Nights under the stars

As a celebration for the kids ending the school year and summer beginning, we took a camping trip this past weekend.

Our Friday began, though, by running a few errands (like some last minute items at the store for the trip) and buying a birthday gift, then attending a birthday party (nothing like waiting until the last minute!). It was really a pretty messy, rainy Friday - but, a party at the splash pad has to go on, right? We took it that way and I think the kids had a great time!

We came home, had some quick baths and packed up all we could 'til Daddy came home. With his help we packed our coolers and jumped in the car!

This camping trip was at Blue Springs. Ella Grace's class visited this park back in January to see the manatees. The water is much warmer in the river now so we really didn't expect to see any manatees. After pitching our tent and getting somewhat settled, Major asked where Grandmother and Grandaddy were going to be...we'll be going again at the end of the month and he just thought they were supposed to be with us on this trip, too!

The kids have such a ball just playing in the dirt. We made sure their sand shovel/rake/hoe was packed. Add an empty coke bottle and they were in heaven!

We swam, well waded, in the spring. Seventy-two degrees is really, really cold. I will say I got in without any coercing or name-calling. On my own I made my way in to the water. Once from hip-down was numb I was fine; really I was. We ended up purchasing two tube floats (we didn't have a DL or CC to hold a float, even with cash, and then once we got a DL it was a different rental price than we were told earlier) and floated down the spring twice. The kids even jumped off a fallen tree many, many times (submerging themselves in the frigid water) - not I!

At night we saw several alligators where the spring meets the river, Saturday morning Jeremy & the kids rented a canoe and saw an otter family (I saw them on Sunday morning).

 

On our last tube run down the spring we were very close to the exit and a manatee swam up the spring right beside us. It was amazing! Really, how neat?! Jeremy & Major were really pumped since it was their first time to see one.

After we checked-out, unpacked, did some laundry and got baths we had dinner out on the Cape. While waiting for a table, we saw a porpoise and a manatee again! So cool!

Ella Grace's 6th birthday party!

We have never had "friend" parties for our kids' birthdays. We have been able to focus on our family (and some close friends/neighbors). This year, we let Ella Grace invite a couple of friends over for a small party. She had such a fabulous time, and the girls were all so good. It was fun to see them interact together outside of school! Bless their teachers' hearts!

Ella Grace & Masyn painting picture frames -


(clockwise from top) Ella Grace, Megan, Major, Masyn


Major had to show off his tumbling skills for the girls!

Isn't this a great picture of the girls!? I printed the pictures and put them in the frames for them to carry home.




Trying to blow out candles in the Florida sun. She insisted on having all 6 candles in her ice cream in her cup!



After much eating (honestly), they had just a few minutes to open gifts before the moms came.

More squinkies!

A sign from Masyn's sister! So sweet!

Showing off her dress from Pop & Nana




Room decoration from Aunt Lo-Lo
They were so funny to listen to - Ella Grace kept saying "C'mon girls," and "Girls, let's go." This time has come too soon!

This was certainly a special day for her. She couldn't wait until her friends arrived. Megan's mom said Megan was up at 6:00 am Sunday morning asking if it was time to go to Ella Grace's house! So cute!

a tumbling party

Major was invited to a birthday party for his friend Ariana from school. It was held at a tumbling facility in honor of her 5th birthday. He was so excited to go somewhere by himself and he was such a big boy!

They had a bounce house, jumped in "marshmallows", swung on bars, walked on balance beans and did several obstacle courses. He had a ball. At bathtime Saturday night he said he wanted to go back to that place everyday and keep going!


Enjoying goldfish & chips and salsa.


Big cupcake for a little man!
Major picked out Ariana's gift himself. He picked out a recorder (like a flute) from the dollar section at Target and then a Barbie squinkie set (because his sister is in to squinkies!)

We have color!

Poor little Major woke up Friday (1/13/12) with a terrible cough. Jeremy insisted that morning I get him to the doctor. But, after a couple of hours, his cough had subsided some. However, by lunch time came he was really feeling bad. I was able to get an appointment for later that afternoon, after some juggling getting Ella Grace a way to a friend's house after school. Major was diagnosed with croup, yet again. It really is an annual event for him. And he felt terrible all weekend.

Since Jeremy was off on Monday (and we definitely weren't taking Major to church Sunday), we decided to paint. I was SO excited! We began with the entryway, formal dining, formal living area. And it looks fabulous! I can't help but smile every time I walk through! Can you tell I'm still excited!!!! !!!

And this cute little tow-headed boy kept popping up in all of my pictures!





We also painted the pool bath...more on that later

Halloween Festivities Guh-lore

You may be asking, how many activities can you cram into one weekend...um, well, at least as many days there are, right?

Our Halloween morn began with preparing the kids for various activities at school. Ella Grace's school's kindergarten classes celebrated with "Scarecrow Day". They all were asked to dress Scarecrow-ish and prepare for a day of fun - decorating cookies with lots of icing, making candy corn people things, hats, beaded necklaces with patterns, doughnut bobbing - see the education involved here?

So, off we went with our scarecrow girl.


Then home after school. A quick nutritious supper of meatloaf, steamed cabbage navy beans and cornbread (yup, all that before the sugar was piled on). We costumed-up and began the evening fun.

Here our spider has his legs out and Hello Kitty is ready to go!

Our first trick or treater, our sweet neighbor Dylan the astronaut (quite the popular costume here in Florida, might I add).
Off the spider-man (ha!) goes for his first goods. Hello Kitty had already gotten in a little, um, trouble and was sitting at home for the first house. (We did let her go back later, but she could only accept 1 piece of candy. Harsh. I know.)
Hello Kitty likes to pose!
A little scared at first. I mean, were we really expecting smoke AND a headless horseman?

Hello Kitty also enjoys dancing through the streets.

Our spider turned scary!
Hmm, which leg/hand should I hold?


Our sweet neighbor Miss Chelsea with the kids.


All cleaned up and organizing the goods!
Aunt Lo-Lo also had to take time to look through it...I'll never tell what she did after the kids went to bed...
It didn't take long for these kids to become exhausted and a little whiney. On their behalf, it was Aunt Lo-Lo's last night and we were a little upset and all.

Happy (belated) Halloween 2011!