Thursday, July 28, 2011

New Blog ~ ChasingFlavour

My nephew Wade and niece Diana just created a hip new food blog



It's called ChasingFlavour


Together they will be sharing delicious recipes such as this goat cheese penne.

Yum!!

Stop by and check it out ~ here's the link:
http://chasingflavour.wordpress.com

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Lego Loving Boy.

Griffin LOVES Legos ...


He has a big imagination and can create just about anything he sets his mind to.

This is a creation he made last night ... it's Mr. Ferguson, Russell and the blimp from the movie UP!

I love the fact he will be watching a movie or tv program and step away for a minute to create a Lego creation related to what ever he's watching.

Can't wait to visit Florida in the fall because Legoland will be opening!!

Holly Grove T-Ball!

Griffin playing t-ball at Holly Grove ... love this photograph a friend took!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Tubing!

We had a fun adventure tubing down the river at Rock Springs in Apopka when we were on vacation in Florida.

Though I lived in Florida the first 36 years of my life I've never gone tubing before. So, this was a first for both Griffin and me.


I have to share this picture because it's the only picture of the tubes I got. It's proof we did actually go "tubing" because all of the water pictures I did get we are just floating and swimming in the water.


This is the boardwalk to the tubing area. Rock Springs is fabulous! It's crystal clear and very cold! You have to take a bit of a walk up to the rocks to get your tube in.


It was neat seeing the turtles ... it's definitely a natural area because we saw several different animals and birds there.


Our little snorkler ...


It's just SO pretty here!


Time for a photo op ... Pop, Mike, Griffin and Nana


Mike, Griffin and me ... notice I'm wearing shorts and a shirt? I did not wear a bathing suit because I thought we were just "going tubing down the river" and I was told to dress accordingly. There was a swimming are there as well ... next time I will know to "YES" wear a swimsuit.


Alligator Warning ... yes, there's warnings because there ARE alligators.

{Read on for more about that}


Pop, Mike and Griffin taking a break ... and Pop pointing something interesting.


Does anything look unusal in this picture?

See all the people around the edge of the water and no one is in the water?

That's because an alligator was spotted in the swimming area and they cleared it out until the gator decided to move on. Granted it was less than three feet long ... but it was still and ALLIGATOR in the waters in which we were swimming.

We had a great, great day in Rock Springs ... next summer when we go back we are most definitely going back!!

Friday, July 22, 2011

You Are My Son-Shine!



♫♪♫ You Are My Sunshine ♫♪♫

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pillow Fight!

The boys finally went to sleep a little after 11:00 after the mandatory pillow fight!

Pop & Nana's House ~ Such Fun!

When we arrive to Pop & Nana's house Griffin always says we are going to the jungle.

They live on a beautiful piece of property with lots of trees, palmettos, flowers and greenery everywhere. You even have to cross a bridge they built over the creek to get to their house.

They have many fun things to do like ...


Chasing the peacock ...


Taking a walk through the beautiful gardens ...


Swinging high into the sky on the tree swing ...


And of course lots of love and snuggles from Pop & Nana

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

First Sleepover With A Friend

Super fun day with the Hall Family ... now Griffin and Sam are all geared up for their first official "sleepover" together. Right now they are snuggled in the chair with the necessary treats and blankets watching Nemo.

American Indian.

I just had to share this picture in it's own blog post ...


When we were visiting Pop and Nana at their house Griffin found this feather outside.

Nana was trying to find a headband to tie it around his head with the feather at the top and she couldn't find the one she was looking for.

Griffin saw this American Flag bandanna and said: Nana let's use this one because I'm an American Indian.

His sweetness gave us a good giggle!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Jasper And Oliver.

Okay ... call me crazy.

Jasper's brother Oliver is now part of our family!


Yesterday my friend Sybil and her boys were over visiting. The man we adopted Jasper from came down the road and saw us outside with Jasper so he stopped by to say hi. I mentioned to him Sybil might be interested in adopting Emma (the Momma dog). So, he decided to go to his house and get her so Sybil could meet her. When he came back he also brought the other four puppies they still had.

Jasper was beyond excited to see his brothers and sisters. He was so happy running, jumping and playing with them. When we were in Florida he had so much fun with my mother-in-law Bett's dog Sara. I could tell he was missing her and feeling a bit lonely.

My friend Sybil decided to adopt Jasper's sister. Her name was "Flower" by the time she and the boys headed home.

I thought LOOOOOOOOOONG and hard about it ... and decided it would be nice for Jasper to have a playmate. I went back and forth ... all the while Griffin BEGGING me to say yes.

So, after discussing it with Mike that is how Oliver (formerly know as Mr. Fluff) came to be the newest addition to our family.

And now we are a family of five!

Monday, July 18, 2011

4th Of July At Grandma's House.

Grandma (Bett) had a fun get together on the 4th of July at her house.

There were quite a few people there ... Grandma, Tony, Pop, Nana, Uncle Ray, Aunt Terri, Shannon, Brayden, Mallory, Landon, Mike, Griffin and Me


The kids cooled off with popsicles


And of course there was swimming in Grandma's swimming pool


Mike took all the kids for a ride on Grandma's tractor


And these sweet smiling faces had a fabulously fun day together!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Super Excited ... Featured On Etsy!

I'm super excited ...



Griffin's Rainbow Butterfly Embellishments have been featured in this rainbow treasury on Etsy!!



If you would like your very own set of these very pretty, bright and colorful paper butterfly embellishments you can find them right HERE!!

4th Of July Celebration ~ Winter Haven

We were excited to see the fireworks in Winter Haven this year.

They had a super fun event on Lake Silver with bouncey houses, games, food, live music and fireworks after dark.


It was great seeing my brother Jerome and sister-in-law Bonnie. Here you see Bonnie and I looking in the camera for a "serious" picture not realizing Mike and Jerome were being silly behind our backs. I have to say ... this is one of my favorite pictures!


Griffin enjoyed the bouncey houses and snuggled in with Bett and Tony to watch the fireworks


Being with family is one of the biggest things I miss about living in Virginia. I think Griffin finally realized we actually have family, they just live in Florida. Here we have my SIL Bonnie, great niece Rossi (Wade & Diana's little girl), Niece Diana (married to Wade), nephew Wade, Liz (married to Scott), my brother Jerome and nephew Scott.


They had an awesome display of fireworks!!


After a fun filled time at Lake Silver we decided to stop by Andy's Igloo for an ice cream. I think everyone else in Winter Haven had the same idea.


An ice cream cone with sprinkles on top is a great way to finish off a super great day!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Common Ground Park ~ Lakeland ~ Florida

We had a great time while vacationing in Florida.

My mother-in-law Bett actually came for a visit the week before we left and she and Griffin flew back to Florida so she could have some one-on-one time with him before Mike and I arrived. They went to Sea World, visited some area parks, went fishing and had some very special bonding time.

Mike, Jasper and I drove the 14 (loooong) hours to Florida. We have decided next time we are flying ... it's less than a 2 hour flight!!

We did many fun things and I will be sharing them in the next several blog posts. Yes!! I'm actually going to blog.


Bett found this awesome park in Lakeland. It's called Common Ground Park and it has a playground like I've never seen before!


They have a musical area ... and of course he's just like his Daddy ... he LOVES drums!!


We discovered this pretty butterfly bench nestled in the butterfly garden


Look how pretty it is here ... {sigh}


This park had everything ... this was a rope climbing thing-a-ma-jiggy


And the amazing HUGE traditional playset


Bett was relaxing under the shade trees so we went over to get her to walk through the buttefly garden with us. A lady offered to take a picture of us all together ... it's nice to be able to prove I was actually there!


Love this picture of Bett and Griffin on the butterfly bench


They even had faux grass hills the kids could roll down ... fun!


Bett and Griffin see sawing

It was such a fun time. If you live in Central Florida you MUST visit this park. It's located on Edgewood Drive in Lakeland. It's the park closest to Florida Avenue. Go have some fun!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Back From Vacation.

We just enjoyed a wonderful 10-day fun filled at home in Central Florida!


It was nice visiting our family and friends.

I have many pictures and stories to share ... and I will soon!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Old Town ~ Kissimmee, FL

We had a mini family reunion at Old Towne in Kissimmee! We had to prank Uncle Jerome and get a balloon hat made out of Florida Gator colors.