Happy Anniversary Jennifer!

Jason gave me an anniversary present a day early. We traveled to Kansas City to visit all things Hallmark. We went to the visitors center that had a great stamping activity through the different exhibits for the kids.



The kids got to make a purple bow



Jenna liked the ornament section - as do I.



We ate lunch at the Crayola Cafe



Visited the Crayon Store



The kids loved being creative in Kaleidoscope activity center.




One of the many fountains



We headed across I-35 to enter Kansas - this is the best it gets picture wise.


Jenna kept busy with her new craft.



Best part of all this - everything but lunch was free!

Branson

Since we were in three different condos we had the opportunity to share meals together. The kids loved eating on the covered patio.



One of the things G-Mommy wanted to take the kids to was the Noah's Ark musical. It was a mix of animated and real animals. It was really good.



Jason and I went to the Titanic exhibit and later brought the kids to see the ship.



In the parking area they have these horses made out of sticks. Here's Jenna's favorite.



We did plenty of swimming both in the pool and the tub.





We hit up the Hollywood Wax Museum




Found a couple of things in the Five & Dime store in Old Historic Branson


Then we saw a familiar sign!

Fishing with Granddaddy

Our condos were near the lake. We took a short but rocky walk down to the lake for a family fishing outing.




Reese liked the bait the most



One of the fish that Rylee caught



My sister was more of a fisherman than I was even when we were little



My favorite shot of the day

Branson - Riding the Ducks

On Monday we headed into town to ride the ducks. It is one of Granddaddy's favorite! They had an area to entertain the kiddos while you wait for your boat.



Our flock



Our boat



See this yellow horns - everyone in our boat had one. Pretty cool on the boat, not so cool in the condo.





Once we got to Table Rock Lake we roll down this ramp straight into the lake. Our boat went old school and headed in Dukes of Hazzard style. Once we were on the lake the kids on the boat get to drive the boat. The best was memory is my 4 year old niece Reese started flirting with Captain Who during her time at the wheel.




This old fashion paddleboat tours the lake



Afterwards the kids got their certificates signed by Captain Who. Can you see Reese flirting? Is 20 too old for a 4 year old?

Branson or Bust....

On August 1st bright and early we started our adventure to Branson, Missouri. We had three cars, 6 adults, 4 children and many things to keep them busy for the 8 hour drive. A White Family tradition on any road trip vacation is stop and take pictures at each state line as long as it is safe to stop.

Oklahoma allowed for first potty break of the trip



Arkansas was lunch time and we were all a little tired of being in a car but the kids smiled anyway




Missouri was on a bridge so we didn't stop but we hit Missouri around 3 pm. After unloading the cars, a trip to the grocery store and take out we were ready to start our vacation.

The Ship

Just in case anyone cares, this a collage of our cabin.

 

O Canada!

So our last official day on the boat was in Canadian waters. Once we hit Canadian waters the waters smoothed out - probably because we had to go a little slower. We did have dolphins and whales just outside our balcony. They would just turn on their sides and wave at us. It was exciting to just sit on the lounge chairs and see them pop out of the water. Our final port was Vancouver. We spent a couple of days just sightseeing. It was beautiful.

 

Click to enlarge - top left clockwise - Our hotel in Vancouver, the Olympic countdown, a steam powered clock that whistles every 15 minutes with steam, the Canadian officials boarding the ship once was past from US waters, Stanley Park Totem Poles, Inukshuk, Canada Place, Gassy Jack in Gastown, the library, lighthouse in Stanley Park, a whale waving at us, interesting welcome sign, beauty from Stanley Park, and a tree on top of an apartment building.

We stayed across the street from the arena that will host the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. On Saturday night was a professional football game so we had a good view of all the tailgate ceremonies. You could even hear the stadium noise outside.

We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. It was the first vacation since our honeymoon that we didn't have massive sightseeing scheduled. It was nice not to have to worry about missing seeing something. Thanks to our parents for watching the kids! We love you guys!

Alaska Day 6 - 8

Day 6 was another port day but was also spa day for me. We were in Skagway. I spent the morning at the spa and then we toured the town. There is this huge train car that they use to plow the snow off the tracks. It is gigantic. Cute little town.

 

Day 7 was Hoonah which required us to board the tenders to get to the dock. This port has this $100 zip line ride that lasts about 90 seconds. So because we are cheap and I have suddenly developed a fear of heights, we didn't do it. We did walk through the forest and the beach. It was a nice day in nature.

 

After we came back to the ship we participated in the 80's pop name that tune. If we rated just on knowing the answers we came in second to a couple that was two years younger than us. Of course, the host was from the UK and I still question if some of the songs were officially in the 80's. See all those hours watching MTV back when MTV played videos paid off!

Day 8 was Ketchikan. You can click to enlarge - top right is the "bridge to nowhere", bottom right is one of the two seals that were in the creek feasting on the salmon, bottom left is the salmon trying to make their way upstream, and left middle is Creek Street as seen from Married Man's Trail.

 

That night was the final formal dinner. Of course we didn't have the camera for the famous Baked Alaska celebration. Apparently everyone knew that was going to happen but since we were first time cruisers we were a little lost. In case you go, you have to wave your napkins.




This concludes the Alaska portion of our vacation. Come back to get the Canada portion of our vacation.