Jeffrey's Farm

Oh!  What fun we had!

Sunday, my sister & I loaded up the little's and headed to Alabama to visit our Uncle Victor & Aunt Sharon.

I've been wanting to go visit all Summer long and it just never happened.

We changed that this weekend.

It was a whirlwind trip, but we had so much fun!

We were greeted with a cozy little bedroom with layers and layers of quilts on our beds.

Easton had a brand new Ninja Turtle shirt waiting on him.

Yummy meals were prepared with love.

S'mores were had by the fire pit.

Easton got to do everything every little boy would want to do.

Fish (caught a catfish!!).  Feed goats.  Bottle feed a calf.  Hang a bird house.  Ride the gator.  DRIVE the gator.  Play in the dirt.  Learned how to open & close the gates and make sure they are locked tight.  Make his own s'mores. Play with dogs & cats.  Help feed the goats. 

He had the best time!

He didn't want to leave. 

About 30 minutes into our trip back home, he said "turn around!  I wanna go back!"

He LOVES Aunt Sharon & Uncle Victor. 

Emerson LOVED the animals.

She would just giggle every time we'd get close to them.

She'd smile and wave at them.

She's going to be like her Aunt Sharon and love the animals.

It was such a wonderful time together!

I'm so glad we made the journey to Alabama! 

A trip to the country to visit those you love sure is good for the soul.

Easton said his own prayers tonight.

He specifically thanked Jesus for 'time with Sharon & Victor, keeping us safe while we drove and a fun day!'  That about sums it up right there.  

And...we all survived

About a month ago, Lance got a call to attend the Delta Country Jam in Tunica, MS.

 

This is all fine & dandy, but they also invited his spouse.  For 2 nights.  3 days. 

That's me.  Over here.  The one that's NEVER left her child overnight, not once, in 3 1/2 years.

 

I gave him the look.  He knows the look.  He can see my nerves without me even muttering a word.  He assured me that everything would be ok, that we'd have fun, Easton would be fine, it's best to do this the first time before little sister arrives.  Yada, yada, yada.

 

While all these are very logical and reasonable explinations I kept trying to talk myself out of it, convince myself we really wouldn't go, that something would fall through, etc. 

 

Well, the time came and went.  As did we.  We did it.  I did it.

I left my boy for a little over 48 hours and everyone survived.

And maybe even had a little fun in the process.

 

I left a fun little surprise for him and a sheet of instructions for while we were away

 

We left Friday mid-day and drove to Tunica.

We stopped along the way for lunch, at Popeyes Chicken.

Seriously, a nice weekend away and he picks Popeyes Chicken?

We made it to the hotel with enough time to unload, freshen up and head out to the concert.

{{Thompson Square}}

 

 

We cut the concerts short and headed back to the Gold Strike for a little gambling.

I don't think any money was won that night, but I was so confused during Three Card Poker I wouldn't have known anyways!

 

Saturday morning, we made our way to the Waffle House.

$24 breakfast buffet at the hotel was NOT going to happen.

I have no place to put $24 worth of food these days.

So, we both ate for $19.  Thrifty. 

 

We had a work lunch at the hotel and then had some more time to gamble.

I headed back up to the room to rest while Lance played Poker.

It felt so strange to crawl up in that King Size bed in the middle of the day, with no one needing anything from me.

I almost felt sick, it felt so strange.

After a big nap we headed back to the final night of concerts.

 

Tim McGraw was the closing act for the night!

I was THIS CLOSE to getting a meet & greet pass, but no such luck.

After seeing my picture with Kellie Pickler I'm glad I didn't see Tim.

Let's just say, the ASOS dress I was wearing was NOT flattering and I looked like a bus.

 

We headed back home Sunday afternoon to a napping Easton.

He had a big time with Uncle Matt & Lauren!

They played Putt Putt, made cupcakes, painted a pumpkin, did some crafts I left, ate Mexican & McDonalds, played outside, watched movies and stayed up late.

Completely spoiled rotten, as he should have been.

 

Monday morning, we woke to the same 'Daddy?!?!?' that he yells every morning.

Lance got up and brought him to our bed.

I was somewhat asleep but rolled over after he whipered "Hey Mommy".

As I rolled over, he pulled out his ra-ra and kissed me right in the mouth.

In his sweet little morning sleepy voice, he looked deep into my eyes and said "I love you Mommy".

I assured him that I loved him too.

We layed there a minute and he said "that was because I missed you for Mississippi".

 

This child.

So sensitive.  So tender.  So sweet.

He's such an old soul in a little boy's body.

Always knowing the right thing to say.

My little boy. The ONE that made me a mommy.

 

It's so good to be HOME.

Gatlingburg- Aquarium Trip

Lance is the entertainer of the family.

I'm the homebody.

About Tuesday of last week, he said "Lets go do something fun!"

We talked and decided Gatlinburg would be just the ticket to our FUN weekend!

 

We loaded up Saturday morning after my shower and made the journey to The Smokeys!

 

We stayed at the Park Vista WAY UP on a mountain!

Every hotel visit comes with a LOT of bed jumping if you travel with us!

 

 

We walked around Gatlinburg Saturday night. 

All the pun'kins were out and the strip was decorated so wonderful for Fall.

Even the old Out House. 

 

Sunday morning we got up and had a yummy breakfast at the hotel then headed to the Aquarium. 

And of course, I bought the over-priced $15 souvenir photo! 

I'll pay just about anything for a family picture! 

The Ripley's Aquarium had so much to see!

Easton was entertained for about an hour and a half.  About 15 minutes shy of what it took us to go through.  It was nice and spread out yet we didn't need a stroller.

My favorite to see are the Jelly Fish and the Sea Horses.

 

 

 

We walked Downtown a little more before making our way to Ober Gatlinburg.

We rode the tram up the mountains.  Two and a half miles UP the mountains.

Oh.  My.  Nerves.

Our guide was entertaining and the air was cool so it was a nice ride.

Easton got front view on the way down the mountain.

 

Here is the view from the top.

Below, far left, you'll see the Park Vista where we stayed. 

 

And!  NO TRIP to Gatlinburg is complete without a visit to the Apple Barn. 

This time we went at about 2pm, instead of breakfast time.

Best.  Decision.  Ever.

It was the perfect time.  No wait!

Once seated, they bring you a basket of Apple Fritters with Apple Butter along with a small glass of Julep.  To say these Fritters are life changing would be an understatement.

Lance and I took one bite and just looked at each other and smiled.

They are amazing.  Perfectly crispy on the outside, covered with a sweet powdered sugar, yet soft and pillowy on the inside.  Dipped in the Apple Butter, you won't be able to just eat one.

Needless to say, we ordered a dozen to go.

Even Easton, Mr. NO DIP, LOVED the Apple Butter!

 

And they have the cutest Fall set up out front!

Someone was feeling a little silly.

THREE YEAR OLDS! 

 

And because I LOVE TRADITION, and a good comparison pic...the picture on the left is from last year. 

The right, this year.  A bit disheveled, yet a picture none the less. 

 

Make sure to visit all the cute little shops on the Apple Barn property!

I could spend ALL DAY there!

Christmas Store.  Cider Mill.  General Store.  Bakery.

It's APPLE HEAVEN!

 

 And because my man loves the Vols, and is trying to convince Easton to do the same, we had to stop at Neyland Stadium to show Easton it's grandeur. 

There was a gate open so we made our self welcome.

It's not trespassing if the gate's open right??

Once in the truck, little angel fell asleep for a good part of the ride home.

He really is a dream child, this boy.

 

Another weekend in the books.

9 (at most) more until little sister arrives.

Enjoying these last few just us three.

Four will be a new journey!

Gatlinbug {Part 2}

If you missed the first part of our trip, you can click {here} to see.

 

 We made it to Gatlinburg by supper time.

Once we found a place to stay it was dark and way past supper.

We ate at Loco Burro in Gatlinburg.

Somehow we always end up eating Mexican.

If you ask Easton what he wants, he'll no doubt say 'rice'.

If you're heading to the smokies, eat there!  It was YUMMY! 

Lance's Chicken Fajita's looked much tastier than my quesidilla! 

 

We ended up in an arcade.

Big shocker.

I don't know if it's being a boy mom, or just my boys, but we always find an arcade.

I told Lance that I thought our vacations were doomed to arcades and putt-putt.

Which ways the nearest Joann or Hobby Lobby???

 

Even though arcades aren't my thing, it's fun to watch Lance and Easton play!

 They have a big time!

 

 

After the arcade we ended up in an Old Timey Photo Booth.

This picture makes me laugh!



Lance had JUST completed his Hand Gun Carry class and had been to the gun range before we left on Saturday morning.When he got home he stressed the importance to Easton of never, ever, ever, ever touching guns.  That they are not toys.  When we walked in this little store, Easton was all kinds of curious as to WHY all these folks in the pictures were holding guns.You can imagine his surprise when we got dressed up and the lady asked him if he wanted a shot gun or a hand gun!  This picture has really sparked some questions.  I hope we didn't teach a double standard here! 

 

 

Also, no trip to Gatlinburg is complete without stopping at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge.

The Apple Fritters...DELISH! 

And.  My little love fit right in with the scarecrows!

It's officially Fall Y'all!

And we LOVE it!

 

Happy Friday!

Gatlinburg {Part 1- Cherokee Lake Fishing Tourney}

 

Last weekend we took a quick trip east.

Matt (Lance's brother) was fishing in the WalMart Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament.

After 2 good days of fishing, there was a pretty good shot at a win.

And the winner, he wins a $40k Ranger Bass Boat!

That's not something we wanted to miss.

 

So, we packed our bags Saturday morning and headed to the Weigh-In.

 

But, the thing about fishing, you don't know how anyone else is doing... 

 

There's a 5 fish limit each day.

Saturday he finished with 3 fish. 

 

We waited while all of the boats drove in and nervously expected a win.

At least, I did. 

 

He was next to last co-angler to weigh in.

Matts fish for Saturday put him in first place in the co-angler part of the tournament.

{Each boat has a 'boater' aka professional and a 'co-angler')

 

If the guy behind him weighs in at less than 22lbs 7 ounces for his 3 day total, Matt wins!

 

No such luck today.

The guy after him weighs in for his 3 day total at 22 lbs, 10 ounces.

3 ounces folks.  That's 15 quarters.

 

Here's the kicker, each fish you weigh in must be alive.

On Friday, a fish in Matts live well...well...wasn't alive.

They penalize you half of a pound for that.  That's 8 ounces.

Had that fish been alive, Matt would have won that Ranger Bass Boat.

 

However, going in to this tournament, Matt wanted to finish top 6 so he would qualify for the All American tournament next summer.

 

Finishing 2nd not only qualifies him for that, but it's an all expense paid trip for him!

 

 

This man here, Mike Black, he was the Boater Matt fished with on Saturday.

He WON in the Boater division.

What did he win?

He won a Chevy Silvarado and a Ranger Bass Boat.

Not too shabby for 3 days {actually more like a lifetime} of fishing!

 

He was such a kind man.  In his speech he mentioned the guys he had fished with over the last 3 days had a willingness to learn and listen, and that's what he enjoyed more than fishing, was teaching.  Such a nice guy!

 

This was a neat experience for me.  I'd never been a part of anything like this!

It was fun to do something different and learn a little more about this sport. 

 

We left the fishing tourney, and headed to the Great Smokey Mountains for the rest of the weekend.

We'll see if I can get my hiney in gear and get that post together soon!  ;)

I'm not making any promises.