Vacation

After a week-long relaxing vacation in Branson, MO, we are back home. We had a great time with our friends Brian, Maia, Malena, Nik, and Kiera. We all rented a two-bedroom condo that overlooks Table Rock Lake. The best part about it was that we could buy our own food to cook and not have to eat out for three meals a day. It was beautiful and we never ran out of things to do. On Saturday, we arrived and unpacked, and then Maia and I went to Walmart. Most of you know this is a big deal for me. I DO NOT do Walmart, but our options were limited and I actually survived the craziness. I don't like Walmart in general, but add Walmart at a tourist location and my blood pressure soars.

On Sunday we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not. The kids seemed to enjoy it, and afterwards we had a relaxing afternoon at the pool. Monday we went to Talking Rocks Cavern. Maia opted out of it and sat out with Kiera. She is not a cave person! The cave was pretty, but it had too many steps for me, especially since I was carrying Logan most of the way. When we got on a bridge that was over a mini pond, Logan looked down. The next thing I knew, Emma said, "Mom! Logan dropped his binki in the water!" Unfortunately, there was no way to get it back, so we were binki less for the rest of the time in the cave. I'm fairly sure he did it on purpose because he normally has a death grip on his binki! After that, we went to Branson Landing, which is a lot like Zona Rosa. They had a lot of neat shops there and we ate at Famous Dave's BBQ. Yum!

On Tuesday we went to the fish hatchery. We got to see a video about how they help the trout reproduce, and it was fairly graphic. I was concerned that one of the kids was going to ask what sperm was, but none did. :) After that, the kids got to feed the trout and they loved it. Unfortunately, Malena was feeling sick by this point so we all went back to the condo for naps. After the nap, she felt fine so we went to Cakes and Cream Dessert Parlor. It was so good! Emma, Logan, and I shared a banana split while Matt got a funnel cake topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and syrup. Logan kept screaming because I wasn't feeding him fast enough!

Wednesday was our first day at Silver Dollar City. The kids had a great time riding the rides and seeing the show JEERK. We stayed for about 10 hours with minimal whining from the kids. They were excellent! On Thursday, the guys went to see a movie in the morning while Maia and I hung out at the condo with the kids. Later that afternoon, we went on Branson's Scenic Railway. It's about two-hours round-trip and we got to sit in the observation car. While it was moving, they let you walk around and see the other cars. The kids thought that part was so neat, but I thought it was hard to walk! We went back to Famous Dave's for dinner since we were right there in the location, and then let the kids play on the playground there for a bit. During dinner, I discovered another way Logan is just like his dad. He would offer me a bite of whatever he had and when I went to take a bite he would pull it away, shake his head, and laugh. He is such a jokester! He did this over and over.

Friday was our last day there, and we spent it at Silver Dollar City again. We could not have asked for a better day! The weather was nice and cool. The kids were so brave and rode a few roller coasters like Fire in the Hole. They also rode the water ride that absolutely soaks you. It would have been better to go on that ride on Wednesday when it was warmer. Malena, Emma, Matt, and myself rode in one boat. Malena thought it was neat, but Emma hated it. I'm sure it's because the water splashed on her face, and she hates water on her face. Nik loved it so much that him and Maia rode it twice! Since Matt bribed the kids with ice cream if they'd ride the water ride, we went to the dessert parlor again afterwards. When we got back, the guys took the kids swimming even though they were probably beat!

On Saturday, it was time to leave. :( We got everything together and drove to Lambert's for lunch. Luckily, we got right in and the girls had a great time yelling, "ROLL!" It was a great vacation, but it's nice to be home, too. Next stop . . . Hawaii!

If you're on facebook, I have all the Branson pictures uploaded there!

Young Love

Happy late 4th of July! We spent the afternoon and evening at Dorothy and Jeff's house. Logan was running a fever and was CRANKY! Matt and I think that he is cutting another tooth because he is on day four of being absolutely cranky. He wasn't a huge fan of the fireworks. He couldn't decide whether he wanted to laugh or cry at them, and he kept making this noise that sounded like something between those two.

Emma played frisbee with one of Jeff's nephews, who is about 19. She was following him around and wanted to sit next to him to watch the fireworks. At one point I looked back and she was trying to pull a strand of her hair out. When I asked what she was doing, she said, "Mom, I am trying to give him a piece of my hair to remember me by!" Oh my goodness, Matt and I are in trouble! I told her that she shouldn't pull her hair out for a boy.

Lately, she has been extremely helpful. Each time she does something, she says, "I can do this because I'm 5" or "5 year olds can do this." It is so funny that she is loving being 5!