I can’t believe my son is 8.  It feels like he was only born yesterday.

This year’s birthday was all about Lego Ninjago.  He asked to put little mini figures on his cake (key lime pie).

Looking so grown up. He saved his Lego Star Wars shirt all week so he could wear it today, on his 8th birthday!

We love you, bud!

This was the first time we have taken art outside the home. They loved it and did well. This fall the art center is offering a Homeschool class that we plan to take. They are really looking forward to it. Indie took a fine arts class and Beluga took an art adventure class where they used a lot of different medias…. Here are some of the pieces they produced in the eight weeks of class.

We love the iPhone4.  We just got back from a 10 day vacation in Michigan and it would not have been the same without them!  My Canon Powershot SD800 died about 4 weeks ago after taking 10,000 photos, and my husband left his Powershot next to the charger as we left for the airport at 5:30 am.  I had my Nikon D-80 and lenses but it just not as easy to carry around as our trusty Powershots! We resorted to our iPhone for cameras for photos and videos most of the time and were quiet pleased. The video is great as well! Here are some photos from the trip.

We were in Michigan for the 4th this year.  We loved the cooler weather, I think 82 was as hottest it reached and many mornings were in the 60s.  It was prefect! Much better than the mid, to high 90s with 60% plus humidity.  My Aunt and Uncles house is right on the lake so fun was happening all the time in the water.  We didn’t go out much all week.  As much time as possible was spend in the back yard, and in the lake.  It truly was a relaxing week for all!

For Mother’s Day, it was actually suppose to be for my birthday at the end of March but, this was the first opening there was. Anyway, we went camping in Long Key State Park. Long Key is in the Middle Keys, about 1/2 way between the top and Key West. What a great time we had. Now that I think about it, I’d better get to booking our trip for next year!

The view from this little restaurant called Lazy Days

Just a few feet off shore from our camp site... low tide

Time to eat after snorkeling, everyone is hungry and ready for some dinner.

The next morning Indie was the last one up. Believe me, the tent was not as comfortable as it looks. Next time we have to bring our air mattresses.

This was on the way home... now you see her....

Now you don't.

Very cool to be snorkeling with the the kids.

Florida Spiny Lobster

Me. This was actually my first time snorkeling. I might have done it briefly as a kid in a pool someplace but, that doesn't count.

Time for S'mores

Furthest point south in the Continental U.S. - Key West, FL.

Sunrise

Did you know there are legless lizards?  We ran into one living in our yard.  I was walking and was startled when I looked down to find what I first thought was a huge (4 inch) caterpillar.  I took another step only to see if back down into it’s hole.  I ran to get then kids and we waited and kept watching. We were soon convinced that it was a snake. We thought it was probably a juvenile black racer. After some research we found that this is most differently a lizard.  It is classified as such because it has ear holes as well as eyelids.  Interesting, huh!  I love impromptu science lessons! This was just feet from where we had living vs. non-living science experiment.

Today we went to a local wildlife sanctuary to count birds for the Great American Backyard Bird Count. Wow, this was so much more difficult than I would have thought. The place where we went was a 1/2 mile plus board walk over water. We were with a group that was also counting birds. We thought it would be pretty easy but, I guess I didn’t think the plan completely through. We had counted birds a couple days here at the house before we went out to the sanctuary and this was easy because we just sat in one place. This is a better idea. Out there in a huge bird sanctuary, the birds are moving around a lot more, nesting, and all sorts of stuff. We were moving, the birds were moving, it was quiet confusing. We wanted to be useful scientists but this proved very difficult! We did the best we could and if we had any question at all about the type of bird or if we might be counting the same bird twice we simply didn’t count that bird. This is also what it said to do on the GBBC’s website. I think, over all, we did a pretty good job. I hope to do it again next year as well. Next time I plan to stay in one place and let the birds come to me each time I count. Here are some of the birds we spotted on our adventure.

Anhinga nest - Mama and babies

Great Blue Heron on nest

Ducks

Not a bird but still photo worthy, don't ya think?

Not sure if this is the male or female coming back to the nest with nest fixings

Anhinga (snake bird) in the water

My spotters

Anhinga nest - Mama and babies

Pie Billed Grebe

Tri-Colored Heron

Red-Headed Wood Pecker