Birds at Home

Sometimes we don't even have to leave the house to enjoy the birds. Here are Cattle Egrets that decided to perch on top of the car. They were very tolerant of me approaching and snapping pictures. I've seen them roaming the neighborhood recently but this is their first official visit to us.

Birds

Here are those bird photos I'd planned to post a couple of weeks ago...

Hooded Merganser




Roseate Spoonbill (unfortunately these are not very close)

Snowy Egret

Royal Tern on the beach.

Tricolored Heron

Wood Stork

American Coot

Anhinga (a Cormorant like bird also called a snake bird)

Great Egret with babies.

We're All Winners

Cub Scouts nationwide celebrate the birthday of scouting every year in February. We call it the Blue and Gold and our pack usually has a banquet with a mother/son bake off. The theme this year was Chinese New Year.
Check out Nathan's cake.

It didn't win but that was because there was some stiff competition.

He did, however, have a winning ticket for a door prize.

But really we are all winners, because after the contest was over we got to eat all that cake!

Concern

Nathan: Are you tired mom?
Me: Yes, why do I look tired?
Nathan: Yes you have... (and points around his eyes)
Me: Dark circles?
Nathan: That too but mainly wrinkles.

Well, I did ask!

Locked Out

By the dog!!! Today was our day to pick up milk and when a member of our group arrived for her order, we went outside to help carry the cooler, to chat (me) and to play (the boys). We left Duke in the house, but when we turned to go in, the door was locked ...and it's NOT a self locking door- it's a dead bolt! We're not sure whether or not he turned the lock by jumping on it or with his mouth but it was like a scene from The Far Side. He's a sneaky one, he is! On occasion, when we are out in the garage, the door from the house mysteriously opens and a canine face peers through. Now, if we could only catch him in the act and capture it on camera, we could be on AFV or at least You Tube.

Narnia, Airplanes, Acrobats, Nursing Home, Valentines and Parties

Just another typical week of homeschooling. In all honesty, this week was extra busy. It started Monday with our co-op and will end tomorrow with Sully's extra chorus rehearsal. We are all finally over the yucky flu that knocked us out the week before my dad came to visit. Getting the house back in order is another matter entirely.

Sully attended his first day of co-op classes on Monday. He's taking creative writing, cooking and my favorite(and possibly his too), Prince Caspian. He seemed to enjoy his day and has a little homework that is, according to him, "No big deal." Nathan still considers cup stacking his favorite class but he says he likes all three. Tuesday held a trip to the airport and Kids Klub auditions for the boys. Cirque-works Birdhouse Factory was our Wednesday treat. Valentine's Day gave us an opportunity to share homemade Valentines with our friends at the nursing home but our "kid party" was today. This is the first year we've participated in a Valentine's Day party and both boys had a good time. Nathan was especially excited to exchange Valentines and diligently signed over 30 cards for today's celebration. It was a day of play and overindulgence in all things sugar. I'm looking forward to getting back to "normal" next week and, as much fun as we've had, I think the boys are too.

A February Day in Florida

Bagels and playing at the beach.




Breezes, birds and shell collecting.









A drive through the wildlife refuge where we saw amazing birds (here's a snowy egret but look for more pictures in a future post) and ...




Alligators.




Lots of alligators!











I lost count but we saw around 7 or 8 and 2 outside the refuge.
All enjoyed during a visit from Granddad to make that day that much more special.

Karate, Books and Cupstacking

Nathan's 3 classes at the coop. Sully, unfortunately was down with that nasty cold but fortunately was able to stay home with Kevin, who was also taking it easy. His new Tuesday through Saturday schedule has taken some getting used to but I really like having him home on Mondays.

On the way out this afternoon Nathan said how much fun he'd had in all of his classes. I was impressed with the organization as well as the enthusiastic teachers. I was the assistant for 2 of Nathan's classes but that will change from week to week. He's even decided that some of his birthday money will go toward a set of speed stacking cups. Kevin and I were both surprised at how much he learned in one short day. He made a weather book, learned the proper way to up-stack and down-stack cups and has been showing us several Karate moves. I'm eager to see how Sully's classes are- it's too bad he missed today but he's just feeling so crummy. Apparently there is a "virus that mimics the flu" going around- a scout mom called today to tell me that's why her boys would be out tonight. That's the one that came around here.

We are all looking forward to next week, when we're all well and can all enjoy the coop.

Party, Colds, Commercials and Football

That should just about cover our day.
Nathan's birthday party was scheduled for today at a neighborhood park. He's recovering from a cold that he so graciously passed to me and I was kind enough to share with Sully and Kevin. There was another dad at the party who sounded as if he's been visited by the same germs. Needless to say we were all a little low key but the kids had fun and it was a beautiful day. These are the times I love Florida- an outdoor party at the park, in February and in shorts!
The boys are watching "The Big Game" (well, Nathan has just gone to bed) and this is the first year Sully seems more interested in the game than in the commercials... The commercials are still a draw but no longer the only draw.

And in other news... tomorrow is the first official day of our homeschool coop, which isn't exactly a coop but I'm not sure what else to call it. The boys will participate in 3 classes each- enrichment classes. Nathan is taking Karate, Book Making and Cup Stacking. Sully's classes are Creative Writing, Cooking, and then the class that I'd REALLY like to take with him, Prince Caspian. Alas, being in the "mom group", I'll be floating around from week to week helping out in the various classes. This program is similar to one we participated in while living in Virginia, CHAMPS. We all loved CHAMPS and have missed it since being back in FL. Hopefully we'll find this experience to fill that hole. The current program offers more classes so the boys had a choice of what to take so I think they'll really enjoy it.