Been on vacation..

Teresa · July 27, 2009, 06:34:43 PM

Been gone all week and just returned home late last night.
Kjell and I took Ashley to Branson for a week to "play" .
We stayed in The Savannah House.
http://www.savannahhousebranson.com/
This place was wonderful .. VERY Clean and the staff was so great. Each night at 9-10 there was fresh hot apple and cherry cobbler and ice cream for the guests.. plus juices and cappuccino, coffee and tea 24 hrs a day for the guests there. Breakfast was also furnished for guests with oatmeal, waffles that you make yourself, scrambled eggs hot biscuits and sausage gravy , doughnuts, all kinds of breads and bagels, 5 different cold cereals, big bowls of peeled fruits.
( now I know why I gained 8 lbs on this trip)

We had a blast. I never even opened up my laptop the whole time and it was wonderful to have the break.
We never stopped for hardly a minute as we were on the go continuously.

We went to Silver Dollar City. http://www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com/
White Water http://www.bransonwhitewater.com/
Shepard of the Hills http://www.oldmatt.com/
Dixie Stampede http://www.dixiestampede.com/
Played a ton of Miniature Golf until almost midnight each evening.. You can play a different one every night for more than a week and not do any of them twice.
We took a 50 minute horseback trail ride through the woods of the Ozarks and Ashley was old enough to have her own horse, named Pepper She did so good too. Pepper loved "snacks"..as he kept veering off the trail to go eat leaves etc.. I gently coached her from behind and she learned fast how to get him back on course. She even kicked him up to a trot too. I was proud of her.
We swam each evening in the pool after we got back from Mini golf ..( Kjell and Ash did) I opted out and took pictures of them (kinda chilly for me )
We played in the game rooms and rode Go-Carts so much I think I could be a professional driver .. LOL After paying a few times of $8.50 a ride per person..We finally decided to buy the $40 wrist band and ride as much as you wanted for 2 solid hours. I think I can safely say that we all got our go -cart fix for awhile.
http://www.bransontracks.com/

We of course shopped ( she scored a few dresses.. some t-shirts.. a new Baby Emma , so jewelry and some things for Mason..
We ate and stuffed ourselves every night at the ribs and chicken and seafood buffets and Kjell and Ash made sure that at least once (or twice) that they had a frozen concoction of custard or ice cream or yogurt or something that was sweet and cold and gooey to eat.. I would give Kjell a "look" and sigh like.. "How much sugar you going to let her have" look....and he would look at me innocent and say" we"re on vacation".. and of course she would agree..and I knew I had lost the battle and was out voted and out witted.. ..

We also had to stop at Bass Pro in Springfield on Sunday on the way home and haunt that place for about a few hours. Came out with some treasures as usual..
I told her many many stories through out the week of memories I had of Pa-Paw and I and Danny (her daddy) and Derek ..as we used to do every single one of these things too each and every year.. So she loved all the funny stuff connected with that too.

There is nothing better than grandchildren to make memories with and to give you the excuse to be silly and act like a kid again..
We loved it and so did she.

W. Gray · July 27, 2009, 06:40:21 PM

Do they still give out "silver" dollars for change at Silver Dollar City?

Catwoman · July 27, 2009, 06:42:57 PM

Welcome back, Teresa...I hope you had a restful week away.

Teresa · July 27, 2009, 06:45:09 PM

No they don't Waldo... it is getting so big.. They add something every year..
be ready to walk a lot if you go.. lots of up hill and down hill and if you go on the rides.. definitely be prepared to be soaking wet .. LOL

larryJ · July 27, 2009, 08:20:53 PM

Glad to hear you had a good time and got to relax, although vacationing with a grandchild might not be so relaxing. Anyway, welcome back.

Larryj

Teresa · July 28, 2009, 11:08:18 AM

Larry.. she is a joy to have around.. Kjell is phenomenal with her and so am I actually..

So it actually WAS relaxing.. we really were not stressed out at all.. even though we never sat down much..
By midnight every night ( after golf of course) She wasn't hardly dry out of the shower before she was sound asleep..

larryJ · July 28, 2009, 12:59:36 PM

That is nice to hear as I sit here waiting for my four year old GDaughter get ready for her sports class and then swimming lessons. My intent on the previous post was not that grandchildren can ruin your trip, but that you are able to keep up!!!!! So that you don't have time to relax.

Larryj

Rudy Taylor · July 28, 2009, 01:40:23 PM

What a heart-warming post, Teresa.

It's so nice to see families have fun together.

We've been going to Branson since 1962 when Silver Dollar City was free.

Jo McDonald · July 28, 2009, 05:17:03 PM

In the 60's was the first time we took Teresa and Sherri to Branson ---- memories~~~~~~~~~~~ so wonderful
Then came the grands and in the in-laws and more memories ~~~~~~~~~
and on and on it goes. It is wonderful that the family traditions fill up the heart and make more memories for generations.
Fred and I and his brother Russ are going to Branson in a couple of weeks --- but we won't be hitting the fast track as Teresa, Kjell and Ashley. But with a fishing pole in my hand and my back side sitting in our Bass Tracker, let me assure you, when that trout hits my lure and I feel him on my lime------ I will be as happy as a clam.

Ms Bear · July 28, 2009, 05:22:13 PM

Do they still have the Titanic museum there? I had hoped to get all five of my grown children and as many grandkids as we could get to go to Branson this year but guess we will hope for next year. The last time I went the food was very memorable.

Glad you had a great time and made some new memories, that is the best thing about grandkids.