The Friedman Clan: Branson 2013

Last year we went to Branson with the Meyer's. It was a nice relief to the winter "cabin fever." We decided to go again this year. Peyton was SO SO excited, and Jack told us he didn't want to go because it was "too far." The kid HATES long car rides. Once we got there I think he was very glad that we drug him in the car. We stopped once on the way there so that I could feed Maddie. It was a 60 degree, January day....so we stopped at a park in Springfield. The kids and Mike got out and played and Maddie and I stayed in the car so she could eat. She changed her diaper and we were on our way. Everyone did very well in the car.

Once we got there we got unpacked and headed to a pizza joint for dinner. After dinner we headed back and the kids went swimming for an hour or two. Then everyone went to bed and the Meyers got there after we went to bed. Peyton and Jack slept good, Maddie, however, was AWFUL!! This was her first time in a pack-n-play, and if I have anything to do with it, it will be her LAST!!! We were REALLY considering a Disney trip this spring, but I think Maddie might have sealed the deal on that one. I'm pretty sure I made at least 15 trips over to the pack-n-play that night. It was one of those nights that every time I looked at the clock I just wanted it to be morning already!! I called her "thumper." She would just pick her legs up and SLAM them down....OVER and OVER again, ALL. NIGHT. LONG!!!!

The next morning we got up, played some games in our room, ate breakfast, and played with the Meyers until the pool opened at 10:00. The kids were very anxious....making it until 10:00 was torture!! But once 10:00 hit they were off....and didn't stop until noon to eat lunch and then straight back at it until 5:00 to go eat dinner. Jack's favorite thing was the lazy (or not so lazy) river and Peyton's favorite thing was probably the tube slide. This was the scariest slide they have and it hurt her last year. It flipped her off her tube last year, making her hit her head. When she came up she was confused and where she was and couldn't fine her footing so the life guard had to go in after her. This year she remembered that and was scared of it until she got sick of watching the boys do it. Once she committed to trying it again, this was her favorite thing.

We ate dinner at Golden Corral...and lets just say that the kids enjoyed the chocolate fondue for dessert. We then decided to pack everything and everyone up and head home that night at bed time, in hopes that we would have a quiet car ride home and "thumper" could sleep in her own bed instead of the pack-n-play. It was the right decision for a couple reasons. One, because everyone DID sleep, so it was a quiet ride home (well, other than Jack crying because his feet kept falling asleep), and two, because Peyton started puking at 2:00 in the morning. YUCK!!! Poor girl, had the pukes the week before this and then it came again.

It was a great trip, the kids had a blast, Maddie went swimming for the first time,.....I think we will try for it again next year!