Branson Family Weekend

Jackson with Nate & Luke

Friday we picked the kids up from school 2 hours early so we could head to Branson for a weekend of family and fun.  We got to Castle Rock Resort and settled in before it was time to go to dinner with grandma's family.  I had planned to avoid the water park area until after the family dinner, but I did not know that EVERY floor except the ground level had an observation area right in front of the elevators!  Needless to say, them seeing the fun ahead made getting the kids excited about dinner with family pretty difficult.  However, we went to dinner and they did fine, but when it was time to leave the dinner, I made sure that Daddy had already pulled up the bus because they were all ready to GO!

Tamara with Vanessa

Then came the chaos of the water park.  Jon did not approve.  The twins didn't want to get in the water and Matt and David proved impossible to keep track of in their hurry to try everything and then do it all again.  Nate was loving it all.  Hannah loved it when others took her down the big water slides or to the deep pool or helped her find the waterfall to stand under.  Unfortunately, it was too loud for Hannah to navigate on her own.  I closed my eyes for a moment and all I heard was the roar of water and screaming/screeching kids which was overwhelming to me.  However, Hannah didn't seem to mind the noise at all.  Corrine and Grace got stuck helping Angela, Amber, Daddy & I for part of this first outing to the water park as Jon and Vanessa and Hannah needed so much help to get to the fun.  Despite it taking us a bit to get a routine going, everyone wanted to stay longer when it was time to get out. 


Vanessa and Angela













When we got back to the room, the boys did not want to settle down.  They finally all fell asleep in all the "big beds"; leaving us the bunk beds open.  Needless to say, Daddy moved kids to the bunk beds, but then Matt and Nate woke up so Daddy got to sleep with Nate and I got to sleep with Matt.  It all probably worked out best because the Family Suites do not have Queen sized beds so the beds seemed real small.

Our beds?

This morning everyone was up and ready to go to the water park before it was open.  We spent the morning there.  The twins finally got in the water and Jon decided that he preferred to watch the fun from his wheelchair on dry ground.  We took a break at lunch for pork roast (in my crock pot)and ham and cheese sandwiches.  The twins, Matt, Hannah and Nate settled in for a nap after lunch while Amber and Angela took Jon and Vanessa on a walk.  Grace, Corrine and David were back in the water park as soon as lunch had settled.



Lunch break

Grandma and Matt at the reception

Around 3pm we started getting ready for Tamara and Jackson's wedding reception.  Then we headed off for the reception knowing that I had forgot to pack my black shoe and Ed did not have a belt packed.  HOWEVER, we got there with nicely dressed kids and on time!  Hannah played the piano in the foyer while guest arrived and she enjoyed the high quality grand piano at the Keeter Center.  Then Hannah was further impressed by the musicians during the dinner.  Usually when Hannah is done eating, she thinks it is time for us to go, but she sat quietly enjoying the music through the whole event!  All the kids did well during the reception, but when we tried to get a family photo after the reception,.. I was just pressing my mommy luck too far! 

Once we got back to the hotel, Corrine and David headed back to the water park, while the other kids went to bed.  This mommy is exhausted!  But our trip is done tomorrow and I think the kids have made some fun memories.