Branson

We made our annual Branson trip the weekend after Thanksgiving!  This year we decided to stay at Big Cedar Lodge and enjoy all their Christmas lights and festivities.  

The view from our balcony...

We got there on Thursday afternoon and headed to the Landing for some shopping and dinner before getting on the Polar Express. 

Daddy and Ava Kate watching the fountain show at the Landing...

On Friday, we spent the day at Silver Dollar City!  The weather was great and the crowd was light...we couldn't have picked a better day.

2012 Family Pic... 

2011 Family Pic...

First Stop....Santa!

Ava Kate thought it would be fun to pull Santa's beard!  I'm not sure Santa was so excited...his hands were full so all he could do was to keep turning his head to get the beard out of Miss Ava Kate's reach.  

Owen telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas....this is also where Owen added to his list!  He requested a tractor....and not just any tractor, a Red Tractor!  

Time to play....

Owen is apparently a thrill seeker and absolutely LOVED all of the rides.  He rode every ride he was tall enough to ride and just ran from one to another the entire time!!

If you look closely, you can see him holding his hands up as he enjoyed the roller coaster with daddy...

Ava Kate loved waving at Owen and Daddy on the rides...

Our little gingerbread girl...

Our little gingerbread boy...

I joined in for some of the slower rides....

There were a few rides that he could ride all by himself...he thought he was such a big boy.  He stood in line and waited by himself until it was his turn, and apparently he made a friend in line so she rode with him!  

The ball maze was one of the kids favorites!  Owen loved shooting all the balls and just kept walking around, picking up all the balls, and putting them in the bins.

Sliding with daddy...

The Christmas Parade...

watching for baby Jesus and the Angle...

On Friday night, we had a visitor....Winter, the elf!  She came to read the kids a bed time story and tuck them into bed.  She also brought a stocking full of goodies! 

Owen was excited, shocked, and a little shy at first, but it didn't take him long to warm up!  Ava Kate just kept staring.

On Saturday, we spent the morning shopping, had some lunch, and then headed back to Silver Dollar City for some more fun.  Little did we know, EVERYONE else had the same idea that day and it took us 2.5 hours to drive 5 miles and park!  Apparently the number of the people in the park that day was record breaking!!!  We were still able to do all the things Owen wanted to do except for the train because there was a 2 hr wait.  

Riding the BIG swings with mommy...

Ava Kate's first time to see the parade because she had fallen asleep the night before...

Owen was such a dare devil when it came to the rides!  He he is riding the pirate ship and holding his hands in the air the entire time!!  

our little muscle man...so silly!

Ava Kate got to ride her ride....the froggies!  She really seemed to enjoy it, especially with Owen right beside her!

climbing, climbing, and climbing...

All tuckered out...