Branson Kiddie Amusement Park

After leaving the indoor water park, we decided that we'd let the girls skip naps and we'd let G ride some of the kiddie amusement park rides. We had wanted to take her to this park in November, but it was closed. However, it was jammed pack last week, and G had so much fun!

She rode the tea cups..... she and this poor little girl tried so hard to make it go around and round, but they just couldn't figure it out! It was so funny watching them try so hard to spin their cup.

She also rode the train, and like every other child, had to sit in the engine car. She also hogged the bell the entire time!

She rode the pirate ship, but sat in the front, so DJ and I don't think she got the full effect of the ride!

She also rode the "Frog Hopper" and screamed the entire time! We had just watched them stop the ride to let a little girl off, and I was not going to let G stop the ride. So, we just sat there and did what any parent would do. Laugh.  Cheered her on and encouraged her to stick it out!

She also got to ride the go karts! I was very nervous that she'd wreck and kill herself, because she can't even drive her princess car down the street, but she did great! Granted, there were several laughs and a few wrecks, but she enjoyed herself, and it may have been the funniest thing I have ever witnessed!

Here's G driving around:

After G did all the kiddie rides, she and DJ went over to ride the big go-karts on a wooden track. She was exhausted by this point, but they had fun!

Our trip was so much fun and DJ and I felt that we were able to squeeze everything in and still have time to relax in the condo!

We met up with friends later Tuesday evening, and that experience was not our finest in the parenting world, but we survived.

We left Wednesday morning, as we had to be out of the condo by 10, and I was very afraid that G was experiencing a stomach bug, but I think it turned out to be exhaustion and eating pure crap food at every meal! 

DJ and I decided that we needed to get away more just as a family. Unfortunately, we won't be able to travel for a while with the baby due this summer, and then football season- so we'll be planning next year's spring break trip!

By: Unknown On 06.50

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Grand Country Inn~ Waterpark

Last Tuesday while we were in Branson, we took the girls to the indoor water park at Grand Country Inn. Our first thought was that we would stay at the hotel, but then we ended up getting a condo and realizing that it was only $15.00 to get into the water park. We headed over around 11 in the morning (because the girls slept late) and stayed for three hours.

They had the best kiddie area, and once MC warmed up to the slides, she had so much fun! She even went down on her belly!

They also had a lazy river and we all enjoyed going around in it.

Here's G on the turtle slide- that thing was slippery!

There was a little step at the kiddie pool and MC loved walking along it like a balance beam and then sitting down.

DJ convinced G to go down the covered swirly slides, and once she did, she loved them! 

Here's MC going down a kiddie slide again.

And, G playing in the kiddie pool.

There was also a basketball pool, but the water was freezing, and two hot tubs, but those were jammed pack! The water was a bit cold for my liking, but the girls had tons of fun splashing around! 

We ended up eating lunch there, and I thought the food was pretty good! Maybe, I was just starving, but I had a burger, and DJ and the girls had hot dogs. We split nachos and fries!

After lunch, we let the girls play a bit longer then headed to the kiddie amusement park! 

By: Unknown On 06.36

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Shopping Day!

Monday morning was spent saying good-bye to the girls' grandparents. DJ and I are so thankful they were able to take the time to drive up on Sunday and spend the day and night with us!

MC loved hanging out with her grandparents and really enjoyed her pops!

G posed with her build-a-dog before we headed out to shop for the day.

We went to lunch and then headed out for shopping. The girls were exhausted from our late night at Dixie Stampede, so we ended up going into a few select stores rather than my typical spending the entire day at Tanger mall and eating A&W chicken strips for lunch. After getting the shopping done that we needed to, we headed back to the condo for naps.

Unfortunately, DJ was the only one that fell asleep.

After rest time was over, we went out for dinner at Falls Creek Steakhouse. I thought it would be fun since they throw rolls, but i'm not sure that we'll actually go back. My mom always says that you don't go to Branson to eat- the food is never good, and every time I try somewhere new, I think she's right! 

It also didn't help that our girls were beyond exhausted!

G did love the rolls and adding honey, and MC even ate most of her roll too. We got the girls corn dog and french fries (to share) and I ordered fried shrimp with a sweet potato. DJ ordered steak, but his was over cooked and he had to send it back and wait on a new one.

MC was all smiles until the food came and she decided that she was not going to eat. Most of hers ended up on the floor, and to be honest, I don't think she ate anything other than one roll that night.

We had a fun time being together, and DJ and I can now laugh at MC's behavior that night, but boy we could tell that she was tired!

We were reminded several times, that sometimes, you just have to let them your kids do what makes them happy, just to keep them from throwing a huge fit! I was MCs punching bag most of the evening, and she broke out of her high chair several times. I've figured out though, that she's highly entertained by "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" song and the "Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee" song, so that helped us make it through the rest of the meal.

After dinner, we headed straight back to the condo for bedtime!

By: Unknown On 08.20

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Dixie Stampede

After Build-a-Bear, we headed to our condo to get checked in. Much thanks to DJ's uncle for letting us use his time share! We were able to get a two bedroom condo with plenty of room for extra guests and more than enough space for us! DJ and I decided that while the girls are young, we need to have two rooms when we travel. MC never falls asleep when we're in the room, and this allows DJ and I to stay up a little later, while the girls get to sleep. We may be spoiling ourselves doing this, but if we can get two rooms, we're going to do so!

Once we got checked into the condo, we freshened up for dinner. All of a sudden G came downstairs wearing this:

She had packed her sunglasses, rings, bracelets, and a feather boa in her backpack without us knowing and told us that she wanted to look her best for dinner. Who are we to argue- so we let her go out to dinner like this! Hey, we're on vacation.

Here's MC and I before leaving.

We headed out to the Dixie Stampede and to be honest, i was very nervous about taking the girls. Not necessarily, G, but definitely MC. We went to the 8:00 show, which is past MC's bedtime, but we waited too late to purchase the tickets, so that's what we were stuck with.

Surprisingly, both girls did great and I can't wait to take them again!

We enjoyed the pre-show, and I must say we were very entertained with the jugglers! We bought G a "boot cup" with a special strawberry drink inside.

Before the show, we managed to get a picture of her with one of the workers all dressed up. 

Pops and Grandma Dee went with us! They had never been before, and we weren't going to tell them that you don't receive silverware, but they had heard before hand from some friends.

We didn't have to purchase a ticket for MC because she's not two, and she was able to sit in our lap and share our food. I wasn't sure how well she would eat, so I brought some fruit snacks and a jammy sammy for her.

I also brought silverware for the girls. I actually used it myself for the soup, and G didn't eat the soup, although she at least tried a bite. And, the fork was so helpful for shredding the chicken for the girls, although, they ended up not eating much of it either. G requested ranch, and I had to tell her that they didn't have any. Next time, i'll sneak some in :) G ate the pork, because I told her it was pig- she's had a fascination with it since our bowl trip, and MC ate my corn.

Here's DJ and I enjoying the show:

And, G again with her boot drink:

I would definitely recommend going to the Dixie Stampede at least once every few years! It's not something that I would want to do every time we're in Branson, but if you consider you get a huge amount of food and a show, then it's a good value! Often you can find condo tours that will give you free tickets when you sit through their tour. 

G enjoyed Dixie Stampede so much that she wanted to go back there every night for dinner! MC sat surprisingly well since it was past her bedtime. I would just definitely take some snacks in case the kids don't like the food (soup, cheese biscuit, chicken, pork, potato slice, corn, and apple pastry) as well as sippy cups for drinks & silverware for the kids. And wipes, take wipes, because eating with your hands is a mess! 

I'm glad we were able to go as a family and enjoy the entertainment! G was spoiled with a flag and she was super excited that our side won the show!

By: Unknown On 08.01

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Build-A-Dog

We headed to Branson on Sunday morning for a mini-vacation. I'm so glad that we were able to get away as a family of four! It's probably our last official vacation until next year, as i'll be too pregnant to travel this summer, and then we'll have a new baby!

We ended up getting to Branson around 1:30, and DJ's dad and stepmom met us there for the day. We had lunch and then walked around The Landings. G had saved her birthday money and she decided that she wanted to spend it at Build-A-Bear.

This was the first time that I've let G build-a-bear. I wanted to wait until she was old enough to really understand, and we have two that I had made in college, that she never plays with, so I wasn't sure if she would really appreciate the bear later on.... but, she loved the experience!

She chose a puppy with pink and red hearts. She was so excited that it even had a heart-shaped nose!

Next, she chose a sound for her puppy. She decided that the puppy should make a kissing sound.

Here's G with pops and Grandma Dee.... she's waiting on getting her puppy stuffed.

Filing her puppy with stuffing:

Giving her puppy a big squeeze!

She picked out its heart and gave it a kiss.

I remember making a build-a-bear, and they use to go through a whole routine with the heart, like giving it a kiss to make it full of love, rubbing the heart in your hands to make your bear warm, and putting the heart on your forehead to make the bear smart, etc..... and now, you just kiss it. Let me be honest, that I wish they would bring back the whole routine, even though it might make the wait a little longer.

G put the heart inside her puppy.

Then, we went and gave her puppy a bath.

We let G pick out her puppy's outfit, and she was determined it would be a princess outfit. At first, she picked out a Brave dress, but we guided her toward a pink dress with butterfly wings.

 Then, we got her puppy dressed.

 And, gave her puppy a name.... She named her Lovie Heart.

G was so excited to take her puppy home and she's played and slept with her all week!

She's getting a gift certificate to Build-a-bear in her Easter basket, so we'll go pick out another outfit!

By: Unknown On 07.40

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