Swallow Family Blog : July 2024 Part II: Branson Missouri Part I

We started our trip with a night in Springfield, MO. We planned to go to the OG Bass Pro Shops. Last minute we decided to pay the money and visit the aquarium on the back half. It was without a doubt the best aquarium we have been to! We lucked out and the day we visited it was dead! We showed up right at opening and were done before all the many people decided to visit that day.

Tyler works for Tyson and this was cool to see he has a whole wing of the aquarium.

There is only one way in and out. You just keep going straight until you are done. Every so often the habitat would change and new animals would be showcased. We were very impressed by the level of decoration in each area and the amount of fish/animals we got to see!

You could even pay to dive with the sharks!

GUYS! This anaconda? Boa constrictor? Whatever it was, we saw it with its breakfast! I knew they swim, but did you know they eat in the water, too?? So cool.

We found one of these screens in Fort Worth. You color a picture and then take it to the computer. The computer scans your picture and adds it to the projection on the wall. We always stop to do it.

There were two exhibits after the aquarium. An awesome photography museum and the taxidermy animals. Every time we thought we were finished, around the corner was another exhibit.

When we finally saw light again, we went to Hu-Hot for lunch. We do not have one in DFW, so it was on the must-do list. We noticed there was a Buc-ee's in Springfield and OF COURSE we stopped. It was fine, but it definitely was NOT a Texas Buc-ee's. After Buc-ee's we met up with our first of many cousin encounters. I came back from the bathroom to find them all playing the Wal-Mart Games. We were supposed to pick Tommy up from the airport in Springfield, but it was delayed. We headed to the AirBnB before picking him up later.

Everyone else was quickly descending upon Branson!

Most of everyon arrived at the house at about the same time. There were so many groceries and things to bring in. Mitch volunteered to do all the food so we helped where we could. The AriBnB hosts were very particular about a few things and we were waiting a LONG time to finally get into the house. This house was awesome! Every family had their own room with their own bathroom! It featured a pool, a hot tub, 3 arcade games and two fridges. It was just right for all 32 of us!

To say that the pool was a highlight for the kids(and adults alike) would be an understatement. There was almost always someone in the pool.

Grayson is officially taller than Kendra, but she was quick to prove, height IS NOT might. I don't think there was ever an open spot at the arcade games. Only at night when the majority of people were sleeping. They were a hot commodity!

Something fun we did was The Trading Blanket. Everyone could bring anything they didn't want, to try and trade for something they wanted someone else may have. It was so fun! Grayson very quickly set his sights on Mitch's throwing hatchets. He luckily got them. All my people traded for some very fun things! We have hatchets, Lego, Bluey Balloons and many other things they were happy to trade! Watching Ender do everything in his power to get Grayson's RC boat for a candy bar was hilarious. Good thing Mitch had those hatchets to keep things interesting!

One adventurous group went on an easy hike to a waterfall that was close by! Emily got to do it twice to recover some of Amelia's lost items. I really enjoyed how green Arkansas was. Even the humidity was ok for me. There is so much clear water and green growing things all over!

One dinner Mitch and Tyler made everyone sandwiches just like when they worked at Subway together. Emma brought an "adult" Jenga. It was like hot potato. When the timer went off, whoever was holding the grabbers got shocked. So funny to watch.