and dad kept Arden in their room at night and Stratton slept on the pullout in our room. He did great, he didn’t get up once! But it was after 10pm before he got in bed every night! He slept till almost 8:30 on Sunday! That never happens!! Whew, It was a good trip but so busy! We were exhausted by the time we got home! Next year we will really have our hands full, I’m afraid!!