Break Time

My computer and I have become nearly strangers lately. Other than checking my emails every so often, I have taken a much needed break from my computer to get some other things done.

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So, what have we been up to lately? Well, after surf camp ended we headed up to Gainesville for a weekend visit with family then last week Colton did another week of horse camp while Gracie enjoyed a week of ballet camp. They both had a great time at their camps but again, the running around totally exhausted all of us! We enjoyed some down time this weekend while visiting with some family in town.

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Now, to find out how I've been occupying my "free time" lately, you'll just have to check back after Friday. Hint, hint, Gracie's birthday is in 4 days!

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{colton, gracie, pop pop and fletcher}

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{pre birthday girl Gracie and post birthday girl aunt kathy}

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{fletch shares his spaghetti with lucy}

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I didn't get any good pictures from ballet camp but here are the few I took...

{gracie is on the right with ava next to her}

{gracie and ava on the right}

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A couple pictures from the last day of surf camp. Colton blew my mind! He just couldn't get enough of it. We left for Gainesville after surf camp ended and Colton said "Hey Dad can we bring our boards?". "Sorry buddy, no beaches in Gainesville." He's too much!

Surfer Boy

Colton is doing surf camp again this year and today I finally remembered to bring my camera. He really is doing amazing! He needed some encouragement last night though since for some reason he felt that he wasn't doing as good as the others. We had to help him believe that at his age he is really doing great and should be so proud of himself (the average surfer at camp is 10 or older). Today he went back with his head held high and with a strong determination to prove to himself that he really was a great surfer. He surfed for nearly 45 minutes, came up on shore for just a few minutes then asked his surf instructor Jordan if he could grab a board and go back out. We were amazed! He then went on to surf for another 45 minutes or more. We left the beach with a little boy with a huge smile on his face feeling very proud of himself with one request, "Mom, do you think we can go to the sushi restaurant tonight to celebrate?". No, I don't have a sushi lover on my hands or anything it's just that we are finishing up reading a book called "Dragon of the Red Dawn" which is about Japan. It has lead us to study about Mount Fuji, the Imperial Garden, the ancient city of Edo (now named Tokyo), the famous Japanese poet Basho, teahouses, samurai, sumo wrestlers, cherry trees, bamboo huts, the Great Bridge and of course sushi. A Japanese restaurant in town has little rooms where you get to eat as they do in Japan. Shoes off and sitting on the floor at a low table eating with chopsticks. That is all his proud heart wants to do.

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{that's colton to the right of the tall guy in the middle}
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{daddy made sure Gracie and Fletch didn't feel left out...}

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Our Friend Snap

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Josh found this little guy on our driveway and the kids had a little fun getting to know him before we released him into the woods. As I'm writing this, Gracie is sitting beside me so I asked her what she thought of the little turtle from several days ago and all she could say was "OUCH!" She learned hands on why they are called snapping turtles after it painfully clamped down on her little finger. She said through her tears "I was just trying to pet him!". Once I explained that he probably mistaked her finger for a carrot or something to eat she felt a little bit better but still has a scab on her finger to prove it.


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*** Also, for an update on our caterpillars, we haven't been as successful as we were hoping to be. I'm still not sure what went wrong...

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Horse Camp

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Colton has been having so much fun going to horse camp where his Aunt Katie is an instructor. He's learning all about horses and their care and of course having a ton of fun and loving every minute of it! Here are some pictures from today.

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{aunt Katie teaching colton how to clean the hooves}

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{heading off on a trail ride}

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Thank you Katie for sharing your love and passion for horses with Colton.

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A Lesson in Metamorphosis

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The kids and I are doing a little butterfly raising these days. We currently have 11 caterpillars that are in various stages of their development and are hoping to continue watching the process until they become butterflies. Here is more about the type of butterflies we are raising along with some of our pictures.

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Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies.

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They are:

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the largest butterfly found in North America

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beautiful in color and pattern

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easy to observe because of their slow wing beat

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fascinating in each of their phases of metamorphosis

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There are over two dozen varieties in the Swallowtail family of butterflies in North America. The Black Swallowtail Butterfly is found from Southern Canada to northern South America. It is most common in the Eastern, Central and Southwestern parts of the United States. This is the butterfly that we believe our caterpillars will turn into.

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***I took all of these pictures except for this one of a black swallowtail since we don't have a butterfly yet***

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The early stages of the black swallowtail caterpillar is black and white, to mimic bird dropping to disguise themselves from predators.

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As they grow, they not only get larger but change in color and pattern.

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Black Swallowtail caterpillars eat the leaves of carrots, celery, parsley, Queen Anne's lace and dill among a few others. Boy do they eat! It seems like they munch all day!

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One interesting fact about the Swallowtail caterpillars is that they have an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, ejects and releases a foul smell......all to repel predators! You will be able to see this unusual feature by gently pressing behind the head.

This is the last stage of the caterpillars life, before turning into a chrysalis. They turn a very faint green color (as seen above) just before their next transformation. Aren't they beautiful creatures! We are so excited for the next stages in our journey! We spend a lot of time just watching them go about their business of munching on leaves.

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Stay tuned!!!

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Looky Looky at my Snooky!

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Colton and Josh went out this morning for a little kayak / fishing excursion and this was Colton's prize catch. Josh snapped this photo with his camera phone just before Colton released it back into the water.

Happy Independence Day

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Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free........John 8:32


{colton showing off his slug friend that he's been carrying around all day}
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Fun Facts

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2.5 million... The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation in July 1776.

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304 million... The nation’s population on this July Fourth.

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Father of the country and architect of independence George Washington held his first public office at the tender age of 17. He continued in public service until his death in 1799.

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{and for you Gator fans...}

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For fun, test your knowledge... (I hope you do better than I did ; )

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http://www.factmonster.com/spot/ushistory1.html

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