Vacation update--Day 1

We are having a GREAT time! It is so beautiful in Missouri. We have had great weather so far, and have been able to do lots of fun things!

Wednesday morning we got up early and headed down to Branson to go to Silver Dollar City for the day. We headed out around 10 and drove about 45 minutes down there--only to find that for some reason, the park was closed for the day! Imagine our disappointment.....we had been getting the kids all geared up for a day of rides and water stuff.....it was NOT fun explaining to Colin what was going on. However, he took it like a champ (much better than I thought he would, actually). We then made it our mission to finding something else fun for the children to do. Mckinley had come with us, since it was her last day of summer before school started up again, and we knew that we needed a fun place to go--so we found a small amusement park place on the strip and stopped there for a couple of hours! Colin and Mckinley really had a good time. Cameron was too little for most of the rides, but Shane did a great job keeping him entertained! Gram and I stayed with Ethan, mostly, and kept him happy--not a hard job, really! :-) IT WAS SOOOO HOT however--in no time, the kids (not too mention the adults) were all sweating, and we only lasted about 1 1/2 hours before we decided it was time to cool off and go eat!

We all went to a fun little diner called the "Hard Luck Cafe"--all the waiters and waitresses sing while you eat! And they are very good, too. Many of them have CD's you can buy--one was even on a season of American Idol which I thought was cool. I got a picture of him singing to Mckinley. I'll post it (and lots of other pics) once we get home! Everyone ate really well, and then it was off to do a little shopping in the outdoor mall area that was right outside the restaurant. Those who live near me....everything in the Branson shops reminds me of things you would find at the covered bridge festival. It is all so cool, and things that you just can't get all the time, you know? I did find a couple of treasures, but the children were starting to get a little weary (it was almost 4:30 by this time!) so we decided we better head home.

We relaxed for the rest of the evening with the family, which was great. It is so nice being with family that you don't see very often!