October 14, 2022-October Branson

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I knew that Robby was not in the bed this morning. This is the day that we needed to reserve our dinner reservations for Disney in December (Anderson's 16th birthday) so he had to be up early for that. I figured he was just sitting in the bathroom doing that, but he didn't come back to bed. I continued to doze until my alarm did go off, but I did know that he wasn't in bed and he did come back.

Well, he did eventually come back as my alarm was ringing. He had woken up early, did the dining reservations and then went to find us some breakfast. (Now we have a camper full of food, but a breakfast out is fun.) We had heard about a cinamon roll place near the strip, so Robby went out to find it-of course they were closed for a wedding this week. Thankfully, we know where another good cinnamon roll place is-Robby even asked for extra icing so they are super sweet and super delicious.

We were at the park at opening this morning. We had to wait on the Hobbs, but the kids all went to ride a few rides before the crowds came in the park. They were able to ride one Time Traveler and 4 rounds of Wildfire. 

But let's talk about the crowds today-oh my! There were plenty of crowds. It was the craziest I think that we have ever seen Silver Dollar City. Now, of course this made the rides a bit more tricky. But what made us sad was the food lines-seriously, the people at this park were eating all day long and that meant that I couldn't be eating all day long.

We have bought the passes again like last time-except it is hard to use them when the lines are so crazy. Now, we did get the ice cream waffle thing last night, plus 2 bbq sandwiches today (which we made into 6 since we brought in a package of buns for that reason-don't judge.), a sausage saurkraut bun along with something else that I can't remember. 

After the kids did their bit of riding, we met up with the Hobbs soon we found the Fergusons as well. Later in the day the Heltz joined the crew as well. The kids were able to ride quite a few rides despite the crowds-the lines were just a bit longer.

However, we did have one hiccup during the day. Poor Whitman didn't feel that well today. I think that he might have had fever most of the day-the boy is usually pretty sullen so it is hard to tell when he doesn't feel great. But bless, he didn't feel good. 

At one point, we were eating and he fell asleep at the table and snoozed for about an hour. I sat there with him while Robby ran to the camper to let Bentley out. The other were off riding rides other places, and Whitman just snoozed. 

He did ride a few rides today, but by around 6 he was done, and we were pretty much too-fighting the crowds all day was just a bit tiring. We came home-stopping by Taco Bell on the way home. This is Campbell's favorite restaurant by far right now. I passed out medicine to Whitman and anyone else who looked sickly.

Unfortunately, the medicine didn't set well with Whitman, but thankfully, the laundry is close by. He is currently resting well so hopefully he will sleep and feel better in the morning. Robby and I did the little bit of laundry tonight along with lots of dog walking. 

We sat outside and visited wtih the Fergies for a bit before finally going back inside for bed. It's been a pretty decent day.

October 13, 2022-October Branson

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  • This morning when Robby wasn't in bed with me when my alarm clock went off, I briefly wondered where he was. Then I even waited a few more minutes thinking that he may return before I finally did crawl out of bed myself. 
  • It didn't take me long to find him-he was in the kitchen already working on the mound of laundry. Since today was trip day he does tend to get a bit excited and wake up early. Since he folded both loads of laundry plus emptied the dishwasher, I really wish that every day could be trip day.
  • We then took our walk with Bentley. We only did 2 miles this morning. Yesterday and the day before Robby did a bit more than that, but today I bet that Bentley was glad for a break. She didn't get much of a break becuase after her walk she was soon given a bath.
  • The rest of us worked on school work for a good little bit. Everyone was finished early today-including Whitman. Though I didn't really have time to do a lot of our work together. The kids thought that they had won the lottery when I told them to each just pick one thing and that is what we will do. 
  • I usually read about 12 different books during our work together with Campbell, Keaton and Whitman so only doing 4 books was quite a shock to them. Of course I had 2 children that picked the absolute shortest thing to read possible. I couldn't read too long to them today becuase I had to go to church to go and pick up Graham from school.
  • Today his class and Reagan's class was at church instead of Wildwood. That meant that I had a bit further to go. As soon as I came home with Graham, he made a bagel and we headed out.
  • Anderson and Reagan are staying back in Little Rock this weekend-she had to work tonihgt at church along with her work tomorrow and soccer Saturday and Sunday. Anderson's schedule wasn't as busy, but he has upward on Saturday.
  • Our drive to Branson was fairly smooth. We did stop one time to check our straps for the car-they were on, but one had indeed looseened so that was a simple fix. Then we were back on the road. 
  • We did stop at Walmart in Harrison on the way up. Robby bought gras while I ran inot the store with the girls. We bought the hamburger buns and candy-and then we happened upon the clearance where we found 3 little Christmas presents for people. 
  • Soon we were at our Treehouse campground. After Robby hooked up, we took Bentley on a little walk. Then it was time to heat up supper. I kind of overheated (nice way to say burned) some of our bread for supper, but it was still absolutely delicious. 
  • Once supper was cleaned up, we loaded up for Silver Dollar City. It has just been a month since we were here last-it was so empty then! And it si so not empty now. Ha! It was pretty crowded tonight, but the kids were able to ride most everything-Time Traveler, Fire in the Hole, Outlaw Run, Powder Keg and Wildfire. That made our evening successful for sure. 
  • I tried my hardest to find some hot chocolate tonight but even after waiting in a long line (at the same place I got hot chocolate just a month ago) they didn't have any. Then we weren't able to find anyone else who had some-except the store at the end where the line was out the door. Good thing I had some hot chocolate in the cabinet back at the camper.
  • After riding all of the rides, we headed back.We walked Bentley then Keaton and I made s'mores for everyone. Now it is bedtime!

Ocgober 12, 2022

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  • I was about to say that today was Tuesday, but since we just returned home from church I believe that I'm wrong about it being Tuesday. I did wake up a few minutes earlier so during our walk, I was able to walk 2.5 miles this morning. (Except my watch never thinks that I walk as far as Robby so we aren't really friends right now-me and the watch, me and Robby are indeed still friends.)
  • Soon we started school with the big 3 doing presentations about some famous folks. Then it was time to start helping everyone else.  Whitman, for some reason, was thinking super clearly so he not only did today's school, but even started on tomorrow's school-this never happens. Keaton on the opposite side of the spectrum finished most of this weeks school last week.
  • The school day went by fairly quick-I did some things in the kitchen, put some things in camper, braided some hair, trimmed some hair, made a few more shirts wtih the girls, walked on the treadmill. I am always surprised how quickly the day goes by. 
  • I do have a list of things that I work on during the day-maybe I should get up and get it so I can feel more accomplished in this blog than just the above paragraph. However, it isn't worth all of that-right now, I can write about 2 or 3 words before Bentley returns to my hands and usually ends up clicking keys on the computer with her bone that she wants for me to throw.
  • Reagan went to work today and as soon as she came home it was time for her to turn around and go to soccer practice. Even though it was raining some, Reagan's pratice went on until their was lightening.
  • The big boys didn't go to church tonigh since their verge was moved to school campuses. Campbell also didn't have anything at church tonight so she came and helped with the kids. I think that she certainly enjoyed that-though she did tell her siblings to never go back down to 1st-5th grade.
  • After church, Robby stopped by McDonalds to pick up some supper for everyone. We all must have been hungry because we all ate standing around the bar. Afterwards there were a few more trips to the camper and hopefully some ice cream soon.

October 11, 2022

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  • I walked 2 miles again this morning with Robby and Bentley before school. That is handy for my cound and all, but for that to work successfully, I need to start a bit earlier than we did today. I can't blame that on Robby at all-he is getting ready for Disney and waking up earlier and earlier. I am also getting ready for Disney by sleeping later and later.
  • I read to the little 3 first this morning-we are about to finish one of our chapter books which is a good thing since I have a zillion books coming from the library tomorrow. I even have quite a few books for me-sometime I act like the library is about to close and hoarde all of the books that I can.
  • Anderson and Reagan had their presentations today while Graham had a test. They all did wonderful, I'm sure. Robby and I picked up the boys-in two different cars. Then Robby took Anderson to Raymar to paint the fields one last time. They boy has worked hard this fall for football. I took Graham home.
  • Then we were all home for a little bit before we met Reagan at Kroger. There we all received our flu shots. It took a good little while for them to figure out Keaton's insurance (the same as the rest of ours), but once they did shots were given out fairly quickly.
  • Once Reagan and I had ours, we hurried on to get her hair cut. The place we were going was about to close so we zoomed there and didn't have any problem. The others did a bit of shopping after their shots. 
  • Reagan came home for a few minutes before heading to soccer practice. They didn't have many folks there tonight so they finished early. Meanwhile the Hobbs came over and their boys and Whitman went to see a movie. My big boys stayed home and hung out in their room.
  • Keaton and Campbell helped Sarah and I make the Hobbs Disney shirts. We were able to make 21 shirts tonight. I still have a few to go, but I'm feeling good about my shirt making progress. We worked until the boys came home from the movie so it was a pretty late night.
  • Actually, it is almost 12 and the only time that I have been sitting down today is since I have been working on the blog-I'm tired!

October 10, 2022

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  • My dream last night was I was in a baking competition. I had successfully baked chocolate chip cookies, and then I spent the rest of the dream trying to figure out what I was going to make for the rest of the competition. Even after thinking about it all day long, I am still not too sure what I would bake.
  • School went well today. We seemed to zoom through some things and not others. Reagan and Anderson both have slide show presentations for their computer science class tomorrow. Reagan is talking about William Shakespear while Anderson is speaking about the movie Shrek. Reagan has another report about Shakespear which is why she chose that topic. However, Anderson has worked and stressed on his slide show quite a bit of the day.
  • Keaton did sneak out with Robby to pick up some groceries at lunch time. That is when we normally do our work together so that did change up things a bit. I switched things around and soon most of the school work was done for the day.
  • Reagan headed off to work today, and pretty soon afterwards I headed up to the treadmill. Counting my walk this morning, an afternoon walk and an evening walk along with my treadmill: I am now at 40 miles for the month of October. Just 60 more miles this month to meet my goal.
  • There were at least 2 different football games that happened outside today. As well as one basketball game that I know of and two different volleyball games. It is such perfect weather right now so it does make walking outside easy along with the kids are enjoying being outside.
  • Well, Whitman was enjoying being outside. He was playing in his second football game when he did get elbowed in the head by Anderson. I think it was probably more like Whitman ran into Anderson's elbow-either way, he has a huge knot. 
  • Robby used the griddle tonight for supper-we fried up some potatoes, but we weren't thinking becuase I was standing at the stove frying up sausage and scrmbling eggs which he could have done much quicker outside. I was making breakfast burritos-my people seem to go through the fairly quickly.
  • It was almost 8 right now and the kids just all came inside. Whitman is in the shower and Anderson is in line. Once I have finished this blog, Keaton is already asking for my computer so she can get ahead on tomorrow's school work.

October 9, 2022

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  • When our alarm rang this morning, Robby said that he would get a shower if I would wake the kids up. So I headed to wake people up-soon I realized that I had only woken up two children, and he was already finished with his shower. I am not really sure what slowed me down so much, but thankfully, the others were fairly easy to wake up.
  • I then had my shower, and we squeezed a shower in for Whitman since who knows the last time that he had a shower. And mainly because his hair is a bit crazy to fix when it is not wet. I do a lot of fixing hair these days-all of the boys usually need help with their Sunday hair. (The difference between Sunday hair and every day hair is-Sunday hair is combed.) And French braiding hair is the rage for the girls. Campbell and Keaton like to have thier hair braied at night so it is wavy during the day, and Reagan wears her hair braided to soccer often. (Again, it would have been wise to know how to cut and style hair. That would benefit me more than my degree.)
  • Once the hairs were combed, it was time to head to church. They had a baby shower for one of the teachers today so that was fun. Then it was on to Grannymom's house for lunch. On the way their was a big debate in the car on what we had eaten there the last time that we were at her house. Keaton was about the only person that was correct-I guess her memory is better than ours for sure. I told the kids that I couldn't even remember what I had for breakfast, much less what we ate on Sunday lunch a month ago.
  • After lunch, we stayed for a while and then came home. I did squeeze in a super short nap before getting up to clean potties and clean the kitchen. Then I spent some time working on my lists. We have 5 trips coming up before the end of the year so Robby and I have lists happening for every single thing right now. It could be a little bit stressful, except that Robby and I really do thrive on being pretty busy. 
  • Soon the kids were all heading off to churchy things-Reagan, Anderson and Graham went to theri life group while Campbell opted to go to Rock Creek tonight. Then we all met back up for super at the Wilson's house.
  • While they were gone, Robby and I talked through some more things for our lists and even took a 2 mile walk. I have now walked 31 miles this month. I need 25 this next week to stay on track!

October 8, 2022

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  • I believe that not only was this the last football game (for all of us but Anderson) this year, but this might possibly be the last time that I drive Anderson to Raymar bright and early on a Saturday morning. I told him this, and he wasn't as sentimental as I was and replied with a "probably not."
  • This was the perfect weather day-except it was a little bit windy and chilly. Becuase of the chill people were buying coffee and hot chocolate like crazy which I stayed busy making. Then becuase of the wind, my hot chocolate dust and coffee filters were continually blowing out of the concession stand. It was a bit nuts for a few minutes with things blowing and me pouring hot drinks as fast as I could.
  • After football we all headed home to watch some more football. I made it until about the end of the 3rd quarter before I took my nap to try to help that Hogs. I woke once to Bentley licking me and some one trying to pull her off of me. Then I woke later to a completely empty living room-everyone had been there when I went to sleep and then they were all gone. I don't think that I slept long since everyone here gave up on the team and didn't watch the 4th quarter.
  • We did run to Sams, Walmart and Costco this afternoon. We did some speed shopping, but the girls enjoyed icees while we were in Sams. As soon as we came home, we unloaded the groceries and then loaded Keaton and Rylee back up to go to Charlotte's birthday party.
  • After dropping them off, I did a few things on my list before the Wilsons came over. Anna showed up a bit later as well. Once she arrived, the WIlsons, Robby and I loaded to go and eat Mexican. Robby always wants to find a favorite hole in the wall place that we can go and eat at all of the time-we just haven't found it yet though.
  • On the way home, we picked up the kids some food even though it was super late-they were still hungry. Then there wasn't too much time left in the evening so after finishing a football game, it was time for bed for all of the people.