Labor Day Weekend

Some neighborhood kids came over several days last week after school.

They all had fun playing in the pool and watching

 how far Caleb could hit the golf ball.

Another day they played Wii.

It gets really noisy, but its alot of fun listening to all the laughter.

Caleb came home from school and changed into his Fireman outfit.

Then he grabbed the hose and ran around the house

putting out the 'fire'.

After a few minutes he came in and said in a deep voice,

"There you go Ma'am, you are safe and sound."

Christina got her College ID this week.

She really likes her professors.

They are young and hot guys. 

We had homemade pizza on Friday night.

Since Ben is an expert, I asked him to knead out the dough.

It turned out perfectly.

Every few days the ducks come over asking

for our left over chips and crackers.

We always have some because in Florida, once a bag is opened

no matter how tight you close it,

a few days later your chips are moist.

Yuck!

But the ducks don't mind a bit.

Zachary had a fun filled Labor Day weekend.

Saturday afternoon he went over to Zachary's

for an over nighter.

Then on Sunday Avery called and reminded us that

Zachary had an over nighter planned there!

So we picked him up and took him to

Avery's for the night.

Poor Caleb was sad and missed Zachary.

It  was the first time they have spent 2 nights apart.

Zachary wrote Caleb this note

Mike and I kept Caleb busy tho.

It was the first time we had just the three of us.

Christina spent the weekend at Bens.

We got Caleb his fav food -shrimp-

and spent the days and nights

 playing games with him.

This is Gowling, or Bolf.

We played NASCAR playstation, and Wii games.

We watched several Net Flix movies on the Wii that he picked out.

Caleb got spoiled!

But once Zachary walked in the door,

Caleb has forgotten us!

He is very very happy his big brother is home.

Busy Busy Busy

Christina and Ben went camping this past weekend.

They rummaged thru our vast supplies of camping equipment

and had a little adventure.

They had no problem setting up the tent and preparing the campsite.

Ben chopped up firewood beforehand.

Then they learned we had a ton of firewood on our back patio.

They had some trouble starting the fire, so they sprayed bug spray on it and used test papers to get it going.

Mmmm! Hotdogs and marshmallow time.

Everything tastes so good when cooked over a campfire.

They had a really great time, 

and are looking forward to doing it again.

After they got back, Mike had to work in Stuart. 

Its several hours south of us.

We had Christina babysit the boys,

 so Mike and I could enjoy a romantic 2 night trip.

We didn't want to stay at a hotel that 

we stayed at with the kids,

so Mike found this one.

Its on Hutchinson Island.  Our room is on the top floor right side.

Since Mike is a platinum member of Marriott Hotels, 

every time he checks in, they upgrade him to a suite

 and offer him either extra reward points or a snack from their cafe. 

We usually get the points. 

But this time we were hungry and didn't know where to eat yet,

 so we said a snack.

This is what they brought us.

Chardonnay, Brie Cheese and Crackers.

Later we found a beach side cafe to eat oysters, crab cakes, and stuffed grouper.

We took long evening strolls on the beach.

It must be Blue Crab season because

 there were dozens of these guys 

all along the shore.

We found this raccoon eating out of the garbage can.

He just sat and stared at us like,
"Ok, your disturbing my dinner here, get your picture and leave."

We had a very nice time just us.

He worked during the day,
and I hung out at the beach,
 reading my book, 

playing my DSi and just enjoying
the peacefulness of the sound of the waves.

Christina started College this week!

She is officially a College Freshman!

So proud of her!

Mike laughs at the boys and I.

I can't imagine why he thinks this is funny.

I mean we ARE in the technology age right?

Our lives are getting very busy.

Monday nights are Zacharys Boy Scout meetings. 

He has 2 Den meetings a month, and 1 Pack meeting.

Then on several Saturdays a month are the

fun things the den leader has planned. 

Food drives, water parks, hikes, campouts (even one at Disneys Wilderness Camp)

Tuesdays Caleb has Golf classes.

Wednesdays are Calebs Cub Scout meetings.

Our calendar is filling up.

The boys are doing good in school.  Caleb's teacher has already called us to say how wonderful he is doing. He loves that he has homework now. In fact, the teacher sends home all the homework for the following week on Friday, and Caleb sits down and does it as soon as he walks in the door Friday afternoons.

In fact, several nights now, he complains because he doesn't have more homework, 

so I got out the book he did during the summer and he does several more pages a night.

He also loves reading.  He brings home a new book every night 

and then reads it once to Daddy, then once to me.

Zachary still doesn't like homework. And he has a ton this year. 

His teacher actually told us that she LOVES to give out homework,

and even gives it on the weekends.

I bet Caleb hopes he gets her in 4th grade.

Zachary has a new friend in his class. His name is Zachary Block.

If you drive to his house it takes 11 mins to get there.

But if you go out our backyard and walk down the fence line past one house,

turn right, walk past 3 houses, your at their house.

He came over and spent the night with the boys this weekend. 

They had a great time.

So what are Mike and I doing while the kids are in school?

Chasing away the vultures from our garbage.

Amongst other things.  *wink 

Still Dreaming Of Summer

School started this week.  The boys are enjoying being back in it.  But we all still wish it was summer.
These pictures are of our last HooRah. We got back on Sat, and school started Monday.

This was our hotel. you can see our room, it was on the second from the top.

This was our view.

We played as much as we could in the ocean.

And in the sand.

Zachary found something that looked like coral, but we weren't for sure that it was.

Unbeknownst to us, he wrapped it in a towel and brought it to our room.

As he was showing us his 'prize' this guy fell out of it.

That'll teach him to take things from the sea.

We took it back to the water and put it back. Hopefully he's OK.

Check out this video on YouTube of Caleb.

The things kids do...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6AQ8-SJUYc

They had BBQ night there, and Zachary wanted a triple cheeseburger.

We took 3 burgers and cheeses and made it ourselves back in the room

He ate it all!

There is a beautiful golf course in Palm Beach that is right on the water.

Prices are pretty good after 2pm.

Even Zachary enjoyed hitting a few balls.

This is the course that Caleb hit his ball on a Par 3

and came within 2 1/2 FEET of a HOLE IN ONE!!

Somehow I missed getting a picture of it, but I got one of the next hole.

Look how close he is!

This was hit from the front tees. (not the ladies tees)

Someday this kid is going to be in the pro's.

I really need to get him on video.

Even tho we were on vacations all summer, I had the boys do workbooks.

They had to do anywhere from 5-10 pages every day.

There are 700+ pages, and they did most of them.

The weather here has been HOT. Warmer than normal.

Highs are like 95.

Usually its our rainy season, but this has been a quiet year, with not too much rain.

Until this week. Finally!! Its raining. And the thunderstorms are so intense.

It sounds like sticks of dynamite going off next to your ear.

They make the Monsoons in Phx sound like a firecracker.

But our family of ducks don't care.  

I took this in our backyard yesterday.

Caleb got a new NASCAR. The David Reutimann car.

He was sooo happy. But he wouldn't open it until I videoed him.

Its posted on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cSWwQXkQ0k

He directed the video. I had to shoot it 3 times to get it just right for him.

For the first day he kept it in the box so it wouldn't get ruined.

He even took a nap with it.

Caleb drew these letters for his dad.

Its pretty obvious the things the boys are interested in.

Zachary loves anything to do with Video Games.

Last night I woke up at 3am, heard some noise

came out to the family room, and there was Zachary, playing his new Wii game.

As long as its not a school night... 

Christina and Ben are camping this weekend.

I hope it doesn't rain on them!

I'm sure she will have some pictures to post when they get home.

She starts school next Monday.

Her classes are 3 days a week, and from 7pm to 10:45pm.

That leaves lots of hours open for a job!

Keep your fingers crossed she gets one soon.

I have been making some new types of food for our family.

I am expanding their palates.

Check out some of the new recipes here:

http://myfamilysfavoriterecipes.blogspot.com/