Silver Dollar City

Our whole family went on vacation last weekend. Although traveling with 3 children should not be called a vacation, I think the word "trip" describes it better. Our trip actually went better than I expected. It was really all the preparation that was the hardest. Once we were in the van and on our way, it was nice to take a deep breath and just get out of T-town for awhile.
We left after church on Sunday and headed to Branson. We stopped at Lambert's Cafe (home of the throwed roll) for dinner. The kids could have cared less about the restaurant. I think they were just happy to be out of the van for awhile.

Once we got to the hotel they were in heaven! An indoor pool - Yea! David, Ella, and Devon swam while I fed Leah in the room and watched the ACM Awards on television.

After the swimming, David showered the kids and then they all ran out to find a late nite snack. Devon loves tacos! So tacos it was.

We all got in bed about 10pm - Leah in the pack-n-play, Ella and Devon in 1 bed, and David and I in the other bed. Leah did great - whimpered for a bottle twice during the nite. It was Devon that made all the ruckus! He fell out of the bed twice. A loud thump and then very loud crying. (He obviously still can't sense bed-boundaries)

Monday morning we packed up, cleaned bottles, I grabbed a Starbucks coffee, and then we went downstairs for the hotel continental breakfast. We arrived at Silver Dollar City around 10am. The kids thought the tram from the parking lot to the park was a ride - so we knew they were going to enjoy the rest of the day.

They rode the carousel and a balloon ride first. We passed by a kiddie water area next, but David insisted that they don't get wet. Instead, he took them on the WaterWorks Waterboggan ride. Hello! Don't you think you might get wet on the WaterWorks Waterboggan ride???
Well, they were soaked! This is a pic of David actually wringing the water out of Ella's T-shirt. She had to go barefoot the rest of the day because her shoes were so wet. Our poor little hillbilly kids fit right in with the park staff :)

We thought riding the swings next might air Ella out a little.

A few more rides and it was time for lunch. The kids threw down a corn dog and fries and we were off again. The Flooded Mine, Steam Train, and American Plunge Log Ride finished off the day. We stopped for icecream before we left the park around 3:30pm.

Leah was a good girl the whole day even though she got a little tired on the train ride.

We stopped in Joplin for dinner at Red Lobster. David and I were anticipating a good meal to finish off our trip. The kids, again, could have cared less about the resteraunt.
As we proceeded to order our meals, Leah started grunting - she hadn't pooped in 2 days, so I should have expected this. But how can you expect a total blow-out! It leaked out her diaper onto the carseat and all the way up into her belly button! (I know you're loving these details)
I immediately took her out to the van and cleaned up everything. I arrived back to the table just as our food was being brought out. Leah was still upset from the traumatic "code brown," so I held her and tried to eat at the same time. About 5 minutes into the meal, Ella and Devon decided they needed to use the potty. David quickly grabbed Devon out of the high-chair (he has a very short "hold" time) and Ella followed them to the bathroom. I finally got Leah settled down and back in her carrier which was now covered by a burp cloth to conceal the dirty spot, when both my kids come running back to the table...... Ella exclaiming, "Mommy I poo-pooed." and Devon yelling, "Mommy, I laid a turd." Needless to say, I did not make eye-contact with anyone in the restaurant after that.

We finally made it back home around 9pm Monday nite.

*I'm not really sure as to when David will plan our next family vacation. :)