Trip to Branson, Missouri

Our vacation spot this year was Branson.  We wanted to go somewhere different than the beach.  We stopped by St. Louis on our way.  Our library has a really great section of education DVD’s.  James found one on the building of the St. Louis Arch.  We watched the video with the girls before our trip.  So when we stopped at the arch we all had a greater appreciation of structure.  It is still amazing that no one died while building it. 

Lil and Monkey enjoyed putting their toes in the Mississippi River.  We read Minn of the Mississippi this year by Holling C. Holling so that made it more special.
Our resort in Branson was nice.  We did a lot of swimming, a little fishing, a little shopping, and lots of relaxing.  It was probably the most restful vacation we have taken.  Our big night out was to the Dixie Stampede Dinner Show.  James and I went to this in Pigeon Forge on our honeymoon.  The girls loved it!
   
If you know us, you know that the girls and I love Little House on the Prairie.  On our way to James’ dad’s house from Branson we passed Mansfield, Missouri.  This is where Laura and Almanzo lived in their later years of life.  We stopped to tour their house, the rock house Rose had built for them and the museum.  I have to say we were disappointed in the experience.  They were very hands off and I couldn’t take any pictures inside the houses or the museum.  I am pretty sure Laura would not approve.  The girls did not enjoy the house, but did like the museum.  They have many things that Laura and Mary made, i.e. clothing, knitting projects, toys, etc.  Pa’s fiddle is on display and they even take it out once a year to play it.  I am glad we took the time to stop, but do wish the mood would have been more inviting. 
  Overall we had another great vacation.  On our way home we stopped at James’ dad’s house in Western Kentucky.  We had a nice weekend visit with them.  While we were there we went to The Homeplace.  I will share about that in another post.