DuDad, Gators, and Fish!

DuDad has been spending a few days with us and Friday while Brian worked the boys and I took DuDad on a little area adventure. The local trip started off at Blowing Rocks Preserve, and though we missed high tide, it was still beautiful and breathtaking seeing the power of the ocean!  

After our quick stop at the beach, we headed to Jonathan Dickinson State Park where we took a tour boat ride along the Loxahatcee River and searched the banks for wildlife - specifically alligators! We weren't disappointed and saw some giant osprey nests, big 'ol fat turtles, and about six gators, whoohoo!

Our trip to the park was fun, but exhausting! We came home to nap and replenish our energy reserves before heading to our little pier and go fishing - a given any time DuDad visits!

Jace is actually becoming quite the fisherman. I wish he has this much patience with his reading homework!!

Success!

Samuel also got in on the fun - when he wasn't running around and giving us heart attacks!

And FINALLY Samuel caught his VERY FIRST FISH!! With a little bit of help from DuDad :)

Of course, when Brian wasn't baiting the hooks he caught a fish too!

Right at sunset DuDad hooked a keeper!

Dinner!

 

 The fishing didn't stop at sunset, just the photos :) The bigger boys are off again today to do some off shore fishing, while Samuel and I are hanging out and catching up on some play time. Hopefully we can update later with a picture of Jace and a 6-foot sailfish!!!!

All's Fair and Flirting

The South Florida State Fair has been in town for a couple weeks now and yesterday was our last opportunity to all go as a family, so we picked up the Jace-bug from school and headed right over. It was a blast! 

We had to check out the rides first of course, and my boys sure are little wild things! We did some of the tame rides, not because they wanted to, but because our little shrimpy is JUST BARELY tall enough to ride them. But we hit jackpot with a couple that he could go on - and let me just say that I wouldn't go on them (oh yeah, I didn't)!

After some rides, we headed over to check out some of the traditional "Fair" things, like the chickens, rabbits and cows of course. The Mooternity was all abuzz with a momma cow preparing to have a calf. Now, let me just say that when a Momma gives birth that LAST thing she wants is a bunch of people standing around watching you huff and puff and grunt while all kinds of less-than-flattering-things happen to you, and I think that cows sort of feel the same way. 

We left the rest of the gawkers, but not before Jace requests (over and over) to stay and watch and question why we can't. I told him that it was too gross for them. What else could I say?!?! I was soooo not ready to have to answer birthing questions.

Next we went over to see the baby calves and happened across a very small, very pretty gray calf. As we were looking at her this incredibly beautiful little girl with pink rain boots and a sparkly smile comes hopping over to tell us that this is her calf and her name is Isabelle (too cute). So, in typical Jace style, he strikes up a lengthy convo with her that eventually leads to, "So, we're heading over to the rides now - I'll see you over there?" I think he may have even winked. The kid is such a lovable little flirt. 

We did head back to the rides and did the traditional Hannum Ferris Wheel Ride which I basically close my eyes and try not to breath as we are swung 150-feet in the sky by a machine that I'm not entirely sure has had the proper preventative maintenance performed and run by part-timers. Yep, I'm not too fond of heights. Based on Jace's expression, I don't think he is either!

Samuel on the other hand...

But we survived! Oh, and we took this picture several times and Samuel wouldn't cooperate any of them so that's why you don't see him :)

 We finished up the Fair with easily one of the best parts of going - the food! - and was treated to yummy corn dogs and fried ribbon potatoes. Oh, and funnel cake or course! 

Bittersweet

Yesterday on my way home from dropping the kiddo off at school, I pull into our neighborhood and see a strange dog - we are sort of isolated from other neighborhoods here so we weren't sure where she came from. After knocking on doors and talking to housing we confirmed that she was lost. A couple people had already called animal control to come pick her up, so I told them she could just hang out at my house until then and play with my Logan. She was a sweeeeet dog and her and Logan wrestled and played for a solid hour. I had to text Brian and tell him that Logan was acting like a hormonal teenage boy, haha! Of course, the honeymoon ended when Logan's muscles and joints started aching and he's sorely limping around today, poor dog! 

Anyway, no one ever came from animal control and she ended up staying last night. Of course both boys and I fell in love with her. And then at 10 pm I went to get something out of the car and out the door she went! I couldn't catch her as she bolted up the street, so I just left the back gate open and hoped she would be okay. She was at the back door barking at 5 am! 


She is a very well-groomed and obviously taken care of pet, so after dropping off the boys I took to a local vet and they were able to find a microchip and called her owner. Yep, I balled like a baby saying goodbye to her, and I'm NOT looking forward to telling Jace when I pick him up from school that she went home - I'm preparing for a monsoon. 


Come to find out, her name is Maui. 

Wheels and Walks

There has been much activity across the street these past few months, but the workers are now gone and they've left behind a very nice little path that leads to a beautiful little deck overlooking the Intercoastal waterway.  We took the boys on a walk a couple days ago to ride their new toys - a scooter for Jace and skates for Samuel.

Go Jace!

Not sure about this...

Oh wow, a hole, let's put a stick in there and see if anything lives in it! (Thankfully, no little critters were home at the time!)

And an artistic bug bit me...

That's a wrap!

I'm so HOT...

...that I set off the smoke alarm THREE times (in the past couple weeks) after getting out of the shower (tonight included).

Sure wish the darn thing could tell the difference between steam and smoke!

God's Perfect Art

I really do enjoy the time that I get to spend with the boys while driving Jace to and from school. Some mornings/afternoons we listen to music or sing on the drive, but most times Jace is entertaining us (me) with cute, funny, serious, charming, or spiritually uplifting little tidbits and stories.

There have been two really precious things Jace has said that I've been wanting to share, so its time to get them "on paper" so to speak before they leave this forgetful brain of mine.

The Wife ~

One morning out of the blue (its almost always out of the blue) Jace starts talking about growing up and how he wanted to stay with us when he was older - he said he would miss us too much when he went off to college so he would just keep living with us. Ha, we'll see how he feels once he hits the teenage years, but I digress!

So, after explaining that as we reach a certain age its okay for us to move out and away from home he says,

J: "I'll have to move out because I'll get married and have a wife?"
M: "Yep, or when you go to college you might move out."
J: "How do we know who we're going to get married to? Do you think God knows?"
M: "I do think God knows - he knows right now who you're going to marry."
J: "Yep, I think so too because God already told me what her name is. It's Amanda."
M: "Well, okay. Do you know any Amandas?"
J: "Nope."

Well, it seems that one day we all might know an Amanda!

God's Perfect Art ~

(Driving home with all of us in the car - talking about nothing in particular...)
J: "So Dad, do you know what's the greatest art in the world?"
D: "You mean, where is the greatest art?"
J: "No, WHAT he greatest art is?"
D: (confused) "I'm not sure - what is it?"
(This is too precious - and way beyond his years) J: "Humans are the greatest art, because God made us so we are His art. And we are perfect because God makes things perfect."

What a whole lot of wisdom wrapped up in that little perfect piece of artwork :)

Christmas Party

Yesterday was the station Christmas party and it was as wonderful as the guy who set it up, known to me as Mr. Hannum, but to the station as BM1 Hannum or the morale officer ;)

It took a lot of planning and an unbelievable amount of work on his part, including a gazillion phone calls, meetings, setting up everything, taking down everything, and finally tonight getting everything clean and back to original homes (well, he did have some help in the set up / break down / cleaning part)! This year's party was held at housing under the banyan tree on the just-finished deck - and it was breathtakingly beautiful with the uplights highlighting the tree and the flickering candles on the tables.

I am so proud of the incredible job Mr. H did! About 60 people came, the food was hot and yummy, the dj was really good, and the party lasted past midnight - not too shabby but we were pretty exhausted today! Mr. H did get himself a Coast Guard tervis coffee mug during the white elephant which he really wanted and is super happy about it - but the best part of the eveing was when he finally was able to enjoy himself and dance with his wifey ;)

Here's a shot of the deck just before it started...

...and the centerpieces we had to do on the cheeeaaap haha!

Merry Christmas!

I've got some catching up to do...

Yes, I realize that I've been hoarding photos and fun and wonderful moments, and I will get to them... eventually ;) But for now, let me share some photos from our family adventure yesterday.

Blowing Rocks Preserve is a beautiful and amazing place right on the beach. There are rocks at the edge of the surf line and as the waves hit the rocks it blows the water straight up. It is soooo cooool! And the coolest thing is that it is only about 2 miles from our home. Cool.

So, here we go!

"Oh cool, let's check this out..."

"Wow, a hole in the rock."

"Wait for it... wait for it..."

"Watersposion!"

Some more watersposions!

Don't get sucked out to sea!! (Just kidding Nonie - we were keeping a very close eye on them :)

VERY Cool.

And yes, they got soaked and sandy! Since we got the new car (oh yeah - for those of you who didn't know, we got a brand new car!) we weren't about to let them get in, so they walked home!

Jeez - just kidding! But we did make them both strip down to their undies before getting in - hehe! It was a wonderful time and we can not wait to go back, but better prepared next time of course!



Today's Funnies

It seems we are back in the normal swing of things. Wake up. Rush about. Drive to school. Home. Play and hang out - sometimes nap. Pick up Jace. Have funny conversations. Do homework. Play outside. Get filthy playing outside. Take baths. Eat dinner. Watch Challenge. Go to bed. Go to bed, again. Go to bed AGAIN - threats issued. Nine hours later, repeat.

Tonight when Jace went to bed (after stalling for 30 minutes) Samuel (who went to bed 45 minutes earlier, but OBVIOUSLY did not go to sleep) started screaming. It actually sounded serious so I went in to check and he was pointing to the floor between the wall and his bed, where one of his trucks had fallen. The silly thing goes to sleep, not with soft stuffed animals, but with hard metal trucks. Got the truck and tucked him in and everything was all dandy. 

So I went to tuck Jace in and was informed that...  "Mom, I am a grown boy now, not a little boy. I am going to sleep like a grown boy now, so you don't have to tuck me in anymore."

:(

Jace and I did have a rather funny moment earlier today on the way home. I was telling him that Aunt Katie was in the hospital today to have the baby, and Jace asked if Virginia had been born yet. I told him no, but that she was all ready to be born - and was trying to figure out how to explain labor to a 6-year-old and started off, "Virginia is all ready to be born, we're just waiting for Aunt Katie to..." 

Jace: "Burst?"

And "Burst" she did!! Miss Virginia Olivia Collins was born this afternoon - still waiting on the specifics, but we are super happy for Katie and Michael! Can't wait to get up there to meet her :)

Little tidbits.

So, nothing earth-shattering happing around here lately, though one big thing was my brother Bill from England and his mom Sheila (also from England) came to visit – and it was GREAT to see them both . They really came over to see Reef, but I totally took advantage of the fact that we live an hour from Dave, Sunami and Reef and monopolized a couple nights in their visit :) The most awful thing about the visit was that I (shhhhh) didn’t take any photos of all of us! What is WRONG with me?!?! So, I’m going to have to stalk Dave and Sunami for some.

Hey Dave! Hey Sunami! Do you mind sending over that big family photo from last week, please?!

School is going well for Jace and he turned in his first major project last week. He had to do an All-About-Me poster and decided to do a “tour” of where we live. So we walked around and took some photos of Jace as the guide – it was pretty cute, and we got some great shots. Of course Jace had to show off the playground...

...and the lighthouse... okay, well I took this one the evening before, but still wanted to share it!

...and here are my little models loving on each other. Don't they belong in a "world's cutest"?!

One shot I got of Jace reminded me of a picture I took when we first moved back in April. Check out the before and after of the yard!

Before:

After:

Look at all that green grass!!!!! And the silly goofball!

Brian has really done a TON of work and the yard has been looking awesome – I love that man :) Now to get the back yard in shape…

And I'll end with a cute, quick story… the other day the boys and I were headed to the store and in the parking lot there were two ducks that looked like they were arguing the way they were “quack! QUACKing!” at each other – it was pretty funny actually. I pointed them out to the boys and commented that they looked like they were fighting, and my little smartypants tells me, “Well, yes they’re fighting. The boy ducks fight, and then the winner gets the laaadies.” Sweet and simple.

Okay, off to enjoy the day – enjoy yours!

Latest Sewing Project

One of the little girls in the neighborhood is having a B-day bash Sunday and I ran out to get her a gift from the boys and found this ultra-cute little baking set. I was feeling rather proud of myself until I realized that I have TWO boys and sure enough either the boys or the little girl would realize that she only had ONE present from TWO boys... no problem, I would just get her an apron!

Only problem was - well two problems - I couldn't find any little girl aprons, and they are super expensive and I have this rule about not spending a certain amount of $ on birthday presents (good grief, there are 13 kids on this block and potentially that many parties!)

Well, I had an "I can" moment and decided that I would just sew up an apron. Not to mention that my dad built me this I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. work desk and I could break it in! I thought the apron came out okay - and the desk was a fantastic space to work on :)

All folded up - the brown swatch makes a sweet little pocket and the brown/pink/lime green colors are a fun and spunky combination.

A nice big bow in the back!

The front.

And a big Thanks to my little model, who loved the apron so much that I may have to make him a "tool-belt" apron soon!

Back in the swing of things

We are slowly getting back into a routine after our adventurous and family-separated summer! The boys had a fantastic time at Nonie and DuDad’s in Alabama, going swimming at the pool and lake, bowling, and visiting the oodles of family there. Then last week, Nana and Papa drove in from Missouri, scooped them up and brought them home to us. The first sight of them was with sun-bleached hair and dark-tanned, skinny little bodies.

A couple days after the boys arrived home, SCHOOL STARTED! Jace is in Mrs. Heers 1st Grade class this year and so far loving it.

One of the best things about school starting is the drive in and the quality time we get to spend with Jace… and the wonderful things he comes up with! Take for instance, this very morning’s conversation…

It started off with Jace asking me what the Civil War was. Now, this question came out of left field and I nearly choked on the sip of coffee as we were flying down the interstate, but I thought I could handle the question. I explained, as simply and with minimal details as possible, that one group of people felt one way, while another group felt a different way, and they ended up fighting over it. He seemed satisfied with my explanation and we chatted some more about other wars, and the fact that there have been many since the beginning of time – we even read about them in the bible. I decided to take this opportunity and do some creative teaching and asked Jace what might be a better way to settle differences (rather than fighting).

“Well Mom, I think the different groups of people should have a game to decide who wins the war. Like the world’s biggest and trickiest game of bowling - whoever wins the game wins the war!”

Ahh, the innocence and intelligence of a 6 (almost 7!)-year-old. Too bad we don’t all have that mentality, the world would be a nicer place and bowling alleys would get a lot more business.

A Lot Going On

To try to catch you up on the past month would require a significant amount of time on both our parts, so I'll give you the bulleted version!

Jace has lost all his front baby teeth and is adorable :)

Samuel is learning new words all the time, especially words like, "cookie" and "water."

Both boys took swimming lessons and both have done amazing - Jace is swimming so much better and Samuel can jump off the edge and swim back to the side.

We've had some visitors since school ended, Nonie and DuDad came to visit as well as Ben, Meghan, and their giant kids - who we kept for a week while they enjoyed the wilds of Disney. Logan had a blast with these new friends, Boone and Brylee, although many of the boys' toys didn't survive! Perhaps one day I'll share the story of the great toy massacre... but not today.

Today is a sad day for me. At this moment I should be packing up Jace and Samuel's clothes, but I keep procrastinating. With the mess of the oil spill in the Gulf, I have been recalled back to active duty working in Miami (about 2 hours away), and Brian is on a list of potential people to be sent to assist in the response efforts. So, Logan is going to hang out with the neighbors and the boys are going to spend the remaining 6 weeks of summer with their grandparents. We're meeting Nonie and DuDad tonight on the road and I'm driving back to Miami and work tomorrow.

I know the boys are going to have a BLAST since they are already enrolled in a summer program that goes on field trips - not to mention Samuel will finally have someone his age to play with! But as I've never been apart from my kids longer than a couple weeks (and that was excruciating), I'm a little blue :(

So, I'll leave you with some photos from a couple weekends ago. Bubbles make everything better don't you think?

Jace uses the karate chop approach to catching bubbles.

Samuel gets up close and personal.

 And I love my family and home :)

Lighthouse Life Snapshot

At this moment Brian is lounging on the couch catching up on the news and our little Samuel just came in from the backyard - where he has been for the past 45 minutes driving the gator around in circles in a sunshower. So Samuel, who is wet, sandy, and just overall a yucky, grubby little boy right now, just climbs up on the couch in Brian's arms and rubbed his dirty little body all over Brian :) Though he protested at first, Brian is still snuggling with his littlist man - now that is Daddy love!

I wanted to share some pictures from the past few weeks.

We met the neighbors and they are very interesting, but look a little weird...

and this guy is just plain hard to figure out.

Jace has also become friends with some of the neighborhood kids who - I've got to mention this - are all GIRLS! I'm thinking that Jace was the only boy born in 2003... The fact that they are girls doesn't seem to faze him, here is Jace bombing some of them with water balloons.

Yeah, I'm praying for the next family moving in to have a 6-year-old BOY. PLEASE!?!

When the water isn't flying you can find us at MY favorite neighborhood spot, the big tree - and I am in LOVE with this amazing piece of God's artwork.

On a separate note, we had our first couple visitors! My mom and dad came to visit and help with the kids while I did some drills (THANK YOU Mom and Dad!) and while they were here they got to meet the newest grandchild (Dave and Suignette's little one) Reef Henry Johnson. It was love at first sight :)

I think he's winking at me - such a charmer!

Appropriately, we got to meet the little man on his mama's very first Mother's Day and had a fine barbeque and visit with the whole family. Speaking of... here's one of me and my two little princes from that morning.

Ummm, please excuse the dishevled look, I just woke up...

So there's a snapshot into our lighthouse life. We are happy and Blessed :) Oh, and Samuel briefly returned to the gator, but decided that pinching his sleeping daddy's nose was more fun... I love my family!

Lovin' the Lighthouse Life

It's been a crazy last few weeks! It took about two weeks, but we were able to get all our STUFF successfully moved from our old apartment to the new FABULOUS new location at the base of the lighthouse.

Living here has reminded over and over how amazing our Lord is. When we first moved to the area last year we were convinced we needed to buy a home. Our "needs list" included 4 bedrooms, a yard, trees, garage (or carport) and after months of searching and three failed offers we realized that the Lord was trying to tell us that our "needs" were not His desire. We settled for an apartment (well, two actually) and found an AMAZNG school for Jace while Brian found out how great it is to work at an remarkable unit. But we were not happy.

When Brian's Chief asked him last March if we wanted to move to housing, I immediately said, "NO!" Why would we want to move AGAIN and have to drive sooooo far to take Jace to school? It took a few days of the Lord working on my heart - and listening to similar stories of others - but we decided to make the move, and have felt such piece and joy in our decision. Even the process of getting out of our lease was a breeze. Oh, and our home? Four bedrooms, a HUGE yard, amazing trees, carport, and because HE loves us, he placed us right next to the lighthouse, a symbol of strength, guidance, and support.

I believe the Lord is trying to remind our hearts that we have a purpose, His purpose, and that we are to be a light for others. You see, in the past year, our little family has somwhat forgotten that. We've pulled away from the Lord, stopped going to church, gotten selfish, and not been leading the life that God has asked us to. Moving here has reminded us of that, and reminded us of God's mercy. Here we've been like naughty children and disobeying our Father, and He has continued to love us, so much that he still provided us with what we wanted (not needed, but selfishly wanted). I recognize this, and though I am ashamed of how I've acted this past year, God's welcoming back embrace and pure Love has rekindled my faith and spiritual desire to serve Him. 

You know, I had this whole other subject that I was going to write about, but when I sat down and started typing this is what came out. And as I finished this up (and B has no idea what I doing over here) Brian looks over at me and says, "I'm so glad we moved here."

God is so good.