Final Day in Branson

We only had one day of rain for the week and it was a very long day with all 11 of us in the Condo.  

We played a lot of wii.  The girls mastered the Just Dance game.

The weather finally broke early that night so we decided to head out to Branson Landing.  We ended up at Laredo Cantina for dinner that night.  We ended up going on the right night as it was Ladies Night and Margarita's were half price !!!

Not sure what is up with the three of them and there wicked smiles.  We were at an outdoor table that overlooked the water where they had fountains that moved to music and lights.  It was perfect to keep the kids busy.

This was Friday, our last day in Branson.  We ended up putting a lot in this day and a great time was had by all.  We started with Ride the Ducks.

This was on top of Baird Mountain overlooking Table Rock State Park Marina.

And a look at the other side of Table Rock Lake.

The Captain asked if anyone wanted to drive the Duck and look who was the first to volunteer !!!! 

And here are the four of us while out on Table Rock Lake.  The next stop is not noted in pictures as we do not want any memories.  We all wanted pizza and Brian had seen this place that had Chicago Style Pizza.  Let's just say that it was a smokey hole in the wall and the pizza was terrible.  Hey, it easily could have gone the other way....but it didn't.  So we will just leave it at that.

Our next stop was Pirate's Cove Putt Putt.  

And here we are at the first hole and Uncle Brian is pulling out Zander's ball already.  Only 17 holes to go !!!

And here is the whole Motley Crue...

And a picture of the winner and her husband.  That's right...I WON !!!!

See the concentration as Jenneth looks at the line of this hole.

She got a hole in one !!!  I asked her to get back on the rock so I could take her picture and this is the look that I got.

After putt putt the kids were given these bags with all kinds of pirate stuff in them.

So our last stop for the night was The Track.  Tristen was first up to drive on his own.

Here he comes over the bridge....

And around the bottom of the hill.

Jenneth was next to drive her own Go Kart....

And then the final Go Kart track was all four of us.  This one was really really fun. Jenneth screamed the entire time.  We got off and she wanted to do it again.  

We had a few credits left so the kids opted for Bumper Boats.  

So the thing that Brian did not realize was that the boats had these holes in the front of the motor that shot out water.

Jenneth ended up taking control of driving the boat.

Let's just say that the three of them came off the Bumper Boats completely SOAKED !!!

Fishing on Table Rock Lake

Papa Doc chartered a boat and took the boys Trout fishing on Table Rock Lake.  There were a lot of rumblings when the alarm clocks went off at 4:45am, but wide smiles when they came home later that morning with 20 fish for us to make for dinner. Us ladies on the other hand were poolside relaxing.  I wish I had more commentary for the pictures below, but have you tried getting 3 boys and two men to tell you some stories of their day??? Not much other than how they gutted the fish and chopped off their heads to bring them home.

Today is also Tristen's 9th Birthday.  We went to Dixie Stampede for dinner and the kids had the best time.  It was even a little different than the time we went in Pigeon Forge, so had some nice surprised for the 4 of us that had seen it before.  

And the hit of the night.....The Ricky Fowler Puma Hat.  Thanks Grampa !!!!  

Silver Dollar City

We picked a great day to do Silver Dollar City.  It was Monday and thank goodness it was pretty empty as far as amusement parks go.  Granted we went from opening and closed it down.  Gotta get your money's worth right??

Here is the gang on Dumbo as my kids call this ride.  

Papa Doc with all the stuff.  What a trooper, as he didn't go on any rides but just sat with all the stuff.

The Teacups.  "To big a Me."

Me and Papa Doc did a lot of bonding in this section of the park.  Everything went around in circles and fast and I do not do going in circles fast.

Here is Chase and Brian in the viking boats that you saw in the previous picture.

I did have to ride the Pirate Ship with Zander as we were short on adults.  For the record neither Zander or I wanted to ride this but we did what we were told.

So here's the thing about  being the oldest cousin on this vacation...You are tall enough to ride all the rides and you have to ride the kiddie roller coasters with the younger cousins.  

I guess me and Zander became quite the riding buddies.

We did find three tiny rides for the much younger cousins.

This was a ride that I thought for sure Tristen was going to throw up on.  So you see there are chairs facing forward and this huge disc spins in a circle while you go back and forth on this ramp.  Tristen looked as if he was going to die.  

See it there up in the trees as it heads up in one direction.

For lunch we ate in the caves and were very grateful for the coolness and BBQ Buffet.

Each kid had a penny to toss in the wishing well...not sure how some of the kids ended up with more than one penny when all was said and done.

Can you say "Please Papa Doc" with really pitiful little faces????  Yup as well as hook, line, and sinker.  These three managed to work on Papa Doc to buy them each a pony.  Us parents thought they would last maybe 15 minutes and then they would want us to carry them.  I have to admit that they rode them all through the park.  The saving grace was that the horses make all kinds of noise and Papa Doc didn't realize this till he was home with three very annoying and loud horses.

That is Tristen, Mary Alice, Chase, Brian, Zander, and Shannon on the American Plunge.  Poor Shannon sat in the back and ended up SOAKED !!!

Here is where I sat with the three youngest for about an hour.  Who would have thought that foam balls with shooters and vacuum hoses would keep these kids busy this long.....

Here is rounds three of four (yes, I said three or four) on this dang roller coaster.

Here we are at the end of the night on the carousel.

So Jenneth was absolutely dying to do these little kids swings.  Once she got on, she was not impressed.  She had ridden the adults swings a couple of times and every time she would go by, she would roll her eyes.  The lady next to me thought it was the funniest thing ever.

And the last photo of the night.  These two were not excited to have to leave.  "Just one more time..pleeeaassee"