Big Cedar Lodge and Silver Dollar City

While Regan and Jane were at camp, the rest of us had fun, too.  After going back to Gammy and Poppy's for a couple of days, Meredith and I headed back to a resort near Kanakuk called Big Cedar Lodge.  We met a good friend of mine (Nibal) and her daughter, Leila, who is Meredith's age for a couple of days of catching up and letting the girls get reacquainted.  Nibal moved from Charlotte to Kansas City right around the same time we left for Abu Dhabi.  What a treat to get to spend some time with dear Nibal.  Many thanks to her husband, Drew, who kept their boys so we could have a couple of days of girls time.

After Nibal left, my parents came up and brought Anna.  We also had a few fun days at Big Cedar and at Silver Dollar City (a great little amusement park near Branson).  Meredith loves rides and roller coasters so she was in heaven and we all enjoyed some wonderful shows at Silver Dollar City.  We were so happy that the temperatures cooled off a bit on that day when we were outside walking around all day long.  We stayed for the end of the day show at the outdoor amphitheater and were just amazed at the quality of the performance.  The show had country music, dancers (that the girls loved watching  - well, we loved watching them, too), patriotic songs, gospel songs.  Since we don't get much of that in Abu Dhabi, it was a particular treat to get to see that much talent in such a beautiful outdoor setting.

We had a wonderful time at Big Cedar Lodge.  I didn't do a great job taking pictures but we also spent a lot of time at two different pools, floated down the lazy river, walked along the hiking trails, played board games and lawn games.  We played putt putt, ate ice cream, built Lincoln Log cabins and made s'mores.  We weren't able to do the kids fishing program - next time!  The resort is right on a lake so when the kids get older, it will be fun to take a boat out on the lake as well sometime.

We loved Big Cedar and definitely will add it to our list of places to come to again.

Enjoying looking at the fish and the turtles
in one of the Big Cedar Lodge lakes

Getting reacquainted with Leila

Leila reluctantly gives it a whirl, too

A fun reunion with my friend Nibal

Nibal learning to play Ladders

Making s'mores

After a day, they were fully reacquainted and so
happy to get to play together.

Poppy and Gammy brought Anna up to Branson after
two days and she was happy to see big sister.  We
were sad to say good-bye to Nibal and Leila

At the overlook at College of the Ozarks after a wonderful lunch
at their restaurant where the students do most of the work

Poppy and Meredith go by on the log ride getting ready
to go up the big hill!

Mere looks a little scared in this picture but she came
out of the ride with a big smile on her face.

Anna's first time to ride a ride on her own (without being in my
lap or me holding her).  She's not sure about this yet....

...but gives us the thumbs up!

Mere rode this little roller coaster at least four times (twice with me
and twice with Poppy).  She loves the fast, scary rides!

Anna with a smile on her face riding the ladybug ride with Meredith.

The big show at the end of the day.  It was very, very good!

Ice cream social at the Big Cedar Lodge

Time for putt putt

Anna decided that she would rather just kick the ball!

Building Lincoln Log cabins in the lobby

Back for s'mores so that Anna could check them out, too.