Misc fun over the past few months

I'm apparently not great at this blogging thing since I only update every 5 months!!!  Here is a quick update:

• Kids are back in school (Caleb in Kindergarten and Reagan in Pre-K).  Both are doing awesome.  Reagan is starting to write some and Caleb is starting to read!!
• We have been back to AL a few extra times this year to visit dad.  During one of those visits, we were able to visit the Biscuit stadium (Rays minor league team).  My grandfather's old office is along the left field baseline!
• The kids and I got to visit Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium before the movie came out.  While we were watching the movie, Dolphin Tale, the kids had fun pointing out things they saw in person :)
• We had a long weekend, Jeff took off some, and we went over to Disney for the Halloween shin-dig.  The kids had fun and enjoyed riding the rides more than anything.
• We visited the Kennedy Space Center, which the kids LOVED.  They loved sitting in the old capsules and taking pictures in front of rockets.  Plus they got to go inside a real space shuttle, the Explorer.  Super cool for anyone who has kids and it was fun for us also!
• Weather has been amazing, so we have been spending a ton of time outside once the kids are home from school.

Enjoy some pictures!!

Caleb holding an old prosthetic tail of Winter's.  We got to see them put on her current one, which was WOW!

Of course, both the kids got a Winter (stuff friend with no tail).

Biscuits stadium....notice the Rays sign in the outfield?

Ready for Disney!!!!

Sugar high.

In front of the Explorer shuttle.  There is a walkway so you can go into the shuttle, very awesome.

Old capsule.



End of school :) :(

Mixed feelings during the end of school.  Some happy and of course, some sad.  Caleb graduated, so will be going to Kindergarten next year.  Reagan will be in Prek-4.  During the last few weeks at Wesley, the kids got to sing on stage (each class got to do this).  Reagan's pictures turned out blurry and Caleb didn't want his picture taken, so made goofy faces the entire time!!!

Both kids had "water play" during the last 2 weeks. I helped with Reagan's class, so here are a few of her having fun in the water. 

Caleb's last 2 weeks included BASEBALL during outside time, he was in hog heaven.  He also lost a number of balls, including the one he hit after I took this picture.  It went on the roof of the school (or over, we don't know) and was lost!!!!!!

Reagan got to stand in front with the birthday hat as they celebrated summer birthdays.

Pics of the first and last day of school to be posted soon.

Key West - a month ago

Finally posting about our past month, which has been BUSY!  We went to Key West with our good friends, Chris and Adrienne Stuckey.  ROAD TRIP, complete with car topper!!  Anyway, we saw 1 gator on the way down.................and he was dead on the side of the road. Apparently he went up against a car, and lost.  The birds were having a feast.  Poor Caleb wanted us to turn around.....that didn't happen.  We had an awesome time!!

We saw tarpon (some as big as Jeff), took the bus shuttle everywhere, went night swimming in the hotel pool, and just had an amazing time with our friends and kids.

Here are some pictures of the kids we took. I took a few of the water on the way down, but frankly, the pictures don't do the water color justice!!  It is GORGEOUS!!!!

Kids in front of fountain outside hotel.

On the hotel bus to downtown Key West.....this was our transportation when we were down there.

After breakfast one morning, in front of a shack/bar/dinner spot (did NOT eat there).

Ms. thang crawling on the beach, she made a sand angel right after this.  Very sad though, brand new Aurora sunglasses were lost on this beach or on the shuttle back :(

Big man showing his guns in the Key West water.  They both like our beach better :)  We did get to see some paddle boarders come in from a race (around the entire island!), so that was cool.



Sophia singing

This is our friend Sophia (Jake's big sister) singing in chapel.  Other pictures to come later of Caleb and Reagan. 
And Yes, I STILL did the video the wrong way.............turn your pc!

FINALLY! An update!

I can't believe I haven't posted since Thanksgiving! Oh well!  This month has been a busy month for us.  We had Taylor come and visit, Jeff played in the Outback (both kids went this year), Easter, and our first trip to the beach this year.

Easter this year was amazing! The kids enjoyed coloring their eggs, but didn't want to eat them.  Our church service was the best, most of us had tears, and of course the kids got to hunt for eggs.

 This picture is taken by Caleb! He loves taking pictures.

They DO love each other................most of the times.

Our visit with Taylor went too quick, as always.  The kids got to play a ton, went to the zoo, played angry birds on Taylor's phone, and much more.

Family shot on the day Jeff played in the Outback.  The kids rolled down the hill at hole 8, while we were waiting on Jeff.  They got to ride in the golf cart, walk down to the green, and just enjoy being on the course with Jeff.  Reagan was even quiet "so daddy could hit and find the little while ball".

Miss Attitude (aka little Jen) pretending to drive the cart.  NO, I didn't let her drive it :)

Finally, our first beach day of the year.  Great way to kickoff spring break week.  Reagan's favorite thing is to roll in the sand, seriously.  She plays in the water, but would rather sit in the sand!

Caleb on the other hand, enjoys playing in the ocean.  We take floats now and that is hours of entertainment.  He isn't a fan of saltwater in his eyes though!

Thankgiving week

We went on a long vacation this year for Thanksgiving.  We went to Atlanta for a few days, got to take the kids to the Georgia Aqaurium, have dinner with a number of friends, and see some different colored leaves.  It was amazing and makes me miss it...........some :)

We then went to AL to visit the family.  While in Slapout, Caleb/Reagan LOVED riding the 4-wheeler, Caleb finally got on Granddad's tractor (only took 5 years), and quick trip to Birmingham to visit the cousins.

Next stop was Montgomery to see Grandpa/Nana/Granny/Aunt Kris/Uncle Phil.  Caleb/Reagan can now drive Grandpa's train solo, which is a BIG step.  The kids had a blast.  It was fun having everyone in the same house again, at least for a few days :)

We celebrated the Auburn game at our friend's house while the kids played with Grandpa/Nana more.  It wasn't fun the first half, but the end was awesome!!!

Last day was going to Dothan, in route home, to spend some time with friends there.  Needless to say, we had a wonderful time spending time with family and so much time with friends this trip.

Here are a few pictures to highlight the trip.  Enjoy.

The kids "raked" a big pile of leaves (with sticks) at Aunt Kristie's house.  Keep in mind that in FL we have palm trees, so this is always a treat!

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Hot stuff Reagan sitting on the 4-wheeler.

Caleb riding Granddad's tractor, he took the tree the boys cut down across the road.

The kids LOVED the 4-wheeler.  Jeff managed to take both at once a few times.

Aunt Kristie and the kids.  They had a blast picking up pecans from Granny's yard.  Yet another thing we don't have down here in FL.  I even cracked a few and ate them!!  The kids don't like pecans :(

Cutie's in front of Grandpa and Nana's tree.  They get to hang their ornaments on the tree each year, then get another.  They remember which is which amazing.

No more training wheels!!!

Caleb decided today that he was ready to remove the training wheels.  Jeff helped him push off the first time and was on stand by the first few laps.................he needed no help :)  He has been running through the grass, going fast, stopping, turning, basically going non-stop for an hour.  We will be back outside tomorrow!!!  He is growing up fast :)  Enjoy the pictures.

Get ready....get set....

GOOOOO!!!

and keep going and going and going and going :)