Easter Funtivities

As always around Easter the family got together to celebrate the resurrection.  We colored eggs with the die kit I bought last year after Easter on clearance for 20 cents.  I am just proud that I remembered that I had it and got it out.  So what that it only had three colors... 

Pretty eggs!  Pink does not seem to be so popular with the boys... I am not sure why that is.

Nathan now has this strange habit of making a weird face and rolling his eyes at you all the time.  It is kind of freaky and you can see him trying it out here.

Grampa Paul held us hostage to endless DVD footage of the Three Stooges for the entire two days he came to visit.  Needless to say the stooges will not be asked to return.  At least he spared us by only exposing us to the Curly years.  Gavin was hear to say a minimum of a dozen times that the show was not appropriate, but that did not stop Grampa Paul.  Finally he did relent and let the boys watch Bolt.  

Uncle Chris didn't come because he had spent enough time with us earlier this week.  The general consensus is that it would have been more fun if he had been here.  

Spring Planting

It is the day before Easter and as such it is a wonderful time to think about new life.  New life around our house often times means new plant life.  Each planting season is a new experiment for Jonathan who installed some drip irrigation which is supposed to cut down on wasting water as well as the number of weeds that will grow.  A few hours after planting he also realized that the squirrels might be a problem if the decide to chew through our new irrigation system.  Argggh!  Pesky squirrels...

Here are some pictures of Jonathan and Gavin using the push planter to help plant the seeds.  This neat little contraption made the work go a lot faster and neater than in the past (also Gavin came back much less dirty).

They planted corn, green beans, white acre peas, cucumber, snap peas, okra, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe and probably some other things.

I was inside trying to clean the house and Nathan was out with Grampa B hunting some sweet potato slips since we couldn't seem to find them in any of the farm stores.  Anyway aren't my farm boys cute!

Spring Break Camping Trip at Chick-Fil-A

For part of our Spring Break we camped out in a Chick-Fil-A Parking lot for a grand opening of one of their stores down in the Fort Myers area.  As one of the first 100 customers you get coupons for free meals for a year.  We had no idea what we were in for, but it was crazy fun.  Uncle Chris was our experienced Chick-Fil-A camper so he showed us how it was done.  Many of these families have been to tons of camp outs.  There were lots of homeschool families there as well as people who were a little cooky, but it was still interesting.

Here is a picture of Gavin roaming around in tent city.  People are camped out all around Chick-Fil-A waiting for it to open.  They fed us and had tons of games and whatnot... we just were not allowed to leave.

Nathan and Gavin are watching the hoola-hoop contest.  We got there at about 3:30 a.m. and the kids never went to sleep for naps (even though I really wanted one).  As the night wore on you could tell Nathan was getting tired because every contest lost was a devastation.  Still he just did not have the dancing/singing/hooping skills to win anything.

Here is Uncle Chris relaxing outside of our tent playing video games.   He is trying to enjoy the shade.  Nathan of course is just praying that Uncle Chris will say that he can play with the DS... good luck!

Gavin doesn't know how to use a hoola-hoop, but he spent copious amounts of time trying to learn.  His biggest obstacle to overcome involved keeping his arms up, instead of accidentally hitting the hoop.

It isn't the best picture, but when night fell a DJ came out and there was dancing as well as karaoke.  This picture is of Nathan trying to win the Macarena Contest!  

Really the entire event was so much fun.  Families danced and played until about midnight when we ended the evening with ice cream sundaes and Truett Cathy Jr. talking to us about the company.  It was a lovely event and if anyone ever has the time I would say it was worth it.  The only problem I had was the fact that I have a major caffeine addiction, and once I was there I couldn't leave so by the end of my time there my head felt like it was going to break in half. 

Tractor Show With Grampa B

Grampa B picked up Gavin today to take him to the Antique Tractor Show at Stephen Foster today.  I am not sure what is going on in these pictures except for the fact that there are lots of tractors involved.

Jonathan always talks about having one of these little pedal tractors when he was little.  Often times the kids have races at tractor shows like this one with the pedal tractors although I don't think Gavin did one.  

Gavin getting pulled around in a train.  Fun, fun, fun!

Nathan's First Soccer Game

These are some pictures of Nathan's first soccer game.  He didn't start the team in the fall like most kids so he didn't have all of his uniform yet.  

Here is a picture of Gavin chilling out while we watch the game.  Very relaxed.  He really wanted to be playing too, but he will have to wait until Kindergarten starts before he can start playing.  I have to say I had a lot of fun at the game even though the kids hadn't had a lot of time to practice yet.  I guess I can officially be called a soccer mom now.  

Nathan getting water after a quarter break.

By this point in the game I think Nathan has been put in the position of goalie.  He looks so thoughtful doesn't he?

He is still the goalie.  His play can only be described as intense.  

Meanwhile Back in Gainesville...

While Gavin and I were at Sea World, Nathan was collecting food for local food pantries with Cub Scouts.  He was supposed to have his first soccer game ever, but he missed it (which was good for me because then I didn't miss his first game ever).  Instead he got to go on a canoe trip with daddy and Grampa B.  Every once in a while when the weather is nice Jonathan will suggest that we try to canoe to the springs, because that is where I like to go.  The problem is that we never actually get to any springs.  Nathan says that they were trying to go to the springs again last week (probably so daddy wouldn't have to face my wrath again on the next trip in which we never actually make it to any springs) and did not make it.  Here are some of the pictures.  Jonathan and Nathan wading in the water.

Some beautiful Florida scenery.

Nathan likes to try and keep a bone collection (as well as any other type of collection that will junk up his room and gross out his mom), this alligator tailbone will be a lovely addition if he can keep track of it long enough to get it home.

Grampa B trying out the water.  I bet it is cold!

Nathan working hard while his dad loads up the canoe.  He still has the gator tail, but a week later I have yet to see it around the house.  I wonder what happened to it...  

Sea World

This year a lot of the fourth and fifth grade students from my school were paired up with college students from the University of Florida through Project MASCOT.  The university students worked hard with and for our students and the year culminated with a trip to Sea World that our students got to attend completely free.  We needed chaperones from the school so I was allowed to go and take Gavin with me.  Unfortunately Nathan has Cub Scout obligations so he wasn't able to come too.

Here is a picture of our attempt to feed the dolphins at Sea World.  Gavin kept getting scared that they would bite him so he never actually got to touch the dolphins, he just threw fish at them.

Gavin loves to show off his muscles and will often times to random exercises trying to become strong.  For some reason he thought it would be a neat idea to get a picture of his muscles while we were at the underwater dolphin viewing area.  I agree.  It was a good idea.

Here we are looking at the penguin and puffin exhibit.  For some reason I remember coming into this room and having it be refreshingly cool.  Not this trip... either way who doesn't love to watch penguins?

Here is the tank where we got to look at the smaller sharks and related animals after going through the big tunnel with the dangerous fish.  I was proud that Gavin recognized the barracuda before I did, but also saddened when I realized it was only because he knows them from "Finding Nemo."

We stopped by to see the Clydesdale horses that Sea World has.  They were really big and true to theme park tradition we could have paid a lot of money to touch them, but we didn't.  Thankfully Gavin was more interested in getting something to drink by this time (as was I).

Our entire group was supposed to meet up for the 3:30 showing of Shamu's Believe show.  I have to admit that being a mom has made me crazy because watching Gavin get so excited over the cheesy show did make me tear up.  This was his favorite part.  Afterwards when we left he asked me to get him the shirt and pants that were stuck together for his birthday.  I informed him that it was called a wetsuit.  He has changed his favorite colors from blue and green to black and white, and he wants to surf on Shamu as his job when he gets older.  Wonderful!  It was a good, hot, long day.