Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - The Final Day

Today is the last day of our trip! We basically got out of bed, ate breakfast, and then we drove. and drove. and drove, and drove, and drove. We only got out twice, to eat lunch and dinner, and then we arrived at our hotel. We will get back home tomorrow, just in time to leave again for the weekend. We will be singing at Murray's mill and Valle Cruises. Goodbye for right now, and thanks for reading our blog!

Sincerely,
Arwen and Lorien Cockman
The Butterpats

Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 6

Today we left the cabin and went into Branson to do something that we have to do on all of our trips with Grammy and Papa - Mini Golf. We played on one of the hardest 18 hole courses I've ever played on. On the first hole (which was supposedly a par 2 hole) I finally got the ball in after about 8 failed attempts. Then we went to the Sight and Sound Theatre, to see a play called Jonah. It was really impressive, And the whale was almost life-sized! It was an amazing show, with great songs and awesome visual effects. Afterwards we went out for frozen custard, and then went back to the cabin.          P.S. I'm really sorry that this was posted so late.

This is a statue outside of the Sight and Sound Theatre.
 



Hurry Grammy! the play starts in 2 minutes!
 



Believe me: It was a really big stage. This picture doesn't do it justice.

Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 5

Today was an awesome day. End of discussion. We stayed at the cabin for most of the day, until this evening, when we went over to the far side of town to the Dixie Stampede. It was an amazing show, and the dinner was wonderful. We got to see trick riders, barrel racers, and horses jumping through flaming hoops. We sat on the Southern side of the arena, and cheered for the Confederates. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed, and the only pictures I got were of the horses in their stalls before the show.

Lorien's favorite horse.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Chico, Dalen and Chipper get ready for bed.

Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 4

Today we drove into Branson around lunchtime. We went to the Bass Pro Shop, where Arwen bought a deck of cards, and then we went to a small shop called Dick's Five and Dime. After we were done shopping there, we ate lunch at a little deli across the road. We then drove to the Ripley's Believe it or Not, where we spent a very interesting, if not educational, afternoon. I must apologize that most of my pictures from today are from Ripley's.





A monster truck that Dalen tried to drive...

 

Lorien meets the hulk.

 







Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 3

Today we left our hotel in Rolla and drove and drove and drove...  We stopped to take a break from driving in a little town called Houston, in Texas county. Then we drove some more. We finally got to a place called Mansfield, where we saw the house of Laura Ingals Wilder. Then we drove to the place where we will be staying for the rest of our trip. It is a beautiful little cabin outside of Branson, MO.

 



Houston, Texas (in Missouri)
 

The house of Laura Ingals Wilder.



 

Laura Ingals Wilder, who wrote Little House on the Prairie.

 

Arwen got this bed...

...And Lorien got the king sized bed upstairs.

I guess it is her birthday.

Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 2

Today we got up early and left the hotel after eating breakfast.  When we reached our destination, Lorien was very surprised.  St. Louis!  We went up inside the Arch, and saw the old courthouse.  Then we went to a place called the Grant farm.  It was a wonderful day!


Chico, Dalen and Chipper get ready for a long day.

 

Our first view of the Arch.

 



My favorite things.
 

 

 

Inside the old courthouse.
 

 

 

No, we're not going to tip.

Yes, I know how to steer.
 

 

Air!  I need air!

Lorien's Birthday Trip 2014 - Day 1

We have finally left on our surprise birthday trip for Lorien!  We have been driving all day, and have finally arrived in Mt. Vernon, IL.  We are staying here tonight before continuing to our destination tomorrow.

We saw four different trucks hauling these huge tires.





Our cousin Boone would have loved to see this!

Crossing the Tennessee River 

Veterans Memorial Park