Trips to Branson

I went to Branson 3 times in the month of November to see Amanda. I went on a random trip at the beginning of the month with Michael and Gian. Then on a planned trip with ladies from church the weekend before Thanksgiving for a girls weekend and then again for Thanksgiving with the family. Thees are just some of the pictures I took while I was down there.

We ate at the Landing on our last day there for Thanksgiving and this little car was still out there when we came out and had chatted for along while. So we decided maybe the kids would stay in it better than they would in their strollers. We were right. But I'm not sure who enjoyed it more..Jeff or the kids.
Friday after Thanksgiving the kids stayed with Aunt Suzy at her place while Jeff and I went to a show. They were just chillin' eating bananas when we left. I think it would be an okay day. They had fun with her and even got to take a bath at her place. Fun times!!
Breakfast time at Aunt Suzy's.
One night we went to the Celebration of Lights for the kids. Haleigh fell asleep but Tyler loved it. He was sitting in the car with Grandma, Grandma G and Aunt Suzy and evidently living it up in the front seat with the Grandmas. The lights were amazing and this was just one of the pictures we took. I always loved Winter Wonderland here in Topeka but this really made it look small.
Outside the Shoji Theatre after one of the shows. The kids loved it and I'm not sure but I think dad and mom and I could probably quote the show as many times as we saw it.
Oh yes my sister can sing! :)
Our precious family in front of the massive tree at the Shoji Theatre.
Grandma bought some kettle corn and the kids were loving it. I was very proud of Tyler for sharing it with his little sister. How sweet.
Grandma's leg had to be killing her with both of them on her lap but she was loving it and so were they. Tyler and Haleigh were very into the show.
Tyler and Grandma. And no he isn't spoiled!
Tyler thought it was so cool when Aunt Suzy the elf came up to see him. He was yelling for her and then when I went to snap the picture he was acting silly. He wanted her to come back after she left though. We had so much fun.
Nap time at Aunt Suzy's. This was Thanksgiving Day and it was starting to get a little ugly and we still had a show to go to that night. Finally some sleep for the little people.
Amanda learned how to do the turkey and everything. We had a little Thanksgiving dinner in her little studio apartment. But that is more than I can say, I have no idea how to do the turkey and I've never had Thanksgiving at my place. She had everything ready and didn't mess around. You would have thought she had done it before.
It was a very cozy stay at her house. Tyler and her slept in her pull-out bed and Jeff and I and Haleigh on an air mattress on the floor. The kids thought the air mattress was the coolest thing. They were attacking daddy at this point in time. It was a very cozy, and enjoyable stay.
One night after the show. We were waiting for Amanda to get out and the kids were playing with the glitter that had fallen during the show. At least they had something to keep them entertained for a little bit. It was pretty late.
Haleigh was ready for her first show.
It really isn't a good picture but this was form our Girls getaway. Twyla, Deaune, Kim and I had a fabulous getaway for a few days. We had so much fun and really had a nice break for a few days. I could hang out with my girlfriends form church all the time. I have the greatest friends!
This is Shoji during a dress change. He is so funny. I saw the show 7 or 8 times and I still thought his silly jokes were funny! I must have issues!
Here we are at Shorty smalls at the beginning of our progressive dinner. We wanted to try several restaurants so we just ordered an appetizer and a meal and shared it between all of us. We went to another one and had the best steak ever. We are crazy girls and you never know what will happen when we are together!
My sister teh violin girl. Isn't she lovely?
Michael is not a dancer and sat on the inside so one of the elves couldn't get him. He said he didn't want to have to deny someone so he'll sit on the inside. He even had a box of popcorn in his hand to try to get out of it. Oops they found him and she would not give up. Everyone cheered for him and even came and commented to him at intermission. He told the old man he was still embarrassed. Oh brother you couldn't get out of this one...she was persistent!
I love Santa happy Santa....
The first night of our sibling trip the elf captured Gian. I'm not sure but I don't think she could believe what was happening. We walked in seconds before the show started and then the next thing you know an elf is grabbing her to dance. I love Christmas I love it I love it. I love love love it.

In all of my trips I never got tired of the show. I had so much fun with each group of people I went with. My sibling trip was fun to just be the four of us. We had so much fun and we are crazy. We saw Santa and his reindeer...the real Santa he told us so. But no one will believe us because he wasn't there the next day when we had Amanda to take a sibling picture with him. Dang it Santa that would have been good.
And then the Girls' Getaway. I have the best friends we had so much fun. We shopped, ate popcorn for dinner, slept in and had coffee in the morning. We went to an incredible church and had a fun hike in the wilderness. We girls sure know how to have fun.
And then Thanksgiving..it was fun too. I had never been on a long car ride with toddler's. I was a little apprehensive but it turned out okay. Praise the Lord for DVD players for the car (a friend who will loan you one) and the Wiggles. We heard more than our share of the Wiggles on that trip but I tell you what Tyler and Haleigh liked it and that was all that mattered. Thanksgiving was fun and we had great times with family. It was the first time I had ever been away from home for a holiday and I really liked it. It was a mini vacation and great to spend quality time together. Just wish the whole family could have come. Stinkin' work