Summer Roadtrip: Springfield/Branson, Missouri!

After past trips to Kansas City, Des Moines, and Minneapolis we ventured south this year to the Springfield/Branson, Missouri area.  Between kindles and DVD players, the boys were road ready.

We left mid-day Tuesday and stayed in Clinton, Missouri the first night.  Good hotel . .would have been great if someone remembered to turn the heater on the indoor pool!  From there we headed to Springfield the next morning.

Taking advantage of local memberships, we went to the zoo & discovery (science) center in Springfield using local memberships.  We also went to a children’s farmstead that is much smaller than what we expected based on our experience at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park, Kansas.

Other than an outlet mall, the only ‘thing’ we did in Branson was Silver Dollar City.  We had bought discounted tickets at a local grocery store chain.  It had been years since I have been, I wasn’t really sure what to expect; not sure how the boys would react to some of the rides. They have gone on some rides at various places but had not spent a full day at an amusement park before.  Once we entered and got our bearings we ventured to the ‘kiddie’ area in attempt to beat the crowd.  The first “roller coaster” we saw Ralph was a bit apprehensive to ride it but did accept the challenge.  About half way through he asks me if we can ride it again.  Whew!  He was like that for the first 3-4 rides then loosened up a bit.  We also toured marvel cave with Tony, a fun & energetic tour guide.  We had waited roughly 10-15 in line . . and ended up being the last 4 allowed on the tour.  So glad we didn't have to wait another 30 minutes for the next one.  We were at the park between 8-8.5 hours and there was so much we missed and didn't have time to do.  In retrospect there was one play area we let the boys play at longer than we should have but they were having fun.  Just because I wanted to keep finding rides doesn't mean they did.  We also missed the demonstrations the "locals" have (ie. the blacksmith and candymaker) as well as the stage shows.


Ralph discovered a ride towards the end of the day that could have been his favorite.  I use "ride" very loosely as the riders sit on a slow moving boat and use water guns to spray people on the sidewalk.  The people on the sidewalk also have a chance to spray the riders with their own water guns.  Ralph, Henry, & I left the ride wet.  Ralph wanted to go again . . if he could have rode it by himself I would have left him.  I was wet enough.

At the entrance of the area that has more "kiddie" rides

 Inside marvel cave.

 The boys in the flooded mine shooting targets.

  Boys in the teacups.

The day following Silver Dollar City we drove about 2 hours away - was a lot closer than it sounds; just took so long because of all the winding roads - to an area where Mike's mom was born.  The boys planted notes for whoever to find.  Will be curious to see if they are still there next time we look for them

We also visited the Wilson Creek National Battlefield back near Springfield.  It was our lucky day - we were able to see a demonstration of a canon firing.  The boys also enjoyed exploring a canon.

4th of July!

I did it . . .I FINALLY let the boys watch night fireworks.  They have been deprived long enough.  It’s not so much the staying up late that is the issue (at least for one of them).  It’s the not sleeping in to compensate for staying up late that is the real issue.

There is a fireworks stand in the parking lot at daycare (a fundraiser for the church’s youth programs) we visited on the 3rd after I picked them up.  The boys had fun selecting some fireworks (even with my low price limit per firework) but grew impatient standing in line. 

Ralph’s god family had a gathering on July 3 of friends and family.  It was great to have the boys part of a bigger experience, the kind of gathering I had growing up and the kind of gathering they will probably never get in our family.  The real fun started after supper when the bigger kids started lighting up day fireworks.  Ralph wanted to be right in the action.  I didn’t know if he’d know enough to back up when the bigger kids backed up so I kept reminding him.  I made him take a break to go on a hayrack ride and when we returned there was more lighting of fireworks.  It was a great night – and hard to tear him awy . . . we didn’t get home until 10:45 pm!

We enjoyed the Waverly parade on July 4 followed by lunch at grandma & grandpa’s.  After some quiet time/rest we returned for more fireworks.  We also tried the traditional water balloon toss though there were not that many willing participants.  The boys had fun lighting the fireworks with Uncle Nick.  No one was ‘scared’ of the noise this year.  

A visit from an old friend!

Almost 31 years ago I moved from Sioux City, Iowa to Waverly, Nebraska.  I started 3rd grade in a new school.  I made some new friends . . .and some of them have been life long friends!  One friend moved away in 2000 . .we have visited each other every so often.  The last time she visited Henry was 11 months old.  

Julie traveled back to Lincoln recently with her 6-year-old daughter, Ella - the first time Ella has been back since she was 6 months old.  It gave the boys a chance to interact and play with Ella.  It gave Julie a chance to show her native land to Ella and share with her some of those 'things' you can only find in the midwest.

Julie and Ella had many adventures on their own but we were able to join them at the Lincoln Children's Museum, a night out at a friend's house with other friends from elementary/high school, the Lincoln Zoo, and an outing to Mom and Dad's/Grandma and Grandpa's.

 Ralph, Henry, and Ella in one of the treehouses at the Children's Museum.

 Children of friends' Rochell Davidson Frazier, Janine Uhrlaub Korth, Theresa Sladky Delahoyde, and Julie McIntyre Duffin, along with Ralph and Henry.

  Ralph, Ella, and Henry with Davi Ann at the Lincoln Zoo.  Davi Ann started at the zoo the same year I worked the front gate as seasonal help back in 1997.  She left briefly after she graduated and has been back at the Lincoln Zoo since 2000.  She gave us a great behind the scene tour. 

 Barrel train rides!

Julie and I with Ralph, Henry, and Ella!