New cookware

I'm replacing all my old, toxic nonstick cookware with enameled cast iron (in case you are wondering what to get me for the next holiday *wink wink*). This is the first piece I bought - a Staub Dutch Oven. I *heart* this pan.

Delaney, who isn't even allowed to use the stove yet, *hearts* it too and has asked if I'll give it to her when I die. Sweet kid.

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Imagine walking down your driveway, looking up and seeing this over your head.

This little critter is a spiny orbweaver. It kind of looks like a crab and a spider had a baby :) They make their webs between the trees - at least in our yard. I've never seen them before we moved into this house, but I guess they are pretty common.

This is not the same one, but it's a better picture. We found this one in the yard a few months after we moved in. Since then we've found red and green ones as well. They are quite colorful little critters. See what I mean about looking like a spider crab?

This is some sort of river birch. We got out our Florida tree field guide and try to narrow it down, but that's as close as we got. We have a few trees like it in our yard and none of them are the same.


Sydney's journal. She drew the birch tree and added some leaf rubbings for good measure.

Delaney's journal

My journal

Happy Goat Day!!!

Goat Day. I wish I could say that I understand it. But I don't. I really and truly have no idea what it's all about.

Last October we were told that there was a fabulous family event called Goat Day at the pioneer settlement about 1 1/2 hours from our house. We had been to the settlement before and really had a good time, but it was uber rainy that day so we thought it'd be fun to go back. We were envisioning some sort of pioneer re-enactment having to do with goats - maybe demonstrations on how to make goat cheese or something??? Yeah, I don't know -- but what would you think?

So we loaded up the car on a warm October Saturday morning, drove cross country and were greeted with a HUGE line to get into the settlement. You have to understand that this settlement is literally in the middle of nowhere. Well, it's actually in a park - but the park is in the middle of nowhere. The line to get into this place was HUGE! Did I say that already? Yeah, well the size merits a bit of repetition. It was like we were waiting for Springsteen or something.

After waiting about an hour to get into the park, we were accosted by a guy wanting $5 a person. "For Goat Day?" we naively asked. The place was like a giant parking lot. No goats or pioneers anywhere to be seen. So we paid our $20 (it was a long drive and we figured we ought to at least go see what the heck was going on), found a parking space in the back forty and walked forever before we found some action.

OK so now I've been to Goat Day and I still have no clue what it is. It was kind of like a carnival with lots of inflatables for the kids to jump on, pony rides, food and craft booths and even a greased pig event. Honest.

There were also a lot of political signs and booths and pamphlets being passed out...but no goats. I wonder if it's some sort of beginning to the political season or something? I really just don't know. We did make our way over to the pioneer settlement though and saw two goats in a pen. But that was about it for the event's namesake. We'll need to go back again this year to ask more probing questions. Last year we just wandered around saying, "This is Goat Day." The kids still think it's hillarious and for whatever reason will pipe up with "Happy Goat Day!" at the oddest moments - just to make us all laugh. It always works.

Here are the kids outside the general store at the pioneer settlement. Notice their authentic, made in China, pioneer toys :)

These really ARE authentic pioneer toys - made from corn cobs and feathers. The kids loved flying these things all over the house and Lilley thought they were tasty *yum*

We had a good time chatting with these ladies. They showed the girls how the wool is dyed and spun and turned into clothing or blankets.

Happy Goat Day!!!!!

Beach Day

Every now and again you need to put away the books and go enjoy some of God's greatest gifts.

This is why we live in Florida.

Spelling Bee

So after being accused of having "the longest Halloween in history and then the longest New Year in history" - I thought it might be time to add a bit more life to the blog :) Love ya, Laura *smooches*

Moving on to January 2009...

The kids participated in their first Spelling Bee on 1/9/09. They were extremely nervous, but they both did really well. Delaney placed 3rd in the 1st grade "fun" division.

Sydney's group of 4th graders was quite large, but she ended up in 4th place...and now she'll never forget how to spell the word HARPOON for the rest of her life. Good times.

Great job, girls!!!!!

New Year's Eve (12/31/08)

What better way to ring in the new year than with your family. There's nothing more fun that Make Your Own Pizza Night, movies, Wii, Shirley Temples, funny hats & glasses and watching the ball drop at midnight!

Good times.

Delaney loses her first tooth

12/27/08
She couldn't be any happier.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 came with it's usual fun and excitement. Sydney planned another family party complete with a fancy meal and games.

All three girls were in the Christmas play at church again this year. Sadey reprised her role as a sheep while Delaney and Sydney swapped parts this year - Sydney was Mary and Delaney was an angel. It was another beautiful candlelight service.

We exchanged our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve which is always a huge hit with the kids. They love picking out gifts for each other and we think it's important that they focus on making other people happy so they don't get caught in the "gimme gimme" trap that is so prevalent this time of year.

Christmas morning came early - for the first time EVER! Usually we have to wake the girls up, but this year Sydney was up bright and early and full of excitement. We let them dig into their stockings while B & I tried to wake up a bit, then we passed out the gifts.

Delaney REALLY wanted the Swim to Me Puppy this year. I'm not sure WHY, but she loves it.

Sadey wanted a scooter like her big sister. I was nervous that she'd hurt herself, but she did great!

Sydney was ready for a "real" digital camera this year. She loves this one because it's PINK.

Even Lilley found something good under the tree this year!

The best thing about Christmas? Aside from it being the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of course - was that it was WARM!

Christmas Parade (12/6/08)

Panama City's Christmas parade is HUGE. For my Indiana friends, it's like the 4th of July parade in LP. Only at night. In December. Last year it was in the 60s and fabulous. This year it was COLD! Only I didn't think about how cold it would be to sit outside for 3 hours, so I put the kids in light jackets and we headed out the door. Thank goodness we hadn't cleaned the van out in...ages...and I had some extra jackets in there!

Sadey wasn't completely thrilled with the lights and sounds of the Christmas parade. She wasn't happy, but at least she wasn't crying. Anymore.

Maybe next year she'll start to like these things.

Here's the Dairy Queen float.

In case you didn't know, DQ is kind of a new thing around here. When we first moved in, the nearest DQ was a 45 minute drive. I didn't think that was even legal! A month or so ago, a second store opened and it's only about a 30 minute drive. It's getting closer!

Here are some more floats.

The parade had the usual floats, high school bands and local celebrities and ended with the obligatory appearance of Mr. Claus.

Christmas Card Pics (11/22/08)

We love taking our Christmas picture at the beach. I promise you, we don't do it to rub salt in the wounds of all our northern family and friends. We just LOVE the beach so much that we have to take them there. We have to!

We aren't real photographers so a lot of the shots have "problems" and end up on the cutting room floor. But here are a few of the "throw aways" that I wanted to share.

Family visit

My mom, sister and niece (who all live in NW Indiana) came to visit the same night that we got back from camp. Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures while they were here! But I did get a shot of my kids trying to teach grandma how to play the Wii. She wasn't a huge fan, but she did pretty good at the runs on Wii Fit! (Please ignore the hideously ugly couch. It's finally GONE!)



And here's a shot of Beth showing off her new 'do. She and her mom snuck off for a few days and at some point they hit a salon for a spa day. Next time they visit I may have to sneak off with them.

The time went way too fast, as always, and we never did get to go to my favorite restaurant on the beach. Next time. Thanks for the visit and we look forward to seeing you guys when we head north this September. *smooches*