Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)
Since it had been 23 hours from when Reagan had been sick, she stayed home from school today. So they meant that Mom would be home so all the rest of the Dennie kids stayed home too. We took it pretty easy-breakfast, then everyone played train while Mom worked, read a few stories, had baths and generally waited on Dad to get home so we could leave for our trip.
The exciting event during bathtime was Anderson taking his bath and Campbell crawled to the edge of his tub. Mom was around-but not in the same room. When she peeked her head back in, Anderson had been pouring water to help give Campbell a bath. Poor baby was soaked and the bathroom floor had an inch of water on it. Anderson’s bath was cut short!
Campbell probably enjoyed her bath with Anderson more than her real bath with Reagan. The water was pretty high and Mom knew that but put her in anyway. She leaned to grab a toy and got a mouthful of water before Mom could even grab her. She finally caught her breath and let Mom know that she wasn’t happy about it at all! (Yes, Mom is in the same room when Campbell is in the tub)
When Robby arrived, we loaded up and were in the car a little bit before one. The kids set in the car for a few minutes while we did our last but of loading-we can get things done quicker that way. They didn’t mind since they had a movie.
The trees were beautiful on the drive up here and the new movies entertained the kids. We were only asked about 20 times when we would be there or how many Aurthur tv shows we had left (that is how we measure time-by Aurthur tv show 30 minute increments). When we did make it to Conway, Anderson screamed “Branson” with delight. He remembered our mini-Conway trip.
We stopped in Clinton for a bathroom break and a tiny snack. We had even caught up to Grannymom and Grandpa so they were there to greet us. Nonna, Pops and Jason were about an hour ahead of us. After our pit stop we were back on the road armed with a few new red box movies.
We made it to Branson and were in the big rocking chair in time for an early supper. The kids enjoyed the rocking chair, getting wet at the fountain and even sitting on Santa’s lap. Reagan and Anderson talked to him like he was real-he was only a statue. They both told him what they wanted-different than the last time they had mentioned what they would tell Santa and different than what Santa has already prepared for them. Graham just looked at him and then repeated back to Santa what he wanted when Mom said it. What does Graham want you ask? Well, he wants “lots.” Campbell sat there but she just whimpered the entire time. I don’t think she is a big fan of Santas.
At Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, Reagan and Anderson sat with Nonna, Jason and Pops while Graham and Campbell set with everyone else. Anderson had mac and cheese, Reagan had spaghetti, Graham had our grilled cheese along with Anderson’s applesauce. Campbell ate pieces of Graham’s food plus all the crackers and cheerios she could shovel in. When the singers came around to out table, Graham would put his head down-he was quite embarrassed.
After supper, we checked in at our hotel-we have 4 rooms and are all lined up in a row on the second floor-except there is some poor person in between all of us. We quickly unloaded and pottied up before heading out to Silver Dollar City. James and Virginia went with us and we all piled into the van. The kids noticed the Christmas lights and were ready to see everything.
Last year when we hear at about the same time we were surprised about how unseasonably warm it was-and we even had to wear our coats and were a little cold at night. This year were were in short sleeved shirts and briefly needed our light coats. It was almost hot today! Craziness.
The kids were very impressed by the lights-especially all of the different colored Christmas trees. Campbell set straight up in her buggy and talked on the walk through the park. We stopped first at the flooded mine ride. Graham hung on pretty tightly to Grandpa and might have whimpered through some of it-it was pretty dark tonight. But when it was over, I asked if he liked it and he replied yes so that was a good thing.
When we were here this summer, Graham was 35 inches tall and needed to be 36 to ride some of the bigger kiddie rides. I had already measured at home and he was 36 so we went right to the measuring station so they could measure him and give him an arm band to prove his height. Graham walked up to the ruler and backed up like a pro. We was 36.25 inches-good thing Mom made him put those pieces of wood in his shoes (kidding). He was so proud to get his bracelet and we were relieved because they made things alot easier.
The first big kiddie ride was the roller coaster-Grandpa even went on it. He did say that he wouldn’t get on it again. It is quite bumpy-jarring may actually be the word. Graham loved it-he is our rider. He will do anything which is kind of strange because in February at Disney World he was very timid. After the roller coaster, it was time for Dumbo, the pirate boat (Graham’s favorite), the frogs, butterflies and then the swings (Reagan’s favorite). Campbell’s favorite was the tram ride to the park-she loves the wind blowing her hair and Anderson’s favorite was “all of it”
After we got off of the pirate boat, the man said that Santa would be coming through the gate in 5 minutes. We just thought it would be Santa but it was the whole parade-Santa, gingerbread men, Ms. Clause (maybe but she was awfully young, maybe she was his daughter or even his grand daughter), the snow princess (who noticed our princess Reagan and came to speak to her) and there were many others too including Frosty. The kids were spellbound watching the lighted floats pass us by.
After the swings, it was time to head back to the front. Anderson really wanted to sit in Santa’s sleigh so we made time for that and then boarded the tram with a little wait. Before long we were back at our stop-poor Anderson did get his fingers pinched on the tram but he was calmed by some of Robby’s coke.
When we made it back to the hotel, Jason and Pops both opened their doors to greet us. They probably heard us getting out of the car. After visiting for a few minutes and even a snack from Jason it was time to head to bed. We changed the kids pajamas, made their beds and then said prayers. The last 10 minutes that we were getting everything ready for bed, Graham was just begging us to put him in his bed. They were all exhausted and have fallen asleep with out any talking!
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