Spring Break 2013

At the end of March, the kids and I took a week off for spring break. I think we were all ready to take a step back from the routine of preschool, homeschool, and all of the other usual weekly commitments. We spent the first part of the week close to home then headed down to Eustis for a few days at the end of the week when Jonathan had some time off too.

One of the days we headed over to SeaWorld.

Ben and Rosemary were very excited about their whale flukes necklaces.

After SeaWorld, we stopped off to visit a bit with Janey and Becky (and finished delivering all of the Girl Scout cookies!) It was good to see each of them and catch up.

Before heading back to Gainesville, we met up with Jonathan’s side of the family for a picnic. It was perfect weather and so fun to see everyone.

Janice had an Easter egg hunt for the kids to enjoy.

Rosemary had a great time playing with her cousins. She said that playing with Breanna was the best part.

Charlotte desperately wanted a picture taken after she ate her cupcake.

Ben enjoyed the icing on his cupcake…not sure if he actually ate the cake part of it.

Jonathan and I walked with the kids down to the water. We played and visited a bit more before heading back to Gainesville.

We hadn’t dyed Easter eggs yet and Janice gave both Rosemary and Ben paint sticks to paint eggs with so when we got home, I headed to work and Jonathan boiled some eggs. The kids painted them that night.

Girl Scout Cookies 2013

This year Rosemary sold 300 boxes of cookies during presales. Jonathan and I spent an evening sorting them then Rosemary and I spent the next two weeks distributing them. It was a big job, but she did a great job!

Georgefest in Eustis

The last weekend of February we visited my mom and dad and attended our very first Georgefest. We headed over to Bay Street for the parade first.

O-ho the Wells Fargo wagon is a-comin’ down the street…

What parade is complete without Shriners in little cars?

After the parade, we took the kids to the carnival. Rosemary and Ben thoroughly enjoyed riding the rides (I was mildly terrified that one of the rides would come apart at the bolts) while my parents took Charlotte down to the waterfront. Ben wanted to ride this car ride several times, but Rosemary ventured out and started riding the big rides, including the big swing. She’s suddenly gotten so big.

We met up for lunch at Crazy Gators. That night we enjoyed Stavro’s pizza for dinner.

In the morning, we visited First Baptist Umatilla with my parents before we got a quick bite to eat then headed back home. We had a great weekend. I think we’ll probably be celebrating many more Georgefests.

Flying with Grandpa

We visited with Janice and Richard a few weekends ago and while there, Richard took Jonathan, Rosemary, and Ben up for a quick flight, the first one for Rosemary and Ben. It was a very chilly and windy weekend so the wind made things a bit more exciting than usual, but I think the kids still enjoyed the adventure.

The next day, we went to church at Real Life in Clermont. We met up with Jonathan’s best friend, Bennett, and his family, and I got to see my old swim buddy from Lake Aurora, Janna. We hadn’t seen each other in about 20 years and it was a fun reunion.

Fort Matanzas

One Saturday in early February, we woke up to a beautiful day and no plans on our calendar. Jonathan suggested driving over to St. Augustine and visiting Ft. Matanzas. We’d been talking about going for ages, so we loaded up the car and headed out.

Along the way we stopped at Corky Bell’s in Palatka for lunch. We got a table right on the river. While it was nice and bright, when the wind kicked up is was a bit chilly and all of the kids ended up wearing their hoodies. But it was so fun watching the boats dock.

When we arrived, Jonathan headed to the visitor’s center to get our tickets for the boat ride over to the fort. The next available time slot wasn’t for an hour or so, so we headed over to the nature trail then let the kids climb on the trees while we waited.

It was pretty fun taking the little boat ride to the fort.

It’s definitely not a big place, compared to Castillo de San Marcos, but really interesting, nonetheless.

The kids piled in the tower.

Steps led up to the second floor, but to get to the roof you had a climb up a ladder. We all went to the top. Jonathan carried Charlotte, Rosemary followed, then Ben, and I came up last.

The view was beautiful from the roof

We headed back down in reverse order.

Before catching the boat back, we walked around the grounds at the fort.

When we arrived back at the visitor’s area, we drove across to one of the beach parking areas. We walked down to the inlet then back up to the car. It was a good 40 minute walk.

It was chilly, but the kids were not deterred from putting their feet in the water.

One of my favorite photos of Jonathan and the kids.

From there we loaded up and went to Saltwater Cowboy for dinner. I had fried clam strips, french fries, and coleslaw, the same meal that I ate earlier in the day at Corky Bell’s. (Is that wrong to eat the same meal twice in the same day at two different restaurants?) By then it was getting late so we headed home. Happy, thankful, and full of wonderful memories.

Rosemary’s 7th Birthday

We decided back when we started homeschooling that whenever one of our family members had a birthday, we would take the day off. So for Rosemary’s 7th birthday, we didn’t do any school, Jonathan took the day off as well, and we spent the day together as a family.

In the morning, Rosemary opened her gifts from us.

Rosemary requested a skateboard.

For lunch, we went to eat at Red Lobster, per Rosemary’s request.

After dinner, we enjoyed some Publix cupcakes.

Showing off her Princess and Popstar toy she bought with her birthday money.

The boys

Charlotte enjoyed her cupcake, too.