Cheekwood in the Fall

On Thursday we went down to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville.  I had wanted to get up and get going early in the morning but it just didn't happen.  Declan woke up tired and by the time Aidan got up, Declan was ready to go back to bed for a nap!  We waited until after lunch and then drove down and spent the late afternoon there.  It was beautiful - as always!  The afternoon sun on the autumn flowers was gorgeous.  Everything had a lovely warm glow and there were very few people there.  The last time we visited was for Light, back in July, and the kids had been asking to visit again.  They just love going to Cheekwood and so do I.  It's my happy place and since we're members, I never feel badly about going for a quick visit!  I wish we lived closer so I could go everyday.  Even Aidan said it's the thing he's going to miss most when we move next year.

The mums were in peak bloom and there were so many of them it was hard to tell that they WERE mums!  We visited the tree house and the trains and the thatched cottage.  Aoife wore her Minnie ears from Disney and we got smiles and chuckles from everyone we passed. She has the cutest little personality and is quickly becoming quite the extrovert!

After we walked around the gardens for an hour or so, we went to the pumpkin patch that they had set up near the green houses.  The pumpkins were so cool - lots of different shapes and colors!  We spent a while picking out the PERFECT pumpkins and playing with the ring toss and the bean bag toss.  Declan had a great time crawling around the pumpkins and just being really cute! 

After we left Cheekwood it was supper time!  We were really close to Carrabba's so we headed over there for some pasta.  I don't know if the kids were just hungry or tired from running around all afternoon but they were absolutely perfect at the restaurant.  The waiter even commented how well behaved and polite they were.  It was such a relaxing and pleasant meal - not that they usually aren't but this evening they were particularly good!

Aoife dancing down the path of mums - she didn't even realize that I was photographing her at first - then she stopped to pose!

 Everyone - and the new stroller because the one we rented in Disney was so fantastic! 

 Group selfie - I had to use a rock to prop up the camera.  I don't know why I can't seem to remember my little tripod!!

 Declan watching the trains - this is serious business.  He could have sat there all day and watched them!

 Kids with scarcrows:

 At the pumpkin patch

 Aoife made sure Declan got in a picture with her!

 I love the way they had everything set up - perfect photo op!

 playing games!

 Picking the PERFECT pumpkins:

 Emmy:

 Everyone together - what a cute bunch!

 Declan with a pumpkin that's almost as big as he is!