View from our room

This view greeted us every day from our room.

Water as far as the eye could see.

Biking on Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney's private island in the Bahamas.

It has great beaches, water slides, snorkeling, shops, food,

music, parasailing, jet skis, glass bottom boats, stingray visits and

as it turns out,

their own airplane landing strip.

Biking on the Airstrip

At the top of the observation tower.
(I forgot to tell Sarah that this wasn't the silly picture.)

Our boat is in the background.

Don't worry.

We made it back safely.

CRUISING

CINDERELLA

(Sarah's absolutely favorite princess.)

Meeting Belle on the high seas.

~

Hey, it's Disney.

You know there were Princesses involved.

Vacation

There's nothing better than a Disney vacation when you have children.

Except.....maybe a Disney Cruise.

It was a family first for us.

I had always avoided them until now.

I just kept thinking with 5 kids

the odds of somebody getting sick was high.

But Ranae was sick for only one day.

Then she got her "sea legs" and all was well.

Yippee!

Because helping a kid vomit for 5 days does not spell

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Happy Father's Day!

Super Dad Extraordinaire

Swim Lessons

~ READY ~

SET

GO!

Sarah is learning to swim!
She's the only one in the family who doesn't know how.
And I think this is the year.

You really can't stand anywhere in Florida without seeing water.
And that's one reason I will feel
~ SO MUCH BETTER ~
when she can swim.

And not just "kick your legs and get the top of your hair wet" swimming .

I mean "throw her in the deep end" swimming.

And that's why I have her taking lessons at the YMCA.
Because I am not very good at throwing anyone in the pool.
I'm better just taking the pictures and trying not to panic.

A Walk in the Park With My Dad

Visiting Grampa in Texas.

Ranae feeding the ducks by hand.

The required "silly picture".

(Sarah needs to work on this.)

Happy Father's Day Dad!

We love you!

To Plant a Tree

1. Dig a hole.

2. Then dig a bigger hole.

3. Get expert help.

4. Say, "Ta Da!".

5. Then rest.

6. And rest some more.

Bloom Time

The sunflowers are starting to bloom!

Like Father, Like Son

Zion (the father)

Lightening (the son)



Let me just say from the get-go,
NO
we didn't do anything to their ears.


They are LaMancha goats.
Just Google.
God made them that way and they can hear you just fine, thank you.
~anyway~
I was just thinking how very alike they are in temperament.
Both are very laid back and gentle.
(Which is a plus because when Zion finishes growing he'll be 200 pounds.)
In other ways they are different...
My buck, Zion, has that Elvis "thank you very much" hairdo thing going on.
And we have been wondering if Lightening will grow one too.
Or maybe Lightening will end up with a kind of "go greased lightening" hairdo.
It remains to be seen.
Stay tuned . . . . .

Ranae Graduates 5th Grade!

I can't believe Ranae graduated from elementary school today.

Well . . . . . as I look at this picture . . . . .

I notice she is about as tall as the teachers.

So middle school it is.

Congratulations Ranae!

I'm so proud of you!

Piano Recital

Today's piano recital had a premier and an ending.

Alex played, for the first time in public,

a piece he composed himself.

It was awesome.

That was the premier.

And today marked the ending of Matthew's piano education at home.

(He seems to be graduating from everything.)

He played for his last recital today.

Kevin and Ranae also played beautifully and made me smile.

- - - - - - -

I keep telling them that music is a international language.

And they each speak it so well.

Snake in the Grass

While doing chores this evening I came across a snake.

A good snake.

Thank goodness.

Winter Clothes

This is Matthew practicing wearing winter gear.

He was informed that:

1. Universities don't cancel classes for snow.

2. Long John's are worn UNDER your jeans.

3. Ice is slippery.

4. Snow is cold.

and 5. Tell'm you're from Florida and they'll understand.

4-H at the Beach

Our last 4-H meeting of the year was today.

We went to the beach.

We got some sun.

We had a cookout.

We had some fun.

And now we're done.

See ya next year Green Thumb Ranchers!

Matthew Graduates !

Just think...

you're here not by chance,

but by God's choosing.

HIS HAND FORMED YOU

and made you

the person you are.

He compares you

to no one else -

YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND.
You lack nothing that

His grace can't give you.

He has allowed you to be here

at this time in history

to fulfill His special purpose

for this generation.

-------

I love this quote written by Roy Lessin.

It really sums up my graduating senior.

I love you Matthew.

Congratulations.

Well done.

Baccalaureate

Matthew is graduating!

I'm smiling on the outside.....

.....and I'm crying on the inside.

Oh, I am gonna miss this boy.

Why do they have to grow up and move away.

I know. I know.

But I don't have to like it.

Growing Up

Amen is growing up.

She was the last goat born on our farm this year.

And she is getting big.

I think this one is a keeper.

Dinnertime ?

Little Dot has won Mother Goat of the Year.

She is still patient when they nurse.

She doesn't mind if they use her back to practice balancing.

And she doesn't butt them away when it's time to eat grain.

She has done such a good job with her triplets.

This goat is full of good surprises.