The Getaway

When it became obvious this year that 1) family was not going to be able to take the kiddos so that we could celebrate our anniversary with a weekend getaway parents-only style and 2) we had not won millions and millions of dollars (it helps if you actually play the lottery, I’ve been told) with which to purchase a live-in nanny (but the Bloggess says it will make me live longer, and keep you from stabbing me!), we decided to take a quick family trip.

Where to go, where to go? Our indecision made us sit down and think and think, and realize that we have never, in all those years together, actually taken a trip that 1) did not occur with family or 2) plan to visit family. Huh. We are some boring people! It was time to take a trip, just the four of us.

So that’s what we did. We headed down to Branson, because Silver Dollar City is much more palatable than a normal amusement park or Disney, or anything along those lines. And speaking of lines? Virtually non-existent, when compared to the hell that is D World in the summer.

There were go-carts and mini golf. These are some of our favorite past-times.

K was miffed that he was not allowed out of the chute first.

Mini golf is fun, but mini golf with a train? Awesome!

There was the lake. I love Table Rock lake.

There was downtown exploration.

There was a log cabin. The city-boys I live with, despite prior fears, did not actually die from staying in something relatively woodsy.

Don't be fooled- that's his 'having fun' face.

Then there was Silver Dollar City. My boys wondered over the glassblowing and the taffy-making and leather shop. They rode roller coasters. I rode one—the easy one. They rode the others, except I put my foot down on anyone riding something that flips upside down five times. We rode the water rides. We shopped for souvenirs. 

K and I went down in the cave.

Wow- that's a lot of stairs. Glad I didn't look down...

It's an alien landscape-- with bats.

The Marvel cave tour is no small feat. Afraid of heights, small places, bats, or the dark? Have anything wrong with you—except for minor sunburn? Clumsy on stairs, especially ones crafted fifty years ago in the dark? Taller than 5’8”? Don’t go. Ant and J wisely chose not to join us, but K and I had a marvelous time.

He was actually in a good enough mood to take a PICTURE WITH HIS MOTHER! It was such a momentous occasion that I actually did purchase it—although I hate it when people do things like that, normally.

Note to self: That whole ensemble you’ve got going on there, Sarah—it’s so very unattractive. Buy some clothes that are not baggy on you. And next time? Spring for the SPF 50+, okay? On second thought, do I really want to post this picture, even though K allowed one to be taken of us together? I'm conflicted...

It was a splendid way to spend our trip—and way too much money on frozen lemonade. Oh, how I love frozen lemonade!

And what did Super-Sophie-- the misbehaved doggie-- do in our absence? Well, she went to the doggie spa. No joke! We’ve found a new boarder that has the best rates yet, and absolutely loved our neurotic pup, and even convinced her to TAKE A BATH. Oh, and they also trimmed her nails and cleaned her teeth, and even washed out/ specially treated her poor flapping, illness-ridden ears. And she let them. These people are keepers! Plus, they called me once during the trip to talk about how happy and good she was being. I don’t even think they were lying…