After spending the last few spring breaks in Texas, and not actually doing much fun stuff, we decided that the only way to keep ourselves from filling spring break with constant projects and appointments, we needed to plan a trip.  And at the time, we thought that it would be just Kevin, Arthur and I, making it even more important to be intentional about our time.  Kevin chose our location, because in his quest to play golf in all fifty states, he had his eye on playing a particular course in Missouri, and so the plans were born to go to Branson.

On Saturday morning, before the sun came up, we were on the road.  Of course, we had to stop at one of the many Bucc-ees along the way, and it was perfect timing to get breakfast tacos and breakfast sandwiches.  Arthur was enthralled with the tortilla machine.  We got a few more snack for the road and kept on going.

We got to our condo about 6:30pm, but were so hungry, that we headed off to get some dinner at Bob Evans – similar to a Cracker Barrel, and also delicious.  Arthur was especially excited about his crazy long twisty straw.  And he may have saved it to play with in our condo for the rest of the week – oh, Arthur.

The next morning I woke up early and went out on our porch to enjoy the view, since it was dark outside when I had looked the night before.  We are right on the golf course, and it is beautiful.  

It was Sunday, and we were so blessed to have some good friends in Colorado that had moved to Branson last year, and so not only were we able to attend church with them, but we went over to their house for dinner.  The boys played in their basement and outside, while Kevin and I had a great time talking and catching up with Dawn and Matt.

The next morning, we had special treats from Hurt donuts – donuts, of course, and then a giant cinnamon roll.  It wasn’t nearly as good as the cinnamon rolls Kevin and I bought in Maui, but it was still good.  I also snuck out and got in a very chilly morning walk.  I had fully expected to find some sort of great walking trails throughout the resort, but I was sadly mistaken.  In fact, I was lucky to find any kind of sidewalks, but oh well, I made it work.

Kevin and I headed out before the sun came up to head to the golf course.  The whole reason we had planned this trip to Branson was so that he could play Payne’s Valley at Big Cedar Lodge.  It was designed by Tiger Woods, and the owner of the resort, Johny Morris, who is the founder of Bass Pro Shops.  He grew up in the Ozarks, and wanted to create something amazing.

There is nothing quite like watching the sun rise over a golf course – so pretty.  While Kevin was warming up, I may have wandered off to take pictures – and to try and hunt down some hot cocoa.  I was freezing.  There was cofee everywhere, but they didn’t serve my kind, and so I gave up and settled for using an electric handwarmer and using Kevin’s coat like a blanket.  Ha ha!

The golf course was spectacular, and if it wasn’t so pricey, it would have been fun to play along with Kevin.  It was okay though, and I was content to ride along, enjoy the experience, and read my book in between shots.  Although it would have been awesome to see it all green and lush, with leaves on the trees, I was grateful for the no bugs and the no opressive humidity ;).

There were so many really unique holes, and some of them were very difficult.  it was probably a good thing I wasn’t playing, because I would have lost way too many balls – ha ha!  Kevin had hired a fore caddy to help him, which was totally worth it, since he hadn’t played there before.  He was paired to play with a nice guy from Alaska, and the four of us had a great time out on the golf course.

One of my favorite things was that at hole 7, there was a clubhouse with free snacks, Snickers ice-cream bars, and bison dogs.  All free.  Kevin joked that it was a $300 hot dog and the golf was free.  Good times.

Some of the holes were right up against the limestone cliffs, which was super cool.  They were in the process of creating caves inside parts of them, to go along with a par 3 course they are building on the side of the hill.  It was super cool.

One of my favorite things about the course, were all the cool details, like the wood signs created to look like they had been around since the 1800’s.  Ot the rod iron detail work, where you could find golf clubs mixed in with the other posts, or cool sculptures.

The final hole on the course was actually an extra hole – hole 19.  It had an isalnd green, and if you got a hole in one, you won a $1000 gift card to Bass Pro Shop.  Pretty cool.  Kevin made it on the green, but no hole in one for us.

It really was such a great experience, and we really enjoyed Kevin’s caddy, John.  He was a super nice guy and so helpful.  And man, he must be in the best shape, because he essentially ran the whole course, except for a few times he would hop on the back of the cart.

I am so glad I got to come along.  One cool thing that I noticed, were these two mansion like cabins at the top of the hill.  When I asked John about them, he said that they were cabins you could rent for thousands of dollars a night.  They had the most amazing view, and they had their own putting course in the yard.  So cool!  I would have loved to have seen inside.

To get back to the club house, we drove up the side of the cliff through a series of tunnels they had carved into the limestone.  It was probably one of my favorite things.  Super cool.

When we got back to the resort, the boys were chilling.  They had walked to the main checkin buidling and had fun in the activity center.  We had even left them some cash to play in the arcade.  We decided to go thirty minutes up north for an early dinner at Lambert’s Cafe.  Kevin’s friend, Nathan, had grown up in the area and told him that he had to try it.  Mostly because of the “thrown rolls.” 

And let me tell you, they really did throw the rolls to you!!  It totally reminded Kevin and I of the tossed salad scene in the Sesama Street Movie, “Follow That Bird” – awesome!  They would come out every five minutes with a cart of fresh rolls, and the server (with gloves on) would ask who wante them, you would put up your hands, and he would throw one to you.  Awesome!!!  And the rolls were giant, fluffy and delicious!  My only complaint was that they only had margerine to put on them, and not butter – probably because they would go through so much butter.  But I just kept thinking to myself how fabulous some raspberry butter would have been on them.

Just as we were about to order our food, Kevin told Derek that he though he knew a way to find out if he would get his mission call soon.  And just as he was about to try it, the text came through on his phone for him that his call had come!!  I’ll tell more about that in a separate post, but talk about exciting!!! 

When we got back, and after we facetimed with family for him to open his call, we headed to the indoor pool.  It was giant and beautiful, and reasonably warm water.  Kevin made me get in and swim, even though I was mostly freezing the whole time.  Eventually, enough little kids got out of the hottub, and so we went in there to warm up.  Much more my speed ;).  The boys had a fantastic time swimming though, and then we came back to the room and watched a movie together.  It was the perfect way to finish off part one of our spring break adventure.