Hannum Home Happenings: October 2016

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Birthday Adventures

October is officially the beginning of the birthday season around here. This year, we have some rather significant birthdays as we are celebrating a brand new teenager and brand new decade!

As it is each year, Jace leads off the season with the "first" birthday. It is hard to comprehend or even type it out... but he is officially a TEENAGER this year. Whoa.

Visiting Baton Rouge, September 2016

I rather prefer adventures over gift items (aka toys), and this year Nonie and Dudad provided the entertainment. We (lied) told the boys we were tagging along with Dad on a work trip and were going to take them to a huge book fair. They were actually okay with that!

We took off midday and arrived about 5 hours later to our destination of Columbus, Mississippi, where we parked and took a stroll along a wonderful revitalized Main Street. Wonder upon wonder we happened to find a DUDAD and NONIE wondering along the same street (wink wink)! It took a while to get into the restaurant (but absolutely worth it - the food and service were incredible), so we found a quaint spot to sit and catch up.

Jace was so surprised when he found out that he was going to the Auburn / Mississippi State game the next day (along with Dad, Dudad and Sam)!! Thank you Nonie and Dudad!

Rocking some new shades

"We're going to the game?!?!?!?!"

He's THIRTEEN folks!!

At the game!

The next morning the big boys all headed off to the game, while Nonie, Isaiah and I took ourselves off to visit Waverly Mansion. What a special place. The home was built in the mid-1800s and home to the Young Family with their ten children (yikes!). After the last grown child died without any children of his own, the home was abandoned for about 50 years where it was THE romance spot for all the locals. Eventually, a young couple named Snow learned of the abandoned mansion in the woods, bought it, and moved in, bats and all. That was in 1962.

The Snow family still open up their home each and every day to visitors. Melanie (one of the 4 children Mr. and Mrs. Snow raised while renovating the home) was such a treat to listen to. She loves the home, the history, and the property which is evident in her story-telling. She was also a little taken by Mr. Isaiah I think, as she plopped him up on the "King's Bed" shoes and all for a photo op! If you're ever in the area, HIGHLY suggest visiting Melanie and her magnificent family's home.

The view from the Grand Entrance looking up - it was stunning!

The King's Bed

Touring the gardens

After our tour, we took ourselves back to Main Street Columbus and did some window shopping before finding a wonderful little place to eat lunch and watch some of the game... spoiler alert... Auburn won big time!

Later we met back up with the boys and headed our separate ways back home. An amazing and blessed weekend we had!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Rundown

I really stink at this blogging thing. My original intention of blogging was to keep some kind of a record of the boys' lives so that maybe one day they - or their children - would look back and laugh and smile and remember some of the best parts of their childhood. Nowadays I mostly post the funnies on Facebook, but really I would rather share more of the story here.

Seriously, my boys are hilarious and witty and fun and one day when their kids are stretching their patience like an overblown balloon they will remember some of the {several} times that balloon stretched and popped around here. :)

The last post was in April 2015... so let's quickly catch up.

- Brian took on the role of Silver Badge for the Eighth District staff - this is a huge testament to his hard work, diligence, and drive to help others succeed.
- I left the Coast Guard Reserves in May 2015 after 16 years of service. It's been bittersweet, but mostly a relief to not have to figure out logistics anymore.
- Creative Light Photography was started... and then closed after I realized it took too much time from the boys (now I simply shoot for fun!)
- Just started our 3rd year homeschooling - Sam joined us last year.
- Isaiah started preschool 3 days a week and loves it (so do I, it gives the older boys more one-on-one during school time).
- We adopted a new boxer-mix puppy dog, Callie, who we affectionately call "the Pig" because she likes to hog the couch/bed/floor - pretty much wherever you are or have she wants it too!
- Sadly, our sweet Logan passed away after 13 years - he is still missed every day.
- We bought a house!! Our first home of our own!!
- Our entire family is completely involved in Scouts and we love it. Jace is planning a trip to Philmont in 2018.
- Brian is ~this close~ to completing his degree! He has also made the Honor Roll the past several semesters. So proud of him :)
- We are seriously considering Brian's retirement from the Coast Guard in 2018. The idea is both exciting and terrifying.

That about covers the main points. We've done a little traveling this past year, mostly to places we've already been and to visit family, and we always found fun at the destinations.

Now the visual catch up... enjoy!