Fair Fun 2014

Ahhh, the Williamson County Fair.  Probably my favorite summer tradition.  It's like being transported into a completely different world - the foods, the smells, the sounds - so unlike anything else.  It was so fun watching the kids light up at every turn, noting all the excitement and wonder about them.  It may not have been their first time at the fair, but it was definitely one that they will remember!

As per usual, we went with Lolo and Lola - but, of course, with all the fun happenings, we never did snap a picture with the grandparents!

When we got off the highway at the exit, both kids were giddy with glee at the sights of the ferris wheel and other midway carnival rides.  Lissie was already plotting which ones she wanted to ride, and I was trying to do damage control by telling her she may not get to ride all of them because of her shortness - I wasn't convinced that she was 36 inches tall, so I feared some major disappointments.  Even Xavier looked thrilled about being at the fair - a feat that is pretty difficult for my boy who is very indifferent about fun.

We began our adventure at the Little 1's Farming, which is - in my opinion -  the best attraction at the fair.  The kids get to don aprons and hold on to baskets as they peruse a child-sized farm, where they can pick pretend apples, get pretend eggs from hens, milk pretend cows, go pretend fishing, and plant pretend seeds to harvest pretend fruits and vegetables.  At the end, the kids "sell" their reaping for "cash" to spend at the store where they get a special treat!  Perhaps it's the teacher in me, but I love how it's a hands-on and fun way to teach kids about farming.

Learning to flirt, I mean fish.

Harvesting Tomatoes

Milking a cow

Enjoying their ice cream sandwiches!

After our ice cream sandwiches, we perused the children's barnyard where there were goats, chickens, piglets, and other animals to check out.

And then came the rides.  Thankfully Lissie somehow grew to be exactly 36 inches tall, so she was pleased as punch to be the big girl riding on rides - especially the ones that Xavier wasn't able to ride.  Xavier wasn't upset, though, as he loved waving at Big Sis as she zoomed by.  (I'm curious to see if he'll be this happy next year, given that it is highly doubtful that my 'lil short man will grow 4 inches by the next fair!)

All that riding made us hungry for dinner, so we enjoyed the yummy fair food.  Daddy and his turkey leg (and rice, haha), the kids and their corn dogs, mommy and her ribbon fries, and Lolo and Lola with their cheesesteak sandwiches.  As expected, the kids devoured their meal with such voracity that you'd think that they didn't just have ice cream an hour before!

We burned off some of our dinner by making our way inside the ag building to check out the booths and touch the trucks and look at the kids science activities.  We were all pleasantly surprised with how happy Xavier was just running around and being goofy.  Both kids had such a good time that it was difficult to get them to leave.

We did, though, manage to save room for some funnel cakes!  Because why else would you go to the fair?!?

'Til next year.....

Day Trippin' - Memphis

In our attempt to make the most of the freedom we have with our kids (and me!) not in full-time school, we're trying to venture out of Nashville every now and then to see what the surrounding areas have to offer.

We did Chattanooga a few times already, and so on a whim, about a month ago (yeah, I know - I'm behind on the blogging!), we trekked the three hours to Memphis.

Pre-kids, Justin and I never thought to go to Memphis.  What's there really to do there?  We're not interested in Graceland, and it just never appealed to us.

A few month ago, though, when I was rueing the fact that Nashville does not have a decent dim sum/sushi establishment, a friend told us about a place in Memphis that her family goes to.

So, naturally, I started researching what else there was to do in Memphis to make the trip to Eat Well Sushi happen.

And so it did.

We started the day at Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park.  Such a fun place to play!  And there's so much more at Shelby Farms that we just didn't have time to do, so we'll just have to trek back some time.

They had a fun climbing area.

And a cool swing.

And water play!

And a random egg-shaped hut that Lissie turned into an ice cream stand.

Slides!

Sand!

After a scrumptious lunch at Eat Well, we headed to Memphis Botanic Garden solely to visit My Big Backyard.  What an amazing, whimsical, wonderful place!  I might have enjoyed it more than the kids.  It definitely felt magical, and there was so much for the kiddos to do.  If only Cheekwood had a place like this.....

Lissie and her imaginary friend "Bobbie" in a cute little hut thing. 

Musical bowls

A xylophone bench

Swings!

Water!

Sprinkler!

Fun!

It was about 4:00 when we left Memphis.  We came home in time for dinner and bed.  Perfect, fun, busy, successful day trip!

Who woulda thought that there was that much to do?  In fact, we didn't even get to some of the other things that I had pondered going to - like the zoo or the children's museum.  I guess we'll just have to go back.  (Plus, let's be honest.  We're dreaming about that sushi again.....)

Oh, the sushi!!!

Beachin' it in Nashville

 In our attempts to make the most of summer, we've been spending a lot of time outside and in the pool/splash pad/wading pool, but nothing can compare to the waves and the sand of our Puerto Rico vacation.  Then a friend recently told us about a few beaches in Nashville.  I was a little hesitant about it - I mean, after Puerto Rico, a Nashville beach just sounded extra lame - but, after some research we decided to give it a whirl.

And so, on one of Justin's off Wednesdays, we headed to J. Percy Priest Lake in Hermitage and hung out at the Cook Day Use area.  We were pleasantly surprised by how nice it was - and it was only a quick half hour drive from home!

It was perfect to just "get away" for a few hours, especially since the park was practically deserted, thanks to it being a partly cloudy weekday.  The children (i.e. Lissie) loved swimming in the water, and Xavier surprisingly enjoyed the beach and even managed to wade in the water himself for a bit.  There were a few nature trails to check out and a couple of playgrounds that didn't seem like they got much use.  We grilled some turkey burgers and enjoyed a lovely picnic overlooking the lake before heading home just in time for an afternoon snooze!

Actually playing in the sand this time!

Mommy-Son selfie on the beach

Daddy and Daughter checking out the water

Learning how to make a Sand City

Lissie admiring her Sand City, complete with a church, a library, an airport, a lake, and Lola's house

Just a couple of kids admiring the view

You can bet we'll be back again soon!

The Fourth - A Recap

Birthdays are always fun - America's is no exception!

We kicked off the big day with a 5K.  Justin and I returned to the scene of our very first race - twelve years (and two kids, countless other 5Ks, nine half-marathons, and two 26.2s) later.  It was hard to believe that we thought the course was hard and hilly way back then.  It was actually sort of a piece of cake now - even with Justin lugging that hefty double jogger!

The kids were not as excited to finish the 3.1 as Justin was.

Lissie also showed off her running skills during the kids one-mile fun run.  For days leading up to the race, she told me that she was not only going to run, but she was going to "jump, skip, and dance" down the road, as well.  And, true to form, she did.  I was so proud of her for running (and jumping, skipping, and dancing) the whole way!  She had so much fun.  I can see some cross country meets in our near future, haha.

Lissie's #1.  Of course.

With the supergirl!

You'd think he ran the race, too.

Stretching and goofing.

Oh, that look of determination on her face.

 It was such a family friendly race, complete with bounce houses, treats, and access to the YMCA water park.  We spent the good chunk of the morning there - until Lissie got too cold and Xavier got too upset (since, you know, fun isn't really his thing).

With Lady Liberty and the Bald Eagle

Afterwards, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Lola's house, complete with halo-halo for dessert.  We all took naps there before another feast of a meal for dinner.

Relaxing on the hammock after dinner

Then we said our good-byes to Lissie, as she spent the night with the grandparents so she could stay up to see the fireworks while we took Xavier (who, again, isn't a big fan of fun, staying up late, and loud noises) home for bed.

This morning when we picked up Lissie, she told us all about the colors of the fireworks and all of the fireflies she caught while she was waiting for the big display.  But, in true Lissie form, she quickly tired of the fireworks and opted to read her books by the nearby street lamp.  Oh, my little running bookworm.

Such a wonderful way to kickstart Justin's off weekend.  Because, of course, there's much more fun in store.....

Happy birthday, America!