We took our first vacation in YEARS this past weekend! On Thursday we loaded up the car, went out to lunch and headed SOUTH...to BRANSON.
Now, the boys and I have never been to Branson so Jeremy was really the only one who knew what to expect. Thankfully, we timed things pretty well and Micah slept for over half the drive...until we had to stop so Isaiah could pee. Which happened along the side of the road since it was a "I need to go NOW". The rest of us made it to a gas station for the restroom/diaper changes.
The main purpose of our trip was Silver Dollar City, so our first night we checked in to the hotel and drove around Branson a bit. Jeremy wanted to check out Harry & David (since we don't have a local one anymore!) and the outdoor mall where it's located had some coin operated rides that the boys enjoyed checking out...and WIN on the car with TWO steering wheels (Yes, Micah DID enjoy it, despite the look on his face here!)
We tried to find some arcade place that Jeremy remembered from when he was a kid. Unfortunately, either the places have gotten more run down or it was just more exciting when he was younger. Isaiah played a few games and seemed to enjoy himself but most of the place was shut down (off season during the week...oops). We did see this lovely sign, though...in case you can't read it, it says "You can smell our butts for miles"...it was a BBQ place.
Driving around also took us outside of Branson where we found a scenic overlook and a trail. We were all ready to stretch our legs after all the time in the car, so we started down the trail. Little legs couldn't/wouldn't walk so Jeremy and I had to take turns carrying Micah. Needless to say, the hike didn't last very long. Isaiah wasn't amused when we told him we were turning back. But we told him we were going to eat, so at least there wasn't a mutiny!
After dinner we went back to the hotel. Isaiah was quite amused by the shower caps, so he got to wear one for bathtime. Then, it was lights out so we could all rest up for the park on Friday. Isaiah was SO excited to try roller coasters!
The next morning we were up early (big surprise) but by the time we had all showered, dressed and eaten (a surprisingly good breakfast offering at the hotel) it was time to head to the park. We found a pretty decent spot near a tram pickup. Micah wasn't sure what was going on, but he was game. Isaiah was WOUND UP and ready to go!
We actually go to the front gates right as they were opening, so we killed a few minutes looking at all the scarecrows they had set up outside. A nice couple offered to take our picture, so we managed to get ONE of all of us! Micah, of course, wouldn't look at the camera for anything (why look at STRANGERS, Mom?). Such is life. The line filtered in pretty quickly so we went on in to the park.
First stop was a magic shop so Jeremy and Isaiah could check it out. Then we went out down to the measuring station where the guy there "helped" Isaiah be tall enough for ALL the rides. We started easy, though. First on a little roller coaster. Isaiah had to sit on the inside so it was tough to get a picture of him but Jeremy seemed to enjoy it.
Then we tried out the other offerings for kids' rides. A "Dumbo"-type ride. Teacups. Swinging dragon (YAY!). Isaiah tried them all out! Jeremy started to get antsy to try some "real" rides, so we left the kids area and started wandering around the rest of the park.
Micah....being the squirt he is...was only big enough for about 2 rides. So he took turns hanging out with Mom or Dad most of the time. He wasn't always amused by that.
But, sometimes he was good just chilling on a curb.
After that we wandered around for a while, checking out some of the smaller rides and other stuff.
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| Grandfather's Mansion |
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| This was....creepy |
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| Worn out little bug |
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| Once they started....Jeremy did all the work |
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| Having fun! |
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| Funnel cake! |
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Isaiah rode his first real roller coaster. I tell you, this boy showed NO fear! We also rode a log ride a few times...we got wet and COLD!
Eventually we were all exhausted and headed out for dinner then back to the hotel for bathtime/bedtime. We tried to find another arcade place, but there really wasn't anything like whatever Jeremy was looking for.
The next morning we had breakfast at Silver Dollar City (can you say BREAKFAST BUFFET?! YES!!) We got there early enough the wait wasn't too terrible...by the time we were leaving the line had gotten quite ridiculous!
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| Teacups! |
Next stop was once again the measuring station. The lady there that morning was not about to bend the rules at. all. She even made us measure Micah when we only wanted him to have a wristband in case he got separated from us! And Isaiah measured less than half an inch too short for the roller coasters! He was disappointed...so we took the band off and stuck it in his pocket. Cheating? Yes! But the boy wanted to ride the coasters again!
We went on the silly train ride. Isaiah got a kick out of it, especially when we stopped and the guys were doing their silly skit. Micah wasn't near as amused, but at least he was quiet and didn't get fussy!
There was a kids area we hadn't checked out the day before so we wandered over to it. They had a huge tree house type thing that Micah wasn't big enough for, but Isaiah wandered through a few times. Micah and I found some sand to play in and then Isaiah wanted to go on some swings.
It was a lot busy on Saturday then Friday so the lines were longer and crowds thicker. We skipped a few things due to long lines, but Isaiah and Jeremy went on Powder Keg (which had been closed on Friday). I didn't do this one, but let me tell you...it freaked Isaiah out. When they got back to where I was sitting with a sleeping Micah, Isaiah was STILL a little white. Jeremy was apparently concerned that Isaiah was going to pass out for about half the ride!
The last thing we did was wander over to another kids area that had a lot of water guns and splash pads, etc for kids to play in. Jeremy and Isaiah climbed way up into the play structure and were having a good time. Micah and I messed with some huge water guns, put mostly I just followed Micah around while he ran around some columns.
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| Everyone looking at the camera? Not likely! |
As we were getting ready to leave the park, it just happened to be time for the last group to head in to one of the caves. We decided to give it a try but, let me tell you, bad idea. We had to shove everything in the (small) backpack we had...including Isaiah's new toy pop gun. Then, Isaiah got tired (and maybe a bit freaked out) and ended up being carried on and off for the whole HOUR trip. The floors were to slick and drop offs too terrifying to put Micah down even once. So I carried him the whole time. Oh, and I don't like being deep underground because I'm irrationally afraid of cave-ins. So a good time was had by all.
Our last dinner we went to....Steak and Shake. Silly, perhaps, but we were too tired to think very hard about what we wanted to eat. Jeremy and Isaiah worked on one of the kids' menus while we waited for the food. After we ate, we wandered down to the landing area. Jeremy wanted to check out the local Build-A-Bear, and he talked shop for a bit with one of the managers there while the boys and I looked around. Isaiah had money burning a hole in his pocket, but all the local businesses had closed for the night and we couldn't find anywhere else that had toys! He was pretty upset when we headed back to the hotel without spending all his money, but the boy is SO indecisive...we told him he could get something from Target when we got home (much cheaper, anyway!)
Sunday we got up, had breakfast, packed up, and drove home. We stopped 3 times on the way home, twice for the bathroom and once for lunch. All in all, we survived our first vacation as a family of 4! Maybe next time we won't have to carry Micah the whole time.
:D
The main purpose of our trip was Silver Dollar City, so our first night we checked in to the hotel and drove around Branson a bit. Jeremy wanted to check out Harry & David (since we don't have a local one anymore!) and the outdoor mall where it's located had some coin operated rides that the boys enjoyed checking out...and WIN on the car with TWO steering wheels (Yes, Micah DID enjoy it, despite the look on his face here!)
We tried to find some arcade place that Jeremy remembered from when he was a kid. Unfortunately, either the places have gotten more run down or it was just more exciting when he was younger. Isaiah played a few games and seemed to enjoy himself but most of the place was shut down (off season during the week...oops). We did see this lovely sign, though...in case you can't read it, it says "You can smell our butts for miles"...it was a BBQ place.
Driving around also took us outside of Branson where we found a scenic overlook and a trail. We were all ready to stretch our legs after all the time in the car, so we started down the trail. Little legs couldn't/wouldn't walk so Jeremy and I had to take turns carrying Micah. Needless to say, the hike didn't last very long. Isaiah wasn't amused when we told him we were turning back. But we told him we were going to eat, so at least there wasn't a mutiny!
We actually go to the front gates right as they were opening, so we killed a few minutes looking at all the scarecrows they had set up outside. A nice couple offered to take our picture, so we managed to get ONE of all of us! Micah, of course, wouldn't look at the camera for anything (why look at STRANGERS, Mom?). Such is life. The line filtered in pretty quickly so we went on in to the park.
Micah....being the squirt he is...was only big enough for about 2 rides. So he took turns hanging out with Mom or Dad most of the time. He wasn't always amused by that.
