Vacation days 4-6

Sunday we got an early start for Silver Dollar City and it was awesome! The traffic was a fraction of what it was on Friday, and we got great parking, barely had to wait for the shuttle, and got right in the park around 9am. We ate breakfast at Molly's Mill restaurant and decided that will be the new routine for any day we go to SDC in the future. The whole day was awesome! We all felt much less rushed and got to ride on several different rides we did not make it to on Friday. We even got some shopping in! Reese had a better attitude and we actually got her to take a 45 min nap there which was amazing! It allowed us to stay there until about 2pm and the entire time she slept, Donovan was going on bigger kid rides so she wasn't missing anything. All in all a wonderful day at Silver Dollar City. That night it was more swimming back at the condo as usual.

Pictures from the day. Dono started off the day shunning his parents and preferring to ride the shuttle holding hands and snuggling up to Penelope.

The play train the kiddies loved.

This was a bridge that looked over the American Plunge, a log flume like ride with a big drop at the end that soaked all the riders. This also happened to be one of the few rides Penelope was big enough to ride and since she was loving the rides, we made sure to take her and Dono on this one. Reese thought it was great to stand and watch everyone go down the hill which worked out wonderfully for us since it took everyone a little while to organize and get on the ride.

This water feature kept her entertained and also quenched her thirst at the same time while we were waiting for brother to come down the hill. Pretty sure this was not supposed to be a drinking fountain, which is why she has had a runny nose ever since vacation started I am sure.

The picture below is the most expensive 4x6 we have ever paid for (or need to pay Kris and Lynn back for actually). It is the picture they take of everyone going down the big hill at the American Plunge. Dono and Penelope's faces are worth every penny though. Despite the picture, they both loved the ride and no tears were shed.

I remember loving "Grandpa's house" when I was a kid. This time I could not wait to get out. I felt like I might throw up the whole time. Donovan wasn't much of a fan either.

Dono cheesing with his souvenir hat from SDC.

One that daddy was voting for until he saw the price tag.

This was Tom's pride and joy. He got this belt made for himself and his alter ego, "Johnny Blackjack".

One of the other things Tom was pumped for when we decided to go to SDC was the skillet food. Here he is with his prized skillet food. A man in his happy place.

This place was a favorite of the kids. Tons of balls and lots of stuff to do with them.

Their favorite was this tube that sucked the balls up when you put them right at the end.

Random picture of Donovan acting like a plank on Sunday night at the Condo.

Monday was a bittersweet day as it was Kris and Lynn's last day. We started the morning with a quick cowboy/cowgirl photo shoot.

Then we headed off to the water park, White Water and got there right when they opened up which is the way to go next time too. We took one picture, and it was the one below.

Donovan loved the water park. Was all over the kid area that had 2 slides and then went on the big kid slides and loved that too. The big bucket that dumped water on the big kid area on occasion, he did not love. We even got him to go on the big person ride with both myself, and then later Tom. He was nervous for his first ride but loved it and squealed the whole time for the second. He could have stayed all day. Reese was tolerant at best. She went down the kid slides in the little kiddie area and really seemed to like those. When we went to the big kid slides she wanted on those two so we sent her down with a life vest because as long as they were wearing one there was no height or age limit. We sent her down on her butt, feet first, sitting forward and at the end she was laying down on her back, head first. Once was enough. She didn't like the lazy river either so the rest of the time was just us trying to kill time with her while Donovan had a blast. She did eat a good 45 min lunch so that was nice to kill time. We ended up leaving around 2 and went back to our sad, Penelope less condo.

After naps, we headed to the pool for one last swim before vacation was over. Donovan has become a very good big brother and I had to snap this picture of them holding hands. He is starting to be very protective of her. It is so sweet.

Swimming with my kiddies. The first day we swam, Donovan was still needing to hold your hands to jump in. By the last day he was running and jumping in himself, and swimming to the edge. I even got him to take the water wings off one day and practice swimming to me. I was mostly sinking doggy paddle until I grabbed him but it is a start and he was doing great at holding his breath and kicking his legs!

Monday night we got our bar-b-que fix. This is just a picture of Tom's meal.

Tuesday we packed up the car and headed out around 9. The kids to the opportunity to play in the refrigerator since we were otherwise occupied. Whatever floats your boat and keeps you quiet.

The kids did wonderful on the ride home. Reese slept for an hour 45 and was not fussy barely at all. Donovan was the absolute angel he had been all week. He played on his Ipad for 2 hours. We could not asked for better kids on the way home. If only Reese had been like that all week. Oh well, maybe next time. Overall we loved our vacation and are already talking about coming back next summer!