Silver Dollar City Christmas

I just wrote on my vegan blog that my OCD sometimes prevents me from blogging. When I think I can't blog about Christmas yet because I haven't finished writing about our vacation, I just stop blogging altogether. Which is silly and makes no sense. So I'm just going to pick a point and start back up. And everything will be wildly out of order, but you'll love it all, in spite of that. Right?

We drove up to Branson on the 26th to get one last use out of our Silver Dollar City passes. And to spend time with my family. If you live in driving distance at all and have never been to SDC, ESPECIALLY at Christmas, I highly recommend it. It feels magical and joyous, an old-fashioned Christmas mixed with amazing lights everywhere, and an emphasis on the real meaning of Christmas. (I really love the train ride, which includes lit decorations and the Christmas story.)

Matt and Pierson

That's the whole gang, from far left to the last stroller on the right. Well, some of the people in the back don't belong to us. Just 15 of them, plus me on the other side, taking pictures. Only Tracy and Andy weren't there. It was really cold! One of the highlights of the night was the parade that comes through.

I think my Mom loved the parade more than anyone.

And Sissy loved the princess more than anything.

Rush kept this same expression on his face the entire night. He was never upset, despite how cold it was, but he would only smile for his Momma.

Such Christmas joy, huh?

Silver Dollar City

Dash and Tornado

I mentioned in an earlier post that we visited my 2 hometowns last weekend. 17/18 of my immediate family were together at my brother's house. (We were only missing Tracy and miss her we did!) I got to visit with my Grandpa and his wife, my aunt, uncle, and cousin. I also got to hang out with 4 of my best friends. Great weekend! We (all 17 of us...that sounds like so many, but really it doesn't feel like that many) also spent Sunday at Silver Dollar City in Branson. (I think Dad was happy to spend Father's Day with his 9 grandkids.)

my dad sharing salted, roasted peanuts with my niece Clara and Tornado

I've been to Silver Dollar City probably 100 times in my life, and I like it for many reasons. Immediately you walk in and hear the familiar fiddles and the banjos. My dad is known to say, "I feel it coming on," as he starts doing a little jig dance. My dad also once entered a pie-eating contest right on the town square.

my brother Matt, walking across the swinging bridge with the kids

Matt with his 4 kids plus Dash in the front there

It is a learning experience. You are transported back in time to the pioneer days. All of the employees are dressed in period wear, from the pioneer store clerks to the prisoners on the Flooded Mine ride to the saloon girls at the show to the hillbillies wandering around. You can visit an old church, an old mill, etc. and sample apple butter. You can watch bread being baked, candles being dipped, glass being blown, wood being carved, and furniture being made, etc. You can learn from blacksmiths, coppersmiths, and bladesmiths. Lots to see and learn! You can apparently now even take cooking and craft classes.

While Grace and Owen were being silly in the jail, I couldn't get Dash to look. He was transfixed on the (dummy) prisoner lying on the bed behind him. I think it scared him!
Grandfather's Mansion is always a favorite with the kids. It is a bizarre home filled with rooms that might have everything upside down on the ceiling or floors that are completely slanted and hard to walk on, as demonstrated by my brother here.

inside Grandfather's Mansion

It wasn't like this at all when I was little, but now they have many rides for little kids. (Very pioneerish, huh?) They look like they're having fun, right?

Not so much for my sister Cary. You might have to blow this picture up to truly appreciate her facial expression. At first we couldn't tell whether she was laughing or crying. But she was actually doing both. She was SO sick (which is why I don't ride any ride that goes up and down or in circles). That's what she gets for trying to sneak Winnie in past the height regulations.

another ride, 3 of the girls

enjoying a round of old-fashioned checkers outside the icecream shop

My parents very generously helped us buy season passes so we'll be back! (SDC is not cheap.) We want to take the kids in Marvel Cave next time. Summer isn't my favorite time to go because it's so hot. (I really love it at Christmastime if you can make it before it's so cold.) There are plenty of water activities (and frozen lemon-aid) to help the kids cool off, though.

I'm linking up with Tonya and others at Live the Adventure. I enjoy reading about this family's adventures living full-time in an RV. I SO want an RV. Last week I linked up with the trip we took to the Space Museum in Huntsville and Helen Keller's home in Tuscumbia. Feel free to link up, too, if you have a field trip you want to share.

P.S. Pardon me as I play around with my template and different colors. Is the white on black hard to read? Let me know!