Whirlwind Weekend

This last weekend, we were supposed to have several different things going on. We had a get-together to attend, I was supposed to teach a workshop, then I was supposed to teach another class...well, everything ended up being postponed.

Then, we got all that awesome rain last week, and cooler temperatures moved in. Now, I've been wanting to take the kids to Silver Dollar City all summer, but we've been waiting for the right weekend to do it...right meaning nothing else going on and not 110 degrees outside. Well, all of a sudden it looked like last weekend was our chance. So, it was a bit spur of the moment (if you know Aaron very well, you know that with most things, he needs to have a while to wrap his brain around the plan and prepare mentally,) but I ran it by the boss man, and he said that it was cool.

So, Friday I ordered season passes for Aaron and I (they're cheaper than two day passes, and the kids get in free till they're 4), and booked us a ridiculously cheap hotel on the strip in Branson. Like so ridiculously cheap that the last time I paid so little for a hotel room, he slept "on top" of the bed, and we didn't use the bathroom. hahaha. Saturday I was supposed to teach a modern class, but it got cancelled and we took off.

We got to SDC about 12:30 and played till 6 when they closed. Alec and Emma basically thought they were in heaven. They thought the teacups, the elephants, the racing regatta...everything at the Grand Exposition, was like the best thing EVER. They got to check out the new Half Dollar Hollar tree house play area for little kids that just opened this season, and we rode the train. Saturday was awesome. They did really well for walking all over (we decided not to do the strollers.)

When we left to go check into the hotel, the Garmin sent us on a wild goose chase because I couldn't get it to register W Hwy 76, and we ended up stuck in Branson strip traffic for like an hour because of a stupid car show. Blah! We stopped to eat at Shoney's and finally made it to the Melody Lane Inn. I was pleased to find that our room was totally adequate and clean. For what I paid, that's all I cared about. Plus breakfast was included. We played in the pool a little while before heading off to bed.

The next morning, the dang Garmin messed up again on the way to SDC, but we finally got on the right track (I think it's time for a new nav system). Got into the park, and it became clear pretty quick that the kids were a little more moody that day. They didn't want to walk, and they were tired and cranky. We managed to make it to all of their favorite rides again. We timed the lines really well Sunday. We also got to visit the Gyser Gulch, where they got to shoot little foam balls out of air guns. They would have stayed there for hours. We stayed till 3pm, and then headed home because Daddy needed some down time before work on Monday.

It was exhausting, but a really fun weekend. I'm so glad we finally got to take the kids there. They're already asking to go back. :-)