1st Annual Titanic Firehouse Chili Cookoff

http://titanicbranson.com/titanic_news.php#chiliFirst Annual Titanic Firehouse Chili Cookoff
Saturday, October 2nd from 10am-4pm
 

Branson, MO, 2010 - Titanic Branson Museum Attraction’s first regional Firemen’s Chili Championship Cookoff is scheduled to fire-up on Saturday, October 2nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the museum attraction’s outdoor arena, announces Titanic Branson owner, John Joslyn.

“Firemen chefs will light their fires in honor of the brave firemen and stokers who stood their ground when the great Titanic went down. They’ll be competing against fire fighting challengers for thousands of dollars of prize money and the chance to bring home the Great Firehouse Chili Cookoff Championship title,” says Joslyn. “First place winner will receive $3,000; Second Place winner, $2,000; and Third Place Winner, $1,000,” Joslyn adds.

Chili cookers will be up early slicing, dicing, chopping and stirring gallons of chili in a spirited, five-hour cook-a-thon that begins at 10 a.m. Hot and spicy, mild and mellow, secret ingredients and guarded recipes all come together at the Great Firehouse Chili Cookoff. The public is invited to come early, watch the prep, sample the many different firehouse chili concoctions and pass judgment as they see fit.

A select panel of judges will declare the cookoff winners at 4 p.m. “At this time, a special “People’s Choice Award” donation will be made to the Missouri Humane Society,” Joslyn declares.

For Reservations Call 800-381-7670.

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Kindergarten

It was quiet in the house last Thursday when my 5 year old son went off to Kindergarten for the first time. For the past several weeks, Hunter and I have been talking about what it will be like at school. We enjoyed a "Meet and Greet" time where we got to meet his teacher and see his classroom for the first time. I have NEVER seen my son act so shy and quiet in his life. He literally hid behind me and did not speak, which is highly unusual for him. However, first impressions regarding his teacher were perfect. She is laid back, patient, and very sweet! Hunter enjoyed meeting her.

School Supplies- were a breeze this year. The Branson Primary teachers asked us to provide $20 per student and the teachers did the school supply shopping. This not only saved us money, but I think it worked out better for the teachers too because all kids in the class will have the same stuff. Also, as I mentioned in a previous blog, the Back to School Bash, hosted by the First Baptist Church in Branson, gave FREE school supplies to ALL attendees.

The Backpack-Here is the deal with the back pack. Hunter has an older brother who is in 3rd grade. The "cool" backpack style this year is one of those "sling" strap style bags. Well, Hunter got a traditional backpack that fit him, so his brother told him that he can only use one strap when carrying his backpack. Believe me when I say, Hunter has followed this rule every time he has picked up the bag!

The FIRST drop off- Our entire family took Hunter in to his classroom on the first day. We found his name at a table and got him situated in his "new home away from home". He said, "Mom, will you come eat lunch with me today?" I said yes and proceeded to ask his teacher what time I should be there to eat lunch. She said that parents can't eat lunch with their kids the entire first month of school. I understand the rule because they are trying to acclimate these Kindergarten students with the procedures. However, I was a little bit anxious about that...We left the school and proceeded on to take our 3rd grader to his building and then we came back to the Primary building and spied on Hunter to see what he was doing in his new classroom. I didn't cry.

Lunch-We have been getting Hunter prepared for eating lunch on his own. See, Hunter likes to sing and laugh and talk during meal time. He is a "snacker", if you will? What we have been warning him about is that he will need to EAT HIS LUNCH because he will be hungry and he will not be able to eat snacks every hour and half. Usually dinner goes like this - We tell Hunter to eat and then end up having to feed him because he won't do it himself. We have said that he will have to feed himself at school because the cafeteria workers will not be cutting up his food and spoon feeding him. So far, he tells us that he loves the chocolate milk and the ice cream. He hasn't had time to eat any of the other stuff on his tray. :)

Meeting new Friends-Hunter has been exposed to pre-school, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible school, so therefore meeting new friends shouldn't be too difficult. He is pretty social. I did get a bit anxious about this because of how quiet he was when we went to meet his teacher. YIKES! When I went to pick him up after the first day (I got in line to wait for him an hour before he actually got out!!!), the first thing that he said was, "I met a new friend today. His name is Joshua. " I asked, "how did you meet him?." Hunter said, "I went up to him and said, will you be my friend? And, he said sure." This makes MOMMA so proud.

Nap time-there seems to be a debate on whether or not Hunter should bring a towel to lay on at nap time. The teacher said that we couldn't use a mat because they were too big and there wasn't enough room in the classroom to store 20 mats. So...she suggested that we send a towel for Hunter to lay on. Well, on the first day, I forgot the towel. The teacher said that she would just have him lay on the carpet. Now, Hunter can't decide if the carpet or the towel will be more comfortable. He has practiced on both at home trying to decide and still this morning tells me that he will continue to lay on the carpet. I'm not sure how long the teacher will allow this?

Bathroom Breaks-Now this is funny. Hunter did not "go" the entire first day. He said that the potties are TOO low to the ground and he was afraid that he would make mess. Needless to say, when I picked him up we had to go back in so he could "go".

End of the day-I was fine ALL day, but after Hunter got home from school, I hugged him and just starting balling my eyes out. That is typical for me. I am a ROCK in a pinch and during a trial. After all is said and completely done, I fall apart. I just can't believe that my baby is in school. Time has gone by so quickly. I am so proud of him and I love him and his brother dearly.

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JEERK - The Swedish Sensation in Branson, Mo!

Last Friday, we took the kids to see a new show in Branson called JEERK. Funny name, I know. They are a group of extremely talented guys from Sweden who rock the stage with their tap dancing and rhythm. They perform at the Hughes Brothers Theatre on the strip.

If I had to sum up the experience in one word, it would be "unbelievable". If you get a chance to read their brochure, each of these young men has been highly successful. They are dancers, musicians, actors and singers. The show is not only a tribute to the famous tap dancers like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Gregory Hines, but also something new and fresh in America. They use hardware items that you might find in your local hardware store to make incredible rhythms all while tapping in their high tops. They look and dress like rock stars and their music is very much Rock and Roll.

Non-stop action and entertainment. These guys never stopped tapping! And they were creative and innovative with their stage props. Did I mention that they were funny? We gave them a standing ovation twice because the audience wanted more! During the show, I peeked at my 8 year old to see if he was enjoying it. I could see his wheels turning. This show made a huge impression on him. He saw "cool", "hip" guys with punk rock hair playing instruments, dancing, and performing. This show inspired him.

After the show, all five performers came out so that we could meet them. I would like to mention that a lady, who was in her 70's, came up already dressed in her JEERK t-shirt, and hugged each and every one of them. She loved it! My kids couldn't wait to get autographs. They too wanted t-shirts, necklaces, posters, bumper stickers, etc. Truly, a show for all ages.

To me, this show represents the NEW Branson. The Branson that will attract young families like ours to vacation and live and yet will still impress our senior crowd that we love and cherish. If you haven't seen this "Rhythm Artist Group" yet, you must make plans. They are only performing through the end of October, so make it part of your Fall Fun in the Ozarks!

FLUFFY SHEEP!

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Our Lady of the Lake

Yesterday evening, my family enjoyed a dinner cruise onboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Our Lady of the Lake has been entertaining passengers for 16+ years. When we first arrived, we walked a path through the most beautiful grounds that I have seen in this area. The landscaping is pristine and there were many photo opportunities along the way. The path lead us to the White River Landing where there was shopping, restrooms, and a box office. And in the background was the Lady herself docked on the most beautiful lake I have ever known, Table Rock Lake.

As we boarded the Belle, our boys stopped to feed some giant Carp that had been patiently waiting for our arrival. Then we were off to get our souvenir picture taken. At this point we were hot and ready to go inside for reprieve. We entered the ship and were directed to our seats, but in typical Wicker fashion, we went to the restrooms instead. When we finally found our seats in the dining hall, we were amazed at the size. We learned that the Belle can accomodate 700 guests and I believe that it was about 95% full.

There was no idle time when we sat down. The Emcee, a seasoned comedian, began telling us about the paddle boat. The boat was constructed at its port at White River Landing and was launched into Table Rock Lake on August 12, 1994. What we found to be facinating was the fact that in order to get the boat into the water after construction, they used "Launching Rails" that were covered in bananas to "Slip" the huge paddleboat into the water. I thought that slipping on banana peels was something of a cartoon myth, but no. It actually worked and the boat slipped at 14 miles per hour into Table Rock Lake, which the Emcee mentioned was the fastest the boat has ever traveled.

During the introduction, one of the audience members asked the Emcee if Nickel City was a fun place to go in Branson. She meant, Silver Dollar City, but the Emcee was relentless in teasing her throughout the show. It was pretty funny. While the Emcee gave us a history lesson, the first course of our meal was being served. The Dinner consisted of salad and bread, Beef and Chicken with Vegetables, a yummy ice cream pie dessert, iced tea, water, and coffee. The kids devoured chicken strips, veggies, and macaroni and cheese. Their dessert was ice cream and gummy bears. Perfect.

The Show was entertaining and high energy, but my favorite part was going up on the decks of the boat and peering out on the landscape of the Ozarks. I never pass up the opportunity to go to the lake. I love seeing the sun sparkle off of the gentle waves and I am one of those people that believe that the lake gives off positive ions that make you feel relaxed! We saw a few tubers going by so we waved. The boys were asking a lot of questions - How does a paddle boat work? How much does this boat weigh? When are we going tubing? Why are we on the lake and not in the water? That is why we took a picture of the "PLANK"....wink, wink.

The boys enjoyed Todd Oliver and his talking dogs. When they performed, every member of the audience was laughing. Mr. Oliver is a famous ventriloquist and he controlled masks that were attached to the dogs' muzzles to make them appear to be talking. He made the dogs have personalities which made it funny. The Bull Dog, Irving, was very sarcastic and lazy and his nemisis, Lucy was shy and matter of fact. This was a huge hit with the kids especially.

When the show was over, we left the ship and walked ashore. The boys thanked us for taking them and told us that they had a great time! Our final thoughts were that the Showboat Branson Belle is a must see in Branson and definitely is entertaining for all ages. The show was high energy, the staff was friendly, and the scenery was breathtaking. I encourage Branson visitors to check out the deals on their website http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/. They have a first time ever combo offer with the Titanic and when the 2 attractions are purchased together, adults save up to $13.83 per ticket.

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Back to School Bash

This past Sunday, my boys and I attended the 4th annual Back to School Bash at the Branson Rec Plex. What a blessing it was to see hundreds of local children receive free school supplies and backpacks. I would like to thank the First Baptist Church in Branson for putting on such an amazing event.

When we arrived, my boys hit the ground running. They could see from a distance a stunt bike flying through the air. Sure enough, a stunt team from Springfield was at the event ministering to the kids and showing off their talents! There were 2 BMX bikers who raced up and down a half pipe doing flips and landing on one tire. There was a fantastic skate boarder who actually did a hand stand on the edge of his board. Last but certainly not least was a young man on a dirt bike. He actually jumped the motorcycle over 9 people. I have to admit that I was nervous about that stunt, but the boys loved it and couldn't stop smiling.

Next stop was the climbing wall. Each kid was hooked to a safety line and could climb the wall up about 20 feet in the air. And after we got extremely hot waiting in line, there were water slides and bouncy houses to cool us off. Did I mention that admission into the Aqua Plex was free? Kids also enjoyed face painting and crafts, but my boys skipped these areas to focus on the more physical activities. Fun, fun, fun.

This event was complete with a firetruck, D.A.R.E. and an ambulance. Not only was this an outreach to children that needed extra financial support in the community, but the event also supported fire safety, drug abuse resistance, and fellowship. It truly is a blessing to be a part of this community.

P.S. My photos were taken from my phone so I apologize for the quality. Thanks for reading!

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Jaynee’s Life in a day

On July 24, 2010, Kevin McDonald, a Hollywood film maker for Sundance, asked the World to video a portion of what their lives were like that day, mundane or exciting, and upload it to YouTube to be used in a movie called, LIFE IN A DAY. Jaynee, the famous 1st Class Maid of the Titanic Museum Attraction, wanted to share her daily “behind the scenes” life with the world and I was picked to film it.

Jaynee is the “personality” that the Titanic Museum Attraction uses for commercials, billboards, print ads, etc. She is like the “Mickey Mouse” of the Titanic Museum Attraction. I frequently get asked a lot of questions about her. “Is Jaynee real?” “Does Jaynee fake an accent for her job?” “Where is she from?” I have now learned the answers to these questions first hand and will share them with you. Jaynee is real of course. She is one of the most passionate ladies that I have ever met. If you have ever been lucky enough to meet her at one of the Titanic Museum Attractions and have seen her “in character”, what I want you to know is that she is not acting; that is Jaynee’s actual personality. She is British which explains the accent, she is full of life, and she genuinely LOVES the Titanic.

During our LIFE IN A DAY filming, we had to answer four questions. The first was, “What does Jaynee love?” Jaynee’s LOVE for the Titanic is GRAND. She knows every passenger and their story. She knows every detail of the construction of the RMS Titanic. She cares for every crewmember at the Titanic Museum Attraction and they care for her.

Throughout the day, Jaynee recited poem after poem about the Titanic. She engaged visitors and told them stories about the passengers on their boarding passes. What I noticed, following her around the ship, was that she captivates guests. Not only is her accent perfectly fitting for a first class maid aboard the Titanic, but also her knowledge and emotional connection draws people in. AND, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the dogs. The Titanic Museum Attraction is now paying tribute to the dogs that were onboard the Titanic. They have 2 King Charles spaniels named Molly and Carter who “work” at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Mo. each day. When I saw Jaynee interacting with these two, I knew she was completely “head over heels” for them.

Ergo, my next question got answered without even asking. “What is in Jaynee’s pockets?” Well, what I saw were treats for the dogs in a red velvet bag. I witnessed her rewarding each of the special mascots treat upon treat. They greeted her; she gave them a treat. They barked; she gave them a treat. They rang a bell; she gave them a treat. I now know that those dogs are highly intelligent and they expect Jaynee to have “full pockets”.

The next question to answer on my mission was “What do you fear”? I was taken back by Jaynee’s honesty and intelligence. Jaynee explained that the oil spill in the Gulf was her biggest fear at present. She explained that BP represents Britain and because she is British, it embarrasses her to think that she might be associated with such a disaster. Her vast amount of knowledge on the environment and the eco-system were surprising and her genuine care for animals shone through as she talked about the tragedy.

There was one last question that our video had to answer. “What makes Jaynee laugh?” That was apparent throughout the day. Jaynee enjoys making others laugh. She had a witty remark for every occasion. Her light-hearted nature was contagious and everyone seemed to enjoy making her laugh too.

This experience drew me in to the Titanic Museum Attraction on an entirely new level. It is not just a museum. There is a family that works together there and they are passionate about each of their positions. They are passionate about paying tribute every day to the 2,208 passengers and crew that were aboard the Titanic and they all work together to make the visitor’s experience personal and exceptional. Yes, I accomplished my goal of producing a “behind the scenes” look at Jaynee’s Life in a Day, but I gained so much more.

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Life in a day

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