Tuesday Talk: Our Little Pre Christmas Getaway {2015}

Last Thursday we headed out of town for a little Christmas fun getaway. The destination was Branson, MO and the agenda was some shopping, The Dixie Stampede, Silver Dollar City and lots of fun. 
Let the photo overload begin!

Every road trip needs the obligatory family selfie shot (which Russ clearly doesn't enjoy) and a Starbucks stop.

You are guaranteed to find HUGE Christmas trees everywhere in Branson.

Waiting on the pre-show to begin.

A couple shots from the main event. I was way to busy eating to take to many photos. I had never been to the Dixie Stampede before, it was AWESOME. The girls said it was easily their favorite part of the whole trip!

After the show we headed to Silver Dollar City. We arrived just in time to watch the light parade and walk around and enjoy the Christmas lights in a pretty vacant park. 

We also stopped by to see Santa. The girls are just so sure he is THE Santa.

After a late night we enjoyed a lazy morning and headed back that afternoon for some day time fun.

A picture with mommy.

A sleigh ride with daddy!

Sillies on the swings. 

Our buddies were even there to join the fun too! 

Emily & David, watching the roller coaster.

We finished the day with Russ and Marissa taking a ride on her favorite roller coaster then we headed home.


So thankful for a couple days away with some of my favorite people. I can't believe the 2015 holiday season is coming to an end so fast.
Tuesday Talk

Now it's your turn to grab the button in my side bar and link up for this weeks Tuesday Talk!

Beth - Our Pretty Little Girls ~ Michelle - Grammie Time

Keri - Living In This Season  ~ Christina - Waltzing In Beauty
Lauren - Simply Elliot ~  Becky - BYBMG
Jess and Katie - Sweet Little Ones ~ Whitney - Polka Dotty Place
Laura - Life Is Beautiful ~ Elizabeth - All Kinds Of Things
Sarah - Abiding In Grace ~ Stephanie - Wife Mommy Me
Emily - Morning Motivated Mom

An InLinkz Link-up

Ready To Ride!

Hello Monday!

This weekend was HOT! I think I spent most of it inside trying not to melt and the rest outside coated in bug spray doing yard work until dark. With the arrival of the latest heat wave I am seriously starting to question my love for summer. It just makes me feel so "Ggrrrr"! Which has me wondering if heat rage is a real thing?
Today I want to share a few pictures with you from Fridays adventures to Silver Dollar City.

Friday morning started out like this...

and ended like this.

Lesson learned: Never close your eyes in the car. Apparently even when you are 31 years old your parents will take pictures of you sleeping (which I was not actually doing). 
Everything in between was silly, loud, crazy, giggly, sweaty, fun. 
How about some photos?!
We started our day with a giant cinnamon roll and then we ate and ate and ate. I justified my behavior by the fact that I walked about 15,000 steps that day.

We had loads of cousin time.

Plus Marissa rode her very first BIG roller coaster immediately followed by her second and third.
Never has my mommy heart been as worried as it was when I watched my child get on this for the very first time

Seriously, I thought I was going to be sick.

 I am pretty sure I hoped and wished and prayed the entire ride.

When the ride was over and I was greeted with this.

"That was AWESOME!!!" A roller coaster enthusiast was born.
She rode another.

The she rode another. Outlaw Run the #7 wooden roller coaster in the world and the most intense ride I have ever been on.

I was in disbelief and shock.... followed by some relief that I didn't have to ride them with her.
I'll let you in on a little secret.... I don't really like roller coasters.

Thanks Meme & Papa for taking one for the team.

The day wouldn't be complete without a souvenir from papa.

And a picture with my girls.

Marissa is growing up and I am not quite sure how I feel about that.

 Shouldn't we still be riding on the butterflies and lady bugs? 

It seems like yesterday she was on this side of the gate...

(This photo was taken in 2011. So fun that Emily wore that EXACT same outfit on Fridays trip).

Instead of this one.

Things about Friday I want Marissa to remember:
She was loving and living life. She was brave, fearless and let nothing hold her back.
She tried something new and loved it.
She made her Mommy and Daddy so proud.

I guess this growing up thing isn't so bad after all.
It may not be easy, but it is definitely good.
How was your weekend?

Christmas at Silver Dollar City 2014

Silver Dollar City has been a family favorite for years now. For the past couple years we have been season pass holders and that means we are always just 2 hours away from one of the girls' favorite places.

The only thing that I love more than a trip to Silver Dollar City is a trip to Silver Dollar City at Christmas time. The whole park is covered in lights and it is beautiful. They also do a great job of celebrating the reason for Christmas, our Saviors birth.
On Thursday we surprised the girls in the morning with a note in our advent bag that said "Go to Silver Dollar City today" The screams were heard all over town. We also used a set of "bring a friend passes" and brought our good friends with us.  
Before we went in we had to stop at the gate for a few photos.

This tree is huge, beautiful and even more magical at night.

They stage the park with so many photo ops, it's a bloggers paradise.

So naturally we took some a ton of photos.

We saw a couple shows.

The kids were all thrilled to go up on stage and it even "snowed" when they sang.

We rode some rides.

And we saw "The Man", Santa, himself. Marissa is COMPLETELY positive that the REAL Santa Claus lives at Silver Dollar City. 

She has ALWAYS been very pro Santa.

Emily... not so much.

She suffers from a VERY severe case of P.T.S.D. every time she see's the guy

Post Traumatic Santa Disorder. 

Maybe next year. 

But at this rate she may never come around :).

After Santa it was time to eat some dinner.

Then we hopped on board a Christmas train ride. 

Now that is an "usie"!

By the time the train ride was over it was very dark and we were able to take in some of the beautiful lights, watch the parade and check out the tree's light show before heading home.

Another fun day at Silver Dollar City. So glad that we were able to go and that we had great friends to share our day with.

How was your weekend?