Time Off

A week in Florida, without leaving the 12 mile by 3 mile island. 

Much needed quiet and family time. 

Alot of fun together. 

 Ford and Edison estates 

 National Shell Museum, love this place. 

 Animal refuge

 Fieldin with one of his favorite birds, the Great blue Heron.

 With a opossum named sneezy at CROW

 waiting for butterflies to land at the butterfly house 

 the view on our nightly walk home from the beach 

 We spent most of our week on this beach 

 This lil guy was so happy and ran WILD

 Greta meeting Shelldun that had been hit by a car and rehabilitated. 

 biking around the island, Fieldin took it easy on a trail -a-bike. It felt like the old days, riding around with him. 

 Fieldin making shell animals and mastering the glue gun

 Ready for take off.. I remember the days when Jeff and I would hold Greta for a flight, and then Fieldin came along and and all three of us would hold him.. now they take care of themselves. 

 Venice beach at sunset 

 pool time

 soaking in the sun time

 He spent most of his time in the ocean

 watching manatees on the way to the beach

 These two spent almost all their time with the scoop finding beautiful shells

 My shell seekers...

Around Here

Because she has so much free time.. ahem, she picked up another activity, tai kwan do. She is really enjoying it and never wants to miss a class. I think it is great and she can protect me when we go out.. lol 

 This boy, he is so full of life and so funny. We never know what he is going to do next. 

below, he wanted his hair changed for one day.. then no more. back to his old hair cut but for ONE day he wanted a spiked look. 

 First place at the school science fair. We didn't even know she was doing the science fair. She decided the day of with a couple friends. There topic was "brain busters" and how male/female adults and children answer. There theory was woman would get more answers right... sadly they were wrong ( it was adult males). They collected data that day and presented their data, info and conclusions to the judging group. I would say that is the definition of winging it. Congrats kid. 

Around The Yard

Everything has bloomed so early this year. It seems like the growing season is in fast forward. 

 above, some flowers from a student last year that came back...

 my aliums..

 lovely snails are everywhere. I know I am not supposed to like them and think they are pests but I love them. 

 busy bees 

 my step-able grass is finally taking over so much prettier than grass. 

 Roses 

 lavender and dogwood, 

This snail hangs out on the front porch... 

Lil' Author

 Fieldin likes to write and he does pretty well with his words for a 7 year old. 

He likes to research things on the computer and then write a book about it and draw pictures. 

He does this alot in the evening or before school

 below, he wanted to know about the red baron( from the snoopy cartoon) so he researched the real red baron which got him interested in WW1. He printed out pictures of planes, soldiers, military bases and tanks so he could draw them in his book. I try to find premade books for him to use, he likes to decorate the covers and make chapters. I save them all. Sometimes he copies them for his friends. This I love! 

May 1

Chompers turned 5 on May 1st. 

He celebrated the day by sleeping all day! 

 sleeping all morning with his toy. 

 In the rose garden watching birds

 His daily nap on the kids homework and backpacks

And his other favorite napping spot, grocery bags, even if it means hanging off a counter... 

You are so loved Chompers. So glad you have been a part of our family these last 5 years.