The Mini's Have a Fall Break...

Traditions!! The Mini's had their Fall Break from school last week. We asked if we could have them for a few days. Andie was invited but we suggested she might want a few days to do things she wanted and needed to do on her break. The end result was us picking up the Mini's on Wednesday, October 24th and returning them on Saturday, October 27th. 

We started the visit with a drive-thru at Taco Bell in Shelbyville. The kids wanted to eat in the car on the way to Sadieville so we did just that. Now, Hayden had a sleepover with four of his friends on Tuesday night. He declared to his mother that he had not slept all night or only for a few minutes. She found him twice asleep in the bathtub that morning. The other evidence to support his lack of sleep was that those boys who did fall asleep woke up the next morning with permanent marker on their face. Hayden was one of the ones without any marker on his face. Boys will be boys!! I had wanted to stop at Josephine Sculpture Gardens on the way to Sadieville but with the current level of tiredness we opted to just get ourselves home. There was a quick stop to CVS to pick up a prescription they refilled and let me know about as we were driving back to Sadieville. So, with lunch in our  laps, we plodded on to Sadieville. 

We stayed inside for the rest of the evening. The kids are watching the Big Bang Theory. Hayden wants to see them in order. Claude owns the first 10 seasons. So we watched some of them Wednesday evening. Claude has downloaded the app to his phone that sounds like a whip cracking. It is in one of the episodes. Bailey thought it was great fun to crack the whip and dance. Bailey also loved curling up in the purple afghan Junie (my sister) made for me several years ago. We had pizza for dinner and ice cream for dessert. These kids would eat the entire time we had them.  

I told Papa I would not be visiting him Thursday. We purchased tickets to Keeneland at Hayden's Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner. We were going to take the Mini's to the races. It was a cold, cloudy day. We asked them to bring coats so they would stay warm. Bailey was very happy to wear the stocking cap Claude bought in Finland. She tells me they are very much in style!! Oh my. Who would ever think Claude could purchase stylish things! Just before they got in the car Saturday for their drive home, Claude quietly gave Bailey the Finland stocking cap. She was go excited. She said, "And I didn't even have to ask for it!!" 

Claude is on the Board of Directors of Yuko-En in Georgetown. This is a lovely park that is like you would find in Japan. There is a building on it they call the Villa and people rent it for functions. A couple was wanting to possibly use it for their wedding. Claude had already shown it to the groom-to-be. Now the bride-to-be wanted to see it. So we started our day at Yuko-En. I took the Mini's for a walk around the park while Claude took care of business. 

Then we were off to Keeneland for lunch and the races.  We did this with the Mini's last Fall Break and were wondering how it would be for them to go again. Turns out they loved it. Hayden even said it should definitely be part of our tradition in the future. Amazing!!

This was the only selfie I got. Claude, Bailey and Hayden 's thumbs. I wanted to get Bailey's head in the shot with Hayden's but that just didn't work. I'll keep practicing and some day I may learn how to take a good selfie. Maybe...

After Keeneland we drove to Crank and Boom to have ice cream. This was a first time visit for Hayden and Bailey. Hayden had Super Fudge which is their darkest chocolate flavor. Bailey had a scoop of Dark Chocolate and a scoop of Truffle with sprinkles on the top. Claude had Kentucky Blackberry Buttermilk. I had a scoop of Coconut ice cream and a scoop of Mango sorbet. Hayden assured me I did not have real ice cream flavors. However, I totally enjoyed my choices. The Mini's want to bring the family back here when they come for Christmas.  

Thursday night we had chicken tenders, homemade macaroni and cheese and salad. We ate ice cream for dessert with cookies. Then the rest of the evening was watching more Big Bang Theory.

Friday was a day of rain and cold wind outside. We told the Mini's they got a day inside. Claude had a meeting in the morning. I spent the afternoon visiting Papa. That left an adult with the Mini's all day. Lunch was tuna salad on croissants. Dinner was hamburgers and fries. More ice cream, cookies and candy for dessert. My goodness the Mini's ate this time. 

Bailey made her a nest out of the big silk comforter from China and lots of pillows and blankets. It would be her spot for the day. Hayden curled himself up in a ball in the big red rocker and that would be his spot for the day. It was just a very nice day watching more Big Bang Theory and eating ourselves into oblivion. 

Saturday morning after breakfast I gave Hayden a haircut. Then they watched a bit of Big Bang pausing to pack their stuff between episodes. We took them back to Taco Bell in Shelbyville where they wanted lunch and where Andie and Michael would meet us to take the Mini's the rest of the way home. I drove them alone this time. Claude had a sore throat and wasn't feeling perky so we left him home to rest for the day. Bailey also had a cracky voice Saturday morning. However, she was ecstatic with the way it sounded and used her voice as much as she could to hear it. 

It was a great few days. Andie was able to do some shopping for her some more work clothes without the kids. She also got some painting done in her home and some substitute teacher plans made for the next week. She has to go to a conference of some kind and needed to have plans for that. So, it was a win-win for the Big Guy and me, the Mini's and the parents. Good Fall Break!