Silver Dollar City

So after two really chilly days in Branson it finally warmed up enough to head to Silver Dollar City. And thank God it did because that was all the kids really wanted to do before coming to Branson and we would have never heard the end of it had we not made it into the park. It started out really cold but by the end of the day all the jackets were shed and we had some red-faced, tired kiddos. 

Waiting for the boys to buy all our tickets:

Hadley's first big roller coaster. I was surprised the height requirement was only 42" because this sucker was fast! Hadley will try just about anything and doesn't really get scared but this is one ride that I would not have been able to talk her into riding again. Poor girl was pale when we got off. Unfortunately, I didn't pick the right side for her to sit on and when we started doing spiral circles down she was on the inside and said she felt like she was going to fall out. She was a great sport though and didn't even shed a tear (although they were filled up in her eyes).

After the roller coaster and a couple other rides Hudson decided it was his turn to pick a ride and obviously picked the train that took us through the park. With some cotton candy and cokes in hand we had some happy train riders.

Buck was just along for the ride but seemed to love watching all the people!

Hudson was pretty excited for his first ride and could barely sit still for a picture. He kept screaming "GO!" to the person operating the machine.

Just as excited to ride the dumbo ride!

Taking a little break for a corndog snack...

Hadley rode all the rides she could and loved the dumbo ride the most!

Hudson got to ride his first roller coaster as well. To ride the coaster you have to be 36". I knew it would be a close call but thought he was exactly 36". So we got to the front of the line, he stood up against the measuring stick and the guy said, "Just a half inch too short." I knew this was not going to go over well with Hudson and said, "Will you please measure him one more time?" He, thankfully, agreed and right as he took the measurement I said, "Hudson...stand really tall!" I saw my hopeful boy suck in a big breath of air and stand as tall as he could. Whew! The guy just smiled, let him go through, and even gave us a bracelet to wear so that he wouldn't have to be measured each time. Hudson was SO happy (even though he doesn't look so happy in this picture)!

Because my family seems to have a sensitivity to motion sickness, Ryan got stuck riding the teacups with the kids.

After riding as many rides as we could all handle we decided to start making our way back to the entrance and while stopping for dessert on the way. I managed to snap a few more pictures of the whole group.

This little guy LOVES his Papa so much!

Although these look like some angry faces, they were actually just really tired! I think we were all about ready to head home. I love Hudson's little pout in the last picture when Buck took his toy from him.

We all had such a great time and I loved spending time with family! I never imagined the kids would have so much fun. They came home with way too many souveniers and barely made it to the car before falling asleep. We had a long drive home but I think we planned it out pretty well....because they slept 4 of the 5 hours making it a pretty boring but easy drive home. I am definitely excited for another trip to Silver dollar city in the future. 

Branson - Days 1 & 2

When Hadley was almost 3 years old I got a mailer about a dental CE course that was available in Branson. We decided it would be a fun trip for my whole family to go on and talked everyone in to it. Unfortunately, the trip would have been great but it rained the ENTIRE time. Therefore, we never made it to Silver Dollar City and didn't get to do anything outside. 

Fast forward to three years later and here we are again. Hadley and Peyton never have forgotten about Silver Dollar City and though I didn't need the CE this time, we decided to make another trip with a couple added kids, Hudson and Buck. We were disappointed once again when we watched the weather the week prior and kept seeing the temperatures drop further and further. Branson was having record lows! But we decided to make the best of it, pack warmer clothes, and we got on the road early Friday morning. Matt actually found out a couple months earlier that he was not going to get to go because his college buddy's bachelor party was that same weekend in Vegas. This was my view most of the way to Branson...

This kids did GREAT on the drive! Especially considering we do not have kids that ride in the car well. It was such a pleasant drive without even naps for either. As soon as we made it to the hotel the kids were ready to play. Our hotel, the Grand Country Inn, had a water park, arcade, theater, miniature golf, etc and the kids chose the waterpark as the first stop!

Here is Buck getting more used to the water and loud screaming inside the building. He was just a little in shock at first.

Hudson smiled the entire time he was in the water. He was in heaven!

As was she!

Hudson quickly found that he could sucker Papa into anything and he drug him down to the lazy river. Hudson LOVED the lazy river. He wasn't big enough to be in a tube by himself but he sure enjoyed sitting on anyone's lap and going around and around.

It isn't easy to see in the picture but the girls loved the bumper cars. They giggled and laughed the entire time!

This is the second day and the kids were completely exhausted. Hadley had fallen asleep in the other room and so I took Hudson into Mama and Papa's room to watch a movie, rest, and hopefully not wake Hadley up. He lasted aobut 15 minutes before he was out as well and Peyton did her best to not let her eyes shut. I must also mention that this trip was the first time for Hudson to sleep in a bed! He panicked when I tried to put him in the pack-and-play and after a few minutes of crying I gave up and let him get in bed with me. He actually slept great and I enjoyed snuggling with him all night! I was definitely nervous about getting him back in the crib when we got back home but he made the transition great!

While Ryan and Lisa were finishing breakfast we went into the gift shop and the girls had fun trying on all the silly hats we could find. None of us could stop laughing when we even found a funny hat for Papa to wear....

While the girls were trying on hats Hudson found a display of cars and was in heaven. He was so gentle and would pick each one up, drive it on the ground, and put it right back where it came from.

He then found some magnetic cars that he lined up in a particular order for about 20 more minutes. I was shocked that he didn't even put up a fight when we told him it was time to leave. It MAY have helped a little bit that Mama bought him a car to take home.

Playing in an enormous tower where the kids could shoot guns at each other. They had so much fun and this is where another meltdown began! Hudson absolutely lost it when I told him we had to leave at...10pm! I literally carried him out upside down screaming and hitting and causing everyone to look at us. I was definitely wishing Matt was here because i was D.O.N.E. Thankfully, the little guy was done too and crashed in bed with me just minutes after getting back to the hotel room.

Hudson's first school picture

Hudson is so unpredictable when it comes to having his picture taken right now. He either puts on a cheesy grin or sticks his palm out at the camera and yells "no!" So, of course, I was a little hesitant to pre-pay $40 (yes, $40!) for a one-pose school picture. At the last minute I decided I didn't want to miss out on his first school picture and slowly fell into the same trap they capture all parents in. But this sweet, not-quite-thrilled, grin was completely worth it and I love his first school picture. I love how his little hands are crossed in his lap.