Branson August 2nd and 3rd

Friday, August 2nd, 2019

Our last full day in Branson, we spent most of it at Silver Dollar City.  The first thing we did there that morning was get some old time pictures taken.  We had one taken there over 30 years ago when we were little, so we decided that we should re-create it and show our grown-up family.

Dad participated in the Flag Ceremony again this morning.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We rode some of our favorite rides again, the kids played in the splash/water zone, and Eric, EP, and Matt went on the Marvel Cave tour.

They even remembered to take a picture of themselves in the cave (below).

Silas got to participate in the cupcake eating contest.  He got a 10 second head start because he was the shortest and the youngest.

He couldn't use his hands.

He was still not feeling his best and I think this threw off his fast eating game.

The boy next to him in the orange shirt was the winner.

Next up, was the water balloon throwing/toss contest.  Phoebe and Eric teamed up.  And, Lindsee and Sarah teamed up.

There was some pretty good throws and some pretty bad throws.  They all made it look pretty easy until it wasn't.... Oh no, Phoebe!  Look out!

SPLASH!!!!!!

One more toss for Lindsee and Sarah and then... SPLASH!!!!!!

That evening the weather didn't cooperate and we got poured on while waiting for a few more coaster rides.  Some of us waited under a bridge.  Some of us rode the indoor ride "Fire In The Hole", and some of us stayed dry back at the house.  Look at the three pictures below, and try to figure out which one some of us did.....

We played a few more games that night before going to bed.

We had several encounters with "BUGS" over the week's stay.  Sarah had a huge katydid on her head one day when she came in the house after swimming...she didn't know it, but thought there might be something there...I looked and quickly backed away saying Uncle Eric or Popee would have to help her with that.  Uncle Eric looked too, but quickly decided to let the fearless Popee handle the escalating Katydid on the head situation.  (This makes me laugh too, but of course the Katydid was not on my head, and I defaulted to letting someone else rescue my daughter as I backed away for fear it might jump onto me.  Sarah did NOT think that this situation was funny at all.)  Another night after most of us had gone to bed a crazy cicada flew into the house.  It was flying all around willy nilly making its loud noise.  I ran for cover so it wouldn't land on me.  Lindsee couldn't stop laughing, and Dad and EP chased it down and finally caught it and released it back outside.

Saturday, August 3rd, 2019
Saturday morning we loaded up our vehicles, said our good-byes and headed on our way back to Kansas, Colorado, and California.  It had a been a great week together.  We had shared lots of laughs and fun all together.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for a great 50th wedding anniversary celebration vacation!  We love you both very much and are so blessed by you and the love you have shared and shown over your 50 years of marriage.  May God continue to richly bless your marriage and your lives.