Hoofprints: Branson: Part 1

Well, we're back from Branson, Missouri. Okay...so we've actually been back since Saturday. But nevertheless...we're back. We headed out to Branson last Tuesday. I must say, I've never actually driven through the Ozarks and all I can say is 'wow!' It sure was a beautiful drive. There were more curves on those roads than I'd have ever expected. So despite the fact that we got turned around (aka: lost) twice, it was very picturesque. Once we got there we all just sort of chilled out for the remainder of the day. The houses that we stayed in were right by the lake shore and a boat dock so we spent the majority of the evening feeding the ducks, throwing rocks in the water (the kids), and fishing. Josh's sister JanDell and her family were there from England and Alex is really fond of their son, Caleb. They became fast friends to say the least. Once everyone made it to our destination then we relaxed and chatted it up for the night waiting for the next day to begin. We woke up to a super awesome breakfast, courtesy of my sis, Heather. AKA...the Breakfast Supreme Queen. (She has a gift for making breakfast. That's for sure. Yum!) Then it was straight to the pool. This is where it gets tricky. All of Alex and Abby's cousins are fish in water. They can survive quite well I'm proud to say. My kids? Not so much. The closest thing to water they've swam in is a tiny plastic pool from Wal-Mart. This, combined with my horrific fear of my children drowning made me a nervous wreck. But Josh insisted on getting Alex in the water and so off we went. They had an indoor and and outdoor pool. With Alex's asthma, we had to go to the outdoor pool so the chlorine levels weren't so dangerous to inhale. Miss Clingy, otherwise known as Abby, was really interested in the water, but Josh had his hands full with Alex on a floaty. So guess who had to buck up and get in the water? Ahem. That would be me. I've been adamant on not being seen in a swimming suit by pretty much anyone. And thanks to Mandy and her massive swim suit collection, I brought one 'just in case'. This, combined with a pair of jean cut-offs is about as close as I was gonna get to public displays of postpartum damage. :-) I got in the water with Abby and it went relatively well. It's gonna be a while before my anxiety about kids and water is cured.

After the pool, my father-in-law rented a pontoon and two kayaks to enjoy some lake water fun. You should know that my fear of murky lake water is pretty severe. But my nieces so graciously prayed that I would go tubing with them. I was firmly against this. Seriously...if I fell in I'd drown from my state of panic (okay...maybe not drown, but I'd panic). I've seen what lives in that water. NO thank you! I did, however, go kayaking with my niece, Lauren. And I was all set to avoid being pulled on that blasted tube. That is...until my almost four year old and my two-year old both made me look like the biggest pansy in the world. They both got on the tube and were pulled around the lake. I was still hesitant and freaked out when Alex and Abby were on the tube in the middle of the water. And yes. We all wore life-jackets, but still. And just before we were about to check in the boat I challenged Heather. Ugh...I should have known better. She had yet to go and mentioned that she really didn't want to do it. So I said I'd do it if she did. (This is the part where I float up out of my body and start screaming 'You idiot! what are doing?!? Shut up!!') Big surprise here (sarcasm). She took that challenge. I pretty much just wanted to prove to myself that I could defeat this fear. Hands shaking like a leaf and heart skipping every other beat...I went tubing. It was fun but I couldn't see anything for all the water in my face. We had a great time and I was surprised how wonderful my kiddos were without me. I enable their fears by projecting mine on to them. Ya know...like any good mother. ;-) In hind sight, I'm glad I temporarily conquered my fear but I still can't stand murky water.

So one big BBQ, seven exhausted kiddos, and and one fun day later, it was time for bed. Here are some of the pics from our fun water sport day. I have about a hundred photos so I'm gonna just share a few of the good ones.

Alex & Abby were excited to be on the boat.

And the first to jump into the water? Bro Ben. That's Kate on the sidelines waiting to be lowered in after her dad.

Left to right: Alex, Abby, Megan, and Linsey

Josh and his mom on the kayak.

Me and Lauren on the kayak. My shoulder felt like someone punched me after all that rowing.

Heather and Lauren on the kayak.

Alex...my almost four-year old. On a tube. In the lake. With his dad. I'm still biting my nails from this. And that's Stephen (Bro-inlaw) and Caleb on the kayak.