A Childless Vacation

Before Chris and I could have a childless vacation, we had to drop the kids off with his mom.  We went to the family farm in OK and Avery got to see some Moo-Cows up close...

And she got to play with some rocks (her favorite outdoors toy)...

We spent the night at the farm before making the drive to MO.  Sleeping in the same room with a Toddler is never recommended, but she made up for it when I woke up with her sleeping on my stomach...

When we got up that morning, we made the drive to MO.  We drove through Joplin and tried to find some tornado damage, but didn't see any.  So we continued to Branson.  The Ozarks are absolutely beautiful!  Our 1st day there was sunny and warm, so once we got to our hotel, we went swimming.  It was very relaxing.  Especially the hot tub!  It was much needed.  After swimming we drove around and stopped by Table Rock Lake.  We saw lots of deer on our way too. 

Then we went and played miniature golf.  So much fun.  The next day was rainy, so thankfully we swam and played mini golf that 1st day. 
We started the 2nd day by shopping at the Tanger Outlet mall.  Then we went to the Titanic Museum.  It was really interesting.  Got to touch a real iceberg, and see many artifacts and learn about people on the Titanic...

Then we did some souvenir shopping, ate at a Mexican restaurant ($3 margaritas, hey!), went to the IMAX and saw Tornado Alley.  And finished the night off with Shoji Tabuchi.  I wasn't too psyched on that show, but really loved it. 
I loved our time in Branson.  We were the youngest people there by at least 20 years...and I LOVED IT.  We learned a lot about old people and what they like.  Old people like shopping, crafty junk, fudge, booze and classical music...I thought the old lady behind me at the Shoji show was going to have an orgasm when he played Hungarian classical music. 

On our way home, we stopped in Joplin again.  This time we were armed with a map.  The damage was scary.  It was like being placed on a set.  I was in the middle of my biggest fear. 

It has been over 3 months since the F-5 hit Joplin, and it looks like it could have happened last week.  I was overcome by sadness while driving around.  All the lives lost and detroyed by this huge tornado.

The Hospital

Nothing but foundation left in most of the houses in this neighborhood.  Entire streets and neighborhoods completely wiped out.  Sometimes, only the front steps were left of the house.

The high school

The sign for the high school.  People spray painted H-E to it to make it Hope High School, since the rest of Joplin was blown off.