Meeker Family Vacation 2017--Branson, MO

We headed over to Branson, MO!!!  We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place and the kids have been begging to come back since our last trip here.  My younger brother, Travis, moved to Dallas, TX earlier this year and he drove out with his kids to meet us here.  So extra fun with little cousins running around!

We had 3 hotel rooms (that we got a super SWEET price with Chris's connections here:).  1 room for Chris and I.  Travis had a room with his 2 youngest kids.  And Ethan, Max, Tatum, Sabey, and Devoney had their own room right in the middle of our two rooms.  It worked out wonderfully.  Our hotel was right on the Branson Landing.  We enjoyed our first night together just relaxing at our hotel, eating pizza, and swimming.  

Ethan, Asa, and Max

Dev in her make-shift bed:)

This was Sabey and Tatum's bed
but Dev NEVER missed a
picture opportunity:)

It was sure a good thing that "Aunt Buffie" was on this trip because Travis's oldest 2 daughters LOVE roller coasters and Travis is NOT a roller coaster fan--he never has been.  We got him on 2 roller coasters and then he was DONE!  But no worries because "Auntie Roller Coaster" was there to take Max, Tatum, Sabey, and Devoney on all the scary rides!  Max, Tatum, Sabey, and I rode the Wildfire roller coaster 5 TIMES IN A ROW!!!  (Dev wasn't tall enough).  It was a great day to at Silver Dollar City because there were NO lines and we were able to ride a ton of rides in the time we were there.

Roller Coaster Babes:)

We met the Undertaker!
He measured all the kids for their coffins:)

Asa and Max were pals all week:)

After being at Silver Dollar City all day, Chris and I took the girls out for a show.  We had tickets for "Six."  I had the opportunity to see these guys perform several years ago and I just LOVE them.  They are 6 out of 10 brothers that perform year round in Branson.  Crazy talented family for sure.

A trip to Branson is not complete without going on the Branson Belle Showboat.  For our last day in Branson we hit the lunch time cruise.  Yummy food and amazing shows all while floating down the Missouri River--my idea of a perfect day.

This is Tatum being super shy
while the drummer was trying to get
her to talk to him out on deck:)

After our show, Travis had to head back to TX and we headed back to the airport in Springfield.  We sure packed a lot into 4 days--the only way we like to travel, run ourselves ragged:)  The kids had a blast and I sure enjoyed some extra time with my little bro--he's been living in North Carolina for the past 5 years so it's been a while since we've visited.  Nice to have him back on this side of the U.S.

Everything went well with our flight home.  Upon arrival in Mesa, it was RAINING!  Seriously, we had NO rain on our trip until we came home.  The problem was that there was lightning over the airport so we were stuck on our plane for another hour after landing!  Ugh!  But it was sure a beautiful sight to get off the plane after an AZ monsoon storm.  I sure do love a good desert rain and it was the perfect "welcome home" for us.  Summer 2017...it's been GREAT!