Chase's First Trip to Branson!!!!

Every year, sometime toward the end of June, we have a Hartman family reunion! Uncle Nod and Beautiful Aunt Deborah live in Branson, and have an awesome home that is perfect for everyone to get together for some quarter games and meals. They also manage a hotel, and it's perfect for everyone to stay in!!! I unfortunately did not take pictures of the beautiful home, or the hotel, but I have plenty of pictures of Chase having the time of his life!!!! He is just the most fun, and watching him laugh and smile, it's completely priceless....

For the car ride, Danny and I bought a DVD player so Chase could watch his favorites, Wow Wow Wubzy and Thomas the Train. Chase was beside himself, although he tried to play it cool. I think he could not believe he was watching TV AND going for a car ride!



We left for Branson just after lunch, in hopes of Chase taking a nap for most of the ride and before we even got on the highway...



He slept for an hour or so, and then was totally occupied by the TV, and it was a very easy drive.

When we got there, Chase and I had our first Lambert's experience. It was REALLY good food, and they REALLY do throw rolls at you! I didn't have my camera for this experience, but I am most certain we will be back there again...

Our first full day of Branson was Friday, we had breakfast at the hotel... which was super good. Cereal, eggs, biscuits and gravy, toast, waffles, and the best part... LIVE entertainment! Chase was going crazy every morning, not only did he love the biscuits and gravy, he LOVED walking around and seeing all the people, and going right up to the stage to sing and dance with the entertainers.



After breakfast, Danny, Chase and I went to do some outlet store shopping and then we went to a "House of Mirrors" Chase loves looking at himself in the mirror so we knew he would totally be into this. He had a BLAST!!!









Kissing himself...



Will the real Chase Hartman please stand up...



After the fun with mirrors, we went back to the hotel for Chase to take a nap. And when he woke up, we got Grampy and we all went to have some more fun!!! This time we headed to the "Tot Spot" There were lots of video games, a ball pit with some tunnels, and the area we were interested in "Comfy Land" where the floor was padded and everything was geared toward kids Chase's age.













Daddy and Chase in the man cave....



Chase had so much fun... but he pretty much explored and was ready to go back down where all the other kids were, in the arcade. I think he would have liked if there were other kids to play with in Comfy Land. After the Tot Spot, we went back to the house and had some yummy brisket and salad. Chase had a lot of fun at the house, and once again, I wish I would have taken some pictures in there!!! Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol had their daughter and grandkids and Chase had a blast playing with them... or at least following them like he was one of the big kids...

Saturday we went to Silver Dollar City! It was the most fun!!!! I just had a perma-grin the whole time watching Chase, he was so excited to be there. Here he is waiting to get in... he has no idea the fun that lies ahead..



Our first stop, the kids splash pad and play area...







And the water gets shot right in his face!!!



Here Chase tries to act like Mr. Cool as he strolls along and gives his funny face to a girl with a weird hat thing on....



Chase LOVED the water, and he LOVES his new found freedom in walking!!!! After getting completely soaked, we went into the ball area, Chase loves balls, and loved playing in them with all the other kids running around too!!





We headed to the kidsfest area next, where Chase found some sand boxes...





Then he heard some kids screaming and having a blast in a sprinkler... out of everything at Silver Dollar City, a plain 'ol sprinkler was the biggest attraction for some of the little kids... Chase plopped himself down right next to it and was loving every second...although it kept squirting him in the head...



After getting completely soaked once again, we went to watch some dancers on an outdoor stage. Chase was invited by one of the dancers to come up on stage and do a little dance with some of the other kids in the audience. He put his cool face on, and off he went to be center stage...







After the dancing we went to wait in line to meet Dora the Explorer, but after waiting for almost an hour, then realizing there was no show, it was literally just a "meet and greet" we decided that Chase did not need to meet her that bad, and Chase decided he would rather eat lunch... so we went for lunch. Soon after the rain started coming down hard. We were going to wait it out, but we were told that it was going to rain for a while, so we headed out.



Self portrait...



Steam coming out of the hills from the rain... it really did cool things off though!!!



Chase really would not nap after an exciting time at Silver Dollar City, we tried to relax and wind down, but he was on the move. So we all went to the Stone Hill Winery and took a tour and got some wine. Danny and I love this place, and enjoyed going back.



Chase and cousin Mark



We left Sunday, after spending the morning at the Branson Landing with Grampy, it was so nice and we all decided we needed to get a timeshare right there on the landing... Danny and I stayed at the Landing a little longer than Grampy and had a nice lunch at a yummy steakhouse, then we headed home. On our way we made a stop at the Precious Moments Chapel, I had been once before, but this was Danny and Chase's first time...



They had a special Precious Moment made for the Oklahoma City bombing... I thought it was neat they had made this one of the large displays...



HE is Risen!!!



The chapel is such a nice peaceful place. I don't know what it is about Precious Moments, they are such sweet looking artwork. We didn't get any this time, but we both decided we would be coming back to the chapel the next time we head to Branson.
Back in the car to head the rest of the way home, Chase is in heaven, eating Cheetoes, watching TV, and drinking juice (even though the cup is upside down...)