October

We've had days plenty warm for swimming, and days cool enough for jeans.  Open window weather is so nice!  We've tried to take advantage of the cooler days to be out and enjoying it.

Fool's Gold

The Spoils

Panning for Gems at a Local Zoo

The perfect rock for her Halloween costume! 

Went for a walk in the local garden and noticed the water rippling; this fellow scooted up on shore to sun himself.  He must have walked a ways to get in as the pond is surrounded by fields.  Fun to watch him swim around the koi, who were completely unflustered by his appearance. Guess they are not on the menu.

At least 1 Halloween party per week through October.  Halloween night the kiddos spent at a friend's so we got to spend the evening at a restaurant with a Spanish guitarist on the patio.  It was unexpected and lovely.  Nice way to wrap up a month full of really busy weekends.

Link & Princess Mononoke

Porco Rosso

Totoro & Link (I asked him to smile and he told me Link needed to be serious)

Ted went as Kamaji-san.  No costume necessary. :)

We decorated hubby's office and Bug has claimed this plant as a 'nightlight', despite the fact that he believes it will give him nightmares.

September

Lots of fun new things in September!  Archery class, lego robotics, a trip to Orlando for Maker Faire, and *gasp* a teenager.

It's all fun and games until someone thwaps their arm with a bowstring.

Reenactment of a real trial in a historical courthouse.  The kiddos chose to be jury members.

Orlando Trip.  Ahhh, a week in a house with a private pool and game room.  And a few days consorting with diy scientists and artists.  So much fun!  Nobody wanted to come back.

The car gets crowded with family, luggage, pigglies, and dog.

Glad to be home.

Lock picking at Maker Faire

Having a pool at the house we rented was fantastic!  Good spot to wear everyone out.

Lots of things to make and try at the Maker Faire

Demonstration on electricity.  Bug got to be part of the human conductivity chain.  He loves audience participation shows.

The hamster wheel snow cone maker. :)  Good workout and a lot of fun; plus you get a reward at the end. 

Our birthday girl.  She's been a fantastic kiddo and will make a wonderful teenager.

13!

Ramen for dinner, mochi for dessert.

The requested birthday activity!  Fun for all of us.

Lise and her new friend, Legacy.

August

The month of August brought us back to co-ops, classes, and books.  After the first few weeks of running in circles things seem to be developing a rhythm.  Choir, archery, study, parks, 4H, etc.  We have a lot of fun things to look forward to this year!  I'm trying not to put 17,000 miles on our car again.  

4H!  We're looking forward to learning about aerospace engineering and entomology this year with our group.  As well as field trips, volunteer trips, and plenty on our own. 

Math. . . or at least, it's supposed to be.  The blocks end up being used for things like this as often as they are used for anything involving calculations.  This kid is going to have to be a builder of some sort.

Museum field trip with friends.  They designed race tracks and fashion.  Bug is such a good sport about jumping in with the girls; I guess that's the bonus of having an older sister.

A very cool lego journal for quotes!

Math, math, and more math.  Her book is huge and we'll need a celebration when it's done!

Zoo field trip with more friends. 

I started an art class online, Lise joins in occasionally.  It's been so much fun to learn and also to share the learning.

Lise's 'essential bird'.  The objective was to paint a bird and not get sucked into details.  Look at those fabulous wings and perfect feet!

My 'Jay'.  Obviously I didn't do such a good job of not getting sucked into details. :}

And what would life be without pig fashion?  They were tormented before being shaved, poor piggies.  Truth be told though, they smell much better with short hair and they are pretty good sports.

Somebody is very jealous when the piggies get so much attention.

August was also punctuated with a birthday.  I guess this is the point where I'm supposed to freak out, buy a race car, and chase someone younger?  Or is that just the guys?  The biggest change I foresee is a possible haircut. . . because it's loooong overdue and I want it short again.  Boring by mid-life-crisis standards, but I'm pretty happy and count myself blessed to be so.

They got creative with the watermelon at breakfast. :) 

And finally-- look how grown up they are!  Holy cow.  Where does time go?  There are moments where I catch a glimpse of my daughter out of the corner of my eye and it startles me, because I think some wandering adult has made their way into our house.  It's an odd and exciting phase of parenthood.

And one day those empty frames will be filled. :)  They are not a statement of anything except my ability to forget things.

Biannually

Twice a year update seems ridiculous.  It doesn't seem like that much time has passed.  I'll keep this update short and we should be back to our once a month schedule now.  Hopefully.  You know what they say about good intentions.

January-
The arrival of guinea pig babies. 

1 day old. Poppy

Bruno

Must taste everything.

February

The infamous Legoland trip and a stroll through one of our favorite gardens.

Flowering tree.  Yes, this is what February looks like in Florida.

His father.

March
Lise ran away and joined the circus. ;)  I hope the video plays for you!  We set up a local butterfly, bird, bloom, & bug field trip.  Visited Tampa.

 

'Get them off.' Says the kid who begged to feed them and then wanted to go back. . . twice.

Passion Vine Flower

Another variety of Passion Vine,

Walking along the waterways to go see the manatees.

Recognize this star?  We finally got to go see Winter.

Mythbusters!

Card throwing.  She made a bullseye!  With some instruction from dad.

April
2 month old piggle and a trip to the Oceanographic Institute.

May
It is kind of convenient to walk 1/2 a block and throw a dozen fish back an hour.  Just little bass, marinating in lawn chemicals.

June
They fish, I get a really quiet house.  The beginning of the caterpillar invasion.  And a trip to the Flagler house.

Bug decided since we were going to visit a 'fancy' place he'd better dress up.  Hence, the sweater vest.  It was a beautiful museum!

July
The caterpillar invasion in full swing.  Seriously, 12 of them go through a lot of milkweed.  That's what happens when your kids find caterpillars on the plants at Home Depot and witness one of them being munched on by a wasp.  Butterfly release- hallelujah!  The 4th of July.  Trip to Peanut Island.  And a birthday.  It's been a busy, busy month.

Spot on the intracoastal we watched the fireworks from; the sunset wasn't bad either.

Whip cream and watermelon makes a fine dinner.

Hungry little buggers.

We learned a lot.  For example, the withering of their antennae means they are within minutes of shedding their skin and turning to a lumpy chrysalis.  The chrysalis then twitches until it's smooth and compact with it's characteristic gold.  Beautiful.

Never get tired of watching this,

Releasing

See the fish?  The kids took the camera and got some great underwater shots!

Beep Beep

Pretty good sized crab.

 And. . . finally, the birthday.

One handed eclairs.  Good thing I've got two kiddos to help in the kitchen!

Good day to dig for shells too.

Beach Birthday

Beach version of a lazy boy!