Fort Clinch

While Jon and Gabe are away at a Cub Scout campout, Kate, Grant, and I decided to check out Fort Clinch.

Feels almost like summer.... Can't wait for this to be our everyday. Three more weeks of school!

What kid doesn't love the thrill of running into a sea of seagulls?!?

We discovered this set of tracks as we enjoyed our walk down the beach.

Kate was on a mission to find treasures today....and she had some pretty lucky finds, beginning with this sand dollar!

Later she found lots of little fiddler crabs and some slimy little creature.

And best of all, we discovered a manatee enjoying the fresh water flowing down from the pier!

This was by far one of the most incredible things I've ever seen!

Marvel Universe LIVE

Thanks to my parents, we get to watch Marvel characters save the Universe tonight at the Veteran's Memorial Arena....and Grant couldn't be more excited!  And to make it even better, his best buddy Jackson is joining us tonight!

Watch out Jacksonville....this crew has come to town!

Let the battles begin......

White Oak Conservation

It's the season of field trips, and today it's the 4th grade gifted students who are loading up on buses and heading to White Oak!  I was kind of disappointed because only one parent per school was allowed to chaperone, and I didn't get picked.  :(  I have always wanted to go check out White Oak!  Oh well, maybe one day....  But thankfully, Emma's mom was the one chosen and promised to take some pictures!  Thank you Nicole!!

These kids have been studying Cheetah conservation this year so that was the primary purpose of their visit.  But, they also got to see so many other incredible animals during their trip!

Headed out on a safari expedition!

Thanks again Nicole for sending some pictures of your adventure! 

Cummer Museum of Art

It's time to load up on school buses and head to Jacksonville to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens for a field trip with 2nd grade Gifted students!  Gabe was paired up with his friend Sadie and I got to tag along to enjoy the day with these kiddos.  I can appreciate beautiful art, but I'd be the first to admit that I am not artistically inclined.  This is one of my least favorite field trips.  I just don't enjoy staring at art, artifacts, or shrubs.  :/  That said, I can recognize their importance and beauty and I'm glad these kids get to experience it.

Sadie ~ Gabe ~ Gavin ~ Clark

Unlike me, our tour guide was very passionate about these galleries.

She enjoyed walking these kids through their emotions as they compared different pieces of art.

After touring the inside galleries, we were allowed to take a self guided tour outside in the garden.

The flowers and landscape truly were amazing.

The field trip ended with a mosaic art class and a brief time enjoying some hands on exhibits!

Sleep-Away Camp

It's official, Kate and Gabe are going to their first sleep away camp this summer! The postcards arrived today from Winshape Camp! Skocean Club for Kate at Young Harris college and Blaze Squad for Gabe at Truett-McConnell college. I know they are going to love every minute!

Giant Turtles

So amazing getting to interact with these turtles this morning!

After church we needed to stop by Walmart, and what a surprise it was to see these guys walking around just outside the store!

All three kids loved holding and interacting with these beautiful turtles.

A once in a lifetime opportunity...at Walmart!

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

 Thanks for letting us celebrate with you today Andrew Spencer!

Grant had a great time.  Happy 5th Birthday!

These were quite possibly the messiest cupcakes I've ever seen!

The big boys opted for only ice cream instead...

Jungle Book

We're sitting in the theater and Grant keeps asking me when we're going to start to move and see the dinosaurs! I had to break it to him that we aren't at Disney about to ride Ellen's Energy Adventure.  :) My baby knows his rides. Lol.

Ice Cream Social

To celebrate the end of five long days of testing for the Georgia Milestones,

these awesome 4th graders are celebrating with an ice cream social!

And when you mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma are the ones serving ice cream,

you get to sneak out of your 2nd grade class for a bowl of ice cream too!

Happy Apple Fun - Take 2

More sweet memories at Happy Apple... 

Grant can be so sweet when he wants to be...and Megan really wants to marry him someday.  :)

Sadly, she is moving to Virginia at the end of this school year.  :(

Peek-a-Boo with Roahn!

The Purple Apples brought out a special surprise to share with us today...

They are releasing the butterflies they have been raising in their classroom!

A few friends got an extra special surprise when a butterfly decided to land on them!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

 Thank you to my family for the sweet birthday celebration and dinner!

These are some lucky kiddos to have a grandma who will roll around on the ground playing!