Since we'd just gotten back from Disney a few weeks before, we decided to forego our usual trip for Fall Break in lieu of a staycation. I thought the kids would be disappointed, but I think they were still pretty exhausted from the big DW trip and thrilled to explore our home turf. We Memphians, and that includes those of us in the burbs, complain a lot about our city....the crime, the politics, the racial tension, the subpar education (I could go on and on....), but we don't always recognize the positives in this city (and there are many!). Aside from sports (Go Grizzlies! Yay Redbirds!), we have some major culture here, far beyond the barbecue and Elvis that others give us credit for. Memphis is oozing with indigenous music, unique art, eclectic food, and some truly interesting people. So for Fall Break 2015, we decided to spend some time enjoying it.
On Monday, the kids and I packed a lunch and headed to the zoo in midtown. I have been to many a zoo in my life, and I have to tell you, ours ranks pretty high up there. With the weather starting to cool, the animals were particularly active and we had a great day walking around and watching them play and interact.
Tuesday we drove to East Memphis to an old favorite we hadn't visited in a while: My Big Backyard at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. I worried that the kids would be too grown up for some of the activities now, but either they weren't or didn't care, because they ran from cottage to cottage, rolled down the hills, crawled through worm holes, swung on swings, and chased butterflies with the best of them!
On Wednesday, we made the trek down to Hernando, Mississippi to visit Cedar Hill Farm with our neighborhood friends. We did this last Fall Break and it's become sort of an annual tradition. Despite the girl drama, hangriness, and multiple lost child incidents, we had a great time and are looking forward to going again next Fall Break.
Thursday, the kids were dying to go see Pan at the theatere and since it had been a while since we'd been to the movies and we all truly love the story of Peter Pan, I was game. It was a nice, quiet break from our busy week and I'm glad we took the time to be low-key, even if it was only for one day. That night, I took Hayes to her first Broadway musical at the Orpheum with some other moms and daughters from her class. Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" was playing, so the girls got all dressed up for dinner at The Majestic followed by their first "real" play. They did great during the show but crashed on the way home. I wish I would have gotten a picture of them laying with their heads on each others shoulders! Too cute!
Friday was Gray's 8th birthday and he woke us up at 5:45 to celebrate. He was so excited about his new Disney Infinity 2.0 set and the microscope he got from P and Pop. While Hayes went to a playdate, Gray and I ran errands for his birthday dinner that night with the rest of the family. Gray got to pick the menu, so fried chicken, mashed potatoes and homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream cake it was!
To wrap up the week, we went back to the Zoo Saturday night for our first-ever Zoo Boo with our friends, the Efkemans. Since we'd just come back from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, it was a little lame, but the kids had fun with their friends and it was a nice October night to be outside. We finished with dinner at a midtown fave, Belly Acres, and then spent Sunday recovering from all the fun and trying to get back into the swing of things.
It was a long, but fun week and I am thankful for the chance to have spent that time with the kids.
Until next time,
The Pattersons
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