All week we wondered whether it would be worth it. Saturday morning we decided we'd give it a try. I continued to wonder whether it would be worth it as I packed clothes, snacks, entertainment for the car, a single stroller, and a double stroller.
Finally, just before noon on Saturday, my husband and I were in the van with our three young children. We were headed to Branson to check out An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City.
After a quick stop in Springfield for a late lunch we made it to the parking lot at Silver Dollar City. We dressed the kids in several layers of warm clothing and grabbed the camera and diaper bag.
We walked a short distance through the parking lot to catch a shuttle to the main entrance. I again wondered if it was worth it as my husband and I struggled to break down both strollers and get the children seated on the shuttle. I settled in with a stroller in the seat beside me and my one-year-old on my lap.
We eventually made it off the shuttle and got the kids situated in the strollers. Before we even made it to the front gate, our son announced he had to use the restroom. I sighed as I looked at my son who was clad in jeans and snow bibs. I knew it wouldn't be an easy feat helping him use the bathroom. Again I wondered if all the effort was worth it. It would have been so much easier just to stay home.
Ten minutes later with a large souvenir mug of hot chocolate to share, we were finally in the park! We headed straight to the rides that our little ones could enjoy. My husband headed to the “big swings” with our five-year-old while I accompanied our three-year-old and one-year-old to a ride consisting of hopping frogs. We waited in line for a long time. The amount of people at the park was amazing. However, the smiles and laughs from my one-year-old as we rode the ride made me begin to think that the trip may indeed have been worth it. As soon as we got off the ride, I wasn't so sure.
Unfortunately, our three-year-old spent the rest of the evening upset that he couldn't go straight to the hotel. I suppose visions of jumping on the beds and watching movies were running through his sweet head.
Eventually we did head to the hotel, but not before catching a show and the parade as well as riding some more rides. (The five-story Christmas tree is very impressive!)
Back at our hotel, we watched a movie and enjoyed a late dinner from IHOP. Everyone was happy to be out of the cold. It was nice to snuggle and spend time just the five of us without the distractions of home. Once again I was beginning to think our trip was worth it.
The next morning we found quite the crowd as we tried to take advantage of the hotel's free breakfast. After our meal, we headed to the hotel's pool. Based on how much fun our children had at the pool and our hotel room, my husband and I both wondered if we should have just driven forty minutes north of Kansas City and simply stayed in a hotel with our children.
After getting showers and a light lunch, we reluctantly headed back to Silver Dollar City. The day before hadn't exactly gone smoothly and my husband and I were both a little hesitant to spend another few hours fighting crowds with cranky children. We were pleasantly surprised!
The Sunday crowd was much lighter. We were able to watch A Dickens' Christmas Carol, ride several rides, and even share some funnel cake. In fact, we had such a great time that we stayed longer than we had planned.
The drive home turned eventful with winter weather and children who kept asking if we were in Kansas yet.
At one point, our children were quiet and I found myself reflecting upon a memory from my childhood. I recalled a time nearly twenty five years ago when I went with my parents and grandparents to a winter festival similar to the one at Silver Dollar City. It was probably a simple thing, but the memory of it made me smile. As a parent, I gained a new appreciation for the things my parents have done over the years. As my children dozed and my husband drove, I realized I knew that it was worth it.