Because my kids are weird and I wouldn't have it any other way

Just some pictures I took after Reese decided coloring is for bodies.

Then the kids wanted to me to take pictures of them while they danced and then put their legs on the wall.

So weird. So perfectly weird. 

Random pics

"Tate a pit-cho of me and my wyon!"

"Tate a pt-chow of my wyon and my kitty"

You are gonna see this on a real baseball card in 20 yrs

So innocent when she is sleeping. 

The family that looks at baseball cards from 1988 together, stays together.

I love how weird they are.

Vacay recap- Days 3-6

Day 3:
Saturday we got up early (shocker) and headed to White water, the water park in Branson. We got there right as they opened the gates and stayed for several hours. The kids had a blast this year (minus mom forgetting the water wings forcing them to use the hugely uncomfortable life jackets on the lazy river and wave pool). The parents had a blast this year too! Grandparents took first shift watching the shrimps play in the kiddie area (pictured below) while us big kids (Jenna, Tom and I) went and rode all the slides before the lines got bad.  Then we traded out and my dad and Tom took Donovan down a couple slides he could do while the girls stayed back. I took Reese to the wave pool and she asked to get out approx 10 times and clung to me like a baby monkey. It was not her fav. So back to the kiddie area she went and her and Dono went down the slides like they were getting paid for it. Tom and I LOVED it because we didn't have to be right next to Reese the whole time like we had to last year. We just sat on the side with our feet in the water and got to be relaxed spectators. This is the life!

Reese coming out of one of the slides in the kiddie area.

After lunch back at the condo and naps, we got ready for the event I have been looking forward to for 2 years. Dixie stampede! For those of  you not in the know, it is a dinner show, where you eat mass quantities of food (all with your fingers, no utensils) and get to watch horses and ostriches and bison even run around in the ring in front of you while you stuff yourself. We did not go last yr as I thought Reese would ruin it so this year was the big test. The kids loved it!!! I think Reese more so than Dono as he was real concerned with what was gonna happen at all times. I think he will love the second time more knowing that no scary things happen. Unfortunately no cameras are allowed in so no pictures of the kids enjoying the show.

Day 4, My birthday!
Sunday was my birthday and I was showered with gifts and cards and crazy kids. It was a great start to the day! Then we went to the Trout hatchery and fed the fish and checked out the snakes in the visitors center that Reese liked so much last year. It was HOT in the sun and we were happy to be done when all the quarters were used up and all the fish were fed. And more importantly, Reese did not try to jump in with the Trout this year! Progress!!!

Then it was back to the condo for some more swimming. Reese had thrown a massive "I got up too early" fit so she did not get to swim but then got to go back for the second swim of the day with us after Donovan had woken up from his post swim nap. I love these pictures my dad took of the kids jumping in again.

I love this sequence because Donovan does not stop smiling, even after he jumps in the water.

 See! Still smiling!

After swimming we got ready and went back down to Branson Landing for my birthday dinner. I chose "Black Oak Grill" (it was recommended by the lovely in-laws) and everyone had a great time with great food. Donovan even discovered he likes Salmon (a lot!!).  Then it was ice cream at Andy's and home for sleeping.

Day 5:

Monday was our last full day of vacation. We had decided that we were gonna try to spend the whole day at Silver Dollar City, and just let the kids take turns sleeping in the stroller there. We got there at 9:30ish when the park does not open until 10. We ate breakfast at the Bakery inside the park and then plotted our plan of attack. Tom and Jenna broke off immediately and went to the big roller coasters, hoping to get to finally ride the new wooden roller coaster they had been let down by on Friday due to mechanical issues. The kids, my parents and I hit the little petting zoo and then made our way to the kids area. My mom stopped to talk to a stranger (classic Patty) and lost the kids and I so we thought we would wait for my parents and ride on the carousel. Dono is usually not a fan but that day he told me, "I think I like it now" so we actually all 3 got to go and enjoy ourselves! Then it was to the measuring station for Reese where it was the big reveal! We tried her bigger tennis shoes that day too see if it would give her the 1/4 inch she needed to reach the 36 inch status and BINGO, it worked! I think the moment where the lady put the magical green bracelet on Reese's arm was my happiest moment of our super happy vacation. With that green bracelet she was free to ride all the rides she was coveting on Friday. Sadly watching Dono on the sidelines no more! She did the roller coaster, the elephants, both pirate ship rides and the tea cups with us. Then she got to do the big swings that her brother was even too scared for! This girl was up for anything!

We did the American Plunge again where Dono asked to be in the back so he could get the most wet. I am not sure if it worked but I do know that all of us got pretty dang soaked! Reese was on the ride too but you can't really see her peanut self as she in between my mom and I.

We ended up staying until the park closed that day! My mom and I even got to ride the new roller coaster and a few others while Reese slept in the stroller (she threw a fit and threw herself right into a nap). Everyone sans a sleeping Reese and my dad even did Thunder river (or whatever it is called there) and got thoroughly soaked. All in all it was an amazing day! And I forgot to mention, Donovan, Tom, Jenna and I even went through Marvel Cave! Donovan was all psyched to go and got about half way through the hour long tour and decided that he wanted to stop and turn around. He was pretty freaked because it is really dark and there is a ton of walking so I think he thought we were lost in the middle of the earth. We made it though though and Donovan ended up saying he really liked it (jury's still out if that is true or not). That night we just went back to the condo and relaxed from our 1400 plus steps we walked that day! Pizza and watching the kids play and crack each other up was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Day 6

The next day we had to be out at 10 so we got home around 2. Neither kid slept in the car on the ride home, I think they were just riding the wave of vacation still. We were all so sad to be headed back home. It was such an amazing vacation. I think the highlight for me was how well the kids got along. They played and got each other belly laughing every day. I felt so blessed to have spent that amazing week with my family. We are already excited and planning our next vacations for next year!

Branson Vacay- Days 1 & 2

I think the pictures will speak for themselves but to stop all your suspense, we had an AMAZING vacation!!! The kids were wonderful, Reese and Dono got along so well and played together like I have never seen, the weather was great, everyone was healthy (for the most part) and I could not have wished it to go any better. Without further ado I will recap the trip.

Thurs Aug 22- Day 1: My parents and sister met us at the house at 10am and we all set off pretty dang on time. We stopped at Lebanon to eat and for a potty break and after that stop the kids actually both took naps until we got to Branson.  We all stayed in a 3 bedroom condo right off of the lake and it was beautiful! Before we were even unpacked the kids were begging to hit the pool so we obliged. Only when I was about to get Reese dressed for swimming did I realize that of all of the things to forget, I forgot to pack her any swimsuits. So homegirl got to go swimming in some undies and a t-shirt while the grandparents ran out for an emergency swimsuit shopping spree. She did not care in the least.

The kids loved the pool! We practically had the whole thing to ourselves for almost every day so it was awesome! As it turns out, Reese is a natural swimmer! This is the first time she swam in a big pool with only her floaties on and she did awesome! Swam all over by herself and was calm as could be. She would flutter kick and actually get herself places in a hurry. Then sometimes she would dolphin kick and use her hands to propel her, it was amazing! She has never even had A lesson before. My parents said I was a natural too so I am taking the credit. She even could float on her back and on her stomach as calm as could be.

Her brother on the other hand, well, his initial swimming attempts looked more like a drowning dog. (see below).

He improved pretty fast over the several days that we went swimming but the start was pretty funny especially because Reese was so dang good at it.  Before long they were both jumping in to the water unassisted. It was fun.

That night we went down to Branson Landing, which we had never been to before and ate dinner and walked along the lake (which actually looks more like a river). As it was cooling off and turning to night a fog grew over the water and it was absolutely beautiful. We had bar-b-q, which made my dad happy, and Dono and I got to see a man catch a trout, which made Dono happy. Then we watched a fire and water show and headed home to get some rest for our big day #2.

Friday- Second # 2

We woke up all bright and early the next day, excited for our first Day at Silver Dollar City. We got there before the park opened and ate breakfast at the restaurant inside the park, which it totes the way to go to beat the crowds and make your tummy happy (although not well prepared to ride lots of roller coasters right away). First stop after breakfast was the old trusty "flooded mine" ride, an oldie but a goodie. Next stop was the kiddie ride area where Reese was measured and came out to be 35 inches and 3/4. Ahhhhh! A quarter inch too short to ride most of the rides. Dang. Even so everyone had a great time. They both loved the frogs and the caterpillars and butterfly ride.

Donovan got to ride the kid rollercoaster, the elephants, the small pirate ship and this big pirate ship with me while Reese went some more rounds on the frogs and butterflies. We had a great time.

Reese got several (I think it was 5) turns on the Carousel, a favorite of hers and a non-favorite of Donovan's (he usually refuses to ride or only will go on the bench, which is comical as he will go on Roller coasters).

Next was the "American Plunge". It was a favorite last year and since Reese is over 34 inches this year, she could go too. We went 2 times, the first with everyone sans my mom, the next Jenna sat out too. The kids loved it and we liked that we got wet enough that it cooled us all down considerably from the low 90s heat. My dad was in the back both rides and ended up getting completely soaked. He was a good sport about it though and took it like a (wet) champ.

This is my favorite picture of my sister Jenna since one taken during my wedding (6.5 yrs ago). Too funny. This was in "grandfathers mansion" in which everything is all wonky. I refused to go in it this year as it made me feel drunk last year.

Tom and Jenna got to break off from the rest of our group and try out some big kid rides. They were disappointed as the big wooden roller coaster they were excited to try was having problems so they didn't get to ride it.

By 2 both kids were exhausted. Dono was sleeping in the stroller while Reese had tuckered herself out from a fit she threw. So we headed back to the house for some more swimming.

There are many pluses to traveling with my parents but one of the best is that they are the best kind of paparazzi. I love these awesome shots my dad got of the kids jumping in the water.

Didn't you love that form? By the end of swimming day 2 both kids were wearing their goggles and putting their faces in the water (Reese more so than Donovan). It was fun and a nice cool down from a hot day.

More vacation recap to come!