Great Couples Getaway

This weekend was a couples retreat with our church. We spent two nights at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson. It was a nice time. A big change for us to go away without our kids. This would be our 1st time. Everyone did great. Kadyn was anxious for us to get back Sunday though and a little weepy before we actually got to Grams house to pick them up.

We left on Friday at 10:00. We carpooled with Brady and Jaime. The weather wasn't the best. We had a little bit of ice on Thrusday and a dusting of snow over night but not too bad. It seemed to be a quick trip there. We had lots to talk about on the way and well...we were excited to get away. We tried coming up with a name for their baby, listened to Rodney Carrington's new CD, came close to being affixiated with the fumes coming from the front seat (Brady and Tim), got lost 2 x's, came close to being involved in an explosion (did I mention that we diagnosed by brother with IBS), and finally arrived safe and sound (but barely... not only does Brady have IBS but he struggles with some serious ROAD RAGE!!!!).

We got our rooms and unloaded our things. There was a nice surprise for us in our rooms. Kelly and Rick had a little presentation for everyone in their room. A DVD series "Love Affairs", a book "The Five Love Languages", Chocolate, Coffee, Pretzles, Jelly Beans and some sparkling juice. So sweet of them!!!

Next, we took off to plan what we would like to do for the evening and following day (eventhough shopping would of been enough for me - we had to please the guys somehow). We stopped in to a ticket place to look at a couple of shows. Of course we stopped at a place that was happy to give you free tickets if you listened to their 90 presentation on timeshares. Tim and Brady said that they didn't mind going. Brady said it wouldn't take that long....Anyway, we ended up with tickets to the IMAX (The Deep Sea ) and tickets to the Titanic Museum. So, that evening we went to the IMAX which was cool, a 6 story screen. Then we went to Dick Clarks American Bandstand Diner. We were hoping for some live music or something kinda fun. Well, they said that there was live music starting in 45 minutes in their nightclub downstairs. So, were in! I think the guys thought we were in a strip club - kinda looked like it! So, we ate and waited for the music to start. No such luck, they pushed back the time because the second band wasn't going to show. So, it started getting really smoky so we went back to our rooms.

The next morning we hit a GRAND COUNTRY BUFFET! Yummy!!! (Did I mention that my brother has IBS and there seemed to be a huge issue with gas on this trip?) 9:00 was our timeshare tour. We got lost on the way there. "Friendly Pete" gave us wrong directions to get there so, we were about 15 minutes late. We stepped out of the car with a little motion sickness after turning around so many time and up and down the hills there. Okay, so this shouldn't be too bad after they realize that we really aren't serious about buying into the time share, they are going to let us go...right?!?! Are you kidding me!!!! I swear it must of been 2 1/2 hours before they released us from this hostage situation. Just when we thought we were free to go, they bring in one more GREAT deal. AHHHhhhh!!! Oh well, a little shopping after this will be good therapy. So, that's what we did next, shopping and then to the Titanic Museum. The Titianic was really neat. It was sad (like the movie) and kinda eerie being enclosed in the ship. Next, a little more shopping and then to dinner for Tim's birthday. We went to the College of the Ozarks were they raise their own beef, chicken, churn their own butter, grow their own fruits and veggies! AWESOME!!!! Sooo good!!!! We then had a social with the other couples from our church. I guess there were probably about 25 couples there. We had each individually done a video clip at the church and they had put these all together on a DVD for us. Hilarious!!! Then we played the Newlywed Game. Fun times!!!!

On Sunday morning, we checked out and had a gourmet breakfast at one of the restaurants at the lodge. (I think we ate more this weekend than we normally do in a full week)! There was everything from Prime Rib to Salmon to Salads and Cheesecake. It was amazing. Brady had an oyster on the half shell on his plate. I told him that I had always wondered what that tasted like. He said, go get you one. I told him I really didn't know how to eat one and didn't want to try in such close dining quarters. He loosened it from the shell and popped it into his mouth. With a horrible look on his face, he said that he thought he might get sick. He said it tasted like a jello jiggler that he had used as toliet paper first. The rest of the trip he was sick to his stomach (no wonder he has IBS).

The ride home wasn't as fun as the ride there. We tried coming up with a name for the baby again, only got lost once and then Tim and Jaime slept.

The boys were so excited for us to be home. They made Tim a birthday cake that had LOTS and LOTS of sprinkles on it. We missed them tons!

It's good to be home and back to the norm!!