Fun with Reed and Cass

Alas, the whole of October passed without a picture or a word posted to the blog. So, I feel compelled to prove that we have actually been enjoying all that Florida has to offer. Take, for example, this lovely first photo from Oscar Scherer State Park.

Yes, we went swimming.

Hot (a very key word) on the trail of the elusive Florida Scrub Jay.

We did, in fact, get a great look at one. Very pretty bird.

Camping a Fort Desoto. Very fun.

Fishing with Pa David. They are holding a bonnethead shark.

My little flower and her Star Wars crazed brother dressed as Boba Fett.

What, you don't know who Boba Fett is...well, just ask Reed. But be ready for a

LONG conversation - Star Wars is his life.

There you have it, folks. Five pictures to sum up about 8 weeks of our lives! And to think, I am frequently accused of being too wordy!

Party Girl!

Cassidy has successfully celebrated the Big #6! She enjoyed her family party on her "real" birthday and her big party last Saturday. She picked a butterfly theme this year and we had a good time getting everything ready.

Cassidy and her Mommy-made butterfly cake.
Blowing out her candles.

Opening presents with her friends.

Popsicles in the pool.

The poor, smiling butterfly pinata is about to meet a bitter end.

Family presents!

More family presents.

We do love our little Cass and we are SO glad God gave her to us!

The Agony and the Ecstasy

"Who is agonizing over school?", you ask. One word - Reed. But he has enough wisdom in his 8 years to know that you still have to smile for the first day of school picture!

And the ecstatic...why Miss Cassidy! She has been counting down the days until kindergarten started. I am praying that her expectations are going to be met!

Ready to face the rainy drive to school on the first day of school.
Even though we can't wear pink clothes to school, we have managed
to accessorize with her favorite color! There are no rules against pink
headbands, shoes or backpacks!


Cutie Cass with her teachers. Notice how they are smiling...maybe
I should take a picture at 2:55PM today!



My beautiful kindergartner! I am so proud of her!

Happy Birthday Reed!

Reed turns the BIG 8 years old today! What a great kid! Of course, I am a totally biased source! Here are some photos of Reed from the past few months for your viewing pleasure!

Playing ball (March)
His South Texas Trout (April)
In the bluebonnets (March)

Off Egmont Key (May)

Yum!

I grew bell peppers and jalapenos in my earthbox this spring for

just such a day as this! I'm making jalapeno jelly!

The fruits of my "labor!"
I actually had to pick the bell peppers last week and we've been eating them.
There were 15 bell peppers and are more still growing.


Ready! Set! Puree!

Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble!

Bring on the ham!

Our sweet Cass!

Here are few pictures from the last few weeks of sweetie Cassidy. May is proving to be VERY busy, but fun. Cassidy enjoys soccer and we enjoy cheering for her. See her cutie smile? In her soccer gear.

We went out with Paul, Lori and Andrew on Paul's new boat. And what a boat it is! Of course, everyone with iron stomachs enjoyed it much more than I. But Paul was nice enough to drop me off on the island and my life was MUCH better.

What beautiful sand and water...oh, and a beautiful little girl!

See her cutie smile?


SEE HER CUTIE SMILE?!?

Cassidy lost her 3rd tooth last night! And this one was a doozy! I am still getting used to her new smile! I'm calling her my gappy girl! What a cutie!

The view from our kitchen table

The American Alligator - not so rare or endangered in Florida!

The picture isn't very good (You can click on it to enlarge it some). There ARE, though, some good reasons for that:

1. We don't have a camera with any kind of zoom. (I think this may instantly label us as "bad" parents because I've noticed that all the "good" parents have really fabulous cameras and editing software. I'm guessing Reed and Cass will survive.)

2. I refuse to creep any closer or go to the other side of the pond...It is an alligator after all.

I do, though, enjoy seeing him each morning as he suns himself (It could be a female...I'm using the universal him.) and then he spends the rest of the day in the water at the edge of the pond.

No, the kids don't play in the backyard much - mostly because there is NO shade back there so they prefer the front yard.

He really isn't very big in terms of an alligator - maybe 5 feet. That never really makes my mom feel any better.