Day 1

Daddy long leg while camping at Torreya State Park

Canon, EOS 20d

100mm f2.8

Florida Caverns, Marianna, FL

Canon 20d

28-70mm f3.5

 

Our summer of fun

We started Nick in swim class this year. We have a fantastic facility only a few miles from our house, Brandon Swim and Aquatics Center. It is more than just the YMCA, more of a training center for Olympic athletes. They have several diving boards and a huge lap pool.

(Nick in his Level 1 class with only one other little boy)

They also have a little "training" pool for the smaller children. Nick started a few months ago in the level 1 class. He has swam since he was a baby but never gone through any kind of training before.

(Nick swimming at Lithia Springs after only a few days of lessons he was able to swim under water, for the most part)

He has done really great since the beginning. I am so glad we waited to do his classes as he is catching on very quickly and has no fear of the water. He has never been the most graceful child or extremely coordinated so we are happy to see a sport he may excel in (pending his upper body strength can increase).

(This is at Lithia Springs, the water is beautiful!)

Nick just finished his level 2 course. The class was scheduled 4 days a week for two weeks solid. I am amazed at how quickly the children can learn and really pick up the concept of swimming. By the end of this class Nick has learned how to float on his back, do arm strokes and really "look" like a swimmer. He is not quite ready to graduate yet but I have seen some real improvement. Starting next week he begins Level 2 for the second time, only this time it is only on Saturdays so it will last for a full 8 weeks, much better for the money as the course will last throughout the summer.

(Lithia Springs, if you look closely, you can see the crystal blue water in the back, this was before a lot of our rains and the water was Extremely low. After a few large rains, the springs were closed as they became a popular gator hang out. Once the water cleared up and cooled off a bit more the springs were opened again, they have to be able to see to the bottom in order to verify no gators are lurking below the surface, how exciting! You can see the storm clouds in this picture, it rains like clockwork every day at about 3:00 and is over usually within an hour.)

Since we don't have a pool he doesn't get a lot of chances to practice in a similar setting. We frequently will go to a local fresh water spring (Lithia Springs) that is similar to a pool but very different since there is no edge to swim to or chlorine to get in your eyes. At only a dollar a person we really enjoy it and so do the boys, even though the water is a cool 70 degrees year round. There are a good number of fish in the spring and it can be really fun to try to catch them or just snorkel and see what you can find.


We love the large number of places we can swim in Florida, we have a huge variety of natural springs, the beach in Tampa Bay, the beach in the Atlantic Ocean, swimming pools (yuck), and rivers. Not all rivers can be swam in, the one closest to us can no longer have swimming as the pollution levels are too high. It is really sad and is helping to push me into the conservation of our waterways. Most rivers in Tampa are too polluted to swim in but we pull our drinking water from them. It has a huge negative impact on the wildlife and eventually the public won't be able to ignore it any longer. We always bring garbage bags with us when kayaking and camping and try to do our part to clean up as much as possible.

(Alex is also learning how to swim. He isn't old enough for the class yet but I think he will catch on extremely fast, he is so athletic for such a young child!)

Update

A gator Nick and I saw while Kayaking the Hillsborough River!


Nick learning to swim (and my new waterproof camera)


Jeff and Alex kayaking.


Alex swimming at the beach.


Our first camping trip with our 1965 pop-up camper.

So we have been really busy lately. I can't believe I haven't posted since November of 2008! The boys are getting so big and really starting to come into their own little personalities. Alex is a real ham and loves to get attention and talk to people. Nick is a little reserved but loves to tell stories and read stories. Nick is in swimming class for the summer and is enjoying it for the most part. He loves to be there but hates to leave the house. I am working a lot of hours, both in the office and at home. It keeps me really busy but I have also been able to spend time with the kids while working and that is a real blessing. Jeff is still doing the same thing and working the same hours at Cracker Barrel and doing well there. We have been swimming a lot, kayaking, fishing, camping and just spending a lot of time doing free stuff. We are working on the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and highly recommend it to anyone. We have cut back on everything from food to entertainment and are really seeing a change with our finances. We can't wait to be debt free!

Well, we should be able to update more later. Have a good one.

Happy Halloween!

We have been incredibly busy lately. I have to do a post about a kayaking trip we took. But this one is about my little stinkers. They were so incredibly cute! a cute little card we had taken.

Aren't they just too cute! You should have seen the head turns we got with these two. The stripe looks like a mohawk so I just love it!

We went to the mall earlier in the morning with Bree and had a good time at the playground and then at the bookstore.
Later that night we headed over to a friend's house for some trick or treating. The boys were a little cranky but very excited.
This is a card we got when we went to picture people, sorry it is crooked.

Hello

Well, I didn't think it had been so long since I've posted but apparently, it has been a really long time! A lot has been going on and we have just been so busy with life in general that there hasn't been much time for anything else. So here are a few pictures. We have gone to W. Palm to visit Uncle Milton about every other month and it seems to really take a toll on everything. The boys are getting huge and have been working on the role of "alpha male", as in they never stop fighting. They fight over everything all of the time. The good news is they have started to play together but it is difficult if you aren't sitting right next to them. Alex has started to have just as vivid of an imagination as Nick. It is really funny to watch them try to wrestle both with and without Jeff. I have started to plant some flowers and plants in the front yard and the transformation has been incredible. We found some really nice nurseries in the area that are REALLY cheap, and if you know me, you know that is what I am all about. I found some trees in the back yard that we didn't cut down and had taken root, about 4 feet tall each, we moved those to the front and then also thinned out some other plants from the last few years. It has been a really big change and I am really enjoying it. This is the first time I have gardened so much since I lived with my parents. My mom's yard was always beautiful so I have something to strive towards. Although, I will admit, planting in Florida is like trying to make something grow on the beach, it might work for a little while but not for a long time, a lot more work for sure.

Bree and I on our first Kayaking trip, soooo much fun, and reallyl hard work too.

Nick at Lithia Springs, they have a ton of fish and the water is freezing (not a big deal when it is 95 degrees). The springs are completely natural and scattered all over the state, mostly in the north. A big contributor to the sinkhole problem we have in the state as well.

Alex at Lithia Springs, he loves it but his little white self can't handle the freezing water.

The boys loved this antique Willy's Jeep we drove by, the guy was nice enough to let them sit and stand by it. Almost completely restored and gorgeous, he was painting some grenades to go with it when we stopped by.

Our little man, Nick refused to stand in front of it, Alex loved it!








The zoo for Grandma's birthday.






The boys and I took a trip to MOSI (museum of science and industry) during Swaptember, when our zoo pass is good at MOSI and the aquarium. I think Alex (on the left) is catching up to Nick pretty fast, we get the twins question an awful lot now.



The boys both playing garbage men at the desk, they were so cute right before leaving!






Alex on our way home from Milton's house, what a comedian he is!



The boys with Grandma having dinner, we love matching outfits.



Nick at the zoo holding the friendliest lizard ever. He must be hand fed or something.



The boys eating pudding while I garden, they love helping Mommy (especially when food is involved)

Alex was scared to death of the fireworks while we were doing it but hasn't stopped asking to see them again since then.

Does cancer affect someone you know?

There is a great new web site that a friend of mine and a group of other cancer moms started - http://onevoiceproject.ning.com/. They are a great resource for someone who had a recently diagnosed child or anyone who is affected by childhood cancer. So if you know someone or are someone who this might help, please pass it on. Anissa also has her own blog which is hilarious and heartfelt. Feel free to check it out - http://www.hope4peyton.org/, she recently made some changes so if you haven't taken a look in a while please do so.

We are all doing well, just busy and overwhelmed, I will try to update a recent trip to W. Palm soon. I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy and happy!

Marriage Tag

October 2007



Spring 2001 at Disney (can you tell how happy I am)




Fall 1999 at our First Apartment.



Heather did this on her site and I thought it was interesting and fun and I did know her as Gresko so here it goes.

1) How long have you been married? 7 years
2) How old is your spouse? 30
3) Who eats more? Usually myself but my hormones are finally starting to balance so I am slowing down and Jeff has been winning most meals.
4) Who said I love you first? Jeff, I waited months before he said it so I could too.
5) Who is taller? Jeff by a long shot
6) Who sings better? I guess I am although not good, Jeff refuses to sing.
7) Who is smarter? I probably am as far as grades and book reading goes. Not a lot of common sense though.
8) Who controls the T.V. remote? Jeff, my timing is all wrong for TEVO
9) Whose temper is worse? Jeff's
10) Who does the laundry? I do but Jeff will even help wash diapers
11) Who does the dishes? We both do.
12) Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do
13) Who cooks dinner? I do
14) Who is more stubborn? Probably me.
15) Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? People do that?
16) Who has more friends? JEFF!!
17) Who has more siblings? Jeff - 4 brothers 1 sister, 3 step sisters
18) Who wears the pants in the family? Probably me, although we try to both make decisions together.
I tag you if you knew me as Oskerson!!!

Videos

These are some videos I had trouble uploading the other day. Enjoy.


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Ciara - this one is for you.

Alex playing with our new doll house
Nick with the Shirey boys at the Air show.
Alex at the air show.
The boys with Jeff at the air show.