Beach Pictures

What a fun evening! Jennifer "won" a picture session with a local photographer at a charity event for the Zoo last year. So, last night we headed up to Indialantic and we cashed in the family shoot on the beach. Afterward, the boys enjoyed running around and checking out all the cool stuff washed up on the beach. It has been at least 3 months since they've played in the ocean, so to a 6 and 7 year old, everything is new again! After the beach trip we headed over to LongDoggers (shack across the street from the beach with tables) and enjoyed Beer and Burgers (Milk and Soda for the boys). Here are some pics we took.

Let Spring begin?

This weekend is supposedly the last bit of "chilly" weather we'll encounter for the year. I'm speaking for the plants of course. We (the people) experienced the last chilly weather with some low 50 degree stuff a couple weeks back. Tonight and tomorrow mark the last sub 50 evening weather we should have this winter. When the evenings don't drop below 60 and the ground warms to that temp, everything springs to life in FL. When the palms start moving, you're there. We planted our herb seeds last weekend along with a sunflower or two. We're trying out a few new things this spring with a couple mangrove trees from seed pods the boys and I collected from the river. We've put together a little orchid garden (up to 4 species now). I'm even trying a little one in a tree. OK, enough of the gardening and rub it in your face warm weather comments. Life's not all flowers and pineapples (did I mention I'm growing one of those,too?)

The boys are in full stride with Soccer, Hockey and Skating lessons taking up much of the weekend. Pics to follow. The beach has tempted us on several occasions, but at 70 degrees, the water's still a little cold. We're taking full advantage of the Zoo, along with thousands of other people. If the new kids area gets any more attendance, we'll have to start limiting entrants.....good things for the zoo during this tough economy.

That's the update for the night. Not much else going on. Looking forward to a full weekend and busy March.

Wii Showdown II

There's a reason Vegas makes money folks, they know how to pick 'um. Saturday night provided a better showing from Fuzz (aka Aunt Lauren), but in the end, Squaky and Soph/Todo ruled the night. Alex raced as Squakasaur. Brayden, showing some degree of difficulty choosing from his myriad of Miis (there's probably 50+) went to the venerable Soph/Todo. They both did mighty damage to the best Chicago has to offer. Thanks for a great match Aunt Lauren! Whatcha doing next weekend?

Wii Showdown

We finally hooked up and in a 30 minute showdown including about 10 races, the boys made quick work of Aunt Lauren and Uncle Mike. We won't post the score to save the embarrassment. Always ready for another match, but I promise you all, the boys are not getting any worse. It will be a tough match up for any who dare!

Happy News for Childcare!

As we continue to find new and creative ways to keep the boys in safe care for the summer, we are happy to report that we will have live in care this year! Jennifer's cousin Neil who lives in Michigan with his family (I don't know why I'm explaining all this, almost everyone that reads this knows the family!) has three children, Katelin, Samantha and Matt. Sam is 16 and has been babysitting for years. We put two and two together and offered her a job watching the boys and living with us for the entire summer. She was very excited and will be joining us in early June and staying through August. I've know Sam since she was 4 (wow....time really flies), and couldn't imagine a better setup for us this summer. She's just great, and we are very lucky and excited to have her. I think she'll need some boogy board and body surfing lessons, but I know just the right little guys to teach her. Tough job, huh?

Paws-On Opens!

After nearly two years of planning, fundraising and construction, the Zoo's refurnished children's "playground" opened to the public today with great fanfare. The area now makes up a small representation of the Florida coast providing a beach area where kids can dress up as sea turtles and crawl through the sand afterward they can slide into the belly of a whale. We then move to to the lagoon where kids can fish from a shrimp boat (no real hooks, or course), play in the "lagoon flats" right next to the 20,000 gallon aquarium that holds all sorts of coastal fish. Finally we move into the uplands area where you can build forts, camp out, crawl through tunnels and visit the contact yard to get up and personal with armadillos and gopher tortises (along with the standard goats and deer). The boys loved it and it appears to be a big hit with the rest of the children that made it out today. Come visit us and take a look!