Spring Break 2019

The first weekend of Spring Break we had the Upward basketball awards ceremony.  Each child was recognized on stage with their team and was given a new basketball.

The kids and I started Spring Break week spending a couple days with my parents, Nanee and Popee.  We even went to the dentist with them... To meet mom's dentist who use to be a MLB player.  This was super exciting for Silas because he has really started to like watching sports on tv and live.  He also has started collecting baseball cards and loves to look through them over and over at night before he goes to sleep.  So, he got to meet Ryan Kohlmeier!  Ryan also signed two of his baseball cards for Silas!  What a nice guy and good role model for others in their community.

We went roller skating one evening with some of our good friends during a school sponsored skating event.

On Wednesday we drove to Branson with one of our favorite family friends.  We had reserved a condo to stay in together and we all have Silver Dollar City season passes, so we spent 3 nights and 3 days together having lots of fun!  Our condo had an indoor pool.  The kids loved being able to swim every evening.

It was still pretty cold the two days we were there, so we all bundled up in our coats, hats, gloves, and long underwear.  Pictured below, our group, Eric, David, Phoebe, Silas, Stacee, Felicity, Sarah, Abigail, and Mandy.

Our first ride of the vacation was the roller coaster called Thunderation.  All of the kids were tall enough to ride this one.  Phoebe does not enjoy roller coasters, but I made her ride this one talked her into riding this one with us.  Then we went to an area where there were a lot of smaller rides that Silas, Felicity, and Phoebe really enjoyed.

We spent some time warming up at Fireman's Landing shooting and throwing balls at each other inside the ball area.

Silas rode every roller coaster that he was tall enough to ride!  And, I think he liked them all!

Below, Sarah, me, Abigail, Mandy, David, and Silas getting ready to take off on the roller coaster called Outlaw Run, a huge wooden roller coaster.  This is one of my favorites.

Below, one of Eric's favorites, the Barn Swing - David, Abigail, Sarah, and Eric.

Powder Keg is a super fast roller coaster.  All the kids were tall enough to ride this one too.  So we ALL rode it. Fun times!

 Felicity seemed excited to ride the Powder Keg (above).  Phoebe however, (below, in the middle with me) was not excited at all...maybe a little scared and mad at me...maybe.

Wildfire was one of the two that Silas was not tall enough to ride.  This one goes upside down several times.

At the end of our second day we headed into Phoebe Snapp's TAFFY shop.  We grabbed a bucket and started filling it with taffy that we could eat during the rest of the trip and when we got home.  We all picked out some delicious flavors.

Below, Silas and Felicity riding in the wagon together, reading the maps.

Back at the condo the kids all enjoyed one more evening of swimming.  The next morning we all got up, loaded up, and headed out.  We drove three hours north to visit Eric's Grandma Dorothy (Grandma Great).  When we arrived she was SO HAPPY to see us.  She greeted us as we walked in with the most excited and happy "ERIC and STACEE!!!", I have ever heard.  She couldn't stop smiling.

We visited, looked at pictures with her, took a walk, played the piano and sang with her, and sat with her while she ate dinner.  She made us all laugh at the dinner table as we talked with the other ladies that sit with her.  She sang a silly song, and talked about trips that she had been on in her lifetime.

The next morning we went back and spent a little more time with her before we left for home.  Visiting Grandma Great ALWAYS does my heart good.  She has always been so welcoming, kind, and loving towards me and our children.  She remembers our names and things we have done together.  I am so glad that we got to spend lots of time with her, when our kids were little, before she had to move from Olpe, and I am grateful for the times we get to see and spend time with her now.  I hope that we will get to return soon.