The Regan Family: Fall is not just all about Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING!

There are other things to enjoy about Fall besides anything and everything pumpkin flavored or scented!

Here's a sampling of what the Regan Fam does when the days shorten, the leaves tint and the holidays approach...

It's high time for HOODIES!

We had a nice fire pit put in, and it fits nicely in our newly cleared out back yard...

S'mores is a food group right?

(Notice how the seating arrangements stay the same?!)

Just as sure as October follows September, we find ourselves at Burger Farm every Fall! (This year we actually went twice!) We had to take out a loan to pay for the tickets, but hey the kids got to play the straw maze and various other games 49million times so we are happy :)

The second time we went, it was with GG, Grandpa and the cousins.

Two cousins per cow car, check.

Hayride!

On the way back one of the 70 kids' coats we had with us dropped off the back of the tractor...

Luckily Grandpa saw it, and after weighing his options quickly, he decided jumping off the back of the moving tractor would be the best! He snatched the coat up and trotted back to the moving hayride, no problem at all! (That would have been a loooong walk back huh Grandpa?!)

As the weather pushes us inside a bit, we find ourselves finding new activities. The good ol' Beechmont Rollarena! Not one single broken tail bone- WIN!

Finally, on our long weekend off school we headed to the lovely Gatlinburg for the annual Regan Family Trip!

This is NOT a post card or a professional photo. This is a simple iPhone photo from right out of the back porch of our chalet!! It was UNREAL. UN REAL.

Saturday we trekked (by car) up to the highest point (?) in the national park. The temperature was about 20 degrees cooler and it seemed like a different world up there (it gave me such an appreciation and curiosity for Ann's new home in Denver). I bundled Bo up as tightly as humanly possible and snuck in a selfie...

Marlo and her hood (she wore it for pretty much every photo during our trip!).

FINALLY! A family photo!

Relaxin' to the max in the basement (though, is Mia really relaxing??)...

Nothing better than family.

Let's not forget the "HOT TUB CLUB"!

Ober Gatlinburg is such a sure spot for some simple fun with the kids...

(For a fun little comparison to a few years back...check out October 2011...

http://tytjregan.blogspot.com/2011/10/regans-invade-gatlinburg.html?m=0

Riding the ski lift up to the Alpine Slide (Tommy's favorite!).

Sunday night we all traveled into Pigeon Forge for a VERY entertaining dinner.

The Dixie Stampede!!

The seating was stadium style and in the arena we watched and ate (and ate and ate and ate!). We were entertained by plenty of horses, funny tricks, music, competitions, various other animals (birds!) and plenty of laughs.

Let me get back to that EATING part...

As soon as you sit down your necessary dinnerware is in front of you. Plate, cup, bowl, napkins, and...NO UTENSILS.

Keep that little detail in mind when I describe the menu!

Like a speed round competition the servers zoomed down the rows and first poured drinks. Next came pitchers of smooth, delicious potato soup right into the bowls. Cheddar biscuit, plop. WHOLE chicken, plop. Slice of pork tenderloin. Half of a baked potato wedge. Corn on the cob. All right in a row, one delicious item after another.

No utensils :)

Watching the children's faces as the waiter set the whole chicken down in front of them was hilarious. Kind of a perplexed, yet still hungry gaze. Due to the noise of all the entertainment going on, I showed the kids by example what to do with their chicken and they didn't hesitate at all. Marlo surprised us the most and dug right in, quite literally. (She even threatened Tommy with "no more kisses" if he tried to steal any more of her chicken!)

The last item was an apple struedel. Finally the waiter came around with warm wet paper towels.

What a fun evening, and even better to enjoy it with family. Thanks Brian and Haley for this great night.