Sunday at Little Talbot Island

Sunday the air conditioner in our house stopped working and wouldn’t you know, it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year (so far) at 98 degrees, heat index of 105. So, we were going to go to the pool with Jody’s brother and his family, but instead we went to the beach. At Little Talbot Island there was a beach walk scheduled so we packed up a cooler with drinks and snacks and headed out. Well, the “beach walk” was about 10 minutes long. Very disappointing. We didn’t learn anything that we didn’t already know either. But, that’s ok. We still found and observed some neat things. Caitlyn found this perfect shark’s eye shell.

She was pretty excited about that. We also saw many types of beach flowers and cactus and a large gopher tortoise, who we watched for a while. Uncle Kenny found a shark tooth and gave it to Brett and Cait found another shark tooth.

Here’s our girls, we had to stop and buy Caitlyn two new swimsuits on the way because she’s outgrown all hers all of a sudden. She loves this new yellow suit.

The water was nice and warm and the tide was out. Lawson doesn’t like the ocean usually, but Jody had him in there for a bit having fun.

Jody and Lawson

Jody, Kenny and Zarek swam out to a sandbar.

Lawson and Cait taking a break from the water.

Marie, isn’t she a doll?

Kenny walking with Marie

Cait and Brett in the water.

Kenny and Marie again.

Zarek and Jody

Me and Zarek, that’s right, he looks like his Mamma.

Another one, almost the same.

Janey and the kids playing in the sand.

As we were leaving we saw this nice piece of driftwood so we had the kids all sit on it to take a picture.

We came home, showered and relaxed. The A/C started up and worked all night, thank goodness, and waited to go out again the next morning. The repairman finally got it fixed and he only had to come out twice…I won’t go into it. Anyway, we’re nice and cool now. Monday we had a great day at the pool, etc. I already blogged about it. Yesterday Zarek and Alexis had tennis, they’re both getting ready for this weekend’s tournament. I took Cait and Brett to Walmart with me to grocery shop. We made mexican food last night for dinner and played Apples to Apples again. Jody had to work late, we watched TV when he got home. Today we’re having a quiet day at home. The kids cleaned up their messes in the garage earlier and I picked up inside, then a storm blew in and it’s raining pretty heavy. Everyone’s been reading and playing together. When the rain stops I do have 3 quick errands close to home I need to get accomplished. Tomorrow, tennis and Civil Air Patrol. This weekend will be busy with the tournament. I’ve started reading one of Zarek’s literature selections for school and I’m enjoying it. Only about 30 more books to go…(sigh)

Awesome afternoon and evening

No, nothing thrilling.  Jody took Zarek to work with him this morning, they came home and we all had lunch together.  Then we took the kids to the pool and had a great time there having fun.  On the way home we picked up Chinese take out and a family movie.  Came home, ate and watched the movie together, then after the movie was over we all played Apples to Apples for at least 2 hours.  It was so much fun.  We all took turns being the judge.  The older the kids get, the more fun they are.  I haven’t laughed so hard in…well ok, probably just days, but it still felt good.  I love my family.

We had a great day yesterday too, but I’m too tired to blog about it, so I’ll do it tomorrow.

Saturday fun

Saturday Zarek was invited to go to Adventure Landing with one of his friends, so the other 3 kids and I headed out for some fun of our own.  They wanted to go back to the Nature Center at the Plantation to feed the turtles again.  Here they are on the deck.

One of the turtles, I think it’s a red eared slider.

The kids looking into the pond.

We also saw many birds, a finch and a female cardinal were two we could identify.

Then we went to the beach.  The tide was going out, which is our favorite time.  Caitlyn caught some little fish with her net.

Caitlyn found this Salle’s Auger

She and Brett also dug up tons of coquinas.

After the beach I took them to Coldstone Creamery and let them pick what they wanted.

We had a good time.  We came home and after an hour or so Zarek arrived home.  He had a great day.  We all relaxed for the rest of the evening and a storm blew through.  That’s about it!

Date night

Last night Jody and I had some time to ourselves.  He took me to eat at Barbara Jean’s, one of my favorite places.  It was a nice evening so we sat outside which overlooks the marshes, it was very wild and pretty.  Here’s a picture Caitlyn took of us before we left.

After we ate, we decided to go take a walk on the beach, we’ve always wanted to do that together in the evening and never have.  It was beautiful out there. 

I love this one.

Our footprints in the sand.

Great day at Blackrock Beach

We just got home from a great time at Blackrock beach.  We had the whole place to ourselves, it was like being on a deserted island.  In fact, that’s what the kids pretended the whole time we were there.  You have to walk about a half mile down a path, then go down a ladder to get there.  Here’s the picture I took before I went down the ladder.

A group of sanderlings we saw as soon as we went down.

I love it there, I think it’s very beautiful.  This is where we turn to head to the beach, we have to get past the rocks.

Jody and the kids in the water, the water was so clear when you were in it, and dark blue when you were looking at it.

The view to my left as I lay on my beach towel.  The sand is the consistency of light brown sugar.  It’s perfect for making sand castles and it’s so soft.

So peaceful, all you hear is the palms in the breeze and the water lapping on the shore.  I love how we can just drive 15 minutes and be somewhere where you feel like you’re on vacation.

Jody talked me into wearing a bikini today since I’ve lost weight…only on this remote beach, let me tell you.  Now I’m paying the price, my tummy and back and upper thighs are so burned!  Waaah!  My handsome hubby is taking me out on a date, so I better get going.

List of Things to Accomplish this Summer

OK, now I’m starting to think of all the things I want to do this summer, so I’m going to make a list.

1. Visit Blackrock Beach again (this one’s for you Brett!)

2. Visit Little Talbot Island again with Daddy this time.

3. Visit Kingsley Plantation again, take a walk around the grounds, bring nature journals.

4. Visit Ribault Club, go to book store.

5. Visit and hike the Timucuan Trail at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve , see the Fort Caroline National Memorial, go to the Theodore Roosevelt area of the park. Bring nature journals

6. Visit Anastasia Island, bring nature jouranls, explore St. Augustine a bit more

7. Visit 2 new beaches we’ve never been to.

8. Wake up at 6AM and go to the beach early for a walk, looking for sea turtle tracks and other treasures that might be more easily found early in the AM.

I’ll add more as I think on it.

Hmmm, what have we been doing?

We’ve had thunder storms off and on a lot recently. This weekend we stayed pretty close to home. Yesterday was hot and we had a great time at Uncle Kenny’s pool with my sister-in-law and all the kids. Today Zarek mowed and the kids played outside while I read. Alexis’ friend Brennan came down to play and now the girls have gone to Brennan’s to play for a while. We’re supposed to get more rain later today. Tomorrow we have loooong tennis lessons (4 hours!) so that will be our main thing tomorrow. Wednesday Daddy has the day off, so we are debating on what we want to do. There are a few things we want to do, and hopefully the weather cooperates. Today Brett was begging to go back to Blackrock Beach so I guess if the sun is out and we have a low chance of storms, we’ll go there. They’ve been dying to go back all summer. Another thing we want to do is go back to the Kingsley Plantation and explore further, walk some trails there and visit the Ribault Club on Fort George Island. The Ribault Club used to be a club for the rich, but is now a historic landmark. Weddings and other events can still be held there, however we’re interested in going for the history and to explore the grounds. They have a book store with history and nature books and the Timucuan Trail starts there. This will all be counted as Florida State History. That will have to wait until Jody’s next day off though.

It’s almost time to be thinking about our new school year. I have the materials, I know what we’re doing…that part is done. However, I was supposed to use my summer to pre-read many of the children’s books, especially Zarek’s. I haven’t done that and now am wondering what is the least I can get away with. I have my teacher guide to the books so do I really need to read Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and others? Well, I should. Perhaps I’ll get motivated. Let’s all wait and see!

More Birthday

Here’s Zarek about to lick the mixer thingys after I mixed his cake.

Yes, he’s a nutjob.

Daddy lighting the candles on his oldest son’s cake.

Blowing out the candles, he had some help from his little cousin.

Uncle Kenny, Lawson and Brett.  Everyone took turns playing the Wii.

Lawson

He’s such a cutie pie.  I tried to get a picture of Marie, but she would not be still, so they all came out blurry.  She’s a doll.

Alexis is spending the night at Brennan’s, but Brennan’s dad drove them up for the cake, so Jody and I, Cait, Brett, Lawson and Cooper (the dog) walked them back to Brennan’s house afterwards.  Cait and Lawson held hands the whole time.  He sang her the alphabet song, and talked about all kinds of things.  He’s so smart.

They’ve gone home and now Jody’s playing Zarek on the Wii.  Zarek had a great birthday today.  And we’re so proud of our young man.  Now I just hope the next few years go more slowly.

Our day

Today is Zarek’s birthday, and we had plans with several families to get together to play putt-putt, then have lunch, then go to the beach.  The day started out cloudy and even sprinkled on us a few times, but later the sun came out.  We all had such a great time.  We started out with over 25 kids!  Not everyone stayed for lunch, then some didn’t come to the beach, but we had 3 other familes stay the whole time.

Zarek and some friends playing (all these kids are homeschoolers!)

 

Caitlyn waving at me

Alexis taking a shot

We had a picnic and the kids played on the playground, then we went down to the beach.  Zarek tried something new for his 14th birthday, he tried surfing.  One of his friends brought his surfboard and let him try it.  He got up a few times, but it’s hard!

Kids playing in the water

 

Alexis and Zarek’s friend Josh, they had been watching Zarek in the water.

Zarek

Alexis and Brennan made a sand Piglet

Toot and Puddle playing in the sand together

Toward the end of the day the boys that were still there decided to play tackle football.

Josh with the ball

Josh and Zarek

Zarek with the ball

Tackle football is rough!  I don’t like to watch.  We had such a nice day though.  The beach and friends…a good combination. 

Happy Birthday Zarek!

Our oldest son is turning 14 tomorrow.  I can’t believe we’re parents of a fourteen year old, seems like just yesterday he was a baby.  He’s growing up into a fine young man and we are so proud of him.

We couldn’t ask for a better son for our first born.  He’s smart, hard-working and kind to everyone.  I know he’s going to achieve all his goals.