The Mis-Adventures of the Bass Family

We took the kids for a mini-vacation to Branson this past weekend. We left on Sunday afternoon and returned home today. A trip with five kids is sure to bring much fun and excitement, as well as frustrations.

We started our journey around 1:00 on Sunday. David had worked all night, so he came home and got some rest before we headed off. Being in charge of getting everything together, I was bound to forget something and forget I did! We were far enough away that I wasn't turning around when I realized I had forgotten the stroller - which would come to be needed later in the trip! We were just going to bring the umbrella stroller - but even at that - it would have been quite helpful. We were just outside of Clinton when 3 of the kids decided they had to go to the bathroom and couldn't wait the 15 mile drive into town - so, off to the side of the road we went and out came Hunter, Peyton and Aubrey. This seems to be a recurring theme with our family, as we always have to make at least one pitstop on the way to my parents.

We stopped at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield for a stretch break and to check it out, but with the exception of the store part - the other areas were closed off due to construction - so we just made our way back to the car and on to Branson.

We arrived at our hotel and got all checked in after a serious of little hiccups. The hotel tried to charge us 70.00 more than my confirmation stated and she said, well, maybe I just added wrong - so she readded and brought it down a bit, but still not what I was happy with and then suddenly she made it to what our confirmation stated - I wasn't too impressed with her - customer service didn't seem to be her high point. Once we got all settled in, we decided to take a walk across the street to the Branson Landing - there was a fountain show that was going on and the kids seemed to enjoy that - we walked around a bit, but all the kids could think about was getting back over to the hotel and down to the pool.

They really enjoyed swimming, with the exception of Tanner - he got in for a short bit, but decided that just wasn't his thing. The kids enjoyed swimming for a little over an hour and we headed back to the room to settle in for the night. David and I got the kids all settled in and watching a movie and we headed out for a short walk together, down the riverwalk and around the Historic Branson streets. We were gone maybe 45 minutes and enjoyed our time walking and talking. Everything was calm when we got back - Zach had all under complete control. The first night we were there, a couple of kids were waiting by the elevator while the rest of us were walking up there when we asked - where is Aubrey? Hunter announced - oh, she got on the elevator! David and I just looked at each other as we wondered how long it would take us to find her...luckily though, once we hit the up button to get an elevator - there she stood. Luckily for us, she didn't hit the button once she got in and the door closed!

After we finished swimming the first night and we were all on the elevator, David was counting heads when suddenly he said "Where's Aubrey"? With this look of panic on his face - thinking we had left her behind or something - the rest of us just looked at him and said - Have you checked your arms? He was holding her! It was quite funny to us.

We took a drive around Branson on Monday afternoon, but the kids just couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to go swimming. Tanner even enjoyed swimming this time around. We spent a good hour or two down at the pool and everyone was so tired by the end of the afternoon.

Our main reason for going to Branson was that I save the MyCokeReward points and had saved enough for some free Silver Dollar City tickets, so decided to take the kids down there. I was only able to get two free tickets and one of my co-workers is a season ticket holder, so she gave me some free guest passes for the kids. The guest passes were only good from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., so after a full day of swimming - we headed out there - worn out! They enjoyed it though and everyone seemed to have a good time. We rode a few kid friendly rides and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

I thought everyone would crash as soon as we got back to the hotel - but it didn't quite happen that way. Peyton ended up in a laughing spell and over the silliest of things. I think they were so tired, they didn't quite know how to act. The first night, Zach and Peyton shared a bed, while Aubrey and Tanner slept with David and I. Hunter camped out in a chair with a foot stool (his choice, not ours). Night two: I decided that if Zach and David wanted to share a bed - then I would share one with the four little ones (funny how it doesn't bother me, near as much as the guys).

We checked out of our hotel around 11:00 to head back to KC - David, Hunter and Peyton took the suitcase and a few things down to the car, while Zach and I finished getting everything in the hotel room. We headed down with Aubrey and Tanner to meet them out front when approached by David - Peyton had ran off back in the hotel and he couldn't find him. He sent Zach in to see if he could find him and he was with the little ones while I went into find him. I was scared to death...as was Peyton when he finally saw us...he got back in the elevator by himself and a man brought him back to the front desk - where I found him. He got in so much trouble - he was crying, I was crying and hopefully he learned a valuable lesson about running off from his parents!

We arrived home around 3:00 and Zach and I headed to VanHorn to complete his registration for high school. His first day is next Thursday afternoon for a Freshmen Orientation Day. He will attend a half day of school to get familiar with the school. Then school actually begins on Monday. It's hard to believe that my little boy is starting high school.

It's nice to be home! Despite all of our adventures and mis-adventures - we had a good time!

~~Dawn