Florida Summer Fun

Summer time in Florida means many days at the pool. We are lucky that many friends have joined us and had some fantastic days relaxing and jumping and playing. We've graduated to another pool in FishHawk that has swimming blocks the kids can jump off of-enjoy as they soar and splash below! Tomorrow we leave for Myrtle Beach, so no posts for a couple of weeks-but we'll be sure to have some good ones after that family vacation reunion!

 Averi, Hunter and Jillian sharing a smoothie

 Bryson and Ethan of course picked blue

 Ethan and new friend JJ we became friends with at pool this summer

 Riley and Jillian play so well together (JJs sister)

 swimmer or cheerleader-we shall see

 awesome jumps

 in she goes

 Jack and Ethan jump in unison

Ethan and Jillian jumping together



More Camp Fun

The kids are at home with me on Thursdays, but Ethan found out the senior campers were going to the aquarium for a field trip so he asked if I would take him and Jillian and meet up with them! Turned out to be a great afternoon running with the kids, seeing the awesome animals and playing outside in the water area and on the pirate ship! Add another great activity to our busy summer.

 love this tunnel surrounded by fish

 taking down a shark

 Surfin Sweeties

 gator wrestling she called it

 campers

funny faces in the shell



Ethan's Belt promotion

This was a very special week for Ethan and we are so proud that he had his first belt promotion at karate. He is a superdragon and they start with striped belts, so once they receive them all in order they start again (when a little older) on the solid color standard karate belts. He spent a full hour testing in front of the 3 instructors and showed kicks, punches, answered questions about powerful words they have learned like Integrity and Trustworthiness and then for the grand finale had to use their skills to show how they would "escape" if someone grabbed them. Enjoy the video-Ethan definitely has skill! Then a few nights ago they had a wonderful promotion ceremony for all parents and kids at the studio who passed their respective level exams and received their new belts. We are so proud and excited that Ethan is enjoying and excelling at an activity of his choosing!

 Ethan receives yellow stripe and Alex earned his orange!

 Our good friend Hunter joined the studio recently as well

 Receiving his new belt-love the old white one draped around his neck

 A well deserved high 5 from owner and 4th degree black belt Mr. Cabrerra

He just couldn't stop celebrating and kicking



Happy Fourth of July

We had a grand July 4th morning playing around the house after a huge day at the pool! The kids got decked out in some holiday  outfits that they picked at the store and had fun posing and laughing for some quick photos. Even Piper joined in their excitement. They spent the afternoon and evening with their dad and saw fireworks in St. Pete. We are so grateful to live in the great USA! Happy Birthday America!



Diva at the Pool

This week we went to the big kid pool at the aquatic center and the kids enjoyed the change. Jillian got a new bathing suit from a friend and LOVES the animal print. She asked me to take photos for her friends and family to see-so here is my little model posing for us! They loved the waterful but weren't ready for the big slide yet-hopefully soon. Ethan's favorite part is the huge concession area with chicken fingers!



Ethan's First Field Trip

So this summer the kids are in camp at their school Creative World two days of the week. The older kids are lucky  to have an opportunity to take several field trips and Ethan allowed me to go with him and his friends on the first one. They were so cute and we had a great time at Grandma's Hug N Farm in Plant City. His first time riding the school bus and he loved it-now he can't wait to go on more trips! We ended the day with a great lunch in the picnic area. Ethan helped me choose which photos to post-enjoy the ones at the end with all the animals-he wants you to see some of what he saw!

 Ethan and Evan waiting to load up

 First time on a school bus!

 Ethan and Kyra with the ponies!

 The kids loved running around this house-Ethan and Calvin playing

 Abby petting a horse

 They took us on a great little hay ride

 There were 9 of these cool swings to play on

 The tractor was a big hit

 The sheep grazed all around us roaming free to be pet

 Baby Donkey

 We saw goats and chickens and roosters

 The bunnies were adorable and loved being pet

nasty old turkeys and a cool tortoise