Annual Branson Vacation

All 3 boys swimming

Dear Joshua and Luke, 

We were very blessed to already have vacation #2 this summer. We made our annual trek to Branson, MO.  We enjoy this annual trip to our familiar vacation spot.  We spent a lot of time swimming at the pool.  

Luke & Joshua at the Pea Ridge Battlefield

Our highlight was our first ever trip to Garfield, Arkansas ~ the site of the Battle of Pea Ridge.  This was a pivotal battle in the Civil War in which Missouri finally became a union state in this war.  It was an interesting battle to learn about.  We watched a film, visited the museum, and drove around the battlefield and the adjoining land of many smaller battles. Luke found a pocket watch just like Tom Sawyer had  as his treasure from the trip.  Joshua found a pin from The Battle of Pea Ridge.  

Luke on the go-carts!

Joshua on the go carts

Another day we spent the day at the waterpark.  Five hours in the sun and lots of fun!  There were two large slides, fountains, tumbling buckets, diving boards, and the largest pool ever.  It was fun for all of us. Joshua entered the cannonball contest, and wanted to win so badly.  It was a hoot watching the kids try to make the biggest splash, the tightest roll, and some awesome cannonballs!

Joshua playing "Minute to Win It!"

Oh yes, another highlight of the trip was seeing Jonah at the Sight and Sound Theater.  What a great story that came to life right in front of us.  Excellent actors, scenery, costumes….   The whole story came to life right in front of our eyes.  After the show we had a good discussion about how hard it was to be Jonah.  It was hard to be patient and it was difficult for him to do what God asked him to do. What God asked him to do sounded so outrageous to him, that he could not imagine doing it. Jonah tried to hide from God and do what he wanted instead.  It was also very difficult for Jonah to forgive the Nivanites.  Both of you said that Jonah was the best!  You even mentioned it as being most awesome the following day.

Eric helping Joshua make his
tie dye shirt.

We swam so much at our resort at many of he different pools, and of course the hot tubs.  Both of you like to participate in the games and crafts.  Luke’s favorite activity was the ice cream social every day at one ~ ice cream cones, ice cream sundaes, root beer floats…yummy.  Both of you really liked making sand art, patriotic tie dye shirts, gel candle holders, and more.  Joshua enjoyed the Minute To Win It games, too!  He played on the winning team.  His two activities were stacking golf balls on top of each other and balancing pens on the top of his hands.  He started with two pens.  He threw them up in the air to catch them.  Then, you added a pen each time.  It was fun, and I love that Joshua is always up for something new and different!  

One last highlight was Joshua winning the coloring contest for the second time. Luckily for us, Luke was last year's winner! Both of you do like to color!

We had hot weather for this vacation, but it was just what we needed for pool side weather!  

I love you more today than I did yesterday!

Love,

Mom