#SplashCove in Shawnee ... Checked Off of our Family's Summer 2014 Bucket List

I didn't take too many pictures because I was busy making sure no kids were drowning.

The wave pool.

The snack area. Always gotta hit that.

Sam found a buddy

#BahnCooler – "Pink Stuff" Recipe and Mom’s Ice Chest Challenge at Schlitterbahn WaterParks

Schlitterbahn loves families and the proof is in the ice chest -- families can save by bringing their own ice chest to the park! When you combine that with free parking it's clear that you are hard-pressed to find a more family-friendly park!

Bringing in an ice chest does more than save money for your family; it lets you take care of those fussy eaters and stay all day! Packing an ice chest with our kids' favorites means more time enjoying rides and less time in food lines. Plus at Schlitterbahn you can enjoy the best water park while saving money, too!

I recently found out that the Schlitterbahn does not nickel and dime a family to death! With free parking AND being able to bring in our own food, that saves us a lot. We are planning a trip there later this summer! I didn't realize there was such a huge variety of rides ... some wild for the adventurous Mr. Kerrie and my oldest Little Kerrie named Joel; some mild for the naughty Little Kerries named Samuel and Eva; other rides in between for Callie and Michael!

So here's a link to the perfect ice chest recipe I could think of: Healthy Pink Stuff. It has 3 simple ingredients and is a nice, cool thing to take along to the water park when your body needs something good and replenishing!

Check out Schlitterbahn!

The McLoughlins Go on the Road Day Five! #VacationInBranson

Friday was our last day in Branson before heading home.

Breakfast out this morning at a Belgian waffle restaurant that rocked!

Packing up and Sam has a new toy

Sam at Castle Rock Waterpark!

Some swimming before leaving town

Tow-mater!

Lightning McQueen!

A week of getting up "early" makes my littles sleepy!

Benefit #9,463 of homeschooling: leaving town before miles and miles of traffic heads into Branson

Time to stop at our favorite park in Clinton, MO

Mom, what kind of bush is this?

Daddy gets in on the action, flower behind ear like a boss

The McLoughlins Go on the Road Day Four! #VacationInBranson (Part Two)

More Thursday fun in Branson!

Eva with kitty cat

Samuel with kitty cat

Callie with kitty cat

Joel with kitty cat

Michael with kitty cat

Gorgeous kitty cat

We love zoos but hate them at the same time ... hate the animals caged up

After the zoo we had some waterpark fun

Later, some mini golf fun at Dinosaur Canyon

Ball in water!

I cut my mini golf teeth at Jellystone Park in Branson and am not too shabby

Cherry Berry fro yo!

Callie's concoction

My little sweethearts!

Happy 13th Birthday to my Oldest Kid, Joel!!!

My baby is THIRTEEN TODAY?!?!?!?! Such a great kid, that Joel. Changed my life forever around 10:25 this morning in 2001, 5 days after I turned 30. The dude made me a mom and Mr. Kerrie a dad ... we  you, Joely!