Amazing Wonders & camping at Tomoka State Park

Last week our church hosted "Bible School". We did the Amazing Wonders theme, and my kids loved it. I was heading-up kindergarten recreation, and didn't have a chance to go into their group worship time. I missed seeing the kids sing and dance in worship. Maybe next year I'll find a way to go. The kindergarten alone had 100 - 125 or more each day! My mom said that was the number of kids in their entire VBS. One day, the church had its largest number ever - 1211! Mega "Woah!"

One night we were so excited about VBS the next day we decided to sleep in our clothes. Major put his on, then took them off during the night, and put them on again when he got up!

After Ella Grace saw Major had his on, she got in on it, too.

Our camping trip was planned several months in advance, and at that time we didn't have the VBS dates. The kids had to miss Friday and the big program on Friday night. Needless to say, they were very disappointed, but I don' think they minded much once we got to the camp site!

After Jeremy got home from work Thursday, we packed up the Tahoe and headed out. Once we got there, threw the tent up and got our things arranged, it was time to celebrate Mother's & Father's Day with Jeremy's parents. It's hard to find something useful sometimes. I think this was the first time in probably three or four years (at least) that Jeremy's dad had not gotten a shirt from us. Promise to pick that back up soon!

 

The kids did most of the unwrapping.

Proud owners of a sign for camping!

Soon after that, Major had to get to "work." That's what he calls the digging and road making he does while we camp. He stays quite busy, indeed.

Thursday night, Major began coughing lots. Jeremy got up with him about 2:00 am and took him inside the camper for his medicine. Major ended up staying, and slept inside the rest of the time. Can't let that boy get sick - it's no fun for anyone.

 Friday night we went to the camp store where the Ukelele Lady performed. Kids loved it.

 And I think this was her husband. They ran the camp store together and he played and sang a little, too.

 This is another camper, George. George played a little for us, too, on his dulcimer.

 

We got to Skype with Aunt Lo-Lo, Mee Maw, Pop & Nana, and we tried showing them this view right behind our tent.

And we drove a little, too.

Saturday night we went to a program at the visitor's program center in the park. One of the rangers had all sorts of things like turtle shells, snake skins, and (deep breath) live reptiles of the same sort!

A snake skin - I probably could have touched this...but, I didn't. I don't think Grandmother was too thrilled with it either!

Ranger with a snake.

Jeremy holding, Major petting said snake.

Major holding it all by himself! He said "Dad! The head is going down!"

He was such a proud boy!

With a 3.5 foot alligator. The only kind we like!

 Sunday Jeremy fished a little from the bank, and then it began to drizzle some during the afternoon. It really didn't stop much before we left, and we all ended up bunking in the camper with Grandmother & Grandaddy. We hosed the tent down best we could and packed everything up. I think we were home around 2:00 and put the tent back up to clean it more and let it dry, cleaned the air mattresses.

It was certainly nice to sleep in my own bed Monday night!

To finish up our February activities, the kids & I went to drop our tax information off on the 18th. Ella Grace's school was hosting a carnival that day to end their spring book fair. So, we hurried back to our side of town in time for a few hours of outdoor fun. There were bouncy slides/houses, a cake walk, train ride, rock climbing wall - lots of fun things to do. First we hit the bouncy things - sock-footed in the straw and sand, love it!






The kids tried to participate in the cake walk, but we came away empty-handed. We moved on to the longest and slowest moving line - rock climbing wall. Ella Grace was determined to climb. Major wandered off a couple of times to do a few other games to win tickets or play on the playground. Ella Grace's time finally came and I thought she would just back out...but she didn't!



This girl can definitely climb!







I think her hands were getting a little too sweaty to continue up. I finally asked her to come on down to give someone else a turn.

President's Day the kids were both out of school, so we rode over to Sea World for the day. We watched the pregnant dolphins in the dolphin nursery tank,

saw friends we didn't know were going,


and played in the sand - and met some of our friends we thought might go,
rode the carousel,
even posed by Shamu on our way out!
And the last weekend of the month we made a family camping trip near Ocala. We picked Ella Grace up from school Friday afternoon and headed out. We pitched our tent, grilled supper, got some firewood and enjoyed the night. We explored the campground and walked the trails,

shoveled and used our tools best we could,
climbed some trees,

(all of us!)
and Cubbie Bear was with us!
While we spent time together, we celebrated Jeremy's birthday. A Tastykake and a candle is all we needed! Happy birthday, Jeremy!

We even went on a canoe ride. We saw an alligator on the bank, about 40 yards away. He was just sun-bathing.
(I promise he is in this picture!)

Paddled around a little more, letting the wind carry us some and about 5 feet in front of us I spotted a darn alligator staring at me. Oh. my. GOSH! I panicked and told Jeremy, but the alligator disappeared. We waited and watched for just a minute or two before he came up again. Thankfully, it was facing the other direction and we saw much, much more of him! YIKES! I just wanted to click my heels and get out of there. Too close for comfort!

And our last night with Cubbie was just last Wednesday. Thanks for staying with us, Cubbie!