Kayaking

Early this morning we took to the water.

We followed our guide through the mangroves.

We saw lots of birds along the way.

But only a few would pose for me.

Mostly, they were busy hunting for breakfast.

At times it was a challenge to get pictures

because the boat was always moving.

Going with the flow, so to speak. 

To add some excitement.....

the boys invented a game on the open water.

For lack of a better name let's just call it

"Kayak Wars".

You start with two boats coming head-on using turbo paddle speed.

As far as I could tell, both the losers and the winners get wet.

Oh I just love having my family all together.

Even if I do get wet.

Park Time

There happens to be a wonderful park

just minutes from our home.

You can rent bikes

or bring your own.

This was a bike Kevin really wanted to try.

The chain fell off a few times,

but he fixed it.

The scenery is part landscaped people space,

and part wild.

There are hills for rolling down.

And for Christmas they had balloon displays

and a giant slide.

We tried a little of everything

and then skipped home.



Ho-Ho-Ho

Santa was here!

It's still so much fun for me 

to watch my children's expressions

as they come down the stairs.

(I wonder how much longer I'll get to say that.)

Sniff. Sniff.

~Be still my heart~

Kevin got a new hat.

And we had a great morning of opening presents

before rushing off to church.

Santa can even make 20 year olds smile.

Good to know.

After church we were free to relax

and enjoy the warm day.

~ Even after presents ~ 

Sarah still thought the porch swing was fun. 

Christmas in Florida.

Bare feet and short sleeves.

Ya gotta love it.

And for the crowd whose feet don't touch the floor while sitting.

Here's another way to start swinging.

And a great way to end the day is with a great meal.

With family.

Merry Christmas Everyone!



Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is just around the corner.

Sarah loved putting her present she made at school under the tree.

Christmas piano music filled the air several times during the day.

Alex and Sarah had an impromtu duet of "Jingle Bells"

that tickled Sarah to no end.   

And the girls decorated gingerbread houses

for our Christmas table centerpiece.

Although I offered to get the boys one too; they passed.

Sampling the goods make it even more fun.

Now it's time to get ready for Santa!

We read three stories before bed.

The Winter's Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

and, of course,

Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Santa's coming tonight!

Stringing Popcorn

This year Ranae and Sarah learned to string popcorn for the tree.

Ranae being 13 had no problem but I wondered how

little Sarah, at 6 years old, could do it.

Turns out she was great at it too!

And our tree never looked more beautiful.

And it came with a bonus.

They each learned some beginning sewing skills to boot.

Just how much can you pack in one weekend?

Our Christmas piano recital was first on the list.

It was Sarah's first piano performance ever.

She played "Jingle Bells" without a hitch.

I have loved watching all my children learn to play the piano.

I always tell them, "Music is an international language!"

But I especially love it when their little legs don't even reach the pedals.

It just looks so sweet.

Ranae did a great job playing "Silent Night".

Her piano skills are amazing.

I keep thinking I should try and catch up.

Then we had to get Sarah's hair in curlers to perform in the Nutcracker.

She was in the party scene and was required to have her hair in curls.

Ta-Da!

It worked....for a little while.

But at the end of the matinee performance

we needed the curlers again, for the evening performance.

And for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening,

at two different churches,

we were asked to bring our goats

for a live nativity open to the public.

Kevin was willing to stay and play shepherd.

So, we loaded up our goats and went back in time

to the birth of our Savior.

I decided against taking my pregnant goats.

And of course, I couldn't bring the males.

(Or I would have a lot more pregnant goats.)

So I settled on six good goats that get along.

Thank goodness.

The weather was fine and we had a little time

to walk through the scenes and read the bible story.

They even had a Baby Jesus!

He was a wonderful actor.

Just like the song, "No crying he made".

They also had Alpacas.

And I left thinking of my Savior Jesus.

And repeating to myself,

"I don't need an Alpaca,

I don't need an Alpaca."

Come and Get It

Delilah, Arella and Lightning

waiting for supper.

Barnabas (blue collar) and Blessing (red collar)

still share a feed bucket.

And Little Dot licks her lips in anticipation.