A Branson 4th of July

4th of July looked a bit different for us this year. Our niece Kelsey (the most stunning bride ever) said her "I do's" on the 4th; Bennett was the ring bearer. All of this means we had a jam packed five days of family fun in Branson!

We had been looking forward to this trip for a long time and are very thankful it all got to happen. This trip also counts as our kiddo's first official long distance vacation; a trip they will always remember. We left Thursday afternoon and arrived in Branson just in time for some late night pizza with Tim, Karen and Mitch. Traffic was busy and the rain didn't help, but the kids were good travelers. Friday morning Doug, Tim and Mitch golfed with the to-be groom Austin. Karen and I met up with the Heuerman's and Grandparents to go on a golf-cart tour of the mountains and waterfalls. 

Nothing like driving up and down a mountain for your first golf-cart driving experience, but I would like to say I rocked it (meaning I only hit a curb once). Em and B rode with Karen and I; Auggie had to ride with Grandpa. The views were beautiful and it was fun to make pit stops to check out the water or the rocks. Friday morning was one of my favorite things that we did; I would highly recommend the experience. 

When I asked her, Emery said the golf cart tour was also one of her favorite things we did. She also loved the wedding dance and swimming. I could have just said anything she did with her cousins because the girl loves them so much. 

Auggie's favorites include mini-golf and swimming. He also loved early breakfasts with just him and Uncle Phil. He cried when I told him it was the day we were leaving. Auggie always has this fear that something more fun is out there, but he did a good job of staying in the moment this trip. 

Bennett Lee had a big trip. He enjoyed being the center of attention for a change and ate up the lime light. He also loved tagging along with all of the older cousins, sleeping in his "puppy bed" (aka pallet of blankets on the floor) and eating. I don't think he was ever not eating.

Friday night was rehearsal for the wedding. I always say that the most stressed person at a wedding is the mother of the ring bearer or flower girl. We had practiced at home and talked up how special his job was. At rehearsal he immediately went to Kelsey and Austin, so Doug and I immediately got as far away from him as possible. He is better without Mom and Dad! He did a perfect job at rehearsal (minus flashing his belly and picking his nose) and even told Doug "I not even scared!".  

B with his "special" ring bearer water bottle. Everything he did over the five days in Branson he announced as "special". He loved the attention all night, and I quickly became more relaxed about the wedding. 

Saturday morning, the 4th, was the big day and Bennett Lee was pumped.

And handsome. So handsome. 

The wedding was in this beautiful glass chapel out in the woods. It was small and intimate and just so sweet. Bennett Lee walked up with his confident dimpled smile, high-fived Austin, stated that he wanted to "do dat again" and then proceeded to eat three rolls of smarties. Emery took it all in and Auggie was wiggly but good; I am going to call it all a major win. I can't wait to see pictures from this day. 

The reception was at an even cooler venue. All windows and just the coolest vibe and decor.  Em loves family wedding dances, so I really didn't see her the entire night. After a nap, pep talk (loud music and people are not his fav) and some glow sticks, Aug was ready to party too. 

And this one....this one is always ready to party. He soaked up even more attention at the reception when he won a game that got our table to go first for supper (it also involved pregnant me running to the bathroom to grab a roll a toilet paper in order to win...). B just truly lived his best life Saturday. 

Had to include this pic of me and my forever wedding date.  He cleans up pretty good, doesn't he? We didn't even get to slow dance since we were busy chasing kids around, but I wouldn't trade any of that ever. The night ended in a sparkler send off for the newly-weds and snoring kids on the way home. 

Sunday felt like a little breath of fresh air; finally a day of no set plans and some time to take in the view. We decided to ask all the kids what they wanted to do. I swear they all yelled SWIM at the same time. So to the pool we went. 

We stayed in a large cabin with Phil's, Gary's and Terry's. It was a big house but definitely a full house. Our cabin had the perfect pool and we pretty much had the whole thing to ourselves for most of the day Sunday. Grandma and Grandpa and Vicki's joined too. 

The kids spent the day going down the slides, diving for rings and playing chicken. The adults got to chat and relax. This was also one of my favorite things we did on our trip. I also enjoyed the nap with my boys that took place after the day of swim. 

Auggie had one thing on his Branson to-do list and that was mini-golf; Sunday night he planned the fun. There were lots of golf options, but he settled on the Dinosaur themed one (good pick) and Phil's and Terry's joined us. Doug, Em and I got hole-in-ones, Auggie did great on the back nine and Bennett was a mix of very happy and very disappointed in his golfing skills. 

We wrapped up the evening with a late supper where we were the only customers. Uncles made the kids paper airplanes and we kind of let them run wild. 

We had to snap this pic of the big kids....so lame. Just kidding. Actually these big kids and the ones not in this picture helped so much on the trip; they were helping hands and fun makers. 

Monday was our last full day. Doug took a group of nephews golfing in the morning, so the kids and I hit up the pool one more time. After this we tagged along with Terry's to Build-A-Bear. My big kids helped Bennett pick out the perfect bear for being such a big boy all weekend. He named him Pop Tart (which is also the name he has picked out for his soon to be brother or sister), and he hasn't let his new bear out of his sight. The rest of day was spent playing around the cabin with cousins, grilling supper out (Doug nailed the steaks) and staying up really late one last time. 

Our last night there Katie took some pictures of my three while they were exploring; they are my newest prized possessions. These three love each other big and that was apparent this trip as Em and Aug cheered on ring-bearer B, as Em made sure Aug was included during games with so many girl cousins around, and as Aug asked B to tag along with him at the pool all day. There were lots of big fun things this trip, but my momma heart is remembering these little moments today. 

It was a July 4th weekend to remember. Thankful for this trip!