Fall Break

We had such a great trip down South over our Fall Break.  Thursday, I very bravely drove all the kids by myself so Brennan could just meet us there from his business trip to further down South.  Other than the extra hour due to traffic and then another hour due to Wendy’s we finally made it and the kids were actually really good.   It was especially great to be reunited with Brennan Thursday night after missing him for a few days.  We stayed, of course, with Brennan’s Mom and Stepdad, Jamie and John.  Poor John is fighting his way back from a nasty bout of pneumonia and so they’ve both been homebound for a few months.  Friday John and I stayed behind while Brennan and his Mom loaded the kids up and braved another drive (just over an hour) with all the kids out to visit Brennan’s Uncle Dixon and Aunt Lana.  They’re the best.  Dixon has a new museum with all kinds of great Native American artifacts.  The kids loved it.  Then they were treated to a barbecue lunch and some 4 wheelers.   Of course, Lana had cute little Halloween treats on hand that the kids were more than happy to take of her hands.  Brennan’s brother, Brett, and his girlfriend, Julie came too.  The kids love Brett, and were so excited to get to meet Julie.  They also got to meet up with Brennan’s aunt, Elaine and her husband, Russell.  I was sad to miss them all, but loved having a day to sleep, read and shop and then was treated to dinner by John with his daughter, Emily, and her son, Sheldon.

They stopped a few times to do some exploring

 

 

 

Russell, Elaine, Brett, Brennan, Joshy, Anna

Abby, Nate, Ben

Anyway, we reunited after dinner for a mellow evening and tired kids.  Saturday morning we got up and went on a great hike, and then went out to lunch and to our favorite old-fashioned candy store.  Brennan went home with Joshy for naps (and football games) while I took to the 4 big kids over to my Uncle and Aunt’s condo where my parents happened to be staying, for a swim.  We came home for a lovely home-cooked meal by Jamie and then went out for frozen yogurt.  Sunday, we caravanned home with my parents (which really means we stuck them with three kids ).  It was great, Brennan and I were able to chat almost the whole way home.