Barton Branson Vacation (Part one)

So this trip actually happened in JULY, but oh well! We went on a fabulous week-long respite with the whole Barton gang for some family fun and a celebration of Martha's 50th birthday! (According to Webster.com a respite is "an interval of rest or relief" but I could be using it wrong - it was both, ahhhh!) This getaway was just what the doctor ordered!

Nearly one year -to the date- after moving to San Antonio we were in desperate need of a real vacation and some precious family time. We packed our bags and took a short plane ride, er, tiny horrifying flight, to Branson, Missouri. Seriously, check this airport experience out...

"OK take my picture. We're going to want to document this one!"

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you...the airport!

And the waiting area - which was not air conditioned. It was July, folks. In Texas.

Hangar: But don't worry, our plane was twice the size of these! Ha.

What we thought might actually be the last photo we ever took! hehe

Boarding the fantastically large aircraft which also did not have a working air conditioner. Or overhead storage. Or seats the width of a normal human. 

You get what you pay for. :)

For the first few days we stayed in some pretty sweet loft style condos over a mall (this was SO Martha's pick!) We spent the first evening just us and the Barton parents.

See how awesome? Above we have condo/lofts, below we have shopping! Heaven? I think so! 

gorgeous scenery

Darrin trying desperately to convince Perch that he "needs" this boat!

dinner by the river

the normal couple

and the goofballs :)

Brandon, Allison, and Princess Avaree joined us on day two and the ladies got to have some girl time while the boys went golfing all morning. We all spent the afternoon/evening checking out the sites, riding the "Ducks", playing in Bass Pro Shop and eating. (Most of the pictures were on Allison's camera because hers is actually good, mine's old and struggling. Check out Barton Blessings for 3 posts from this trip!)

Most likely singing "Deep and Wide" to us.

Little Showoff. She was LOVING the attention!

Yup, posing for the camera with the wind in her face. Precious!

Teaching GiGi and G-Pops Pops (he was officially renamed on this trip) how to use the iPad.

On day three we got to the REAL part of our vacation...

Bass Pro Shop's Big Cedar Lodge!

to be continued...