Paynes Prarie

Today we took the kids to one of our favorite places-Alachua Sink in Paynes Prarie. It had been a while since we were last there and it is much more stroller friendly now! Jason pushed Wil and I carried El in a kid carrying device! The kids did fine but the parents should have worn more sunblock! We saw all kinds of birds, insects, fish, flowers, butterflies, caterpillers and of course, alligators! Wil is saying "gator" now and gives us the gator chomp all the time. We had the best time watching them discover nature!

Butterfly Rainforest

We took the kids to see the butterflies at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Jason and I love this place and everytime I go I come back home wanting to garden! Even though we were there around naptime the kids really enjoyed it. Of course touching the butterflies were a no-no and Wil wanted to pick up every one he could! Elsie would study them for a second and then reach out to grab the flower and scare them off!

Working around the house

Well the summer is nearly over and you should see the difference in our yard! Blood, sweat, tears (and rashes) have gone into it and we are getting more and more proud of Wil and Elsie's new playground. They have been great little helpers and very patient with us as we work to get it ready to romp in! We have pulled thorny vines all summer, planted trees, flowers and shrubs and took out a few smaller trees and limbs ourselves. We left about 7 big trees and limbs to the experts and they took about a week to finish. Wil loved playing in the dirt and climbing the tractors. He also has been enjoying all the popsicles and watermelon! Elsie is fine as long as her swing can come outside with her and Wil gives her a push every once in a while!

Jake and Kim's partay!

Our good buddies Jake and Kim Eldred threw a get-together and we partied down! There were so many friends to talk to and kids to chase! The Bootle clan were as entertaining as always and Kim fed us well! Hope we can get together again real soon-its been too long!

Bill moves his family!

Recently we helped Bill, Becka, Wyatt and little Ramona move into their new house in Lakeland. Grandma Dan and Grandma Mona also were there to help. I think we goofed off more than helped, but we all had fun! Grandma and Grandpa buddied up with their little movers and shakers and us young parents got another chance to connect and compare battle scars! The baby girls had to endure their rounds of "Olan Mills" photoshoots but Wyatt and Wil appreciated the break and proceeded to get into trouble together! Its so fun to watch the cousins interact. Soon Elsie and Ramona will be doing the same!

ELSIE'S ON A ROLL!