photos of the night

As many people know.. my 'reward/motivation' for getting all my scheduled tasks/homework done on Fridays is the afternoon off and play time with my camera.  While I did take many photos this afternoon of the clouds, trees, and backyard, the most fun I had was just after dusk when it started to rain.  I messed about with the camera settings to get some different shots but these are my favorites. Enjoy.

I love how the orbs (here they are just the reflection of my camera flash) are all around!

 These 6 tall trees are in the neighbor's yard, but I like them as they appear to be reaching upward.

 Oh so pretty night sky!

 I took this photo from the front porch down to the cul de sac, I love the color of the sky and the orbs!

 I love that I can caption rain at night on my camera. It is so pretty.

Probably one of my favorite shots of the night; it is so striking! Or maybe that's just my opinion.

Either way...

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Michelle

Valentine's Day

Despite being a bit under the weather, and tired, and armpit deep in literature homework,  I did manage to get Valentine's Day together.  The kids each made special cards this year, neither of which I have photos of. And for their teachers, all 6 of them, yes 6, homemade mini apple pies. Which I don't have photos of either! But I did take a couple photos at Kody's school during their Ice Cream Social on Valentine's Day.  Enjoy!

DeErra and Kody. The girls are bffs.

Boyfriends come and go... but best friends are always best friends. DeErra has been a constant friend to her.  They are both just like each other and somehow it works!

DeErra, Kody, and Ryan (no, not her bf, just a friend.)

Kody and her classmates have continued to drive straight into the crazy world of boyfriends and girlfriends. And Valentines Day just made it worse! LOL! So I had to specify that he is not her boyfriend.

Kody screaming during the song in which they were supposed to scream!

After getting the wiggles out (aka dancing and screaming) the kids settled down and made cards for the senior center in our town.

After cards, they sugared up with ice cream sundaes with toppings, lots of topping.  Thanks for the sugared up 5 years old hopped up on more valentines candy than I could ever imagine!

Happy Valentines Day!

Peter-Leo's 10th Birthday!

Can anyone believe he is 10? Another wonderful birthday, this year we kept it simple. Very. Simple.
Just our friends from down the street (our kids play together) and Zach is Peter-Leo's best friend down here. Just an ice cream cake and simple decorations this time.

Birthday boy and cake.

the boys while singing happy birthday to Peter-Leo.

Zach and Peter-Leo.

Just Peter-Leo. Handsome guy.

Momma and Peter-Leo

A girl, her camera.. and a puffer fish!

Yes, that's right. Just over a week ago I ventured down to the beach for the morning.. you know the usual.. taking photos, looking for lettered olives (a special type of sea shell), and picking up dead puffer fish to take home. WHY?! BECAUSE IT WAS A PUFER FISH! poor little thing, died and washed ashore. I decided his death should not be wasted, his remains must be photographed for all to see (ok mostly for me to remember and to be able to say I touched a puffer fish and lived!)  If you can handle it.. scroll down and see the poor little puffer fish..

Well hello there, ya little cutie!

 

I guess he was being koi.

This amazing creature was poisonous so gloves were on and caution was very present.  I loved how the spikes were so artistically placed.

This angle of the spikes reminded me of some predator teeth of dinosaurs, sharp and curve for maxium damage!

 Not even the underbelly was safe, he had spikes there too!

The two back fins that helped this little guy motor around!

Side view of Spikey (yes I named the dead puffer fish Spikey!)  The creations of God (or whoever/whatever you believe made this animal) never ceases to amaze me.  Somehow I am lifted by the fact that beauty and awe can be found just about everywhere, even in a little dead puffer fish, named Spikey.

the boat nightmare...

So, our first trip on the boat.. don't worry it wasn't a 3 hour tour.. it was more like 3 minute ride. Poor Monty.. he had his BFF come down and it was supposed to be a fun family day.

Putting the boat in the water.. yay!

Unhooking the boat??

that is one happy boat owner!

bye bye dock! Don't worry we'll be back soon!

Erin, Dana, Peter-Leo, Kody and Tia enjoying the ride.

Even Everrett (Monty's BFF-best friend forever) enjoying life on the boat!

 Here is when things go wrong...

The ever vigilent marine, aka Roger, and Monty.. both agree something isn't right.

 The boys noticed a funny smell.. something wasn't right.. so the cut the engine and checked the engine. It was bad.. not sure what exactly the issue was.. but we slowly motored back to the dock.

Roger, standing guard with the fire extingusher .. just in case..

 We did make it back to the dock without any fires or additional problems. So the boys stayed behind and worked on the engine.. and the rest of us... we went to the beach!

Peter-Leo dug a large hole!

Dana, Kody, Erin and Tia enjoying the beach.

While we were sad to not be able to go to Cumberland Island on the boat, we were super excited to see the Prostrollos and Chriswells.  We have missed them and it was great to have them here for the weekend.. even though one of the dogs chewed a hole in Roger's favorite jacket. hee-hee!

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Michelle

Another 4th grade field trip...

Yesterday Peter-Leo and I embarked on another fun school field trip.  This time it was with his "regular" class (not his gifted class) and we went to St. Augustine, Florida.  While the original plan was for me to ride the bus with all the kids.. sadly there was no room and I had to drive my car down all by my lonely self. darn.

Once everyone arrived at the museum the kids were divided up and our group learned what is was like to be a kid in the 1830s.

Learning to write with a quill pen.

Playing with the few toys that kids back then had.

 After our school in the 1835 tour.. we embraced our spanish roots and learned about what it was like to be a spaniard "founding" a new place.

We were in the large house that lots of spaniards would eat, sleep,
and even poop in a portable toilet that the youngest solider would have to empty in the morning.
The kids thought that was the funniest thing.. ahhh 4th grade boys!

Our "Spaniard" tour guide. He really was great!

In order to see they had to make their own candles,
so each kid (and adult) took a turn in dipping the string into the wax.

Before Black & Decker, Wood and String. This is how they would drill a hole.

Peter-Leo making grits!

Crushing up the oyster shell for the floor of the house.

Peter-Leo playing a ball and pin game kind of like bowling.

It is a great day of bringing hands on knowledge to what they have been learning in the classroom.

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Michelle

LEGO!! BUILDING!! COMPETITION!!

We were so excited to get a spot in Jacksonville Museum of Science and History's Lego Building Competition. Peter-Leo was so excited to have this opportunity to build and meet other kids that like to build with legos!
 

dragging in his bin of legos.

..starting to build...

despite not being old enough/in the right grade..
Kody had her legos too!

And she built her own lego creation!

Peter-Leo hard at work on his creation.

the lego building madness!

 I took these two photos (above and below) on the 3rd floor balcony of the 2nd floor competition zone! It was crazy!!

If you look up towards the micdle lefthand side you can see Peter-Leo. 

Searching for more detail pieces.

This is how crowded it was and how hard it was to walk..
 no wonder parents weren't allowed to be in the building zone!!

Peter-Leo and his creation. At the very end of the day!

 It was a long day, but a wonderful day at the competition.  He had fun, meet fellow lego-manics, and experienced something great!  I am so glad we were able to go! 
Can't wait til next January so both of the kids (Kody will be old enough) are part of the fun!!

Tag! You're It!
Michelle