Fall Break

Last week was our Fall Break.  We had originally planned on going to the beach with family, but Hurricane Florence caused us to change our plans.  I took the whole week off and two days were spent at various doctor appointments...but we did go to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a couple of days.  It was still SO HOT outside, in the 90's...so that limited our outside activities a bit.  We rented a condo on the Tennessee River so the river was in our backyard - which was neat. 

Looking back up at where we stayed (middle level on the left) from the river.

Wednesday morning we went to Ruby Falls and that was really neat.   

Looking out from atop Lookout Mountain.

Looking down the Incline Railway...we didn't ride it...

Enjoying ice cream at Clumpy's.  

Visiting the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

Going out for a canoe ride in the river.

While we were waiting on dinner one night at a pizza place, the waitress brought the kids both a ball of pizza dough to play with.  That was different and they enjoyed playing with it!

A barge floating down the river...

Thursday morning we visited the Children's Museum for a little while.  

Rachel made (sewed) this pillow.

Atop Signal Mountain, right behind where we stayed.

We came home Thursday night (it was a pretty easy drive) and Friday we finally went to see Christopher Robin at the movie theater.  

Cub Scouts

I know it's been a while since I posted...it's been busy since school has started back.  They are both doing good in their classes so far.  Rachel has had the bigger adjustment but is handling it well overall.  

Rachel started swimming (year-round) in mid-August, two nights a week... Then about 2-3 weeks in, she hurt her shoulder - we thought she had a pulled muscle...  Nope - broke her arm (in the growth plate, up close to the shoulder)... So she's been out of swim and other activities for a while now.  As of now, the bone has healed but we're still working on getting the shoulder ligaments back to normal.   So that has been a process.

The other new thing with us is that Jackson joined Cub Scouts - he's officially a Bear right now.  He's wanted to do it for the past year or two, and finally joined this year.  He loves it so far.  They even went camping a couple of weeks ago for the first time.  Jackson had the best time!!  

After setting up their tent. 

Eating s'mores...his favorite.

Fixing sausage for breakfast.

Jackson showing some of the others how to set up the tent.

Fishing and baiting his own hook!

Getting his first badge (or whatever you call it!).

Fixing dinner for the group - he liked helping prepare it and said it was delicious.  (Shrimp, potatoes and vegetables in foil packets, cooked in the fire.)

Flag retirement ceremony.

Still asleep the next morning when everyone else was up and moving.

And he's been selling popcorn to raise money for it.  His pack offers Show-and-Sells where they can sign up for a slot or two at a store and stand out front and try to sell to customers.  This was his first experience with it and he rocked it!  Very persistent and polite.