The Last Hurrah

Just wrapping up with some pictures from our last stop before bidding farewell to John, Penny, Ethan, and Bexy.

Ethan had been promised that he would see alligators, so a trip to Sawgrass Lake was in order. There are many alligators in the Florida wildlife area of the zoo, but wouldn't you know it, the alligator display was closed on our last visit! It's actually much more exciting to see an animal in it's natural habitat anyways.

Bev came along with us just because she's awesome.

We'd barely even stepped on the bridge

before we spotted one.

(Craning her neck to look at the little guy hiding underneath the bridge.)

We spent some time at the lookout tower

watching the fish and turtles

and just looking plain adorable.

Someone informed us that there was a mother on the nest along the side of the boardwalk nearby.

We had walked right past without noticing her on our way to the tower. Definitely a Big Mama. I had never been that close to a full-grown gator before.

Then we headed back along the boardwalk through the swamp.

It's a pretty magical place.

Especially when you have this crowd with you.

Happy Monday

This morning we awoke to a day that 

is delightfully cool and refreshing.

We are told that the 

high for today is

81 degrees,

which is considered

 a cold front this time of year.

Definitely a good day to be outside as much as possible.

~~~~~

Oh, and our dishwasher is broken.

I guess it is the perfect day to use our patio's wet bar.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Life is a Beach (Free Florida Fun)

Obviously you can't talk about Free Florida Fun without mentioning the beach.

I am sure I have been to the beach at least twice as many times in the two years since we moved here than I had been in my entire 26 years of previous life. We are a beach loving family. And you can't hardly beat it in the "bang for your buck" department. Especially now that we live only 15 minutes from the beach.

Okay, yes, you do have to buy swimsuits and beach towels somewhere along the road. An umbrella and a few chairs don't hurt either. But when you consider how much you aren't spending on heavy winter coats, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, snow shovels, and ice melt every year, These purchases seem rather small in comparison.

We like to go there an hour or two before sunset when the crowds have thinned and it isn't quite so hot. This also saves money on sunscreen since you don't have to use as much, if any, by this time.

Trekking across the expansive desert to the water's edge.

Jessie is balancing a huge rubbermaid planter 

containing all of our beach toys, towels, and other necessities

on top of the double stroller.

He's  kind of a stud.

(If you are too embarrassed to walk next to us in this getup,
don't worry, the beach is very wide)

"Cheeeese-Peanut Butterrrr!"

is Eliza's mugging phrase of choice.

I'm not sure why. It's actually very unhelpful.

Once there, you can frolic in the waves 

with reckless abandon

or build a sand castle with Daddy

using the rubbermaid planter as a base.

You will probably have to pose for some pictures

before you leave.

And you might be wrangled 

into holding a baby for awhile.

C'mon. You know you wanna.

Total Cost: Well, ok, this beach does have metered parking. $3 (plus gas and blah blah blah).

Beach Bum(bo)

Adolescent Alligators and the Adorable Angels who Admired them.

We have found so many things to do with ourselves that cost little to nothing since moving to our new town, that I decided to share a little series called Free Fun in Florida. This is partly aimed at tempting friends and family members to visit us down here in our little corner of tropical paradise, the sooner the better. Not least amongst these inducements are the little angel-faces pictured below that will accompany you on all these delightful (and economical) excursions.

Meet your tour guides:

This is your senior tour guide. Her vast knowledge of every topic
will be sure to enlighten you.

Tour Guide No. 2: Listen closely or you may be confused into thinking that "dragonflies"
are actually called "american flags" or vice versa. Watch out, lizards she hands you
may not actually be alive.

Tour guide No. 3: If you are on the timid side, stick close to Ingrid.
She will be sure to warn you if there is any hint of the slightest danger.

But don't expect her to share her favorite safe perch with you.

Are you ready? Let's go!

Tucked away in the middle of a suburban jungle,
where you'd least expect to find it,
and only 15 minutes from our house,
there is a large preserve area where you can see all kinds of
Florida wildlife at very close range.

We have been here once before, and on that occasion we very easily spotted several full-grown alligators and myriads of turtles and fish. On this visit we found no adult alligators, but scores of "toddler" alligators. The cute little tykes swam around so cunningly, snapping at minnows and grinning sardonically at passerby. Still sporting their baby stripes, but looking in every other way like miniature versions of their parents, they may be small,
but they most definitely are NOT cute and cuddly.

This guy was about the size of a miniature yorkie. Precious, isn't he?



Alligators are an animal that I just can't summon up any affectionate feelings for.
But as a transplanted Michigan girl, they still hold a certain fascination for me,
and the novelty of seeing them in our own back yard
(No, not literally - Calm down Aunt Robin!) still hasn't worn off.



Does this seem a little ho-hum to you?
Don't worry, you're in good company.

Total Cost: $0

Eat your heart out (before the alligators do).

Spring has Sprung!

It has been a long, cold winter, my friends.

There have been many occasions where we had to turn our heat on at night
I can recall whole weeks that the temperature did not get above 64 degrees a single time.
There were a few days that I actually had to wear a sweater and a jacket.
I can even remember a time that we didn't see the sun for two days in a row.
And things looked pretty dire when the forecasters had to issue a freeze warning, not once, but twice.
There were days in January that I couldn't even wear my flip flops outside, it was that bad.
It has been too cold to swim at the beach all the way since mid November.
In fact, it was too cold to swim at all, unless you had friends with a heated pool.

But, take heart my friends!
In spite of these heavy tribulations that burdened us for so long,
there is hope yet!

Spring has sprung! Get ready to open those swimming pools, because it's a high of 84 degrees today!

The Dark Side of Living in Florida

Yes, that is a lizard in my house. No, I don't know where it is at this moment.

Do you ever...?

Do you ever look out your window on a sunny morning,

and step out your door to feel 71 degrees and a gentle breeze,

and walk outside to hear the birds twittering,

and the palm fronds rustling,

and stop to pick up the fruit that has fallen from your avocado tree,

and think to yourself, "Gosh, I just wish it would snow!"

~~~

Me neither.

family renewal night

Last week was sort of a rough week in the parenting department. A combination of things have made us realize (not for the first time) how much we are in over our heads with this whole raising children thing. It is humbling, but good, because we are reminded to depend more on the one who does have wisdom, and who gives it out freely to those who ask (James 1:5).

We have made a commitment together to focus on parenting more purposefully, with God's help, on a daily basis. It is so easy for me to get in a rut of just "getting through the day" with my children. Then, at the end of the day, so often I realize that I have not accomplished a thing towards helping them reach our ultimate goals for them. So we've made some changes; hard changes, some of them, but we know they are for the better.

To commemorate our renewed efforts together, Jessie surprised me by taking the night off from his second job so we could spend some family time.

We headed to one of our favorite parks, where we cooked us up some hot dogs, and just enjoyed each other while

playing in the dirt

watching the local dumpster diver's antics

jumping off of boulders

climbing up stairs...

...and down stairs

running through shell paths

throwing rocks in the water

stopping to smell the roses daisies

getting our faces good and dirty

and visiting the "bus bathroom"

(always a source of great excitement at this location).

I'm excited to see what God will teach us this year about raising children. We are so blessed to have them. Sometimes we may miss out on things because we have the great responsibility of raising them, but the new experiences that we have, and the lessons we learn through watching them grow more than make up for them.

I love our family - and I'm so grateful to be sharing it with this guy.