Fall/Fall Break

This year we got an ENTIRE WEEK off for Fall Break! I think this means that Christmas Break doesn't start until Christmas Eve, but I can't worry about that now. An entire week meant that we had enough time to balance all of the chores/errands that we typically need to fit in during breaks AND do all kinds of fun stuff. 

Here is what I learned during a week long break: I enjoy working and I enjoy my kids. 

 I like my job and I think it is the perfect career for me. I love where I work & what I do. But...if I could create the perfect situation, it would change a bit. I would keep my current job for sure. And, I would adjust the hours to where I get to leave by 4:30 every day and don't take work home. Then, for my third wish, I would ask for every Friday off. Life is just easier when I am not trying to balance the day job WITH the night job. But, I also think the extra work is what gives me the perspective to appreciate the time off when I have it, right? 

Anyway, on to the break!

The DQ down the street from opened up (replacing our BELOVED KK) and we have finally made it a few times. I am not going to lie, I miss the doughnuts. DQ is always packed, the employees are NOT friendly, it takes almost 30 minutes to get ice cream and, perhaps worst of all, they literally have 1 napkin dispenser in the ENTIRE place. They are an ICE CREAM place. 1 napkin dispenser.

 I cannot. 

But, my kids sure had fun during our half hour wait to become super sticky. 

We hit up some kind of fall/first responder festival with the Brimers (of course we did) and Max was in his element!

I did not get any pics of all 5 of them, but got this one with 3 of them watching a smoke demonstration, so just round up and pretend they are all in there. 

Clare & I have made it a mission to find free lunch/entertainment for our kids every weekend. 

Stay tuned. 

Seriously, Max in his fire uniform (it is NOT a costume, Mama!) putting out a "fire" has got to be one of the cutest things ever. Also, Anderson will really step it as the big brother when it involves helping with things like this. 

Apparently our kids were so cute that the Farragut Press needed to include this HIGH QUALITY shot that week. Seriously, could she have at least cropped just Max & Lucy? But, I do love the fact that Clare & I were captured. And, to top it off, the caption listed us with the same last name-sister wives! 

Over Fall Break weekend, we went to Atlanta to visit the Sterns and we took advantage of their aquarium membership. It was super crowded, but very, very fun!

It. Was. Amazing. 

I know that this will come as a shock to everyone, but Anderson is OBSESSED with animals. He is actually going to be a scuba diver for Halloween because he wants to be a Marine Biologist/Football player when he grows up. So, to take him there was really pretty magical. 

Also, that giant thing up there? That is one of 4 whale sharks that live there!

 FOUR WHALE SHARKS!

Also, manta rays* and all kinds of other stuff. 

You know when you get an actual smile from Anderson that he is somewhere pretty amazing. 

*Max: Anderson, what can Manta Rays do to persons?

Me: They can sting people. 

Max: I am asking Anderson, Mama. 

Anderson: They cannot sting; they don't have stingers. 

Me: On Google trying to prove I am right and realizing that I am wrong. 

Yeah, baby. Anderson is right. 

Yet again, thanks to Stine's membership, we got to get front and center for the dolphin show! 

While we were waiting to go in, we had a little candy picnic in an aisle. 

Also, they have an actual dolphin show that basically blew my kids' minds. You can't take pics or videos in there, but trust me when I say, it was really amazing. 

Penguin tunnel. 

Angry face in a penguin tunnel. 

And....the highlight of the trip was when Anderson got to touch starfish! This particular moment was right after Max had thrown that poor little guy across the area and Anderson was trying to put him back in place. 

#Bullinachinashop

That night we watched our VOLS almost beat A&M in OT and we had some flashbacks to our Rocky Top days. Over 2 decades of friendship are in the books!

How much do I LOVE UT?? I mean, how can you not? Our team has shown so much resiliency over the last few years (decade??) and this season is proof to keep working hard. I mean, clearly we were killed by Alabama, but they don't technically count because they are beast mode. And, I think I would rather lose than to have to look at Lane Kiffin's face. As for me and my house, we will stay VOL fans despite the years of heartache. #GBO

Speaking of love, how cute is this guy who has such good handwriting that he is always nominated to  do anything that requires writing? Aunt LoLo made a giant cake (4 layers!) for Pappaw and Brandon did such a great job writing on it. 

We are so lucky to have such an awesome Pappaw in our lives and were happy to be able to celebrate his birthday together!

Sisters & their Daddy. 

You know that we cannot have a break that does not include a trip to Ijams and this venture proved to be pretty enjoyable, as usual. We spent 5 hours there and, while we did not catch many creatures (Anderson was SO disappointed,) the weather was perfect and we visited some new places. 

Max insisting on wearing his camo gear, which actually made it pretty tricky to see him when he was running ahead. 

I feel so fortunate to have these boys, this time off and these times outside. I never went outside before I had kids and I am grateful that they require it because it is pretty magical stuff. 

To be fair: it was hot, we were gross, everyone was hungry, Max was in a camo outfit...I mean, nothing is as picturesque as it seems, but I love nothing more than an extended outing and, overall, the kids really did have a blast. 

Also, in a move that surprises nobody, Max fell in the quarry. 

Not every day involved extended hours of fun because I had a long list of errands that we needed to complete over the week, too. But, I did try to balance the errands with fun stuff like swimming at the Y, trips to Noni's, a visit to Dicks', etc. 

Anderson does not actually like Batman, but he LOVES football, so he was trying to convince me that needed these receiver gloves. 

Spoiler alert: he did not get them. 

On the last day of break, we met Nicole & kids at The Muse & the Zoo. 

It proved to be pretty fun time. 

These two & their love for each other will continue to go down in history as one of the greatest things ever. Please remember that at this point in the older cousins' relationship, they could not even be in the same room together without someone bleeding. 

Anderson was obsessed with trying to recreate this drawing in the art area. He really loves drawing and just like his interest in Math & Science, I cannot help him in any way. Thank God for Brandon. 

Lily's enthusiasm over some electricity activities was pretty cute. 

We didn't see many animals at the zoo because our visit was short, but the Komodo Dragon actually realized that Anderson might be part reptile and kept following him through the glass. They had a pretty lengthy staring contest and I think Anderson won. 

On Saturday, we hit up a pumpkin patch for the annual fall tradition. 

Also, Taylor Swift, it is never "getting cold out." If you can please rewrite those lyrics, that would be wonderful. Thanks. 

The highlight of Anderson's trip was when he caught a giant grasshopper. He really is getting too old for the festivals/outings that I like to hoard, which is a bittersweet feeling. I love older Anderson for many reasons and will be happy in some ways to leave the little kid events behind, but I also like an outing. In so many ways, Anderson has always been a mini-adult. 

Look.at.this.guy. 

#babybrotherlevi

Pleasantness. I can't get enough. 

Reese is the cutest child on the face of the planet. Even the goats love her. 

He does enjoy himself a little more than he cares to admit. 

We had such a great break!