Big Horn Ranch

We just spent an incredible weekend together as a family. Matt, as he sometimes does, surprised us with an overnight trip... this time, to Big Horn Ranch near Exeter, Missouri. I was a little skeptical. I don't really do 'the great outdoors.' But we had an unexpectedly awesome time.

Get ready for a ton of pictures. Sorry. That's just what I do.

This is the great hall to the Big Horn Ranch lodge. The kids were in total awe.

Jeb and the 'cow.' He could not be convinced otherwise.

Jeb and the 'big cow.'

The ranch has a 'high fence' with tons of deer for hunting. We went for a walk inside the fence near sundown.

I just love this picture.

We picked a lot of these.

And saw a lot of these.

The next day, we got up and went trout fishing.

Belle caught this beauty.

Tall, gorgeous bluffs overlooked the trout stream. Here I am pretending (very badly) to scale the cliff (in a swimsuit cover up and flip flops). Going to have to work on my believability.

And this guy kept me up at night. Ever see Night at the Museum? He was standing right outside our door, and I just kept imagining him coming to life and prowling the halls. Yikes!

Me and the girls saying goodbye to 'big cow.'

Belle and her 'favorite' stuffed deer. I think she named him Hoppy.

Estella Dru and her fox. The girls got so attached.

Honestly, if you're looking for an inexpensive, overnight family trip, I can't recommend this highly enough. It's only an hour from Springdale, and it has swimming, fishing, horseback riding, walking the trails for deer-sighting (which my kids LOVE), and more, and the lodge is amazing. Definitely something we'll do again, hopefully soon.

And I would also like to say HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to the BEST DADDY on the planet. Just ask his kids. They'll confirm. Matt, you could not be loved more. We adore you.