Early morning… on our way to Branson, MO (a 5 1/2 hour drive).
Did we stop for coffee? OF COURSE we stopped for coffee! (To drink with our homemade Cinnamon Rolls!)
And before we knew it, it was time to eat again! We stopped and ate Chicken Salad sandwiches that I made that morning.
The roads to Branson are CRAZY CURVY! (Fun for a while, but poor Silas eventually got really car sick.) *This video isn’t working very well – I’ll have a better version up tomorrow.
And then we made our way to our (Free w/Points) Motel. It wasn’t fancy, but we didn’t care – it was surrounded by beauty! (And I left my neck pillow in the motel! Boo Hoo!!)
Boys had their room!
Girls (Plus Harry) had our room! (Yes, Harry was actually in both of these pictures, because he was just having too much fun running back and forth.)
We wandered out into the woods to see what we could … see! We took our cameras too!
And then Abigail took pictures of her feet… while it rained. Don’t ask me. She saw something interesting in it. ha!
Kyle played his guitar for a while… and I thought he looked pretty cute… so I took a picture of him playing and fell in love all over again. ahhh…
We got hungry again! ha! Isn’t it funny how much you want to eat when you’re on vacation? So we headed out to eat, and decided to stop at a thrift store on the way. (I bought a $2 pair of brown Converse for myself.)
We drove past all of the neat Branson attractions… cool miniature golf courses, go-karts, Whitewater Water Park, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, The Titanic Musuem, and a ton of others! And finally ended up at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen! I had read that it was voted Best Tasting Pizza in Branson for many years, so we just had to try it out!
We met Lindley and she gave me permission to put her picture on my blog. She was a sweet Branson gal. (I gave her my card so maybe she’ll leave a comment when she sees this! hint hint)
The food? WOW! It really WAS the best pizza I’ve ever eaten! I was REALLY hungry, but I don’t think that was the only reason I loved it. Delicious!!!
Harrison just told me tonight he hated his pizza. Trust me – it was HIM, not the pizza! ha! He really doesn’t like pizza. Could he really be a Kraft?
Jared chose alfredo and Abigail chose a Calzone. And I’m looking at these pictures thinking – Why didn’t I make them give me a bite! Looks delectable!
And then I saw it… a perfect photo oppotunity! And I took it! Niiiice! Yes?
After pizza, we headed over to Branson Landing – an extremely cool shopping strip on the river. Neat stores, live music, food (ha!), and most importantly THE store of all stores! Ab and I specifically fell in deep love. It was called Earthbound Trading Company. Ever heard of it? Well, I think Wichita, KS needs one of those! It was SO naturey and natural and smelled good (we bought some oil burners)…
And because it was natural and naturey, they sold… BUGS for snacking! EWWWW! Now, I like all things natural, but NO! That’s going too far.
And then… we called it a night!
Next morning was Silver Dollar City! We immediately saw Clarke Cayton (w/Responder Life – he has written the foreword for my new book) and his beautiful wife, Carissa.
The reason we went on this trip was because we were invited by Responder Life. They worked with Silver Dollar City to provide an event for First Responders and their families in commemoration of 9-11. It was a really neat gesture of support and love to show appreciation for those who work as First Responders.
We took some time to take some pictures before we got wild and messy!
First order of business (after pictures)… WILDFIRE! I rode it too, but we went in shifts so little ones wouldn’t be left alone. Do you love Abigail’s goofy face? Yes, her eyes ARE crossed!
At 11:00 am, we attended a worship/commemoration service that was very patriot and worshipful. (That’s Clarke giving the address.)
Then some more rides!
Then some lunch! Silver Dollar City makes some really tasty skillet dishes! Kyle had a variation of this from another stand (but this lady smiled for a picture.)
We then had something we have every year – Strawberries and Ice Cream. It is so refreshing!
At the end of the day, Kyle took the fam and went on the Lost River of the Ozarks while Ab and I went on the Giant Barn Swing (nobody will go on that one with us). Harrison got soaking wet and was NOT happy!
And at the very end of the day, we sat with Clarke and Carissa while they ate a funnel cake (and I drooled over it! ha!). They did share. I just let my boys eat some. Good grief, if you share with the whole Kraft family, your food disappears way too quickly! (I told them to lick their fingers for a picture. ha! Clarke is so compliant!)
And this was on our way out.
We headed to McDonalds… then Starbucks.. then Home. And at 2:10 am, we FINALLY got home.
It was a 43 hour trip that was PACKED with fun! I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
Good grief, I’m tired just from reading about your trip! Whew! I’m drooling from all the food photos… oh man, midnight food needs! Thanks so much for that. LOL! Did you know there’s an Earthbound Trading Company in Salina? Not as close as if it were in Wichita, though.
For not liking that pizza, Harrison sure was devouring it like all get-out! Looks yummy to me!
HA! Yeah, it was certainly a whirlwind weekend!
In my opinion, vacation isn’t vacation without some interesting food! That’s half the fun!
Yes, I did find out there is an Earthbound Trading Company in Salina. I think I might just plan a trip there for that reason alone. I wonder why they have one there and we don’t have one here in Wichita? Seems sort of strange, doesn’t it?
Oh, you guys took the shortcut with the winding roads! I remember that one from when we were with you and I was in the back of the van! Yikes it is quite a road…but it was so cracking me up that everyone was screaming and laughing on your video! (Folks…things like that happen all of the time with the Kraft family…they just know how to have fun and be silly!) I miss those times of hilarity! (:>) Remember the “Unshackled skit we made up???We laughed until we cried! Oh the memories and the fun!
I LOVE Branson! I could go there once a month! Ha! And it looks like you all had a fantastic time. The picture of Harrison when he is all wet was hilarious! I think that’s how Grandpa is when he gets wet from that ride! But the first time I ever went and I had a dress on…I thought I would die! It was all clinging to me and I was so uncomfortable! I learned to not wear a dress when ya go on water rides! (Especially a red one that bleeds and turns your “unmentionables” pink! Ha!!!!
Isn’t Branson Landing an awesome place? Of course it has a lot of shopping…but even just walking around is fun because of the festive atmosphere! And I like to walk along the river. We enjoyed the free concert too.
That Barn Swing seems to be the favorite ride! Lisa even likes it more than Wildfire! Did you go on the Powder Keg? You didn’t mention t…so I wasn’t sure. And if you were in that area…how about Fire in the Hole? (Grandma’s kind of ride!) How about the Electra Twirl thingy? I think that looks fun. Oh…and did you go in Grandpa’s Mansion ? Anna loved that. (We didn’t do that last time…but I thought of her.
Did you buy some of your lye soap? I guess you wouldn’t have had time to do everything..but it looks like you did plenty! And how neat to have that special service in honor of the first responders…and 9-11. I am so glad they honored you all with free tickets! How wonderful to have gotten to go free…Anna played a special part in that I think! Awww..we miss her so much don’t we all?!!! But our lives are all richer because she was in our life for 6 and 1/2 years!
We get to go to Branson next month with Toni and Kerri and I am excited. I think we are going to see the musical “Noah” show. It is 2 and 1/12 hours long…and everyone s raving about it. The shows are so expensive when ya have a lot of kiddos…but September took all of her kids to see it and I think they thought it was worth it. It will be the last week for it when we are there…and then next year it will be the “Joseph” production. Which should be good too.
Well, I must bring this comment to a close. I sure was long winded! But I just love Silver Dollar City and Branson…and I am so glad you all got to go!
Love, Momma/Grams
Those funnel cakes look good. But grandpa loves the apple dumpling cinnamon ice cream stuff.
I loved reading your reply and all your shared memories with Lynnette and her fam. I wish I had been a butterfly on the wall when you were doing your “Unshackled” skit. Sometimes when I laugh so hard that I cry, I also snort. not pretty. but pretty funny.
I think we are going to have to put Silver Dollar City on our “Sandbox List” (things we need to do before the kids quit playing in the sandbox, i.e. get too old for this kind of fun) (although you seemed to have a whole lot of fun and I don’t think you play in the sandbox. or maybe you do. yeah, you probably do. you’re just that kind of momma.)
P.S. and it sounds like your mom is, too! Remember, you said you would share!!
Silver Dollar City is a blast even for adults. My parents go alone all the time! The atmosphere is really charming and the shopping is fun. (And I don’t think I’ll ever stop riding the thrilling rides. I’ll be the gray haired lady riding with her grand kids. ha!)
I am definitely willing to share my momma. I wouldn’t be so selfish as to hog such a wonderful person.
I really enjoyed reading this post as well as seeing all the pictures.
Most of your photos are fantabulous!
I just wanted to ask you something:
Are you a professional photographer or do you just do this for hobby sake?
Did you learn photography?Cos you’re really good at it=)
Anyway i’m glad things went all right.And you really enjoyed this trip.
Seeing these photos made me feel like i was part of the trip.
Anyway take care.Love you all,
Your relative in Christ=)
Adeline
No – not a professional photographer. I just do it as a hobby. I do actually get paid to take pictures too… and have done many senior pics, family pics and even a wedding (doing another this week), but I don’t think I’ll ever do it professionally. Too stressful for a laid back person like myself. I love having Abigail to take them with me. Takes some of the pressure off!
So glad you enjoyed our vacation through the pics! ha!
Love,
Lynnette
aren’t vacations so fun? We just took a mini vacay to chicago on our way to iowa for the wedding and it was a blast. I haven’t even gotten to our chicago pics yet… there are so many! lol great post and wonderful family pictures!
Looks like a wonderful good time!! (And yes Mom, I do enjoy the Giant Swing more than Wildfire…it’s the most thrilling ride at SDC). LOVE Abigail’s cross-eyed-face and Harrison “all wet”. Glad you packed so much fun into a short trip. Love ya!
TOTALLY AGREE! The Giant Swing is definitely the most thrilling! The only thing I don’t like is how short the ride is. I think it needs to swing about 2-3 more times. ha!
It was definitely a short trip PACKED with fun!
I enjoyed watching the video in the car. The noise level is the exact same as it was for my family back when we were kids. My poor Dad had to deal with a lot of screams. We were a family of 6–2 girls, 1 boy, and than me. A lot of girl (high-pitched) screams! My brother would usually yell out—God please save me! ha!
Girls and little boys kind of sound the same! ha!!! Noise is a part of our EVERY SINGLE DAY! I’ve always been noisy myself, so most of the time, it doesn’t bother me at all.
How fun!! We go to Branson about twice a year to stock up on outlet mall clothes for the kids (my in-laws live in Harrison, so usually we go there and my mother-in-law and I dash up to Branson Saturday morning and shop till we drop!) – we should coordinate visits sometime
(And I left my neck pillow in the motel! Boo Hoo!!)
Good grief, I’m tired just from reading about your trip! Whew! I’m drooling from all the food photos… oh man, midnight food needs! Thanks so much for that. LOL! Did you know there’s an Earthbound Trading Company in Salina? Not as close as if it were in Wichita, though.
For not liking that pizza, Harrison sure was devouring it like all get-out! Looks yummy to me!
HA! Yeah, it was certainly a whirlwind weekend!
In my opinion, vacation isn’t vacation without some interesting food! That’s half the fun!
Yes, I did find out there is an Earthbound Trading Company in Salina. I think I might just plan a trip there for that reason alone. I wonder why they have one there and we don’t have one here in Wichita? Seems sort of strange, doesn’t it?
Have a great week Diana!
Love,
Lynnette
Oh, you guys took the shortcut with the winding roads! I remember that one from when we were with you and I was in the back of the van! Yikes it is quite a road…but it was so cracking me up that everyone was screaming and laughing on your video! (Folks…things like that happen all of the time with the Kraft family…they just know how to have fun and be silly!) I miss those times of hilarity! (:>) Remember the “Unshackled skit we made up???We laughed until we cried! Oh the memories and the fun!
I LOVE Branson! I could go there once a month! Ha! And it looks like you all had a fantastic time. The picture of Harrison when he is all wet was hilarious! I think that’s how Grandpa is when he gets wet from that ride! But the first time I ever went and I had a dress on…I thought I would die! It was all clinging to me and I was so uncomfortable! I learned to not wear a dress when ya go on water rides! (Especially a red one that bleeds and turns your “unmentionables” pink! Ha!!!!
Isn’t Branson Landing an awesome place? Of course it has a lot of shopping…but even just walking around is fun because of the festive atmosphere! And I like to walk along the river. We enjoyed the free concert too.
That Barn Swing seems to be the favorite ride! Lisa even likes it more than Wildfire! Did you go on the Powder Keg? You didn’t mention t…so I wasn’t sure. And if you were in that area…how about Fire in the Hole? (Grandma’s kind of ride!) How about the Electra Twirl thingy? I think that looks fun. Oh…and did you go in Grandpa’s Mansion ? Anna loved that. (We didn’t do that last time…but I thought of her.
Did you buy some of your lye soap? I guess you wouldn’t have had time to do everything..but it looks like you did plenty! And how neat to have that special service in honor of the first responders…and 9-11. I am so glad they honored you all with free tickets! How wonderful to have gotten to go free…Anna played a special part in that I think! Awww..we miss her so much don’t we all?!!! But our lives are all richer because she was in our life for 6 and 1/2 years!
We get to go to Branson next month with Toni and Kerri and I am excited. I think we are going to see the musical “Noah” show. It is 2 and 1/12 hours long…and everyone s raving about it. The shows are so expensive when ya have a lot of kiddos…but September took all of her kids to see it and I think they thought it was worth it. It will be the last week for it when we are there…and then next year it will be the “Joseph” production. Which should be good too.
Well, I must bring this comment to a close. I sure was long winded! But I just love Silver Dollar City and Branson…and I am so glad you all got to go!
Love, Momma/Grams
Those funnel cakes look good. But grandpa loves the apple dumpling cinnamon ice cream stuff.
I loved reading your reply and all your shared memories with Lynnette and her fam. I wish I had been a butterfly on the wall when you were doing your “Unshackled” skit. Sometimes when I laugh so hard that I cry, I also snort. not pretty. but pretty funny.
ha! I think the best laughs are the ugly and loud ones. ha! Just watching someone do that makes me do that.
The Unshackled impromptu skit was hilarious! I’ll never forget it!
I think we are going to have to put Silver Dollar City on our “Sandbox List” (things we need to do before the kids quit playing in the sandbox, i.e. get too old for this kind of fun) (although you seemed to have a whole lot of fun and I don’t think you play in the sandbox. or maybe you do. yeah, you probably do. you’re just that kind of momma.)
P.S. and it sounds like your mom is, too! Remember, you said you would share!!
Silver Dollar City is a blast even for adults. My parents go alone all the time!
The atmosphere is really charming and the shopping is fun. (And I don’t think I’ll ever stop riding the thrilling rides. I’ll be the gray haired lady riding with her grand kids. ha!)
I am definitely willing to share my momma. I wouldn’t be so selfish as to hog such a wonderful person.
I really enjoyed reading this post as well as seeing all the pictures.
Most of your photos are fantabulous!
I just wanted to ask you something:
Are you a professional photographer or do you just do this for hobby sake?
Did you learn photography?Cos you’re really good at it=)
Anyway i’m glad things went all right.And you really enjoyed this trip.
Seeing these photos made me feel like i was part of the trip.
Anyway take care.Love you all,
Your relative in Christ=)
Adeline
No – not a professional photographer. I just do it as a hobby. I do actually get paid to take pictures too… and have done many senior pics, family pics and even a wedding (doing another this week), but I don’t think I’ll ever do it professionally. Too stressful for a laid back person like myself. I love having Abigail to take them with me. Takes some of the pressure off!
So glad you enjoyed our vacation through the pics! ha!
Love,
Lynnette
aren’t vacations so fun? We just took a mini vacay to chicago on our way to iowa for the wedding and it was a blast. I haven’t even gotten to our chicago pics yet… there are so many! lol great post and wonderful family pictures!
Yes, vacations are wonderful! (Even 2 day vacations.) We didn’t get to go anywhere last year, so it was really great to get away.
Let me know when you have your Chicago pics up! (If you get them up.) I’d love to see them!
Love,
Lynnette
Looks like a wonderful good time!! (And yes Mom, I do enjoy the Giant Swing more than Wildfire…it’s the most thrilling ride at SDC). LOVE Abigail’s cross-eyed-face and Harrison “all wet”. Glad you packed so much fun into a short trip. Love ya!
TOTALLY AGREE! The Giant Swing is definitely the most thrilling! The only thing I don’t like is how short the ride is. I think it needs to swing about 2-3 more times.
ha!
It was definitely a short trip PACKED with fun!
Oh my gosh, I love all your pictures!
It looks like you all had a great time,thanks for sharing….now I wanna go..lol
It’d be fun to meet at Silver Dollar City someday! Maybe we could have a blog gathering there! Yes?
Thanks for sharing your little holiday. Although after reading about all that food I think I need an extra session on the Treadmill today. LOL.
HA! If thinking of food makes us gain weight, I’m in BIG TROUBLE!
Too funny!
Oh my–it looks you guys had way too much fun! I haven’t eaten dinner yet tonight and I’m just drooling over those pizza pictures.
xoxo
simi
Oh, I wish you could eat THAT pizza! So yummy!
I enjoyed watching the video in the car. The noise level is the exact same as it was for my family back when we were kids.
My poor Dad had to deal with a lot of screams. We were a family of 6–2 girls, 1 boy, and than me. A lot of girl (high-pitched) screams! My brother would usually yell out—God please save me! ha!
Girls and little boys kind of sound the same! ha!!! Noise is a part of our EVERY SINGLE DAY! I’ve always been noisy myself, so most of the time, it doesn’t bother me at all.
How fun!! We go to Branson about twice a year to stock up on outlet mall clothes for the kids (my in-laws live in Harrison, so usually we go there and my mother-in-law and I dash up to Branson Saturday morning and shop till we drop!) – we should coordinate visits sometime
We should definitely meet up there sometime! We usually go once a year – although we didn’t go last year and this year was a very quick visit.
Your family totally rocks the fanny packs! Love your vacation pics. Looks like fun!