Florida

We arrived in Florida Monday afternoon. The trip went well and seemed to go by quickly. We didn't leave until almost three Sunday afternoon and made it just past Jacksonville to a hotel by midnight. The kids watched a movie on Eric's laptop but we mostly listened to Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead.

After such a long drive the adreneline kicks in as soon as we go over the bridge to Lido Key. Here's a pic from the car of Sarasota Bay. It's not the best shot but going over that bridge brings a feeling of being transported into paradise.


After driving down John Ringling Blvd. and going around St. Armand's Circle we head down the road that runs along the gulf to the condo.

Here's the kids playing games. They've been playing everything from checkers, chess, Clue, Jenga and today we all played the CSI game Eric found at the thrift store (eric and I always visit local thrift stores when we travel).

A view from the pool deck looking south at Siesta Key.

The view looking north.

Turn a 180 and there's the pool - and the kids.

The condo up on the fourth floor. We get a great view of the water - I'll try to post a pic of that too.

After getting here Eric took the kids to the beach and I did the usual immediate trip to the grocery store. If I don't go right away I won't want to go at all. Then we went up to the circle for pizza. While walking around Eric saw Dick Vitale eatting dinner with his wife at the Columbia. He went over with the boys to say hello. I had no idea who he was and if you don't either he is an ESPN sports announcer.

So the past few days we've been going to the beach, pool, shelling, long walks and just enjoying being on vacation. Yesterday, Rachel, Sarah and I went up to the circle for our traditional lunch at the Columbia. Rachel and and both had the 1905 salad and black bean soup - it's soooo good. Sarah just had chicken tenders - I guess black beans at home once a week is enough for her.

St. Armand's Circle is such a pretty place - very tropical with palms and hibiscus and lots of other foliage all over. There are a number of restaurants that all have outside eatting and there are lots of other upscale stores to window shop. John Ringling (yes the circus guy) was very influential in the development of this area and designing "the circle". He was also really into art and statues. On his estate down the road on Sarasota Bay he even had his own art museum. Thus the statues all around the circle. These are the only ones Rachel wanted to take a picture of - the rest were nudes.

Yesterday afternoon we stayed at the beach until sunset.

Hopefully I'll post more pics soon. My goal was to post everyday but posting for me is like a chore and well...I'm on vacation.

Intelligent Design vs. Darwinism

No, this post isn't about my thoughts on such a controversial topic - I just want to send you to another blog by Carolyn McCulley- solofemininity.blog.com. Her post today is about the new documentary "Expelled:No Intelligence Allowed" narrated by Ben Stein. I had no idea that this was out in theaters and am grateful for the news and also the trailer clips and interviews on her blog. I am eager to go see this movie and would urge anyone else to see it and be informed. Yes, as a Christian we undoubtedly believe that God is the creator of all but I know for myself I can then be ignorant of anything else that wouldn't be truth and seems idiotic but anti-God is huge and very sad. I know I said this post wasn't on my thoughts and intellectually I have no place to stand up on a soap box but after watching the trailer of the really, really smart men share their beliefs on science, religion and God I was very grateful to be able to teach my kids science that has God at that center of it all (a little plug for Apologia science curriculum).

Our new friends.

Every day we feed two ducks which I named Violet and Millard. They are
so cute when we see them waddling across the street back to the
lake.
They come to our house every day for bread. Violet is very greedy. She used to snatch all of the bread before Millard could get any. Now only Violet comes to our house. Yesterday, Violet came into our backyard by sliding under our

picket fence. She came very close to me and Matthew. We hope

she has her ducklings in our yard.
By Sarah Hughes

Rachel turns 12!

Last weekend Rachel turned 12 and I can hardly believe it. I really need to do a better job taking pictures but here's what we have of her birthday celebration.

Rachel and friends and cousins at Glazenfyre painting ceramics.


Rachel with friends, Helena and Kara, showing off their creations.

The family dinner with her good friend Taylor. And yes, strawberry cake!

Rachel just wanted money for her birthday so she could go shopping and that's what we did Sunday and Monday. We went to all her favorites and sometimes more than once - Michael's, Target, Kohl's, Old Navy and more. And after all that shopping the only place she bought anything was at Michael's. Rachel has learned to make flower arrangements so she bought some supplies and stuff.

Dinner at Jason's Deli - free ice cream.

To top it all off Rachel and I spent the night at Founder's Inn. She just loves it there. Our room was so cozy. "Pride and Prejudice", lots of yummy snacks and breakfast in bed - it was great!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Last week Melanie took this picture of the kids for me to give to Eric. I am so pleased with how it turned out. I also can't believe how much older the kids are looking. Today we're having a Valentine's party with our science group. Rachel has made cupcakes, brownies and cookies-yum!

Some interesting facts about St. Valentine that the kids and I read yesterday - he lived in Rome around 250 AD, he was a physician and a christian. Gene Veith also says in his blog today that Valentine was a priest. He apparently was the physician of a blind girl who he gave a note to after being imprisoned that was signed "from your Valentine". Valentine was imprisoned for his faith and again according to Mr. Veith was severely beat and beheaded on February 14th. Kind of a depressing thought on such a light hearted day. The anniversary of his death and a Roman holiday was combined later. I'm not a historian so my info. may not be exactly accurate but I am always interested in the origins of such holidays and in the faith of men like St. Valentine and St. Patrick. I love celebrating this day of love with my kids - a day that is rooted in the Gospel of Christ.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from god, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." I John 4:7-11

Christmas Break

Well Christmas break has come to an end and though I never got to stay in my jammies all day, read "Mitford at Home" or hit any of the after christmas sales I couldn't have planned a better more fun time for my kids. Everyday at least one of my kids where having sleep overs at our house or someone elses. We had most of Eric's family over through out the week including his cousin Sean and Katie who visited from Texas. Last night for New Year's we had over the Williams and Wasko families along with our dear friends Jim and Barbara Reynolds.

Rachel and Sarah had a tea party on Saturday with Elise and Claire. The boys were invited to join for some hot chocolate if they behaved. They did.

Scott playing guitar hero.

Our friend Michelle gave Ryan the 2007 Guiness World Records book. Ryan was motivated to try and build a big domino thing.

Sarah on dance, dance revolution.

Rachel on guitar hero.

Eric's cousin Sean with expectant wife Katie. Yeah!!

The family hanging out.

My nephew Jack.

Sarah with the "little girls".

Matthew with my nephew Josh and his new air soft gun.

More Wii.

Christmas Day

Christmas day was very relaxing and laid back since it was just Eric and I and the kids. It also felt a bit strange - our first Christmas morning without family or friends in a very long time. We did our usual reading of the christmas story, opened presents, did the stockings, had breakfast and then chilled until we went to Augie & Heather's for dinner. Dinner was delicious, simple and a bit unorthodox. Augie made delicious fajitas and we had a spread of other mexican appetizers. Yum! Eric's cousin Joel and his wife Kathleen came over later and we played a game. Also, the kids all put on a christmas play that they had worked on with their cousins and even had rehearsals the week prior. It was a great day being able to hang out with family. I am very grateful for the family we were able to be with and missed very much those who weren't there.




Rachel, Sarah and I made fleece blankets for Ryan, Matthew and Eric. Go Broncos!

Rachel was so sweet and gave Sarah her old and favorite jean jacket.

New fleece vests from Grandmom and Poppy.

The big surprise - a Wii. The kids had no idea they were getting one and it has been so much fun.

Claire is the angel and Sarah is a shepherd.
The heavenly hosts singing "glory to god in the highest"
Sarah and Matthew as shepherds.
Rachel narrating the story, shepherds worshipping Jesus.