Surprise!

Last weekend we went to Big Cedar Lodge outside of Branson to surprise Mike for his 60th birthday.  We got there early on Friday and met up with the Sedlak's and Lissy to eat some lunch downtown and then we met up with everyone else at the lodge.  We decided to surprise him at the big fish.  We are all hiding in the bushes watching and I could have sworn he was staring at us, but he claims he didn't notice us.   He came around the corner and finally realized it was us.  I truly don't think I have ever seen a person so excited...or maybe I have in Andy when you surprise him with Disney World.

After the surprise Mike was kicked out of his room to join the Bobzien clan in their suite and we took over their room.  Nothing like thinking you are going to have a nice quiet relaxing weekend and then get kicked out of your room:)  We went to dinner at Devil's Pool and it was delicious as usual.  I love their chicken fried steak.  We then went back to the room for cupcakes and stories about Mike when he was little from Grandpa Mike.  We were walking down the row of rooms leading to ours, and a skunk literally ran by Lissy, Lincoln, and I.  At the same time the elevator dings and out walks Andy and Karen.  Andy kicks the skunk and starts running with Baylor crying and trailing behind him.  Karen quickens her step and gets to Lissy and I untouched, but then we hear the elevator door close with all the kids inside and it starts to go back up.  They are screaming, Dads are running by the skunk(some took their kids with them), and Lissy and I are about to pee our pants watching it all.  I don't think I have laughed that hard in a very long time.  I actually bought a stuffed skunk at the lodge as our souvenir.  After all of the festivities, the kids then went to the pool, and I began organizing for the night.  

Saturday morning Baylor slept in till 8:30 which never happens, but he had been sick with the stomach flu all night Thursday.  Friday he didn't eat much, but I thought he was over it for the most part.  I was wrong.  We went to Breakfast with Santa to meet up with the Cleaver family.  It started out pretty well, but towards the end Baylor sat on my lap and then proceeded to throw up all down my front.  Of course we would have to be sitting at the center table, and of course Santa would have to sit down at our table right after it happened.  It was a bit embarrassing, but I guess that is the joys of motherhood.  We went back to the room and Baylor slept a good portion of the day.  

After his nap, we went to Silver Dollar City which was a little bit of a nightmare.  They had half off tickets, it was a gorgeous evening, and it made for a terrible crowd.  We finally made it in and found out all of the shows were booked, lines for rides and bathrooms were crazy long so we ended up leaving.  I later talked to a family at school who told me that they were there, and it did clear out quite a bit after the tree lighting, but I think we were all done with the crowds long before then...especially poor Baylor who got sick again in the car on the way to the park.  

We went back and the kids swam and ate some pizza.  While we were waiting for the shuttle to pick us up from swimming, this man walked out of the lodge who works there.  He was heading to his car with a Santa hat on his head.  Briley turned around and said, "Santa!"  The guy who did kind of look like Santa, smiled and nodded his head to her and walked on to his car.  It makes me so happy to see the magic still in her eyes.  The guy also did a great job of pretending that he really was Santa for her.  I'm sure it made his night too.

Overall the weekend was great except for a few mishaps, and Andy and I would love to go again during the Christmas season...maybe next year.

Side note:

We had the book fair at our school this week, and it ended yesterday.  A man who again looked like Santa pulled up in his Clifford semi-truck to collect the books.  Briley comes out to ask me why Santa was driving a Clifford truck and I said he likes to wear a disguise while he checks in on her to see if she  has been naughty or nice.