Excursions | For my children

Football, Cheering, and Some Saturday Fun 10/20/12

A cool windy Saturday but we finally made it to one of Jayden’s games, our first little league football experience. For a moment Jackson and Abigail actually thought Jayden was playing in the game!

Jayden cheers and we loved getting to go see her great spirit!

Bundled up with Daddy

We joined Nana and Aunt Fran

And Cousin Elijah

After the game we took a quick slide and climb at the City Park

Our next stop was to buy some fresh fruits, vegetables, Mums, and pumpkins.

Home to get our hands dirty and carve one of our Jack O Lanterns.

A good excuse to play silly and get some laughs! Love the pumpkin with long curly blond hair!

Was she trick or treating?

Scribbling and NOT wanting me to take the pencil

October 24, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Disney On Ice 10/21/12

A special someone treated our family with tickets to Disney On Ice this past Sunday. A very generous and expensive gift gave us the ability to see some of our favorite Disney characters and stories brought to life on the ice.

These two were a little unsure of what to expect, but they were super excited as we made our way to the Coliseum for this great event.

Once inside, after treating to cotton candy and souvenirs for each, we were in our seats ready for the action. Jackson loved his Cars light stick and Abigail in the background resting her head on Ham the pig from The Toy Story looks ready for her nap.

That boy of mine brought tears to my eyes when his face lit up brighter than his light stick the moment the cars hit the ice. He was so excited to see Mater, Sally, McQueen, and the others talking and driving right before him.

Abigail loved seeing Pixie Hollow brought to life. The beautiful colors and wings of the butterflies and Flitterific Fairies in TinkerBell made her quickly change her mind of what she wanted to be for Halloween!

Daddy’s smile shows he enjoyed this experience as much as the little three!

Finally, a look at Toy Story, all of the toys on ice, and Abigail’s new pig friend.

Baby Sissy even lasted for the entire production. Other than getting a little restless in the second half of the show, she too loved the lights and actions of the many characters. The only exception, she was terrified of Goofy! She climbed to her Daddy’s neck and hid her face each time his skates hit the ice!

Another one of those count your blessings moments seeing all three and their daddy healthy and happy as we were leaving. The camera was a bit slow, Jackson and Abigail were holding hands before this moment was captured.

Enjoying a treat at Market Square on a beautiful Sunday October afternoon with my sweet tired babies after Disney On Ice.

Happy little birds! We are thankful to be together and more importantly thankful to have a sweet giving friend that offered our family a unique experience to see the joy of childhood in the eyes of our children!

Even though there was a bit of protest over who will hold the sign, my children say many thanks to you…

You are special!

October 22, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Beach Memories, 10/15/12

I could never tire of seeing these guys here. We love it at this place! Never too crowded, plenty of space to explore and be together.

Abigail says she wishes she could dig in the sand everyday. I like to see my baby girl get dirty in a dress!

Jackson wants to catch a fish or maybe even a whale with our new butterfly net!

A handful of tiny shells to add to our enormous collection.

Isabela is happy to be here. Notice Jackson and Abigail running behind her. Love the freedom the wind offers them.

So very thankful for this family and for the wonderful memories created!

Waiting for Starbucks sticky buns and apple fritters, all our favorites.

Playing at the pier after lunch outside

Arcade fun with games and rides. We got a ton of tickets to pick out prizes and had way too much fun before our LONG journey home.

Thank you daddy for escaping with us and treating us to this weekend. It’s because of you these three rejoice in their new experiences on the coast. They LOVE to have you NOT at work!

Ready to go back to Tennessee. Abigail in one of her many pairs of shades. Everyone loves them.

October 16, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Beach Day, 10/14/12

A boy and his trucks! Jackson was really excited when I pulled out some of the trucks I had brought from his collection, especially the ones that could haul the sand.

All three wanted to ride in this wagon beside of the giant sea. Abigail was so sweet to happily pull her baby sissy. Their laugh is pure music.

Our happy girl in a hand me down swimsuit! I enjoy seeing the years of use and comparing photos. Abigail loves to see her sister wear her clothes.

Satisfied girls with their daddy smelling the sand and salt and waves. Finally was able to stop Abigail from running and splashing in the shallow pools of water and waves to snap this moment.

Always working! Wagon is loaded and ready for digging. Isabela is looking for her ride! Below, these two worked together shoveling sand to fill the bucket. Isabela helped her sister dump it out and start again.

2:30, Ready for napping in the tent. The girls were asleep in seconds! I love to stick to the sleep schedules even on the beach. This tent has made the trip since Jackson was just a few weeks old!

Wave playing in October! He was sure we were swimming near the dolphins we had seen earlier in the day.

Fresh from nap and loving the sand, maybe not the bright sun so much.

Thankful to observe their joy. My cup runs over!

October 14, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Harvest Day at the Coast, 10/13/12

It was a very windy day on the coast when we woke up and the waves were crashing loudly! Too active to set up tent on the sand or to play in the water.

We decided to visit the Harvest Festival and Butterfly Exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens. We hoped we not only would find pumpkins but also our butterfly we had released earlier in the month!

We couldn’t believe how many species of butterfly’s were in this tent. We had to be careful where we stepped because they were all over the path we were walking. In the back of the tent was a viewing window with probably fifty chrysalis’ displayed on branches with some emerging butterflies drying their wings. Flowers and bushes in the exhibit were covered with beautiful colorful butterflies all around us.

We took a ton of pictures of never before seen butterflies but this was the most plentiful type and our familiar favorite!

A praying mantis, river otters, foxes, tons of birds, farm animals, and an alligator were a few of the living things we took pictures of. The children were super excited that the animals were even celebrating the colorful fall season with pumpkins in and around their habitats.

Jackson had some laughs with this statue before heading to the field to play in the hay.

He and another little boy moved almost every bale of hay and had a blast jumping off! He had made a new friend and his confidence soared as he jumped each time higher and higher.

The two girls fell asleep in the double stroller. When Abigail woke up she was happy to see this fuzzy black and white stuffed puppy we had bought her. We named it Oreo. She wasn’t sure she wanted to sit on the hay but she liked climbing in it and running between the scarecrows.

Isabela was just happy to see her daddy when she woke up! I couldn’t stop taking photos of her hugging him and having the sweetest expression of love.

There was pumpkin and face painting, bird feeder and scarecrow making areas, and great music and food scattered throughout this crowded field of pumpkins and kids! These two little birds hung out together very close to their daddy.

We had a great morning at the festival. Other than the wind, the weather was perfect.

With a canister of three balls, one for each, and two rackets, they were ready to hit the courts for tennis and caged running for the baby. Jackson wanted to hit over and over. He actually had good form and follow through. He loved hitting the ball over the net. Pure focus and commitment as always. Love for him to experience a skill, stick with it until he is satisfied of learning the basics, and then display confidence growing a little more. Abigail was like him. She enjoyed hitting the balls even though she showed frustrations if she didn’t hit it each and every time. She also spent a lot of time chasing her and Isabela’s hat from the crazy wind. They giggled every time the wind blew it off and threw it across the court.

A full day of fun for my little birds! They were so happy to play together. I of course am just happy to see their good health and excitement for each other and what they are doing.

I love your laugh and excitement Abigail!

October 13, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Beach Memories 2012, Day 1, 10/12/12

Harvest is behind us and it is time for our family beach excursion, finally October! We struggled in planning the perfect weekend getaway between schedules and weather.

A LONG journey to make it there, many stops for the restroom, answering many times “are we there, are you sure we are going the right way” we finally are on the coast!

Just like the other two, Isabela loved the water, sand, and freedom to play! Only once did she whine when the sand stuck between her toes.

As high tide went out, there were small pools of water all over the sand that they loved running and playing in.

Finally relaxing after making it to a familiar place, Jackson is back to normal enjoying the afternoon.

Isabela loved the waves tugging her out and the sand swirling around her toes. I absolutely cherished hearing her giggles and feeling the excitement in her body.

Beautiful afternoon with these sweet girls. We almost had the whole beach to ourself.

Playing on the deck and ready to eat! Thanks you two for stopping to smile for another quick picture! I love your spirit.

Waiting for our food and a chance to trade the sand for some grass in the courtyard. Notice the swollen lower lip. Not long after hitting the sand she took a fall. Sand and blood are not a good mix! She barely wanted to sit still to stop the bleeding.

There isn’t a better place to find inspiration to complete a spelling test than on the coast! Good attitude to complete some work. All words for the week were spelled correctly.

October 12, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Apple Barn Visit 10/6/12

In honor of Johnny Appleseed and the first chance the weather turned cooler, we decided to visit an apple barn.

It was exciting for each of them to see the actual fruit still hanging on the tree.

Before going in the barn we took a look at the grapevines as well as the harvesting bins.

We watched the workers clean and sort the apples as well as pack them in baskets. Abigail couldn’t believe how big and shiny the apples were. Our favorite was the honeycrisp apple.

This was a great quick place for us to visit, especially if you love to eat apples as much as we do! We’ve sampled different flavors and colors of apples, colored pictures, done a craft or two, and cut the apple in half to find a star. Also, we read a few stories with apples and Johnny Appleseed throughout the month. One of our recent purchases and now a favorite was “The Apple Pie Tree” by Zoe Hall. This was a simple story about an apple tree in a yard growing throughout each season. The concept of the tree changing in the spring, summer, fall, and winter is something Jackson and Abigail could relate to with our grapevines. The blossoms developing into fruit that will eventually be harvested is very exciting for them both. This story had easy text and colorful collage illustrations that inspire art in us all. It also had a recipe at the end for making an apple pie. The process of growing fruit and bringing it to the table to create something with was fun. The characters are two young sisters. The only negative Jackson found in this story was the missing brother.

We have not actually made the pie from this recipe…YET, but we do look forward to it.

But, we have several times enjoyed the apple fritters from Starbucks!

October 4, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Literature Favorites . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Second Co-Op September Field Trip 9/21/12

September’s co-op field trip was to visit the BIG Mountain National Bank in Sevierville and to Kroger’s. Due to scheduling conflicts, the little birds and I missed the bank, but were able to join up with the group at our favorite grocery shopping spot. The employees were so great to take the children for a behind the scenes tour. They were able to go in the coolers behind where shoppers buy milk and in the freezer (where Isabela broke down), as well as the stocked shelves of storage. Also we toured the bakery, meat and vegetable/fruit departments, as well as the florist.

Abigail with a sample of cheese in one hand and a sugar cookie in the other. Nice combo!

Jackson tasting warm bread from the bakery

The children were able to touch a live lobster, Jackson loved this!

Looking at all the seafood was fun for them all. The highlight of the trip, other than the food samples and stickers throughout the store, was getting a huge treat bag to take home!

Again, Isabela was strapped to me for our visit to Kroger. She did enjoy the apples and cheese there. I added this picture of her enjoying frozen blueberries later that evening.

September 22, 2012
Categories: Excursions . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

“Fun At The County Fair”

“Fun At The County Fair” by Dena Neusner, is one of the literature pieces we have enjoyed in our home for a few years. It was given to Jackson from his Great Aunt Fran on his second birthday, but all three little birds have loved the colorful illustrations.

“Fun At The County Fair” is targeted for the three to six year olds, but I feel any young age would enjoy the pictures. The county fair takes place on Merriweather Farm where a John Deere Tractor named Johnny and his friends live, work, and play. This fun book takes the reader on the journey of preparing for the fair as they create a corn maze, set up the food stands and rides, and get the other animals ready for the fair.

This book is an oversized hard back book with over fifty lift the flap interactions throughout the story. Jackson of course loves ALL of the John Deere Machines. Abigail enjoys the story of the children riding the rides and playing in the corn maze. Isabela just loves constantly lifting the flaps throughout the story.

I chose this story with this review because it went with one of our end of the summer experiences. We ventured out early one Saturday morning for something new. The savings part of me said why pay parking, entrance, and riding fees when we could go to Dollywood for free with season passes, but my fun husband said “it will be fun!” Love his enthusiasm!

A couple of the not so traditional rides at the fair and it was free! Enjoying the tractors, gators, and other farm utility vehicles set up under a pavilion.

It doesn’t really show in the photos but it is pouring down rain outside!

One of their favorites at the fair, the animals! We also enjoyed watching the young children show their calves.

Before the rain we did get one ride in. Yes, brave Abigail (with her crown) did ride one of the rides…all by herself because her brother wasn’t as flexible to something new. She liked the fact unlike at Dollywood she had to give the man five tickets to ride.
Despite the rain our morning at the county fair was a great experience.

September 9, 2012
Categories: Excursions, Literature Favorites . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Grapes, Grapes, and More Grapes

Loaded and ready for delivery! Watch out for the yellow jackets!

Our 2012 experience from the perspective of a five year old! His favorite things- grapes and trucks! I prompted the subject of “delivery” and we started with a few key words. He successfully constructed the complete sentences as well as the spelling, and then finished with a colorful picture!