Fun Times at Silver Dollar City

Mom and Dad have annual passes to Silver Dollar City, so we all went this week.  The kids were grumpy that we'd have to spend so many hours in the car to get there, but they had a marvelous time and can't wait to go back.

 They loved trying to push the big ball.  Lots of fun in one interesting thing.

 We waited forever for the little roller coaster. Granted, only 12 people at a time ride it, but the line was short and the wait was long.  Once we got up there, we learned why it was so slow.  The ride operator was slow, but super nice.  I was taking pictures of all the kids and trying to get shots of Camden on his first ride.  The ride operator offered to take this photo for us!  So I forgave him the long wait for the ride.  The kids loved it.

The kids were excited to go on the teacups with Grandpa.  I thought I'd be on the slow ride, with Rylee,  Camden and his Dad.  nope.  We spun so fast, I was surprised we didn't drill right through the floor.  Camden thought it was great, and Rylee said it was okay since I was holding her.  It was fun!

We made a little lunch stop to enjoy our sandwiches and snacks.

They really do have a great kids section of the park.  The girls loved being able to ride rides all by themselves.

Rylee wanted a picture, but Delaney was cross about something.

Waiting in line.

Most of the lines had very short wait times, or no waiting at all.  I'm not sure if it was because we were in the kiddie area or what, but it as nice!

Rylee and Delaney thinking they are awesome on the ride by themselves.

Callie is a little embarrassed that she's on a baby ride.  Probably even more embarrassed that she probably liked it!

Marian is flying high!

The kids had a very good time in the big ball play area.  I lost them for a while in there.  Delaney liked feeding the balls to this giant sucker.

 Rylee enjoyed stuffing balls into this vacuum.

We also spent a lot of time at the splash pad.  This is why most of my girls wore swim suity clothes! Delaney is waiting for the water to squirt up in her face.

Chasing the squirting water.

Bwaahahaha!  Camden got nailed and he loved it!

 Marian found a strategy that worked for her!  She really had a blast here.

Yep, we all rode the carousel!  I was surprised Joshua got on it, but he did!

Callie loved her white charger.

 Grandma thoughtfully hung out with Rylee so I could ride a horse.  Sadly, it was less thrilling than I had hoped.  Rylee was happy though!

I didn't get a shot of Delaney.  She dashed for the carriage and made a new friend in the process.  She had us in stitches with her conversation opener, "I was born in a hospital!"

We rode the fun boat ride where you get to shoot at targets.  It is one of my favorites.  Rylee wasn't scared of it this year... much.

(Yeah, I know she has a binky!  After our summer of travels I plan to end it, but for all the trips we are making this summer, I NEED it!)

We went on the ride where you shoot people with water cannons.  Unfortunately, they can shoot back.  this is us, after that very wet ride!  My shirt was soaked- mostly in the back.  Who shoots people in the back?!

Rylee sacked out for a bit.

 Me and my favorite kids. They were a great bunch to hang out with all day!

I let them talk me into getting some cotton candy.

It went fast!

Rylee.  Just being adorable.

 I opted to not go on the river raft ride.  These guys all went and got really wet.  Sure, we were a bit wet to start, but they were even more wet now!  Delaney is cold.

Hey, if Joshua wants to pose for a picture, I'm going to take one!

It was a bit of an uphill to get out and it was such a hoot seeing them push each other.

We had a fun day.  A long day, and an exhausting day, and a warm day; but a lovely day.

Memorial Day Activities

We had a lovely memorial Day.  You can't see the flags, but the kids had one each and there was still much drama and hassle over them.  The weather was perfect for outdoor festivities.  It was sunny and breezy and beautiful.

 The kids played in the tree house.

The Zip Line was well used.

We busted out the slip-n-slide.

But this was about the most action it got.  Apparently it was a lot of fun for these two.

The girls were delighted to discover their very own source of honey suckle.

Grandma let the girls hold the chickens.  The chickens were very docile.

Marian was pleased to show off the chicks.

 Callie did an awesome job holding the chicken for the littlies to pet.

 Of course we had a BBQ with friends.  Yummy burgers and more.

 I got to hang out with my adorable nephews.

Yep, I have cute nephews!

Marian went fishing and showed off the crawfish she and Callie snagged.

Then we discovered a turtle under the back porch stairs.  He'd made quite a hole there.  The kids were thrilled to see it though.

After such a great day, it was time for baths.  Rylee and Camden are best buddies now!

More fun than a Barrel of Monkeys!

 What is more fun than a barrel of monkeys?!  Taking that barrel of monkeys to Grandma and Grandpa's house in rural Arkansas.  This week we did get out of the house some.  I told them we could go to their favorite park and they were SO excited.  Why is it their favorite park?

 It is the only park we know of with a full size merry go round.  The kids had so much fun on it.  We stayed for 2 hours before anyone mentioned going home!

 They like this large caterpillar thing too.

But the merry go round was the biggest hit.

 The caterpillar had size appeal and my children all like to climb things.  So they did.

 And some of them are hams.

Fine, all of them are hams!

 But it was always back to the endless circles of the merry go round.

I was astonished how much my boy liked this silly contraption and spent so much time playing on it with his sisters.  You can't tell here, but Rylee is doing an awesome "Superman" pose, arm outstretched and everything!

 Well, you can see Delaney "flying" in this shot.

 Love this boy!!

Auntie Miranda and cousins came with us. It was so fun to play with them, and I thought this was such a cute shot!

The baby section of the park had this new spinny thing in it.  super fun!  It was like the teacups, and I thought it a bit tricky for little children to use.  But we had fun with it.

Also very fun was successful fishing forays at the pond.  I was less thrilled at the catch.  Marian and Callie managed to hook 2 crawfish  and 2 actual fish.  I do now know what kind of fishies these were, but they were small, so I'm glad they had to toss them back. Marian really really wanted to cook up the fish.

the girls had to content themselves with boiling the crawfish.  Callie wasn't sure she wanted to try this.

 No, she didn't eat the claw!  She did try it and she liked it. 

Marian also thought it yummy and now she wants to do it again.  Sigh.

The children have also had a good time with the tree house and zip line. 

I saw Miranda do this and I was astonished!  That 20 week pregnant lady was zipping down the zipline!

 Go Joshua!

Callie had to try it without the seat.  She thought it was great.

Marian put the tire swing to good use.

And Grandpa finally got to try out his Funnel Cake recipe. It was proclaimed delicious by all.  Isn't Camden adorable?!  I sure do have cute nephews.

Delaney was obsessed with this bib.  But it did keep the powdered sugar off her.

Rylee devoured her funnel cake and then came begging for mine.

 Callie licked her fingers and Delaney licked her plate. 

Joshua spent as much time as he could doing this.

Grandpa had a big burn pile and invited the kids to come roast marshmallows.  He had s'more makings and the children were excited!

Marian wanted a picture with her and her marshmallow on her specially hand-crafted hanger-turned-roasting-stick.  She made it herself and was so proud of it.

 Baby Ethan had fun hanging out.  See, I told you, cutest nephews ever!

Mouths stuffed with what Rylee calls "smashmallows" and enjoying their s'mores. 

Summer is off to a good start!