handsful

Since I documented the girl’s evening at the Chinese New Year celebration, I thought I’d better include the boys evening too! Here they are, in all their Monster Truck glory. They’re positively glowing, aren’t they? You can almost see the fog of testosterone coming off the computer screen.

Seriously, they had a blast and can’t wait to go again next year. Here are more pictures of their night!

How often do you get to sign your name in SHARPIE on a car? This was one of the cars in the demolition race.

This is a custom bike that the guys from the TV show “American Chopper” built. Cool.

A game system built into the back of one of the cars. Can it get any better for a kid?

One of their favorite trucks (can you tell Randy took the NICE camera that night?)

Taz, their other favorite!

Gram and her girls

This past weekend, we were blessed with a visit from Randy’s mom, Ann and his Uncle Connie. During our Christmas visit to NC, Randy and his uncle made plans to go to the Daytona 500 race. They stayed here with us and Randy and Uncle Connie drove down to Daytona on Sunday for the race. We had lots of fun during their visit, roasting marshmallows by the pool (only in Florida…), playing Sorry (I was slammed by my kids AND my mother-in-law!), going to church and the kids basketball games, and just plain hanging out. My boys really took a liking to their great uncle, following him around and sitting with him whenever they could. Uncle Connie “lovingly” called them “jibber” and “jabber”! Yep, you hit the nail on the head with that one!

Thanks for the wonderful visit!

This is what we call our “Front Room”. You’d be standing with your back to our front door if you took this picture. It’s looked like this since we moved here, more than 2 years ago. I love the windows and the view, but I’ve never been quite sure what to do about curtains. Now, see the after picture!

A friend of mine made these for me. I love it, it’s just enough to add color and height without being too “fru-fru” (not a fan of that…). It changes the whole room…though, the picture might not do it justice. Thought I’d share :)

This is our kids 3rd season participating in Upward Basketball and Cheerleading. Upward is a Christian sports league that strives to teach children sports, while focusing on salvation, character, and self-esteem. Each practice and game, they earn stars for things like memory verses, best defense, best cheer, and most Christ-like. It is a wonderful organization and the kids wouldn’t miss it. The boys play, Marley cheers, Abbey plays and cheers, and Dad coaches the boys team and Abbey’s team. It makes for very busy…and fun…Saturdays!

Living in North Florida has several advantages. One is the usually mild weather that we get all year long…though, I must admit, I little winter weather might be nice on occasion. Another is living in a state that a lot of people enjoy visiting. We’ve been able to see several friends and family members, simply because they’re in Florida for other reasons (business, visiting family, etc.) and we can meet up with them!

This happened just this past Sunday! My cousin, Peg, and her family have been in Orlando for the past 2 weeks. We drove down yesterday AM and spent the day with them at SeaWorld! Florida is quite a change for them, being from NJ where the high today is supposed to be 30F! They’re on their way home as I type. We really enjoyed hanging out with them, and my kids (especially my girls!) loved being with their 2nd cousins! Here are a few pics from the day…

The kids!

Ashley teaches Marley a hand rhyme

The girls with the Clydesdale horses

Petting Manna Rays

Payton gives the Shamu Show 2 thumbs up!

Mom and Abbey

Randy, Donna, Peg, and Tracy…4 tired, but happy parents!

This is our hibiscus bush STILL blooming in January! I hear some people are actually getting SNOW in January? Wow, what an unusual concept that is.

It’s been a good 6 months since I added any new pictures to the picture page! So, I added a few! Check it out, you just might see yourself ;)

Well, not technically. But, we did have an AWESOME field trip with our homeschool group today! We went to the Cummer Gallery of Art and Gardens, where there is a traveling exhibit called “Temples and Tombs”. Approximately 85 artifacts from Egyptian history are on display here, on lend from the British Museum for about 3 months. It was so amazing to be in the same room as these treasures, made thousands of years ago. I just stared at a pair of bangle bracelets, imagining the Egyptian woman who wore them.

They didn’t allow pictures in the exhibit (the security was tighter than the airport), but I took a few outside and in the Children’s interactive area.

Ethan got the cobra from the gift shop.

Marley, busy creating.

Payton inside the “noodle house” the kids made.

Abbey “inside” a painting (and Payton’s head peeking out from the back!)

Ethan is writing his description of the item he found in the archeological dig activity.

Abbey bought a archeologist kit, where she’ll uncover an Egyptian treasure. After about 30min., she found the bottom of the item and then took a break! It’s hard work!