Branson!!

We left homp Friday morning for Branson! It took about 8 hours to get here. The kids were unbelievably good. We only stopped twice...once for lunch and once for a potty break! The drive wasn't bad at all, except for the last few miles which are on some very hilly, very curvy roads.

The Big Cedar Lodge is awesome. Our balcony overlooks Table Rock Lake and is beautiful! tWe've decorated our condo with our little 4 ft. tree and put lights and Christmas balls on the deer heads that are mounted on the walls! Thomas loves it here!

Today Scott, Dad, Thomas and Grace and I went to Silver Dollar City while Mom, Jane and Judy watched Mandy and went shopping. We had a great time at Silver Dollar City. It wasn't crowded at all, we walked right on to most of the rides. The last one we rode was the "Powder Keg" and it scared Grace to death. She was white as a sheet when we stopped.

Thomas and Grace's Top 5 for the trip so far!!

1. Silver Dollar City--It was really nice. Very clean and family oriented.

2. The fish bench!--Our condo has a kitchen table with 3 chairs on one side and a bench on the other and the back of the bench is a huge bass! They think it's the coolest thing ever!

3. Going swimming--They have a really nice indoor pool here at the lodge. Scott took them all swimming tonight after we got back.

4. The "Powder Keg" rollercoaster--Thomas said this one. This was the one that scared Grace so bad. It was super fast and had some terrifing drops.

5. "Driving through all the states"--I guess they got used to this on our trip this summer, but they really like knowing what all states we are passing through.

As many of you know, my Grandmother, my dad's mom, has been very ill for quite sometime. On Friday as we were driving up here, she passed away. Mom, Dad and I will be driving home Tuesday for the visitation Tuesday evening. The funeral will be Tuesday morning and after that we will return to Branson. Scott, Jane, Judy and the kids will be staying here in Branson. She was 86 and had been in failing health for the last couple of years, although we are sad at her passing, we know she is in a better, more peaceful place.

Blessings,

Leslie