This year we decided to take our annual fall vacation in October, back in Branson, Missouri and enjoy the festive fun at Jellystone RV Resort. We went to Silver Dollar City, did a little shopping, and just hung out at camp. We participated in the pumpkin patch, chili cookoff, site decorating, costume contest, and trick or treating, too! Needless to say, we had a great vacation!
Nothing like PB&J when you're camping!
My little army men ready to trick or treat
Daddy and the boys hanging out playing
Cooper & Dennis riding a boat ride at Silver Dollar City
Cooper was fascinated in all the things people were making at SDC
Well, we finally managed to take some time off in October and November and do a little camping! After the rough, long, hot summer, it was nice to take a break!! This was Clayton's very first camping season and our first time to experience Jellystone Park in Branson and it was so much fun!!
We made one trip for fall break then went back about a week later to stay a week. During fall break, they had trick or treating for the kids, Halloween site decorating contest, a chili cook-off and a hayride...all of which we participated in and had a blast!
Our second trip, we did Dixie Stampede Christmas show...priceless for Cooper! He actually ate (which if you know Cooper, is a HUGE deal!) and I have never seen him sit so still as he did watching that show...he loved it!! We also rode the Ducks to see some Christmas lights and of course, what is Branson without a little holiday shopping!? Oh, and don't forget about adding to the Christmas ornament collection! Needless to say, it's not even Thanksgiving and I am ready to put up my tree!!
It's been quite sometime since I blogged! It's been just a little bit crazy around here! We have been in survival mode this summer. Dennis has worked practically non stop since May and I was just beginning to feel like I was recovering from having a baby, though very sleep deprived, when I began having gall bladder problems mid-July. About 2 1/2 weeks ago I had surgery and I am now feeling MUCH better. In fact, I don't think I knew how bad I felt until this week when I feel like myself again. We celebrated Dennis's 35th birthday on July 16th and other than that, we've just been trying to stay cool during this record breaking hot summer. Cooper started 3 year old preschool program two days a week at the church a couple weeks ago and we are finally getting into a routine, which is really helping me keep what little sanity I have left. And, I never would've made it to September if it wasn't for my dear, dear grandparents who have been amazing helping me with the boys all summer by taking Cooper home with them or staying with us here when I felt bad and after baby and surgery. I truly don't know what we'd have done without their help. Needless to say, the Rains' family is ready for fall vacation!!!
We took a couple days off to go camping last Thursday and Friday and came home Saturday. We went to Robber's Cave State Park in Wilburton, which we had never been to before and we had a lot of fun taking it easy and checking out the scenery. Luckily, we decided to wait til Thursday morning to leave after we got some nasty storms Wednesday night. On Thursday, we checked out the park area, including making a trek to the cave and visiting the Nature Center. Friday, we took a little drive to Pocola, Oklahoma and picked our own strawberries at Wild Things Farm. We love camping together and making memories that will last forever!
Well, it's been quite a week! We haven't been gone a week straight, but it feels like it! Cooper and I went to Edmond for David and Grace's 3rd birthday party on Thursday, the 8th and came home Sunday. They all had so much fun playing and it was great ti visit with our friends! Happy Birthday, David and Grace!! I can't believe they're three!! We weren't sure if we were going to go anywhere, since Cooper was up Tuesday night really sick, but thankfully it was just a 24 hour stomach virus and he was great by Wednesday evening. We were home a few days and decided to go ahead and take a few days for a family trip starting Thursday. Guess who got Cooper's stomach bug on the way? That's right, that was the longest trip to Branson, EVER!! But, I was over it and back to myself Friday. Darian's kids were out of school, so they all went with Grandma Rains to Branson, and since we had the camper, we camped near and all went to Silver Dollar City together on Friday. Saturday, we headed to Roaring River, Missouri and camped Saturday and Sunday night. We had so much fun, just hanging out. It was kind of sad to come home, but then it's always nice to take a really hot shower without running out of hot water in 2 minutes and sleep in our beds!
We went on our first official family vacation last week. It was much needed and we picked a great time to go, the weather was perfect and no crowds this time of year. We went to South Central Oklahoma, stayed in Sulphur at an RV park and we got a great spot with a humongous tree that shaded us all day long, it was perfect. We always find nice people to visit with while we camp and this time was no exception.
We just did one thing a day and hung outside at the camper each afternoon. We went to Chickasaw Natl. Park and took Cooper in his wagon down the trails. They were wide and smooth enough for it and they led to a couple of really pretty springs and by a couple of spring fed creeks. Next, we visited Arbuckle Wilderness, which is a must if you ever go that way and haven't been. It has a drive through zoo, you can feed animals of all kinds, Cooper didn't quite know what to think about the animals sticking their heads in the windows for food, but he wasn't scared at all. The next day, we visited Turner Falls and enjoyed the scarceness of people (it's a big summer destination, but quiet now) and had a picnic lunch there. We made a trip to Gainesville, TX since it was only about 45 minutes away to do a little shopping one day. We took it pretty easy, needless to say, and it was wonderful!
We stopped to visit our friends in Edmond on the way there and on the way back, we stopped again for the twins birthday party, Happy Birthday to David and Grace! It was great to see you all two weekends in a row!
While were gone, Aunt Mary had surgery to remove part of her esophagus and stomach because of esophageal cancer and the surgery was successful, but she is not quite recovering as quickly as she'd like it sounds. So, keep her in your thoughts and prayers, please!!
Also, I'll be posting some land pics soon. We have footings, rebar, and some other stuff I don't know about, and the plumbing is stubbed in. We have an inspection before the slab is down, but should have it poured by the end of the week!!
