Fall Break 2013

My school still gets a full week of for Fall Break. It is wonderful, and comes at the perfect time. We started the week by traveling to Gatlinburg. We met the Bush family and Steven's mom. We hadn't been in a long time-like 10 years-so it was fun to experience it again. Being there reminds me of many childhood visits-since one of my Dad's biggest clients was in Pigeon Forge, we tagged along on many a business trip. The area is super touristy and can be annoyingly cheesy, but I have those memories that help me appreciate it. Plus, it really is a beautiful area, and it is nice to get together as a family for some togetherness. It also reminded me of just how BUSY it is this time of year! Everyone travels there in October it seems. Driving around was a mess, but it comes with the territory I guess.
We spent three nights in TN, then it was so nice to come home on Monday and basically have a full week just to be at home! Steven was having to work from home due to the gov shutdown, so it was nice to be with him-he ended up taking some leave so that was even better. We hung out at home on Tues and Wed, then on Thurs I drove to Athens to visit Robin and Bennett. Friday I went to my parents for a day visit. We met at my Grandmother's asst. living facility to see her, then did some  and ate lunch in Columbia before heading back to my folks for the afternoon/evening. It was nice to spend the day with them, too.
Anyway, it was a great break. I loved being at home with Henry and not having to rush in the morning to get out the door. I didn't wear makeup or dress clothes all week! Whoohoo! Anyway, see below for some pics. I was waiting to post this until I uploaded our iphone pics, but that hasn't happened, so I am just gonna go ahead and do it. I know there are gaps in these pics, but no one else does, right?!:)

Steven was working at home for almost 3 weeks! Crazy! Here is Henry "helping" by scribbling all over his notes!

I love that sweet smile!

Here we are in Gatlinburg on the strip...checking out all the sites including this one-Ripley's Believe It or Not (I think??).

We had beautiful fall weather while there and got to enjoy all the autumn decor.

Henry loved playing with cousins on the trip.

He kept trying to pick up the pumpkins or sit on them. Always working!

Group shot!

We got the kids in this cute telephone booth-it cracked Henry up-he was having a ball in there!

Back at the cabin, we stuck with tradition and made caramel apples, and even Henry got in on helping. He also had his first mini M&M during this time, and threw fits and fits for more! Guess he's a chocolate lover like the rest of the fam!:)

Unwrapping the caramels.

Since the gov shutdown was still going on, we could not go to any parks to hike like we'd planned. We stopped along the river running between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to walk and to get some good photos, too, of course!

Hank was mesmerized by the water...he was in a trance!

What cute cousins!

We hit another tradition-Hillbilly Golf! Last time we went, Camden who is now 11, was about Henry's age. Talk about feeling old! Here we are heading up the hill to the start.

Someone had a blast picking up everyone's golf ball and placing it in the hole or throwing it. He was a busy boy, that's for sure!

And another tradition-The Dixie Stampede! We had all gone as kids, then also together the last time we visited, but not of the kids remembered, and they were excited for the experience!

Henry loved seeing the horses up close before the show, but looks a little unsure about the whole experience here! He was very shy during the pre-show with loud music, and was also clinging to Steven during the first part of the show, but about half way through he got warmed up and was bouncing in his seat and waving at all the horses in the arena and saying, "Hi!" By the end, he was loving it.

Since we had done Gatlinburg just the weekend prior and also had done the County Fair just a few months ago, we decided not to go on a big farm visit, but just went to the local church pumpkin patch instead to pick a pumpkin.

He had fun running round and picking up pumpkins, re-arranging them, and saying "big!" and pointing to the biggest ones. I kept trying to get a good picture, but never really had success. Oh well!

This was the best one of his face...he kept putting these little flower-shaped pumpkins up to his nose and smelling them like they were flowers:)