Down at the Farm.

To honor our forefather's vacation day, we decided to go be one with nature and remember those days of 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue and farm green.

Or something like that.

To Nashville we went. We got to hang out with this guy. His name is Shorty.

 And he's about 8 feet tall. Hence the name.

Shorty was none too thrilled that these mini horses were ruling the roost while he was stuck running laps around the pasture by himself.

Wild Man hit cowboy mode as soon as he saddled up Star.

 I don't think Buster stopped smiling the whole time he was on Blaze.

Even Big Sis took a ride, which is so not her style - she'd rather be reading a book - but mini horses just have a way with kids. They create fun. And endless smiles. I even wanted a ride; however, the weight limit on the biggest horse was 100 lbs. Thanks for making me feel like a fatty. I'll go run some laps with Shorty now.

Later, we headed to a local Cane Maze to go get lost in a field of large weeds...er, cane. 

But the best part was the zip line - one for kids and one for adults.

The big kids never hesitated and jumped right on, zipping down the hill.

Us adults, however, hesitated and hyperventilated and sat on our haunches about 5 minutes before taking off.

 It maxed out at about 3 feet above ground. Risk takers we are.

This boy made sure all the chickens were well fed. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. All at once.

Tiny Miss made sure we were well aware that she was hot, tired and hungry. Oh and starving to death. And sweating her brains out. And needing air conditioning STAT! Poor poor pitiful thing.

Back at the homefront, or farmfront (?), Buster and I went about collecting cotton for his teacher's birthday present. It's like busting open an oyster. Except instead of a pearl, it's the fabric of our lives. You're welcome for that horrendous use of punnery...and grammar. 

Snowing cotton on the field that never ends.

While Buster was scouting cotton, Big Sis was picking peanuts. Little farm hands they are!

 

A couple of hours later and the boiled peanuts were ready. I never liked these growing up, but have been won over since. This batch is my helping. Get your paws off!

Wild Man and I jumped in the Kubota and tried to chase the sunset across many acres of beautiful fields. We stopped and watched the sun set while the cows roamed. It was a most glorious date with my main squeeze. 

We finished off the weekend roasting up some marshmellows and eating our weight in chocolate icing and graham crackers.

Maybe that's why I missed the weight limit for those mini horses.

Dang S'mores.

Back to the Motherland

Word on the street was that my Buffalo nephews were coming to our state, so we began making plans to see how we could make a trip to see them (as our only time to see them is usually Christmas). And they would be attending their first ever UGA game. So we planned to head to Athens, stay with the Husb's aunt & uncle and then do some tailgating with the fam...when lo and behold, 5 free football tickets dropped down from heaven into our laps leaving us only needing to purchase one. SOLD! So now all 6 cousins would get to watch their first ever UGA game together!

We arrived after 10pm in Athens to spend the night. Aunt Mandy & Uncle Danny had rooms ready for everyone, cupcakes baked to decorate the next morning and bags of snacks and drinks to take with us tailgating. Talk about a warm welcome!

The next morning, Uncle Danny had all 4 kids down at the lake fishing before 8am!

We wanted to head out by 9am and the boys didn't want to lose out on any of the big catches to be had.

After pulling tearful boys away from their fishing hole, we loaded up and drove about a mile to The Parking Lot. This is the same parking lot I grew up going to every Saturday in the fall for the first 18 (more or less) years of my life. The same Lot I brought my college roomies & boyfriends to every Saturday in the fall that I was a student at UGA. The same crew is still there, though a little grayer up top, trading stories about football and grandkids.

We started out with me taking the boys to one side of the stadium and the Husb taking the girls to the other side. The boys and I quickly realized we were going to melt and/or pass out like the people around us if we didn't get to the other side.

Husb texted and said he had shade and available seats and we made our move. When he showed up with $27 worth of Powerade and water, I knew we'd survive.

Well, not all of us. 

  

After picking up all those that dropped like flies from the heat, we headed back to the ATL so we could smush some more cute cheeks. Case in point: Nephew #3. Cuteness overload.

 My boys never left the sides of their big cousins. Clearly they're of great maturity.

And the girls club had many a dance routine and song written within their first hour together.

All of my nephews and 1 niece under one roof and it's not even Christmas!! A gift. Wish we could hang out all the time.

This dude taught my mom (his grandmother) the Dougie followed by a dance off. I would post the video, but I want to keep my million dollar inheritance so I'll just hold on to it. One of the most classic moments in Gillis history.

 

I'm not gonna lie. I've totally been practicing. This boy just thinks he has rhythm but his aunt is about to take him AND his grandma down in Christmas Dance Off 2012.

Pickin' and Grinnin'

If there's one food our fam can all agree on as the fave, it's blueberries (with crunchy tacos a close second but apparently tacos don't grow on trees). We heard about a blueberry farm not too far out of town, so we trekked it out there to see what it was all about. 

And it was perfect. 

First on the list when we move into a new home: plant these puppies so we can save some moolah in the teenage years. "Kids, we don't have enough money for taco night so head on outside and feast on blueberries for dinner."

Note there is narry a berry in that bucket.

Or in that one.

Or that.

But Rule Follower put them in the bucket where they belonged. She would.

All smiles after depleting the farm of pounds of berries.

This loot should last us a day or so.

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons could not have worked out any more perfectly than they did this year. We were able to find back to back classes for the babies and the big kids first thing in the morning (yep, 2 weeks of arriving at the pool before 8am - whew!). They all had fantastic teachers and are eons farther in their swimming skills than they were without the lessons.

The babies did lots of warming up before the swim time began to make all the little people feel more comfortable in the big big sea.

Ring around the rose-y, pocket full of posey...

Mastering the star fish...

These kiddos can now float all by themselves!

The best part of swimming in a pool just mere steps from the ocean...CRABS EVERYWHERE!

She must have learned that form from me and my former synchronized swimming career.

The big kids getting ready for their lesson...

Big Sis perfected the back stroke (and I can say mine has gotten better too just from swim lessons by osmosis!)...

And they always ended their lesson with a flight across the sky. A few more feet and Buster could have made it to the lighthouse!

Little Miss No Risk Taker didn't so much enjoy this part, but it was the highlight of my day seeing her face in the midst!

St. Augustine

The 29th annual family vacation was quite the success. No broken bones this year which makes a HUGE difference in how one views the enjoyment of said vacation. We had scheduled dinners and cookouts with the big family (50 of us!), hard decisions of whether to spend our time at the beach or at the pool, and lots of relax time before the work/school/sports schedule takes us for a spin.

Many of the great-grandkids are pictured here. Others came and went on different days. This massive week-long playdate was just what they needed! If only I could entertain them as well when we're at home {sigh}.

Last year, it took the entire 7 days to get Wild Man warmed up to being around people and water and, well, life in general. This year, he was full speed from day one!

Tiny Miss had her Dora floatie attached to her at all times, even mastering some spinning and flipping moves within it.

CANNONBALL!!!!

The Backstroke Girl doing what she does best...all day...every length of the pool...

Even Wild Men get tuckered out every now and again...

We had a family date on our last night and went out to eat at our favorite local spot, Mango Mango's, followed by a walk on the beach under the light of the moon.

The babies threw walking to the wind and ran in circles over and over and over again. I should try this maneuver in the backyard each night. Makes for a good, solid sleep.

Saw this boy on the beach and I asked him out. He said yes. Score!

Them crazy hooligans. They make vacations exhausting and life entertaining. Wouldn't trade it!