Lacey's Birthday

Abigail has played softball with the same group of girls for several years now. They are individually talented and work well as a team. Today was the birthday party for one of Abigail’s team mates, Lacey. Lacey turned 10 and the whole team joined her at the outdoor aquatic center for swimming and fun.

Jon's Birthday

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For Jon's birthday Abigail made him a flag. She placed on it things that remind her of Jon. There was a giant softball, because Jon has helped with everyone of her teams for the last five years. She also place a Bible on the flag, because Jon is the one who reads the Bible every morning to us during breakfast. One side of the flag read 'Dad' and the other said 'Jon.' She hung it on Jon's favorite Lazy Boy recliner to reserve his spot.

Pedal to the Metal!

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The race track in Branson had several go cart tracks. Abigail was able to drive, she wasn't able to stop, but she was able to drive. Apparently Abigail understood the concept of the 'go' pedal and the 'stop' pedal, but wasn't clear on the fact that you can only push one pedal at a time! They also had a G-Force car that simulated drag racing. Lot's of fun!

Bumper Boats

One afternoon Mimi, Frankie and I hit the Outlet malls while the little kids went with Jon and David for some fun. One of the kids favorites was the bumper boats. It took a few rounds for Abigail to get the hang of steering and shooting the water gun mounted the front of her boat, several times she spun around in circles while firing!

Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery

During our trip to Branson we stopped off at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery. It is the largest trout production facility in the Missouri Department of Conservation program. They provide over 700,000 catchable trout to Lake Taneycomo and surrounding lakes.

We began the tour by watching their educational video and then toured the outdoor aluminum/fiberglass tanks. There were twelve outdoor concrete raceways used for intermediate rearing, plus twenty outdoor concrete raceways for the adult trout.

The children enjoyed feeding the fish in the outdoor tanks. David even took us by the spot Grandmother and Granddaddy liked to fish on Lake Taneycomo with their friends from the Memorial Drive Church of Christ.

Noah: The Musical

I know what your thinking Noah. . . the Musical? Really?? Yes! In my Pollyanna world everything is better as a musical. Whats not to love about a good musical? This show was so much more!

Most everyone knows and loves the story of Noah, with its flood, its ark and its animals marching in two-by-two. Branson’s Millennium Theater is currently running Noah-The Musical featuring more than 40 actors, along with 75 live animals and 75 animatronic ones. The new Millennium Theater is Branson’s largest building and the country's largest Christian theatre.

The cast, animals and robots included, performs on a 330-foot (100-metre) wrap-around stage in a 339,000-square-foot building. The theatre's dome, which resembles an ancient temple, can be seen from many points around Branson. The huge complex has its own training facility and indoor zoo for zebras, camels, donkeys, llamas and even skunks. The animals are trained to handle stage lights, applause and music. The kids were thrilled as llamas and monkeys parade down the theatre's aisles to board the four-story ark. The musical will run for two years before the company adds new shows, on other biblical themes.

The show is a definite must see if you are in Branson. I’m sure many attend just for the sheer enjoyment of all the live animals and the majestic-ness of the show. What I really liked was the directors take on how Noah’s family may have responded to a hundred years of ridicule as they built the ark; and the interaction between the family members once they were confined on the ship.

Showboat Branson Belle

Another highlight of the trip to Branson include a two hour cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle. We cruised around the beautiful Tablerock Lake on an 1800's style paddle wheeler. It is America's largest ship buil on a land locked lake!

It gave the kids the chance to feel what it was like to be on a cruise boat. The cruise included a feast on a three-course meal that was yummy! Following dinner we strolled the decks of the grand showboat.

The Showboat also had simply amazing entertainment. On the grand stage during dinner was their cast of singers and dancers performed 50 numbers from Broadway classics and big screen hits.

The headliner for the evening was comedian and acclaimed ventriloquist Todd Oliver and his talking dogs. You may have seen him on the Tonight Show or other tv appearances. The kids laughed so hard! He has live dogs that he has strapped a fake mouth contraption. Being dog lovers the show was so funny as an insight into what dogs think.

Talking Rocks Caverns

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Jon and I have been blessed to take the children on many hands-on field trips. One thing both of us remember is the trips with grandparents to caves, like the Alabaster Caverns State Park in Oklahoma and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Our recent trip to Branson afforded our children the same learning experience with their extended grandparents.

We visited Talking Rocks Caverns just west of Silver Dollar City for a guided cave tour. We were led down a series of Platforms and steps to the floor of the cave. There are 265 steps, 150 down and 115 out.

The caves don’t really talk but they do make strange noises. The tour included a light and sound show. The cave features beautiful crystal ‘curtain’ and ‘bacon’ formations along with lovely geological features.

For above ground activities, the kids (and Jon) crawled thru a SpeleoBox maze. It is 150 feet of winding, twisting passages. This type of activity is used by cavers to practice safe caving techniques in this fun, simulated cave passage.

The kids also did some gemstone mining looking for semi-precious gems and minerals from around the world. We purchased a bag of mining rough, sifted thru it in a screed box by dipping it in water. We brought home some fun gemstones along with a card for proper stone identification.

It was such a fun day, after all it’s not everyday that you get to toss around words like stalactites, stalagmites and spelunking!

Table Rock Lake

While in Branson on summer holiday with the family, Uncle David found us a wonderful 3 bedroom, 3 bath, with loft and private deck condo. This allowed Mimi, Uncle David and the five of us to all stay together. As you can see from the four pictures I pieced together it was very nice. We were able to cook breakfast, run a load of laundry and swim.

Cedric and Guinevere loved the beautiful lakeside accommodations with the breathtaking view of Table Rock Lake on Indian Point. The peaceful hills of the Ozark Mountain country were a wonderful vacation from the busy-ness of Plano!

Jon and I had the loft bedroom, it was a favorite spot for the kids toss paper airplanes down at the living room. Abigail being. . . , well Abigail threw a paper plane from the loft that landed on the top of the ceiling fan blades . . .purely by accident! ;)

Abigail declared Branson to be the most fun place on the planet.