Fort Myers, FL 2010

I had the opportunity to take the boys on a trip to visit my grandparents in Florida last week. I haven't seen them in a few years and was so happy to be able to get down there finally. So, the boys and I made the 14 hour trip and they did AWESOME! Not one time did they whine or fuss. Although, during the last two hours down, Luke just couldn't stand it anymore and he would randomly scream at the top of his lungs and then crack up laughing. It was pretty funny. He just had too much pent up energy and I guess he didn't know what else to do.

The boys got to see the beach for the first time and were in awe. They didn't stop laughing and running, until, after about 2 hours, they realized it was really too cold to be wet and sandy at the beach.

We went to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter homes and got to see the museum and Edison's lab.

We went to a manatee park and saw tons of them. It was awesome. I lived there my whole life and only saw them once. But, it was so cold down there they huddled near the power plant.

We went to Sanibel Island and visited the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. Ethan go to do their Junior Wildlife Manager Program. He got an offical badge that he is extremely proud of. :o)


We had a great time and although we didn't do our official schoolwork...it was very educational....I love homeschooling.










Click to see the collage bigger.

January 2010

The boys grandparents got them some super cute outfits for Christmas and asked for pictures in them. Looking at these pictures, I just can't believe how big the boys are getting. They are getting ready to turn 4 and 6! I just love these little guys so much. They are funny when we take pictures....Ethan tries to make "cool" faces and Luke just wants to be goofy. They end up looking unhappy in a lot of the pictures...but, I still love them. :o)

New Blogsite!

Well, I just got back from visiting my grandparents in Florida...I am missing the sun already! We had a good time and I can't wait to share some pics from the trip. But...I've got lots of client pictures waiting. Also, I wanted to let you know that I am switching to a blogsite...it will be a website and blog all in one. I don't have time to keep up with both...so just head to my website from now on and you will be taken straight there. The switch should take place sometime tonight or early tomorrow.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY NEW SITE!

I love TJ Maxx

While the boys are having some play time I thought I'd share a couple cool things I found at TJ Maxx the other day. I always find cool, fun, educational things there for super cheap. I got a neat little experiment kit about cranes. The boys LOVED it. So far they've learned how to use levers, they built a wheel barrel and then a pulley. Also, I found Luke a huge floor puzzle that is also a game.

**sorry the pics are in the wrong order...forgot I should have uploaded them backwards. :o)

Chocolate Chip Pancakes!!!

This is the last post for today....I'm just trying to catch up before the new week begins.

It amazes me how different each of my boys are. They are seriously like night and day. It's so fun lately watching them as they grow up. They are changing so much and becoming little men. It makes me so much more aware of the responsibility I have as their mother. It makes me more desperate for God to give me wisdom and patience. I love these little guys so much.

Luke is so funny....he literally asks for chocolate chip pancakes every single day. The way he says it just makes it so cute...."mama....can ya make chocwit chip paincakes?". So, the other night I surprised him and we had them for dinner...he was so excited. I had to take some pics....I just love his chocolatey....very goofy...smile. :o)

Enjoying the warmth

It's been such a cold winter that anytime it warms up even a little...we head outside and the boys jump on the trampoline. The LOVE the trampoline. It was given to us and we need to get an enclosure and cover for the springs...but, they do alright just the way it is. Sweet Pea goes crazy the entire time. She gets underneath and tries to bite their feet...they think it's pretty hilarious. I don't like it so much because she's covered in mud afterward...but, it's worth it. :o) Oh yeah....and the joy of all joys is when Chad joins in the fun! He's the best daddy...there's nothing better than watching him and the boys together.

McClung Museum

We actually went here a couple of weeks ago and it kind of lead to the "fossil dig" we did. It was very interesting. Definitely want to go again.

Fossil Dig

It's been FOREVER since I've blogged here...but, since I've cut back on photography, I really want to try to keep up here.

Today for school we did a project with sand, leaves, rocks, and plaster....oh yeah, and chicken bones(of course my dog at mine, but, luckily my friend had extras. :O)) The kids had a blast putting it together. Then we let it set and taked about how fossils are formed. After about an hour we peeled away the cartons and they dug out their bones. They had a blast!

Me and the boys are also going through an awesome book by Ken Ham called Dinosaurs for Kids. I've learned alot from it. It teaches kids to question scientists and how to defend creation.

Here are some pics from today...it was VERY messy...but, that just made it more fun for them. :o)

From Homeschool

From Homeschool

From Homeschool

From Homeschool

From Homeschool

From Homeschool

Awesome Giveaway!!!

I love these prints from Red Letter Words and you can enter to win at this blog!

http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/2010/01/check-out-this-giveaway.html#comment-form

At day at the "farm"!

The boys have been having so much fun in this warmer weather. They love going over to Aunt Christy's house to see the goats. Sweet Pea loves running around loose...her and Luke both got shocked by the electric fence twice....it must not be too bad or you'd think they'd steer clear of it! Anyways...I love having boys. They just jump right in the mud, get all dirty, and don't even notice. They could throw sticks in the creek all day long. And the baby goats are a blast to chase around. Here are some pics from the other day:

It's been awhile....

I've been terrible about blogging lately. We've had a lot going on and I'm trying to give my photography business a boost and that's been taking up a lot of time. Ethan started basketball and is having fun. We have a blast watching him...it's absolutely hilarious! We've had a lot of fun in the snow lately. Here are some pics from all of that stuff.

Also, with the economy the way it is...it wasn't suprising when Chad found out they were cutting back his hours. IT's such a scary time for so many. But, we've had an amazing peace. It's reminded us that God is our provider, not our jobs. He doesn't change...no matter what's going on around us. We're so thankful for the joy he gives!

Our Christmas Present

For Christmas we decided to get the boys a puppy. She is so sweet, adorable, WILD, and HUGE! She's a yellow lab. They boys love her but are a little afraid of her because she doesn't realize how big she is and she bites and scratches. But, I think in the long run she's going to be their buddy.
She slept a lot the first day she was here. Ethan wrote her a note that said "dog I "heart" you." and laid it by her head while she was sleeping. So sweet!

Christmas at Fort Loudoun

We had a great time...it was FREEZING...but they had little fires all over so we kept warming up and then going back out for more fun.

Our little elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Keegan is Here!

One more post...then I'm done.

I go through spurts....right now photography has died down so I'm actually able to blog about my family. I love this time of year. We made some ornaments this year and the boys loved it...not to mention that our house still smells like cinnamon...I love it!

Christmas Tree!

I couldn't wait to go get our Christmas tree this year. We went Friday to a tree farm in Greenback. It was a little disappointing...the boys were all excited to help Chad cut one down...but the guy came over and cut it down with a chainsaw in a matter ofa couple of seconds. Oh well....they still had fun running around and pickig it out!

Sequoyah Museum

Since we were learning about the indians for Thanksgiving...we thought we'd go down to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum with our friends. It was pretty fun. We had a great Thanksgiving with all of our family too. It's been fun teaching Ethan about Thanksgiving...and I've been learnig a little myself too! :o)

Sunset

I put my poor family through so much! It was freezing. Luke was freaking out because he's terrified of anything small flying around him (ever since the yellow jacket attack). But, they let me get my sunset pics anyways. :o)

I love Fall!

Fall is my favorite season. Today we went and bought a couple of pumpkins to make a pumpkin scarecrow. This year Ethan really got into it. He helped clean out the pumpkin that was to be the head so we could roast some seeds. He did a great job. Luke was more interested in seeing how he could best destroy it when we were done.

John Deere Green

Ethan rode around with Chad in his spiderman underwear. When Chad was done Ethan got up, kicked his feet up and relaxed!

Peekaboo!

Ron Paul's Press Conference Today...please watch!

My New Favorite Picture

I got this picture today of Ethan...he hardly ever takes a nap anymore. But, today he fell right to sleep. He just looked so sweet...and look at those eyelashes! He seems so grown up lately and I just love how "little" he looks here.....

MUD....a little boy's dream come true

Jr. Ranger Ethan

Ethan is officially a Jr. Ranger. He was "sworn in" on Sat. after our last program for the summer. They found all kinds of cool stuff in the stream...salamanders, craw dads, water bugs, frogs, etc. We all learned a lot. Then we had a picinic and walked up to the Walker Sisters Cabin. We learned some stuff up there from a nice lady. She told us that they used to paper their walls with flour paste and newspapers. I would've never noticed the newpaper on the walls if she hadn't pointed it out. It was great day!

Junior Ranger Program

Today we went to the Little Greebriar School for the jr. ranger program. It was really neat. "ms. robin" was raised by one of the walker sisters and had a cool presentation about the school. She was very knowledgeable. Before that we went on a little walk behind the school where Ethan saved my life. I stepped off the trail to get a pic of spider web and he started yelling "snake!". I looked down and a snake was about 12 inches from my foot. I've been told it was a copperhead. Afterwards we went to walk up to the walker sisters cabin but were told that a bear was on the trail headed our way so we turned around. We still had a lot of fun.

The Revolution Has Only Begun

Just for fun

The boys and I found some new spots for taking pics yesterday. They were good sports....of course, they had to be bribed!

Baby Ryan turns one month old

Little Ryan is now one month old. He is the sweetest and cutest baby. Ethan and Luke just love him. Ethan wants to hold him so bad. He would just sit there with him as long as you would let him. Now, everywhere we go that there are babies he is just dying to hold them. It's so sweet. Here are Ryan's one month pics.

Potty Training Victory!!!!

I've never been so excited about my child going poop! Sorry if this is too much info...but, we've been potty training for about 2 weeks now...it's gone pretty well. But, going #2 in the potty is always a big hurdle. Well, I was just blow drying my hair when Luke came in with no pants on. He ran into the bathroom and was pointing at the potty. He had gone poop all on his own! I just can't believe it. Well...I'm sure no one is as excited as I am...but, just had to share!

Independence Day

We spent the day yesterday up at Metcalf Bottoms. It was my first time going there. It was so pretty. The boys had fun playing in the river. After our two picinics with family we drove up to the Little Greenbriar Schoolhouse. It was really neat. We walked around in the woods for a little while. We came home and the boys were exhausted. We didn't see any fireworks at all but it didn't matter. We had such a great time. Here are a few pics.....

My little bakers

Today has been a nice day. We've stayed home and played, read, sang, and baked bread. The boys wanted to help so bad so I just stopped worrying about what a mess there was going to be and let them help. I'm glad I did...they had so much fun!

Mud pies and bubbles

YEE HAW!!!

Ethan dressed up like a "bad cowboy" today. I caught a couple of pics and thought I'd share.

Junk Yard

We went to an auction last night with Christy and Justin....Luke got squirmy so I took him out for a walk. I just had to grab my camera. It was the perfect place for pictures!

Ryan Gage

My new little nephew arrived yesterday. He's so cute. Him and Mommy are both doing great!