Beauties of Florida

We had a special treat last week to go to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary! It is an Audubon center here in Naples and we've heard lots of good reviews about it. I didn't think we would visit Corkscrew because it is pricey and because there are lots of other nice spots to enjoy "nature" without an admission fee.
We were really lucky however to be invited to go with a friend. Her membership pass has benefits for family AND friends!

It was such a refreshing and delightful morning! I guess my usual weekly excursions to the grocery store, the library and the park with three kids don't leave such a nice impression.
I worried about the walk at the sanctuary being too hot, but the shade and breeze were perfect. And the kids were mostly well behaved, even after a terrible sleepless night for Tessa.




The cypress forest was one of my favorite parts of the swamp. None of my pictures showed the base of the trees very well. There is a large one in the left of the photo above. The bald cypress have a grand fluted base and then some funny "knees" that poke up in the dirt around the tree. The knees are pretty tall 1-2 feet sometimes. To me they seemed like something from another world or from a fantasy movie. It just shows that I'm definitely more from the dessert region than the swamp.


This photo has an alligator lounging right in the middle. We also saw a mother alligator sitting in front of her nest of 20-30 babies.


There were so many birds! We watched this one wait and then quickly dip his beak into the water under the leaves -fishing for lunch.


Things grow everywhere in this climate. The trees had other plants growing from their bark and branches.


This is one of my favorite things that Stacy showed us -called bubble gum lichen. The brightly colored spots on the wood are usually green but in this picture right in the middle you can see a pink one. I don't think it is bubblicious!


This is the slash pine. All the needles are at the top. The bark is really high in Vitamin C and was used by the native Seminole Indians.


Really, my photos don't do it justice, but I had to post. Stacy, our host, was so energetic about the nature walk. She had lots of tidbits and comments that got the kids interested and involved. Her excitement was contagious.
Honestly, before our trip I wasn't completely sold on the "beauty of Florida". As a family, we have walked around the Everglades and the boardwalks of many parks. The wildlife and landscape is all facinating but I never described it as "beautiful". I am grateful Stacy shared her appreciation and so glad to have had these last glimpses before we leave.

The happy bunch (sheepish smiles and all)

Key Largo

Our last family camp-out was last year on Jared's birthday last March. --So far it seems to be a once a year event for us.
This year we planned to fulfill two goals at once by visiting the Keys and having the camping trip too.
Key Largo is three hours from home. Key West is another three hours further. We chose a campsite at Pennekamp State Park in the first Key, Key Largo.
We were pushing the end of Florida camping season a bit by going in the middle of April. Our wet towels and suits hung up to dry all night and still weren't dry in the morning. The days were hot! Thank goodness we spent most of the time at the beach! There were lots of tourists. We enjoyed talking with some friendly people, and especially one girl from Germany who joined us for our haphazard campsite dinner.
It was a great moment when the kids finally fell asleep in the tent. The rain fly was off so we could keep cool and there were no bugs! We came home with a few slight sunburns and LOTS of bug bites from sand flies. (We are still recovering from that.)
p.s. I never posted about Jared's birthday at the end of March. It was the big 30. We did celebrate although not as much as last year ironically. It seems lately that I been caught up in lots of little things and not have been not as good at the big things.

Here's our group. The campsite didn't have a firepit, so the kids made one!



Tessa took a nap on the beach while the boys played.
I got to relax for a few hours! It felt like a vacation!


We tried to learn about the Keys and absorb some the atmosphere while we were there.
We sometimes forget what a paradise we live in right now, although our minds are definitely on the "good-bye's and last chances".

The water was very clear and perfect for seeing the underwater life. Michael spent literally hours at a time snorkeling.

One beach had some authentic cannons and shipwreck pieces from a1716 Spanish fleet underwater. There were also lots of big and little fish, crabs, and a lobster.



We were grateful to come back to all the conveniences of home after our adventure.
We'll see where next year's camp-out will take us!

American Red Cross Swimming

Michael just finished a swimming class at our local pool.
His teachers challenged him to swim in the 15 ft. deep pool, jump off the diving board, and dive from the side of the pool. On the last day his treat was to go down the 200 foot slide.
Swimming is one of his favorite activities and he had a great time!

Trouble

Tessa emptied the cornstarch baby powder and bucket of diapers....

This is the age for messes and a strong will.
At least this time around we have a better perspective that "this too shall pass" --and hopefully it will sooner than later.

Homeschool and Field Trips

It is a bit of a challenge for me to write a post on our homeschool experiences.
Perhaps because it is much like the rest of my efforts as a mom. We have good days and bad days. There is always more I could do and always more than I am capable of. But I know it is the best path for our family and I'm very grateful to be able to do it.
I have enjoyed having school at home. I have become a learner again, finding more wonder and excitement in little moments. I felt more invested in my children.
Several families have inspired and guided us as we started our journey this year. The strengths of others truly lift us.

Here are some of the things we have taken photos of..

Searching for shells


Ranger Rick shows a gopher tortoise guarding her den.


Jordan's banana was really cute. (That kid has so many fun ideas!)


We went with a few other families to a local animal preserve.
The animals were incredible and the guide had lots of good information.
The area was set up much like a farm, in a remote residential area.
Ever since that visit (and with some influence from our Little House on the Prairie reading) Michael says he wants to have animals to take care of and he wants to "be a farmer."
He made a chart about what all the different animals eat and wore his cowboy boots and overalls every day for a week. He is an avid learner in whatever strikes his interest.

Amy, do you recognize the animal in the top right? It is the largest rodent in the world from Patagonia.


This is Jack the billygoat. Jill was his companion. The names of all the animals were so fun!



Tessa cracks me up in this picture. She is in the middle of everything....

Cute People

The neighborhood was together a few weeks ago for a birthday party and I took a few photos. We are really lucky to have so many wonderful neighbors! The boys love to have friends all around when we go out to play and I enjoy gleaning ideas from other moms.

Running through the sprinklers at Mariela's party


This is kind of a goofy picture.. but everyone was standing still watching the pinata festivities and I could get most of the group together.


cake and ice cream --pretty cute kids!

St. Patricks Day!

St. Patrick's Day can be a really fun holiday to celebrate.
This year we learned a little about the history of the holiday. Basically that St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland around 400 A.D..
Mainly though, I think March 17th is a day to enjoy Irish culture, and music is one of the best parts of Irish tradition. Earlier in the year I heard a law school friend, Jenilyn, play some Irish fiddle music and the idea was sparked to have a concert/night-of-music or "jam session" as she calls it.
It was one of the funnest nights I've had in a long time! The kids grabbed toy instruments and the adults dusted off real ones. There was a storm of music in our little apartment. Jenilyn brought some really fun music for us to sing and play. She fiddled so hard that she had to sit down and wait for her (third trimester) uterine contractions to subside.


We tried some tasty bread, cabbage, potatoes, and corned beef. Then Jenilyn shared her own (green) mint ice cream birthday cake. mmm... It would be great to make this a tradition!
Thanks Jenilyn!

BSA

Last month Jared took us along to help with a scout Eagle project. The young man was building habitats for animals in a sanctuary on the outskirts of our city. We ended up helping assemble a hammock for a fox. It was made out of a retired fire hose. The boys got to handle drills and power screwdrivers. And they learned what nuts, bolts and washers are... :) They especially loved seeing the scouts in uniforms. Michael reads the Scout Handbook every day lately and tells everyone that he will be a scout in the fall!

We love the beach!

In February after Renee left we decided to try to hit the beach more often. The reasoning went something like this.
Our days in Florida are numbered and we need to appreciate what we have got before it's gone!
Also it seems that when the rest of the world is groaning over the last months of winter, we especially appreciate our clear warm days.
It has been a wonderful "winter" full of running out the door in flip-flops and shorts to take a walk or bike ride around the block or to the park.
Only now the highs are climbing into the high 80's (with the humidity) and I remember that Florida isn't perpetually comfortable.


Friends at the beach made a "habitat" by collecting pieces of the beach and adding them to a big Sterilite storage container.


I have really enjoyed going to the beach with other moms and the kids' friends. (Jared isn't always as free as we would like him to be...)