Branson Trip report

I'm working on putting a more detailed "trip report" with pictures on the family site, but here is the pictureless story.

We decided to take the kids to Branson for Spring Break. While we drove out Alyssa got car sick, then we got there and checked into the hotel. We went to a nice buffet for an early dinner, and then rode the Ducks. The Ducks are a bus/boat that gives a tour through Branson and onto Table Lake. Alex took the opportunity to drive the boat while it was on the lake and we all had a fun time. Then after that we went miniature golfing at a fun dinosaur place. Then back to the hotel to sleep.

The next day we went to Silver Dollar City. It was overcast and cold and windy that morning. It was also the first day that the park was open for the season, so we wound up with a long line to get tickets to get in that morning. Once we got in Rich and the big kids went on a ride, then we got some hot chocolate and watched a show. It was starting to warm up and the kids wanted to play in the kid area- it was lots of fun and I think we spent about an hour in there! We did loose track of Alyssa for a short while and that gave me a mini anxiety attack, but we found her and all was well. Then we got some lunch and after lunch we split up- Rich and the big kids rode all the big rides, and the little girls and I went and rode all the little kid rides. We meet up at the end of the day just in time to ride a few more rides and then the park was closing.

We went back to the hotel to change into some clean clothes, and then headed back into town for dinner. Alex was not enthusiastic about going to the Olive garden for dinner, but once he realized he could get a dessert as part of his kids meal there, he was happy again. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and tucked the kids into bed for the night.

The next morning we slept in a little bit, and then walked over to the lake from our condo (we stayed at a lakeside condo place) and took the paddle boats out. Alex and Ashley had to go on a boat together and they really learned a lesson in co-operation! It was pretty humerous as we were out in the middle of the lake and they were fighting about where to steer the boat and how fast to peddle... Rich wound up coming up next to them and steering them when they got back close to the dock. lol! We got a great workout on our legs! I tried to take some pictures out on the lake, but with Angela trying to help us steer I couldn't have the camera out very long.After we dried off from that excursion (water lapped up into the boats at times and we had some wet seats from it) we headed over to the outlet mall to get some shopping in. I got some great deals on clothes for the girls, and we also found some good prices for Rich's jeans and Alex's shirts. The kids definitly are not used to shopping a lot, and by the end we were all getting tired of it.

That evening we went to the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede Dinner show. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it. I had a hard time getting Angela to eat because she kept watching the show so intently! After the show we decided to go miniature golfing again at the same dinosaur place on the upper course. Then after that we weren't ready to head back to the hotel for the night, so we went and watched a movie. Race to Witch Mountain. It was a fun evening and by the time we got back to the hotel the kids were so tired, they went to sleep without any complaints! lol!

The next day we slept in and then headed to IHOP for breakfast. Everyone got breakfast foods, except Angela. She was adamant that she wanted a cheeseburger! We were certain we would order it and then the kids would have their pancakes with whipped cream on top and she would get upset, but she was adamant that she wanted that cheeseburger, and nothing else! So we got it- and she surprised us and ate the whole cheeseburger and never even once hinted she wanted a pancake. lol!After breakfast (which was really close to lunch time) we went and did a little bit more shopping at the outlet stores (oh how I wish I had outlet stores close by!) and then went and watched a chinese acrobat's show. It was a little bit disapointing in that it didn't really have a huge wow factor and it was mostly kids performing and they made mistakes that just took away from the performance. We went back to the hotel to hang out for a while. Then went out that night and picked up some dinner from Sonic and brought it back to our condo. We had a quieter evening and just stayed at the condo for the night.

The next morning we woke up and packed up and headed on the road for home. Ashley got carsick this time (the roads are really windy through the ozarks). We drove through Benton and Rogers and Lowell, where we lived when Ashley was born and stopped and showed the kids all the significant places there. We stopped and had lunch at my favorite Chinese Buffet- Panda Buffet in Rogers, AR. When we drove past the hospital Ashley was born at, it was closed down. I need to look and see if they built a new one, or what happened to it. The rest of the drive home was uneventful and went quickly.

Since we've been back we've had book reports, cub scout and activity days, an almost snow storm, and a friend moving that we've been busy helping as well... it's been a busy week, and the way life is- the future weeks are busy too. :)