Family Vacation 2k13 part 3

On our last full day in Branson, we took a train ride! 

We had an unfortunately long wait in the humid heat before being allowed to board the train. But once they opened the gate we were excited to board.

We headed straight for one of cars that was nearly all windows!

The only trouble was that all those windows let in a lot of sun light and it was HOT.

Here comes a tunnel!

Waiting to see the end of the tunnel...

It was a fun ride through the Ozark hills.

That evening, while Noah and Ben golfed, the rest of us headed out for ice cream. Interestingly enough, you could also get a free bible at Mr. B's - one per family.

Levi and Rylee both took rides on this bucking bronco.

And then we walked around the water fountains at Branson Landing.

Golf was a big part of our trip. Ben managed to get 36 holes in on his own.

And then Ben and Noah (finally!!) found some decent weather to play golf in.

Noah was pretty proud of his tee shot that landed on the green!

Tuesday we left Branson and headed for Shell Knob to join our friends Pat and Amy. They were vacationing and Ben had a wild hair to water ski. 

 And that's just what he did.

 We tried and tried, but failed, to get Levi out on the boat with us. He ended up staying on the dock with Amy's mom. He kept an eye on what we were doing and finally decided it looked like fun.

 So Ben went to get him on the jet ski.

 Eventually we got him to tube with us and he loved it! Doesn't it look like he has huge feet?! :-)

 We ate lunch at a floating restaurant, then spent more time in the water and then hit the road for home.

We had a great time together as a family. Celebrating 40 years of my parents' marriage was a wonderful reason to have this special time together. Thanks mom and dad for creating this crazy and lovely family!