Beach Weekend

Our school system did away with Fall Break this year, but we decided to take one anyway. We headed with PaPa, MiMi and Aunt Katey to Fort Morgan, on the Alabama Gulf Coast. It was absolutely beautiful and cemented in our mind just how much our kids LOVE the beach! They loved the waves and the sand just as much, or more than last time. But this time there was the added bonus of three of their favorite people! We played on the beach and in the water, fished, hit up the 41st Annual Gulf Shores Shrimp Festvial to try a Cajun Pistol, crab hunted during the day and at night, and all watched the Bama game on our computers since the cable service was so terrible! Oh, and got sand everywhere!!! We made sweet family memories!

The Pumpkin Patch

 Today we went to the Lyon Family Farm Pumpkin Patch for the fifth year in a row. It was probably the most fun year. Thomas and Mae are at such a fun age for this!!! They could do everything and loved running from slide to corn wagon to cow train!!! Thomas's favorite was the Water Pump Duck Races and Mae's favorite was the corn wagon! The weather was AMAZING!! Mid 50's and sunny!! Those of you who don't live in the south may not understand how completely awesome this is, but IT. IS. AWESOME. All four of us had a blast!

 The pillow jump

 Water Pump Duck Races

 The Pig Races

Chicago

Last weekend Brax and I got to go to Chicago for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!! We got flights during Southwest's Super Sale this summer, and were able to fly directly from Nashville. My mom came and kept the kids Thursday-Monday morning, and when she left Brax's parents took over till Tuesday morning. We slept in, walked tons, ate Chicago style pizza twice, Chicago style hot dogs twice , Chinese food in Chinatown and a couple other fun restaurants. We visited The Museum of Science and Industry and the Glessner House Museum.  It was super fun using public transportation, watching the Bama game at The Houndstooth Saloon with the Alabama Alumni Association, walking down Navy Pier, shopping on Michigan Avenue and going to Starbucks whenever we wanted. We loved being together, not answering the question, "How do you know?" one time, and recharging our batteries. We even had the bonus of running into our good friends Chris and Jana Fowler in the airport on our way back in. Here's to many many more weekends away!