This past week was our annual family vacation!
Prior to our Labor Day check-in, we met up with Ty’s brother’s family, his mom, and his granny, for another birthday celebration for little Lia (cake courtesy of Granny!)
We met our friends at the Lodge and found plenty to do there to keep us occupied.
There were trails to hike …
(We were ill-prepared for this hike…dad had to carry baby Micah and I was wearing crocs! We thought we were going on the paved trail–city folk that we are-LOL!)
A round of mini-golf…
(Mini-golfing with 10 children all under the age of 12 was ummmm….interesting! Talk about herding cats!)
Horse-back riding…
(Something Daddy had promised as a special treat to our horse-lovin’ 8 year old.)
Boating…
(This was not a pleasant experience! Being the only person peddling and trying to maneuver a less than cooperative rudder while holding a squirming baby in a lifejacket makes for a very short boat ride! However, a trip down the lazy river in an innertube made up for it!)
Taking in the “wildlife”…
Cake decorating…
(Ty helped Sarah’s husband decorate her birthday cake–our boys learned it from their daddies!)
K found time to surf…
(Still the stunt-man of the bunch!)
And even time for some naps…
(There were a total of four families staying courtesy of our friends. One night, all four families got together for some fellowshipping in one of the rooms. Between us there were 19 children and two on the way! We dubbed this hideaway couch “The Baby Bed”.)
Throughout the week we visited Branson proper for a healthy dose of antiquing (which involved our 3 year old buying a broken $27 bowl…YIKES!). We took in the must-see Noah musical and let our 11 year old ride the long-anticipated 4 story go-cart track…
Our stay at the Lodge ended Friday morning, but vacation was not over yet! We camped with Sarah’s family at Table Rock Lake the remainder of the weekend. This was the first time we have camped as a family and only the second time I have camped in my entire life (the first being our one-year anniversary)! Even though my husband is an avid camper, it was nice to have another family there to “hold my hand.” We enjoyed s’mores, water-gun fights, and skunks! (Big, fat, we-eat-camp-food-every-night skunks!)
(Our home-away-from-home!)
The end of our vacation came with our annual trip to the State Fair on Dollar Day! (also known as Frugal Family Day, also known as Homeschool Family Day! lol)
We cheered on the pig races, toured building after building, ate more Fair food than any human ought to, watched some sheep shearing…
played…
and played…
and played some more…
And through it all, Micah got the comfiest seat in the house…
Our vacation officially ended today when our 3 year old began puking. Rather rude awakening to the real world I’m afraid, but hey, at least he waited until AFTER vacation!
Robin says
Looks like you had a wonderful time. What a great trip! I love the baby bed – so adorable 🙂
Amanda Sikes says
We were in Branson this past week too! We stayed at Still Waters. We had a blast. It was our first real family vacation that WASN’T camping.
While I love camping the hotel life is much easier with a crawling baby and a three year old than sleeping in a tent and sitting on the ground ever is.
So, glad that you were blessed with some great family memories. I am praying for returned health for the little guy.
*Mirage* says
The sleeping babies pic is just SO CUTE!!!! Awww!
It sounds like you had quite the adventure! I am not a camper. My husband is. He keeps telling me when the tots get a bit older we’re going camping. I’m NOT enthused! :p
That sheep must really be enjoying getting sheared… looks like she fell asleep! Haha! I’ve heard sheep like getting sheared but that looks a bit extreme! Hehe…
I have a giveaway on my blog that I’m starting tonight at midnight and you are gonna wanna see it I think. 😉 I really think you will like it because of something you said in an earlier post. 🙂 So come to my blog sometime between midnight tonight and next Tuesday and sign up if you like it. 🙂
Oh and WELCOME BACK: I MISSED YOU! 😉
MolleenCarie says
Looks like you had a great time, Amy! And it’s a perfect time of the year for a vacation. Sorry about your little one feeling yukky. 🙁
Michaela Dunn Leeper says
I love the pics! The “baby bed” is just too precious! What a wonderful blessing. It looks like you had so much fun, small trials aside!
Fruitful Harvest says
Yes Amy, I so totally missed you!
Looks like you all had a great time!
The Lodge looked just spectacular!
(I went over to the link and checked it out!)
I went to Silver Dollar City as a child….I so want my kiddos to experience it! What great fun!
I got a kick out of your paddle boat picture….to funny yet so true!
So did your sick kiddos illness last long?
That would have made for a long ride home!
Well I’m glad your back!
I want to thank you for leaving us with the Autumn casserole to chew on while you were away (heehee)…it did not look like something I would want to try but after seeing it all week on my blog side bar…I can’t wait to try it! LOL
I also wanted to thank you for sending folks over to my blog during my giveaway!
I have a little something to send you (you were not the big winner).
So email me your address and I will mail you a little something!
Blessings,
Georgiann