Playing Hookie

What to do on a beautiful day when you really don't feel like doing school? Play hookie and go to the beach of course! That's something I'm okay with since there are many, many days that public children have off, and we continue doing school. Besides, Colton tested last night at Tae Kwon Do and did awesome! He is now officially a green belt and that definitely calls for us to take off and celebrate together! The beach was beautiful! Hardly anyone there except for a few surfers and the sandpipers running in the sand. The water was as clear and pretty as can be and the shore was filled with shells. The kids had a blast and played till fully exhausted. Days like today are my favorite... filled with smiles, laughter and love.

How fast can you type?

For a little fun, try this. See how fast you type. I thought I was pretty fast, but I guess compared to the average computer nerd, I have nothing on them!

70 words

A Heavy Heart

I came across this blog and it completely gave me a heavy heart for this wonderful family and all that they are going through. http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com/ (once you are on the site, click on "click here" under the welcome message). Also, be sure to watch their slideshow. It's the most touching thing I've seen in a long time. This beautiful mother is a true inspiration of how God can carry you through the things you couldn't imagine possibly going through as long as you seek Him. Wow, my heart is feeling so sad for this family's loss right now. Hearing things like this really helps keep me grounded and reminds me how thankful I need to be for each and every blessing that I've been given. Life isn't to be taken lightly, that's for sure!

Birthday Boys

Last night we celebrated Uncle B.'s birthday (aka Jenna's brother Brian) and Uncle JoJo's birthday (aka Kelly's brother Todd) with a Mexican fiesta. The kids had a blast playing as always, and even though I was exhausted from my previous night out and still had no voice, I managed to have a great time too. Yaya (aka Kelly's mom Pam) made a delicious spread of Mexican food and we topped it off with carrot cake, which is Brian's all time favorite. Here are a few pictures from our evening...

the ones who made it to the end...

Our cutties enjoying some cake!

Uncle B. giving us a Mexican serenade

Go JoJo!

Bon Jovi

So me and some girlfriends planned a night out to see Jon Bon Jovi and Chris Daughtry play at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise. What a night! To see how our night got started, check out this article http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/511112.html After all of this calmed down we FINALLY got to our seats but we missed Daughtry's whole show. Bummer! Bon Jovi's concert was truly awesome though and thankfully Daughtry did come back onstage to sing with Jovi towards the end. Overall, it was a great time! I will say though, since Bon Jovi didn't get started until after 10:45, we didn't get home until after 3:00am. I am still... exhausted and my voice is still gone!

Pioneer Living

Life as an early pioneer living on a Florida pineapple plantation wasn't an easy one. Today we went to the Savannas Preserve Park in Port St. Lucie which is near an area that years ago used to be a pineapple plantation. The kids got to experience what life was like back then and truly have a greater appreciation for the comforts and conveniences that we have today. They learned so many things, and I did too, but in a nutshell, we learned about pineapple farming by hearing stories and seeing a slide show, and learned about pioneer life by various activities that the kids participated in. They gave them a number of chores that needed to be done, so off to work they went...

Colton and his friend Christian, scrubbing the clothes

This sweet lady actually grew up on the Treasure Coast so she had so many neat stories to share with us.

Scrub it girl!

Fletch and his little buddy Wyatt playing in the soapy water

They learned how to ground coffee and corn. It was smelling good around there!

"Am I doing it right?"

As the kids were doing their chores, Fletch had fun too!

Fletch and Wyatt coming back from a little hike

Fletch and his little mischievous face that he gives me when he knows he's doing something he shouldn't be.

Hi sly little fox!

Gobble, Gobble!

The kids played several games that the pioneers used to play. This game their playing is called Game of Graces (seen here: http://fairetymetoys.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Graces). The girl in the green tank top that's playing the game with Colton, is Sherice. She is the granddaughter of my midwife Lori Nelson, who delivered Gracie and Fletcher.

We went on very long hike through the Savannas to gather things that we needed back at "home". We gathered spice for the soup, veggies for scrub chicken stew, a sedge to mend the broom with, something for the fleas and even something to dye the clothes with.

While on our hike, we came across this wild blueberry bush. The kids ate all the blue ripe ones and said they were yummy!

Always take the time to stop and smell the flowers.

Just before leaving, we stopped to check on the clothes then we headed to Langford park for a little more fun!

Guitar Lovin' Boys

These two boys of mine LOVE playing the guitar. They have a special CD that I made for them with all their favorite songs and they go in their room, put on their CD, and have a "jam session" at least three times a day. It's hilarious! Colton actually sounds like he knows what he's doing and Fletch is right there with him, strumming away, head bobbing, with an occasional lift of the foot for the added guitarist effect. He always uses a guitar pick too and will flip his room apart until he finds one. He amazes us how well he plays and how he never seems to tire of it. Some mornings when Colton sleeps in, Fletch can't wait for him to wake up so he can drag him back to their room to play their guitars. It's so sweet how even though Colton is still half asleep, he'll say "oh, man", then he goes right in and begins playing with him. I think them sharing a room has really helped them to bond as brothers.



My sweet friend Karen, who's a manager at Gymboree, surprised Gracie at church on Sunday with this new outfit. Gracie loves it just as much as I do. When we got home from church, after visiting my dad, the first thing she did was run in her room and put it on. When daddy told the kids to "get on the 4-wheeler, we're going fishing" I had to make Gracie go inside and change. She said "mommy, I won't get it dirty!" Yea right! So she changed but as soon as they got home, she immediately went inside to put it back on. She hasn't worn any other shoes except for these, ever since. Thanks Karen! We love it!!!





*** Also, my Dad came home on Saturday and is doing well. Still trying to get adjusted to all the medication he's on, but overall, I think he's doing amazing for all he's been through.

Day at the River

We felt the need to get out of the house yesterday and do something relaxing yet fun so we took the kids to the river. They had so much fun playing in the sand, swimming, seining, and fishing. It was so nice to be able to lay out in the sun, read a book, and just relax while the kids entertained themselves. We tied Fletch's floaty to a rope which was tied to a weight so he enjoyed floating in the water for quite awhile. After the day was over, it was a big reminder to me how important it is for me to reapply sunscreen on myself, and not just the kids. I'm always so worried about keeping their skin protected but I forget to keep applying it on myself too. I don't think I'll forget next time because... ouch, my sunburn hurts!




Colton changing the world, two bottles at a time.



We spotted several horseshoe crabs in the water.




They caught shrimp, needle fish and tons of these small pin fish.


Colton's awesome Crowder Rod, made by our friend Rob Crowder.