We had an awesome field trip at Marasco Ranch in Palm City on Tuesday. We went with our homeschool friends from Sonshine Christian Academy and all the kids had a blast and really got a 'taste' of what farm life is all about. There were so many beautiful animals for the kids to interact with and it was the perfect day to be outside enjoying the nature all around us. I must admit being in that atmosphere makes me imagine how fun it would be living on a farm having lots of animals to play with but then reality kicks in and I know how much more work that would create for me. Right now I'm still trying to get the hang of fulfilling all of my responsibilities to the best of my ability (being a help meet to my husband, a homemaker, a homeschooling mom, etc.) and throw a barnyard into the pile, boy I'd really be off to looneyville!
the boys hangin' out on the fence just being boys
Gracie and her little buddy Ava Gunter
Have we met before?
I could get used to this mom!
The new baby bunnies were so soft and cute!
Friday, January 25, 2008
A Day on the Farm
Thursday, January 24, 2008
more farm photos
The kids loved the wild and crazy hayride and yes, it certainly was wild! The driver told the kids he was driving with his eyes shut and the kids had to tell him which way to go... left, right or straight. There were some close calls but overall it was a great game for them to practice their direction skills!
After spending so much time bonding with the chickens, Colton has developed a major love for chickens. He is now begging me for a chicken for his birthday. If only we lived on a farm!
Our Gracie Girl
Our sweet Gracie is growing up so fast before our eyes. She really is maturing into a young lady faster than I can keep up with. I still see a lot of the young innocent side of her that says the cutest most unexpected things but I'm seeing more and more of the side of her that is developing into the young woman that she will become. She loves to practice her womanly role by helping clean the house and prepare dinner before Daddy gets home to please him and of course helping to take care of the "baby". She is always an extra set of eyes keeping watch on Fletcher and is so great about including him in whatever she is doing. Okay almost everything. She gets really upset when she's worked so hard setting up her dollhouse perfectly and he comes in and destroys it. Overall she is pure joy in our lives and is fitting her role perfectly as the little girl that I've always dreamed of. She reminds me so much of myself with her love for baby dolls, dresses and all things girly.
"Daughter are angles sent from above to fill our heart with unending love."
Author: J. Lee
I just love this picture since she looks so much like her Daddy here. Especially in the eyes!
Mama, am I four and a half yet???
A half a year makes a BIG difference to a 4 year old. Gracie has been asking me all the time "Mama, am I four and a half yet?!?! She has waited a long time to reach this milestone. On February 1st I can surprise her with "Happy 4 1/2 birthday Gracie!!!" She will be so... excited! Today she was practicing how she will show people she's 6 by holding up six fingers! If children could only understand it when we tell them to slow... down and enjoy their childhood! 
Lion Country Safari
We surprised the kids on Saturday morning after Colton's basketball game with a trip to Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach. It had been a few years since we'd been there, and we have been studying different animals in our schooling, so we thought it would be a good time to go. In Gracie's kindergarten program last week we studied the letter E for e, e, elephant and our memory verse for the week was "I will remember what God has done for me." We focused on the fact that sometimes it is said that an elephant never forgets and we should also never forget the wonderful things God has done. We made a list of some things God has done for us. Funny Gracie said God helps me lose my attitude and God has helped me to be nice to my brother and other brother baby Fletcher. She always cracks us up! This week we are learning about p, p, penguin and memorizing the verse "I show love to everyone, especially my family." We talked about how the Emperor penguin is a wonderful father. He takes care of the egg that the mama penguin lays and for two whole months he keeps it warm by keeping it on his feet and he doesn't even eat for those two months! No, we won't be making a trip to Sea World to see penguins but I think we'll watch "happy feet" and "the march of the penguins". We do have to try and cram a quick trip to Disney World however, since we have tickets that will expire February 1st! Yikes!
Below are some pictures of our trip to the "Safari". We all agreed that even though we saw some amazing animals, the rhino was by far our favorite. We got a really up close view of them and they were so amazing to look at. Such big creatures! On our last trip, a few lions came right up to our car and basically were checking us out through our car windows. It was a little scary but oh so exciting! That trip the lion was our favorite, but now they have the lions fenced off so we really didn't get an up close look at them. Anyhow, our trip was a great experience to see first hand some of the amazing animals that our awesome God created!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Flashback to Christmas...
sweet Gracie
I'm a believer
Fletch was not so fond of Santa
He actually climbed right up onto Santa's sleigh and didn't seem afraid at all until we put him on his lap. That's when the melt down instantly began!
The Gardens Mall in West Palm Beach
Time to make the cookies!
Ahh... holiday baking. One of my favorite childhood memories of the holiday's. How awesome it feels for me to now have this tradition with my children like I did with my mom. It's easy to get overwhelmed while baking with the kids due to the extreme messes we create, but we were smart and waited for Fletch to take his nap before starting our cookies. This made the experience much more relaxed and enjoyable. It was so fun to sit with the kids and create their edible Christmas creations. (sorry Fletch... next year buddy : )
We then went over to Brian and Kelly's (my brother & sis-in-law) to decorate our cookies and celebrate Poppy's birthday (my dad).
Gracie and her cousin and best friend Ava
my brother Brian and his littlest darling, Kaya
I'm one proud aunt of this beauty... Ava Rain
Friday, January 11, 2008
Christmas Eve
Getting three kids to pose for a picture is no easy task!
Look out Jimi, there's a new kid in town!
Mama's littlest love!
Christmas morning
Christmas morning smiles : )
My grandparents "Grammy & Pop" along with their slew of great grandchildren. From oldest to youngest: Colton, Gracie, Ava, Kaya, Fletcher and Eli
see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil
Colton on Christmas day with his favorite gift of all
Family Vacation
Josh's parents John and Suzanne treated us on a fun mini vacation to Orlando to stay at the Gaylord Palms Resort. We left the morning after Christmas and went with them and also Josh's sister Katie and her husband Austin. The hotel was absolutely beautiful! The decorations and flowers were breathtaking. They had a nightly Christian Christmas rock concert that the kids thought was awesome! There was a nutcracker who danced in the sky and of course Gracie being all about ballet, had to go up after the concert and meet the ballerina. There was an amazing drummer who was also playing in the air hanging from cables and Colton thought he rocked! They even had an outdoor ice skating rink but after observing the other skaters, we thought we'd better pass. We went and made fools of ourselves playing mini golf instead. It was all we could do to keep our balls out of the sand. We had a blast though! Our little vacation was the perfect way to end our Christmas celebration.
The kiddos at Gaylord Palms
Gracie and Koi... pure beauty!
No Colton's not drinking coffee... it's hot chocholate : )
Gracie took this picture of Colton and I
Our little golfer chick dressed stylish in an outfit her Grandma made her.
