Spring Break '18

Love these two!

Ahh, spring break. That little tease of the fun and excitement that lay ahead after a mere nine more weeks of school. And, as in typical fashion, we managed to have another memorable adventure.

The last day of school before the break just happened to be Lissie's birthday, so naturally we kept the celebration going throughout the course of the week. Because of the timing, she even got a birthday trip this year (usually reserved for Xavier since his birthday falls in the summer). We spent a good chunk of the break in the Smokies at our favorite waterpark. We even invited the grandparents along to enjoy the festivities and birthday fun. Since we had just been in the Smokies a few months earlier (over Christmas break), we felt like old pros. We went to our favorite place to eat (that will always remind me of my dear friend Stacy). We hot tubbed and swam (a lot). We played board games and card games. We enjoyed good eats and treats both in our suite and at the resort. And we even had time to fit in Xavier's only Spring Break request: bowling.

Justin's a trooper -
he rode these slides countless times since I'm not a fan of them!

Although they did get me on Runaway Canyon -
many, many, many times!

As close to a beach as we'd get this break, but we'll take it!

Enjoying some "me" time while Justin took the kids to play mini golf

With Lolo and Lola

<3 Family <3

Aren't they the best?  

Realizing real bowling is way different than Wii bowling.

But at least he beat big sis (albeit on the tenth frame by one point)!

Treats, treats....


And more treats!


Bennett's BBQ - a must-visit!


She spent the majority of the 3+ hour drive (all four times!) with her nose stuck in a book

We headed back home on Thursday and enjoyed a fun family day on Friday - we had our first picnic of 2018 and spent most of the day enjoying the great weather. We also realized that we had somehow neglected to bring home the bag that contained all of our shoes. As such, we started devising a plan - well, maybe we should drive the three hours back to Sevierville to pick up our shoes and, I suppose, we should make it worth our while, so why don't we just spend the day at Dollywood while we're at it (since it literally opened the day after we came home from our trip)? It sounded like the best plan...until, after several phone calls, it was determined that our shoes were, somehow, not there. But...well, wouldn't it still be fun to go to Dollywood?  And, so, on Saturday, we woke up crazy early to drive back to the Smokies (yelling "hello" to our lost shoes as we drove right past the waterpark) and spent a fun day at Dollywood.

They just kept getting soaked and soaked by this waterfall
on the "Grizzly River Rampage" (as it will always be called by us thanks to Opryland!)

The kids and I rode this three or four times before I finally told them I was done getting drenched!

There was even an impromptu mini-parade for Dolly herself!

Taking a selfie while our kids rode the coasters.  Can you see them both in the first car with their arms up?  Haha.

Isn't he a handsome one? 
He had an Ireland shirt to wear for St. Patrick's Day,
but he insisted on his favorite "avacuddle" shirt for the trip.

Cheesy photo-up demands cheesy pics.

 The icing on the cake was that since my car has been in the shop all week, we drove to the Smokies (twice) and didn't even add wear and tear to my own car...and, instead, we used the amazingly fully-equipped and brand new dream loaner car that they gave us in its place. As for the shoes, most of the ones that we had lost in this journey were on its last legs anyway (though, RIP to Lissie's cowboy boots...), so they were bound to be replaced sooner rather than later, anyway.  It turned out to be a win-win all the way around!

Also, now I don't feel so bad about spending money on that Dollywood Season Pass!  (In fact, you can bet that I'm already planning our next day-venture trip out there!)

Gotta love my family and the crazy adventures we find ourselves in!

Xavier woke up this morning and immediately felt compelled to write this sweet thank you note to Dolly herself for such a fun trip:

Thank you
Dolly Partin
Love Xavier
to Dolly Partin

Dollywood
Dolly Partin
(He wrote Dollywood with the signature butterfly logo
and the "l"s like it is in the Dollywood signs)

Dear Lissie - Seven Years

Dear Lissie,

Sweet, smart, shy Lissie.  How'd I get so lucky to be your mama?  You've always been an easy child - easy to read to know what's bothering you, easy to teach important life lessons, easy to please.  Of course you have your moments - the time you told your class the very untrue statement that I was going to be their second grade teacher, thus leading to a very harsh discussion about gossiping and spreading lies.  Or the time when you told the girls in your class that you were having a big sleepover when we had told you to chose two friends (though you claim you didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so I sort of don't blame you on that one).  Or those moments when you and Xavier bicker and argue and get on everyone's last nerves.

But, seriously, in general, I've truly hit the jackpot.  You have the most caring heart - you're always thinking of ways to help others.  You are bright and inquisitive, and I can't get you to stop reading - you've pretty much read all of Roald Dahl's works already and have made pretty good headway in the Babysitter's Club series!  You think about things on a whole new level, and it reflects in your writing and your work.  Sometimes it boggles my mind that you're just in first grade based on all that you've accomplished already!

Yet, you are on the timid side (you were so shy in anticipation of having to stand up at your school's prayer service to tell everyone that your birthday is this week!) and the thought of being destined to the YAC (for 7-12 year olds) at the Y instead of the Y-Play (ages 6 weeks-6 years) terrifies you to no end (although that's a great excuse for me to not workout, right?  Ha!), but boy when you are comfortable, you know how to let loose!  You are hilarious, and your laughter is contagious.

And, still, your love of your faith is inspiring.  So often your favorite thing on Sundays is going to Mass.  You cannot wait to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (one more year!).  And you love learning about the saints and Jesus.  You've even made it known that your goal is to go to St. Cecilia and be taught by the Dominicans.  You've also mentioned that if your plan for being a vet doesn't work, you wouldn't mind being a sister.  I wouldn't doubt that you'd make a great one!

Regardless of what you end up doing with your life, you are definitely bound for great things.  And I cannot wait to watch you do them.

You amaze me.  Always.  I love you more than you could even imagine.

Love,
Mommy

Here's my interview with a 7-year-old:





This year's likes:

• reading, reading, reading
• road trips and vacations
• swimming all year round
• church
• puzzles
• Lola's pancit and egg rolls
• macaroni and cheese
• riding your bike
• crafts
• asparagus

Dislikes:

• when plans change at the last minute
• radishes
• speaking in public
• talking to people you don't know
• when Xavier annoys you

It seems the main themes of Lissie, age 6, are reading, swimming, and extracurriculars as can be seen from the hodgepodge of Lissie pics from the past year:

Her latest reading assessment has her reading at upwards to a fifth-grade level!

She always has been a water baby!

Cello lessons started this past summer

Stylin' in those boots.  Always.

Taking care of a sick Rupert

Another year of cross-country down

The year she became a girl scout

Her grand finale as a ballerina

And her big kindergarten graduation