Aric Visits Sixteen Hands With Me

Aric took his day off to spend the day at Sixteen Hands with me.  He even drove us down there.  I love this season of life, where my kids are old enough to do things like that for me.  Although the one day he did warn Nathan and I if we didn't stop fighting he would turn the car around and go back home.

He seems to have a natural touch with the horses, so I love it when he comes with me and visits them.  It was great to see the horses too.  I am so used to being here, when I can't be here I miss the horses something awful.  I like to think that maybe they miss me a bit too.

But then again, maybe not!

Swimming With The Manatees

Before Aric even came to stay for the week with us, we planned a trip to swim with the manatees with him.  Nathan and I went last year and enjoyed the experience so much, we highly recommended it to Aric.  This trip was with a much bigger group.  We had less encounters with manatees and the water was cloudy, making it impossible to see the manatees.  I decided to stay on the boat and take pictures and let the guys hang out with the manatees.  It was still a great day even with those factors.

According to the information they gave us, this is the only place you can swim alongside the West Indian Manatee.  In the winter, they estimate up to 700 manatees are in this area.  During this time of the year that drops to 70.  They are not sure why some migrate north and some stay put here in Florida.  We encountered a mama and her baby.  You are not allowed to touch babies until they reach a certain age/size but it is still neat to see them like we did last year.  It is amazing how gentle the manatees are for their size.  They are not intimidating at all to hang out with, beyond I would not want to be trapped underneath one!

I hope we can make this trip with all of our kids at some point.  It is one of the neatest animal encounters that we've ever experienced!

Happy Birthday Ambir!

 Today is our gorgeous girlie Ambir's birthday.  I still remember my very difficult pregnancy while I carried her and my very easy delivery when I finally gave birth.  She was the most striking newborn and baby that I think I've ever seen.  So much so people would stop me in public and ask me if I had considered putting her in modeling.  She still is gorgeous so clearly her good looks are going to last.

I wish you were here with us, Bambi, but I'm glad you and Daniel are celebrating the day together.  If I had thought ahead, I could have had a birthday cake for you when you and Daniel were just here.  I guess we will have to make up for it next time.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!  We love you so much!

Happy Easter

Today was the last Easter that we will have a minor child of ours living at home with us.  That same minor child spent the entire day working so I didn't get to give him his Easter basket until late tonight.  So to ease my sadness some, I dug out some old pictures of the kids on Easters from long ago.  I especially love this picture of the five of them in 2001.  Austin still makes that same face so it is proof to me that no matter how old they get, some things never change.

Thank goodness for the positives of them growing up, like the reality that the Princess is now here due to them growing up.  Her Easter pictures made my day!

We really did have a wonderful day, even though it was quiet.  Hoping everyone else did too!

Ambir and Daniel's Visit

This past weekend, Ambir came to visit us.  She brought her boyfriend, Daniel, whom we were meeting for the first time.  We were so excited to have time with her in person.  I have missed my gorgeous girlie.

 We were super excited to meet Daniel finally.  We really liked getting to know him and we hope to spend more time with them together while we are here this summer.

We went over to the animal shelter across the street from us.  They seemed to enjoy that.

 We even got Austin to come with us.

 Most important during this trip was the fact we got them out on the pickleball court to learn the game.  Daniel was a natural, because he is an athlete.  Ambir picked up really fast too.

We introduced them to our favorite Ice Cream place.  They even ate breakfast at Paul's.  We fit in as much as we could.  Our time with them was too short, but they are hoping to come up and see us again soon.

Living the life in sunny Florida!

Florida Critters and One of My Children Are Really Great!

One thing that is neat about traveling cross country is you get to experience the locals as in the people, and you get to experience the locals as in the animals that live there too.

I know I might be biased but I still think some of the Florida critters are the coolest of all.  Really, it's just not everywhere that you can go outside and see this:

When I first moved to Florida, I would be so disturbed by these interesting critters.  We had one that liked to hang out in a tree behind our house.  And then he'd fall to the ground randomly.  With a very loud THUD!  Too much drinking is the conclusion I came to.  In time I went from that is one freaky dude to that is one freaky but cool dude and made peace with the fact he might fall on me and give me a heart attack. I mean, we did invade their space after all.

 The main reason I wanted to talk about these divine creatures though is that yesterday I took a lazy day which is like a sick day but I do it on my day off instead of a work day.  A lazy day for me means one of two things.  I spend the whole day editing pictures or I spend the whole day doing digital scrapbooking.  Ok, make that three things because yesterday I did both.

I spent so long editing pictures, I had time to go back and look at old pictures to edit.  Really old.  As in, 2004 pictures.  These gems were in a folder labeled "Kids Pics" which means one of my children took these beauties.  Somehow in the course of attending to five children's needs daily, I neglected to realize at least one of them has some skills in this area.  So I am sharing these pictures, but have no idea which one of them I am bragging on.

To those of you that have less than five kids that are horrified by my admission, that's ok.  I am used to horrifying parents of one or two or even three children on a regular basis.  It's my paybacks for telling my Mother who had seven that I'd never have a lot of kids like she did!

Back to the pictures and figuring out who did in fact take these shots.  (Because this is what Moms of five do when four have left home and they have a few minutes to ponder such things!)  These were taken at Miami Seaquarium which means it would not have been Ashleigh or Ambir because they were teens then and far too cool to do family fun days.  Auburn might have taken them because she is our animal lover.  Aric and Austin might have taken them because they are guys and these are about as cool as things go when it comes to guys.  That is as good as my guessing gets.

So if any of you three remember taking these pictures, please let Mom know so I can properly give you credit!

In the meantime, I am going to be glad that these particular Florida critters have never made it inside where we live.  I do have some boundaries left still.

Happy Birthday to the former Boy Boy

When Austin was little, Nathan called him "my boy".  That somehow then changed into "the boy".  Usually that name was used in this sentence: Guess what the boy did now!  At some point Austin decided he wanted more and started to call himself the boy boy.  So the boy boy it was.  

Seventeen years ago, this boy boy came into our family and I can think of very few things that have altered the family quite like it.  To say he made things more interesting is an understatement.  It has been an honor and joy to have him in our lives.  Today as I shared with him what his birth and life with us has meant to me personally, I had to also admit that he is no longer our boy boy.  He is almost a man now.  A young man at the very least.  And we most likely have very little time left with him sharing a home with us.  So I'm savoring the time left.

We squeezed in a birthday lunch at the Chinese Buffet because he had to work tonight.  We bought him a red velvet cake that we then promptly ate 1/4 of.  And I promised him a trip where he can cash in his birthday gift money and do something he wants to.  It was not the big party I would have loved to have thrown for him but we still celebrated how special the day was.  It was good.

Happy Birthday, Austin.  There is a part of me that will always see the little boy in you.  And the other part of me sees the wonderful young man you are also.

Settling In

We are all settling in and finding our groove still.  We are adjusting to Austin being back with us and he is adjusting to having parents again.  It is always interesting when your offspring spends extended time with someone else because they just tend to change a bit when they do that.  Especially when teenagers and experiencing a place where people live their lives a lot differently than your home does.

I think it is so good for them though so it's worth whatever bumps go along with that process.  I love seeing how it has stretched his view in some areas and how much he is still the same in others.  All part of the growing and learning that happens as part of being a person.

I'm also grateful that we have family that let him spend that time with them.  He will no doubt have fond memories of that time for years to come and he knows the family better due to the time to bond more deeply.  Family is so important to Austin, so it's one of the greatest gifts to him to be able to spend time there with them.  Thank you for allowing that to happen.

As far as what we are doing here, well not much.  We are having very slow and lazy days.  We are playing pickleball some.  Austin is tinkering and playing with his new favorite toy, a motorcycle.  I gotta give him much praise on how patient he was to wait to ride the bike, since he actually bought it last spring and had to wait to ride it until now.  He mostly uses it to ride to the Y, where we bought him a membership so he could work out.

Beyond that we are situating our lot the way we want it to be and figuring out what our lives will look like this winter.  I think Ava rolls with the punches better than the rest of us, as long as she has a window seat view of the action that is!

Halloween Party at Peace River

Peace River had a nice costume party for the park on Saturday night, so we made sure to attend.  I miss having little ones to celebrate the holidays with so I love it when I can still have a reason to make goodies and dress up.  I spent the day making pumpkin spice donuts, cupcakes and chocolate covered pretzels.

When we arrived at the party, it was kind of dark inside and I was trying to figure out who was playing up on the stage.  It took me a few minutes to realize the couple singing was Buddy and Diane.  My shots didn't turn out, so you'll have to peek at Donna's pictures here: Florida Picklers. 

The only shots we did manage to get to come out decently were a few from the dance floor.  Notice my "I don't know what the heck I'm doing so I'll watch Donna" poses.

I have fun dancing even when I don't know what I'm doing. 

We even managed to get Nathan out there for one dance.  There were tons of goodies and great music and fun people.  We had a nice time.

I have to share this cute picture of Ambir with her boyfriend, Daniel.  It looks like they had fun that night too.  I know I'm biased but she is such a beauty and such a ham when it comes to pictures.  I love it!

Living the life in fun Florida!

Austin's Virginia Adventures

Austin has been staying with Nathan's side of the family, and has been involved in all kinds of new things.  Out of all of the siblings, he is the most interested in being around family and knowing the family history.  I wonder if it isn't because he was still quite young when we moved to a place where we had no family around.  Whatever the reason, he loves it when he can spend time with family.  From the oldest to the youngest, like little Ray.

 

He has been visiting family places and learning the histories there.  He has been learning about the Civil War and the history in that area.  He has been working hard for a farmer and making lots of money.  Most of what he is doing sounds awesome to me.  

At the heart of it, he is still a city boy though.  So he doesn't know that "leaves of three, let it be".  

Poor guy.  Even though I'm not good at nurturing sick people, I still wish he were with us so I could baby him while he is feeling so miserable.  I am glad that he is with people who do love him and will take care of him.  

Living the life in two different states!

I Like Turtles

We have had so many turtles at the campground this year.  I'm not sure what that is about, but it's been fun watching them move around and share living space with us.

 Tonight, as I was cropping pictures, I came across some shots that Nathan took of some turtles.  Which made me think of Austin.  For two reasons.  The first being that he is in Virginia with Daryl and Diana for a visit.  He is my baby and the only child I have left living in our household, so I wasn't fond of him going away.  Lauren just had surgery though, so I thought it would be a kind thing if he went to keep his cousin who is in a cast company.

Before he left, I told him not to ask me if he could stay there for anything longer than a two or three week long visit.  Because it rips my heart out to even think of giving up any of the little bit of time I have left with him up.  I said it clear terms that if he called and asked me, I'd be tempted to bring home sooner rather than later.  And then I said, I mean it.  So he'd know of course that I really did mean it.  I wasn't just tossing out empty, meaningless threats.

So today, he called Nathan to tell him he wanted to stay longer and why.  Ok, so he didn't call me which is what I had so clearly laid out.  What he did do was to try and go around Mom though.  Because he knows Dad isn't quite as sad about the last one leaving home as Mom.  Dad would probably be ok with him staying longer.

So Dad tells me, just to let you know...this is what Austin called about.  At which point I got angry and sad all at the same time.  Since I cry when I'm angry and I cry when I'm sad, I just took care of both at once and cried twice as hard.

The main reason the turtle picture is making me think of Austin though is because a few years ago he fell in love with a video where a young kid is being interviewed by a reporter and he randomly says, I like turtles.  Austin played this video over and over and over and over and over again.  I think he even made it his voice mail message on his phone.  It didn't hurt any that he likes turtles himself.

Somehow the two things are related, but I'm not sure why because I'm crying again over missing my youngest boy.  Oh yeah, they are related because I can't look at turtles now without Austin's voice running through my head and I can't see turtles without thinking of Austin.  So this picture made me think of Austin.  And now I'm missing him.

So in honor of the turtle loving guy I thought I'd send him this message:

Dear Austin,

Mom just wants you to know I miss you so much already.  And don't call Dad again about trying to stay longer or Mom will have to come up and bring you home the next day.

Much Love,
Mom

The Family That Works Together

No picture for today, because I planned to take a picture but Nathan ate the subject matter before I could capture it.  I guess you can just imagine the picture instead.  Picture a big basket of hot fish and chips and think of how good they look and smell.  Ok, now we are ready for the story.

Tonight the kitchen here at Thousand Trails did a fish and chips dinner.  Austin usually volunteers but he went to work with Dad today.  So Mom volunteered to fill in for the volunteer.  This is my first time working one of the dinners and I had a blast.  Aric was working, of course, and he is quite the pro in the kitchen by now.  He is so smooth in the kitchen, you hardly know he is around.

Austin ended up getting back in time to help shortly after we started, so we both stayed.  He did an incredible job too.  He's great with the customers and he is great at doing whatever he can to help out.

It was a very cool things to be in the kitchen with he and Aric and watch them working.  People brag on them all the time to me, telling me what great guys they are and what great workers they are.  I loved seeing it for myself.

We are in the process of trying to find another business that we can do, that allows for us to work together as a family if possible.  Tonight reminded me of why we enjoy that so much.  It is not too much longer when all of my birds will have flown the coop.  I'm trying my best to enjoy the last few moments with them that I do have.

Oh, and for the record the food was incredible tonight.  I can say that because I had nothing to do with it at all.  I simply scooped and arranged it.  All the real work was done by the rest of the crew. 

Aric, Becky, Jeannette and Stewart did all the hard work when it came to the food.  A funny little note about Stewart before I close tonight.  He is from Australia I think and so it's hard to understand what he is saying at times.  Imagine standing next to a guy trying to keep up on frying fish for about 150 people and all you hear is "something, something...bloody #$%@...something, something..."  You say, "What????" and he answers by saying a completely different sentence that you can still only make out the bloody #$%@ part.  Then imagine this going on for two hours until you want to laugh hysterically even though you honestly have no idea what on earth he is saying.  This makes working alongside of my guys an even richer experience to say the least.

Living the life in interesting Florida!

Exploring by Land

While we were having fun on the boat, we came across this place that we just so happened to hit the tide right so we could get out and explore by land some.  This had the kids very excited!  The boys hopped out and pulled us as close to shore as possible.  Austin carried Lauren so she didn't have to deal with water creatures.

After walking across some very, very slimy water and dodging jelly fish, we hit the land.  Once we hit land, we were all super excited about this venture.

 The kids rushed ahead to see what exactly was here.  They liked the bird blind.  Josh filled us in on what he thought this place was all about.  Josh knows everything about everything, so we learned a lot!

We all liked the nature we found there.  Can't you just smell the sand and sea salt?

Sometimes we approach learning differently in our households.  Sometimes it looks very similar.  Today was an example of where we approach learning in the same way.  In both our homes, it is a daily thing where learning looks just like what you see here.  Someone finds something interesting and eventually you find the whole gang gathered around discussing it.

Well, except for Josh...who has his own path to explore at the moment!

 I love how we will all roll up into the learning and enjoy it together, each adding something to the experience.  It's one of the things I most enjoy about traveling with Daryl and Diana.  So what kinds of goodies did we find?

Pretty cool, huh?  Diana graciously took a picture of us, and right after that my battery died so I did not get one of them.

This place ended up being so awesome, I'm putting it down as one of my faves.  It's been a long time since I did that, so I guess we were due one!  Thanks, Daryl and Diana for making our day so great.

Living the life in beautiful Virginia!

Exploring Mathews, VA

 Today Diana and I took the kids to explore some things in Mathews.  Our first stop was a farm named Eastfield Farms and Oysters.  We had hoped to see and hear about the aquaculture that they do here.  They grow oysters from seeds as part of their farming practices.  They also have no spray blueberries that you can pick when in season.

We were able to spend some time talking to the owner, who so graciously shared some very interesting things with us.  Only 1% of the oyster population is still in the Chesapeake Bay and this gentleman is doing his part to counter that.  You can read more about his farm and efforts here: Eastfield Farms and Oysters

After we left the farm, we stopped to snap some pictures of a beautiful church.  I love church architecture and so many times comment on buildings, but rarely stop to snap pictures.

We wandered around the cemetery in the back and chatted about what we saw.  There were many military tombstones so we talked about that some.  We left here and headed to the library.  The main reason we went to the library was to stop and ask where the lighthouses were here.  We got distracted before we got around to asking and spent some time hanging out there.

The librarian sent us to Mathews Beach which was a really neat spot.  We didn't see the lighthouse but we did some hands on learning, which we always love.

We met this beautiful creature:

 And we met his beautiful owner, who shared that he was going to be put down in a few days.  Her grief was very raw and it was so touching to me that she let us share some of their last moments together with them:

 We left the beach to head back to the campground because Karen and Tom were hosting a happy hour.  I'll have to grab pictures from everyone else for that, because I forgot my camera. 

We had a great day together!  Living the life in sunny Virginia!

Busch Gardens, Williamsburg VA

Today we headed over to Busch Gardens.  I've been here before, but it's been years since then.  None of the guys have ever been here. 

I thought this was pretty fitting:

We had a lot of fun together!  It was a great day!