Branson Vacation

Last Saturday was my 20th High School Reunion.  It was a lot of fun, and it was great to see everyone...but we had bigger and better things planned for the next day.  We were going on vacation!  After breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Cas we left for Branson.  We had a lot planned and it all started with tickets to "Ride the Ducks" at 2PM.  After that we checked into Grandma and Grandpa Cox's condo, hit the pool, and went out for dinner.

The ride was great, and since we hadn't been to Branson in a while it was a great way to see the sights and figure out where everything was.

Cruising around on Table Rock Lake after our "splashdown"

The Duck took us way up on a hill and the view was beautiful!

Owen even got to drive!  (Elsie was too bashful)

The Branson Belle

After the Duck ride we drove to our condo, which was just a few miles out of town on Indian Point. We got unpacked and headed down to check out the pool.  While we were there Elsie surprised us. She was in the shallow water, so she took off her water wings and dog paddled right over to us!  It was the first time we've seen her swim!  She was very proud of herself, and so were we.  Owen had fun in the pool too.  He did lots of cannonballs and squirted us with his water gun.  :)  

We went to dinner at a nearby marina with a view of the lake and then hit up the general store for provisions...like ice cream. :)

On Monday we went to Silver Dollar City

The train robbery hasn't changed in 25 years!

Grandpa's Mansion was still just as freaky as it was when I was little.

Tom Sawyer's Tree House

We rode a lot of other rides too, but we didn't get pictures.  We got absolutely SOAKED on the Lost River and American Plunge, and we also got kinda damp on Fire in the Hole.  The kids loved it though and we all had a great time.  Afterwards it was back to the condo for a quick swim, then off to the Fish Hatchery and out to dinner.

We had dinner at Branson Landing, then walked along Lake Taneycomo.  It had been a great day and we were all pooped.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast at the floating cafe at the Indian Point Marina.  The kids fed the fish, geese, and turtles.  By the time we left, they were in quite a feeding frenzy!

Go Karts to start the day!

This course allowed kids 4 years old and up to drive!

After go karts it was time for some mini golf, dinosaur style!

We also surprised the kids with a helicopter ride!

There were three seats, so Elsie sat in front and I sat in back with Owen.  

We got to see most of Branson, and then went out over Table Rock Lake.  That's Moonshine Beach.

The flight was only about 10min, but it was the first time either of the kids has flown, so it was quite the experience.  There's Sarah watching us come in for a landing.

After lunch we decided to check out Moonshine Beach.  It was really busy, but it was also really neat.  The kids just went right in and started playing.  I joined them and we swam and played for about an hour or so.  

The next morning we had breakfast at the marina again and fed the fish, then left for Boonville.  We'd left Millie with Grandma and Grandpa Cas, so we had to swing by on the way and pick her up.  She did great with Grandma and got to go on lots of walks on the Katy Trail, but she had missed us too.  We had lunch in Boonville, then headed back to Olathe.  We had a great trip!

Ryan, Sarah, Elsie, and Owen