Our First Visit to Branson

Our first impressions of Branson were formed from atop of the city in what is known as Inspiration Tower. The elevator ride to the top was in a glass elevator which the girls really enjoyed. The view was wonderful and provided a clear picture of the vast beauty of the Ozarks.




We stayed in the tower longer than we normally would have under regular circumstances simply because of the cost of this attraction. We figured we should get our moneys worth. After we descended back to the earth we decided to take a drive down the "strip" and around Table Rock lake.

During our exploration of this tourist town we decided to check out this western wear store. Molly found a hat that she really loved.

Of the many shows offered in Branson one provided something that was very appealing to the Elvis lovers in our family. Legends in Concert although had many other celebrity tributes, the King was the headliner and we were sold on the idea.


When we purchased our tickets we requested general admission but was given VIP front row seating at no additional cost. We think it was because we had young children.

The show began with a tribute to Neil Diamond and then Marilyn Monroe took the stage.


The last of the acts prior to intermission was the Blues Brothers who shook the house with their dancing and singing.


During their show the Marilyn and Neil Diamond tributes really showed our girls much attention and so when they offered autograph sessions during intermission Molly wanted a photo with both of them.

After intermission an Alan Jackson tribute took the stage and was by far the most effective of all the shows. Had we not known that this guy was only an impersonator we would have never guessed that it wasn't the man himself.

Diana Ross then swept through the hall with songs from her Supreme days.

With all of the other acts behind us it was time for the King of Rock N Roll to take his place on the stage. This impersonator was not only very good at singing the classic rock hits but was also very humors making jokes about how old Elvis would be these days if he was still performing among the living.

With costume changes and songs from all three of Elvis' decades of music we enjoyed a very good show.




Molly's big eyes must have caught the King's attention because he decided to include her in his show.


Molly didn't know what to do when the king came right up to her and sang to her but then he even gave her a token of his appreciation for attending the show. Molly was speechless.


After the show the girls got to have a meet and greet with Elvis where he signed a photo and posed for one as well.


The girls also stopped to get photos with Diana and Alan.



Our last stop in Branson was an all you can eat Rib Shack. The buffet was great the ribs were the worst I ever had, guess you get what you pay for.

Molly slept with her Elvis scarf which she was constantly pointing out to us that Elvis' makeup was still on the scarf. After being dead for over 25 years the King is still melting the hearts of young girls.

A Reward for Neleha

While I was at my interview day at Forest Institute Neleha decided that it was high time to be completely potty trained. Kristy and the girls were at the hotel and Neleha started to independently go to the bathroom. So Neleha was potty trained and now she wanted to collect on a promise we made her..... Chuck E. Cheese's. I am not sure if it was the promise about Chuck E. Cheese's or if she just decided to be potty trained, but regardless she did it. By no means do I want to down play the great diligence Kristy has put forth with working with Neleha since August and all that work has finally paid off. Kristy is such an awesome Mommy!

The girls had a great time with all the games and the pizza but there was one attraction that made it all worth while.


Chuck the mouse was of course the real reason why Neleha had looked forward to obtaining her reward and Molly was also able to enjoy the reward. Molly is currently attempting to obtain a similar reward by not sucking her thumb any more. Molly's goal is to be done with the thumb by May so she can have her Birthday party at the Mouse House. As for Neleha, she very much enjoyed her reward and Kristy and I will very much enjoy Neleha's new found independence.

Interview Day at Forest Institute of Professional Psychology

I was invited to return to Missouri for an interview day at Forest Institute. We were very surprised that this invitation was extended but all the same most hopeful that it would result in an admission into the school.

My day at the Institute was filled with tours of the facilities, Q & A sessions with staff and students, detailed outlines of offered programs, expected performance standards for accepted students, and intern/practicum offerings within the school. The day was working up to of course the 3 professor panel interview.

My interview was much more intense and critical than I had expected which resulted in much doubt about any possible future at the school. But I did my best and hoped for the same.

After the interview was over I picked up Kristy and the girls from the hotel so we could take a tour of the student housing. The housing was very nice and modern and even had a mini play ground. However the largest apartment was a 2br 2bth but for our growing family this could become too small too fast.... that is of course if our need for housing in Missouri actually arrives.

The girls enjoyed the playground, I enjoyed the day at Forest, and Kristy enjoyed the hotel. We all had a great day.

Gateway to the West ... including Missouri

Due to some unexpected change of events at Wright State University I was compelled to look into some Doctorate programs elsewhere. You see it all started when my Graduate Internship package was turned down. I was told that there had been a mistake made by my advising professor and I had taken my courses in the wrong order. This was a problem because the governing board that directs the Mental Health counseling liscensure required that I take certain courses prior to my internship. This oversight by my advisor resulted in me having to put off my internship for another year. One of the main reasons I stayed at Wright State for Graduate school was because it was an easy "in" and I was already in the area.....maybe not the best reasons but my reasons all the same. I had planned to complete my Masters and then enter the Wright State Doctorate of Clinical Psychology program. Although Wright State's Doctorate program specializes in child issues and victimized populations. Not that I don't love my children or have a place in my heart for the victimized people of the world, however, my interests lie in much different directions. This was a compromise I was willing to make under the idea that the time table presented allowed me to be completely done with school by 2012. That is where the recent turn of events comes in. With the oversight of my advisor and the one year delay of my internship for my Masters degree I was now looking at 2013. Man as if I am not already behind the college curve for age as it is.

So I decided to look at some preferred schools that provide Masters and Doctorate programs in Clinical Psychology with concentrations in areas of my personal interest: Marriage & Family Therapy, Religion Psychology, Forensics, and Neurological Psychology. Of the schools I had investigated over the recent few years one had always been a favorite, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. As I did some more detailed investigation of their program I learned that their Masters degree was integrated into the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program. I contacted the school and learned that if I could get accepted for the next class I could complete the program by 2010.... three years of my life refunded, sort of.

One of the reasons why this school was of most interest was because they offer concentrations in all of the areas I wish to specialize in. So with that and the more acceptable timeline, Kristy and I decided to really consider applying to Forest. Our first concern was that we had only been through Missouri when we were very young and could not remember what the area was like. We also had concerns about the school as we had also never been there. So we decided to head west to see for ourselves. I spent a few weeks preparing an admission packet and we did some research on Springfield, Missouri. A few days before the deadline for applications we headed west and passed the great Arch on the way.

Our girls have always loved hotel rooms and so the quick overnight adventure to Missouri was worth while since it required a hotel stay. Our first impression of Missouri was the low cost of lodging. We paid $35 for a night in this Inn and got our first experience with the lower cost of living which is typical of the Springfield area.

The next morning Kristy got the girls all dolled up to make a good impression at the school. Kristy and the girls were very beautiful and ready to explore Forest Institute and the city of Springfield.

(above photo obtained from FIPP website)

We visited Forest Institute of Professional Psychology where I first went into the admissions office and discussed some questions I had about the school and it's programs. Then Kristy, the girls, and I all received a personal tour of the facility and was able to peep into the classrooms, library, and clinical rooms. The facility was very impressive, the staff was very accommodating, and the school as a whole was overwhelmingly perfect for our needs. We submitted my admission packet with some hesitation as we had to recognize the very competitive nature of being accepted into this program. We figured it couldn't hurt to try. To see more about Forest Institute go to http://www.forest.edu/

(above photo obtained from museum website)

To make the 9-hour trip more worth it for the girls we also went to the WONDERS OF WILDLIFE : American National Fish and Wildlife Museum located in the heart of Springfield.

The museum was full of fish and all sorts of wildlife and interactive learning devices.

The rope bridge was a favorite of the girls, I think we crossed it at least three times.

Molly & Neleha was very intrigued by this friendly turtle.

Molly gave her input about the museum on this comment card.

Kristy followed the girls through this hollow log and popped up to surprise Neleha.

The museum had many of these huge aquariums, which where full of both fresh and salt water fish. From sharks to bass they had them all.

In this interactive display the girls got to learn all about the anatomy of a fish.

In this area we actually got to go on an interactive fishing exhibition. Molly caught a huge bass.

The girls loved watching the sharks and touching the horseshoe crab.

This rare albino alligator was actually on loan from the Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach. I had the privledge of seeing this same alligator when I was in the Navy when a few of us guys headed down to the beach to check out the famous gator farm. This gator has aged well, pail as ever.

The girls got to sit at a camp fire and learn all about the fishing adventures of an old Ozark local.
This partridge (Grouse) fell victim to Neleha's misidentification when it got chased by her because she thought it was a chicken.

We had a great time at the museum and then decided to check out the rest of the city. To see more about the museum go to http://www.wondersofwildlife.org/

We stopped at the Battlefield Mall after driving through this big city. Our first impressions of the city haven't been that impressive. We were hoping for an area like what we have in Ohio, some place like Beavercreek, Ohio maybe. But the Mall was nice and the school was great. We also heard that the gem area of this part of Missouri is Branson. If an interview to FIPP is extended then maybe we will get to see for ourselves.