Branson Day 4 - Park Play and Goodbye

On Saturday, June 4th, we were spending the last of our time with Jody's family before we left to fly back to Boston. Our condo had a VERY strict policy of being checked out by 10 am (seriously, there was a $200 charge if you hadn't) so we got up, ready, packed and out of our hotel. We handed in our keys to the front desk at 9:55 and made the 1 mile drive to Jody's condo. For the next few hours, we took in the extreme heat and played outside.

Swinging with Uncle Jody

Cousins Swingin'

Seriously Cute Reece and Presley

Jody Testing Out the Durability of the Play Set

Presley Taking a Turn on the Swing with Dylan (Dylan didn't share his swing with anyone that morning...he was staying put.)

Ryker Pushing Dylan

Marcy and Reece Playing Shuffleboard

Once we were all thoroughly burning up and starting to get hungry, we went inside for the traditional cousins on the couch picture. I had to include a series to show how tough it is to get 2 little ones to cooperate for long enough to get a decent shot.

Dylan's Hiding

The Winner!

Wiggly Ryker

Two Wiggly Little Boys

With our bellies rumbling we headed to the restaurant down the street that was "home of the tossed rolls." True to their sign, they threw rolls across the restaurant to you. It was entertaining. Then it was time for us to start our trek home. Though sad to leave the gang, we were looking forward to getting home to cooler temps and more regular sleep schedules.

It was quite a long rest of the day home. First we returned our rental car, took the long shuttle ride back to the terminal (with Dylan catching some zzz's) only to realize our car seat hadn't made it onto the shuttle with the rest of our luggage, waited outside security until the next shuttle came with the seat (Dylan had woken up by now), and made it through security just in time to board our airplane (the airport suggests to arrive 30 minutes before departure...if only it was so easy at every departure). Branson's not the easiest of locales to fly to so, of course, our flight wasn't direct. We had a couple of hours to burn at the Baltimore airport so we had some dinner, Dylan entertained himself watching some of the fun things in Brookstone and then got changed into his jammies.

By the time we boarded our 2nd flight out at 9:30, Dylan pronounced "airplane all done." I felt that way too but alas we weren't done until we were home. The jammies didn't induce the sleep we thought they would on the hour flight but he did finally fall asleep during our final descent. When waiting to deboard (you know, with all the room you have to stand and move around in your plane seat), I somewhat ungracefully transferred the sleeping boy to the pack I where him in to easily transport him when we're traveling. This, of course, woke him up and started him crying. All the folks around us started at us like I was torturing the child. I mean, come on! He's 1 year old and it's 10:30 at night...what did these people expect him to do?!? Maybe it was the long day taking it's toll on me, but it really irritated me to be judged by all those stupid people and it took me some time to shake it off.

Anyway, after finally getting off the plane, collecting our belongings, catching the shuttle to our car and making the 30 minute drive, we FINALLY arrived home! Dylan transferred very easily (and happily) to bed as did we shortly thereafter. We really had a fun time playing with Jody's bunch but man our travel days were not the easiest or shortest. When are they going to invent teleportation already?