Snow Days 2014

So it wasn't exactly snow, but at the end of January the kids were out of school for three days due to a winter storm that left us covered in ice. The gulf coast is not prepared for this type of weather, and due to the number of bridges surrounding us, everything, and I do mean everything, shut down for two complete days.

My crepe myrtle looking all pretty covered in ice. My gardenia gave in due to the weight. Thankfully it perked right back up once the ice melted. 

Pitiful palm.

At first glance we were quite excited because we thought we got a little snow, turns out everything frozen.

  It may be cold and frozen but it's the first snow day my kids have had and they were determined to make the most of it.

Tucker doing a little curling with some large pieces of ice. My patio was a complete sheet of ice.

Snow Day 2014!

Frozen trampoline, the kids loved busting it up.

Sailor testing the fountain to see if it froze.

Even the dogs got in a little playtime.

Daisy just wanted to eat the ice.

Although quite pretty to look at, I'm glad it doesn't come around here often and hope we don't have to deal with it again for quite some time!

Crazy Daisy

Since Daisy has been known to get out of our yard a couple of times since we've lived here, I'm a little paranoid about making sure she is still in the yard most of the time. During the holidays I spend a lot of time in our storage building in the back yard as that is where my wrapping station is. One morning while doing quite a bit of running back and forth trying to wrap presents, I realized that Daisy hadn't been following me. I immediately went into panic mode and went to yelling for her. As I happened to walk by the kids swing set, I noticed Daisy standing in the top of it. My first thought was how did she get up there, which was quickly replaced with how is she going to get down. It didn't take long for her to answer the last question for me, she came down the rock wall and jumped. I'm so thankful for cell phone cameras because I know Hank would have never believed me on this one without picture proof. I fully expect the unexpected with the kids most days, guess that applies to our dogs too!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day from my littlest Valentine's to all of you.

Deer hunting

For the first time since he was little, Tucker has shown some interest in deer hunting this year. This of course thrilled Hank. Deer season in Florida is certainly done different than NC, but that didn't slow them down at all. Although they didn't manage to kill a deer this year, they still went every free chance they had.

Checking out the map and planning their strategy.

  Ready to go.

Being patient.

Christmas 2013 ~ random pics

I'm only a little over a month late on getting these posted, but after the past week I'm feeling pretty good about getting anything posted at all. Between the freak ice storm that hit (I live in Florida, we shouldn't have ice storms) and Tucker having the flu, I feel like chaos had moved in for the long haul. All the kids are back to school today, Tucker included, so for the first time in an entire week, I have the house to myself today.

 Each of the kids has their own tree in their bedrooms, they love decorating them themselves.

 

The kids were a little stressed that we didn't get to see Santa as early in the season as we normally do. Cutter was especially panicky that he wouldn't get his list to him in time.

 

And of course we always have a little playtime after a visit to Santa.

Each year since we moved here we have made our trip to Destin to the Bass Pro Shop to visit with Santa. This is the center area to that mall. I could sit here for hours and watch the tree and listen to the music, it's wonderful.

Sailor getting in a little holiday cooking, sausage balls.

Finally, what they've been waiting for...presents! 

I think she was a little excited with her boots.

I couldn't resist posting this one, not so much for her gift but for the fabulous job I'm apparently not doing as a mom teaching her some manners.

Cutter loves his switch n go dino's.

For the first time I actually got to wake my kids up Christmas morning, it was payback for all the Christmas' that they've been waking us up at all hours.

As you can tell, Sailor isn't exactly a morning person.

Not awake and completely confused.

After she finally woke up some and went through everything, she promptly started a little reading.

Cutter couldn't wait to get his table together and start building.

Tucker could hardly wait to get out on the water, regardless of the weather.