What a beautiful sight

We are in awe lately because we have had a beautiful hawk move into the neighborhood. We notice him several weeks ago and wake up each morning to see him in our backyard up on a telephone pole. He spreads his feathers out and is getting ready to find his morning breakfast. It is wonderful to hear his calls, so unique, there is no mistaken that it is him.

This morning, while doing school, Devin noticed something out on my truck. I ran to the window to see what it was and there was that beautiful hawk sitting in all his glory right on the hood of my truck. So close, it was so cool. Usually he is way up high on the pole and now he was eye level from the window. I snapped a few shots before he flew away.

Traveling down memory lane...

I was born in W.P.B. and lived there till I was 10 years old when we moved down to Coconut Creek, Ft. Lauderdale. I loved my childhood neighborhood; I have so many awesome memories. We lived on a tiny street with about 10 houses but loads of kids. We played constantly in the streets; kickball, baseball, tag, superheros, hot wheels cars, etc. This is something my kids don't get because there are no kids in our neighborhood at the present time, and I wish they had it my way. We have the perfect cul-de-sac to do all those games.

Well anyways, on Monday, Devin had a check up at his Neurologist for the E-coli episode. We decided to make a day of it. My mom, sister and me with the kids drove down for lunch and the doctors visit. While there we took a trip down memory lane. We drove by my Grandfathers house in Palm Beach, and drove by the bike trail paths that my parents took us on, "Oh so many times". We went to the end of the road to see the inter coastal of Palm Beach and told the kids about the witches cave and drove by honking our horn to hear her scream. (just a little thing our parents would do to us, of course it is not true...)

Finally we went over into West Palm Beach to see the house that I grew up in. We lived in Belvedere Homes, which is not far from the Dog Track. Our road was called Pine Rd. and I was so excited to be able to visit the area. Well, it is not the same. It is not a great area to be in, very run down.

It is so funny how when you are little you think the things around you are so big. That is what I thought about our house on Pine Rd. but boy was it tiny. Everything was tiny, even the road that we use to play ball in and walk around the block thousands of times.

Even though it is so different now and not the same as it was when I was little, I still have all my precious memories of a glamorous childhood. I would not change one bit of it. Here are some photos from our day.


Mom, Ashley, and Monica at Duffy's in West Palm Beach


Devin, Me, and Dalton at lunch


Dalton, Ashley, and Devin by one of the beautiful Banyan trees in Palm Beach by the water near the bike trails. This is just a couple of blocks from where my grandparents lived.


This was the witches cave, in the wall on the right, about halfway through there is a drainage pipe that is behind bars and that is where my parents would tease us that a witch lived in there and we believed them. Well, my kids did not fall for it.


My house that I grew up in. Now keep in mind, it was not yellow and there were no trees in the front yard and no fence around the front yard. It was a nice clean beautiful house and yard. Our driveway,as my child mind remembered, was huge and all the neighborhood kids use to meet in our driveway to do roller skating. I have photos, I think I will search for them and post.

Our Halloween, I know, I know, it is way past that.

Devin is a pirate teaming up with his pirate friend Ryan.

Ashley is an over happy Disco Diva.

Dalton is our Mighty Ninja on the attack.

O.K. it has taken me a while to get the time to post a few pictures of the kids on Halloween.

For the weekend of Halloween we were pretending to be away camping in order to surprise my mom for her 60th Birthday party (which worked). I tell you it was so hard to sneak around.

First off, it is hard enough not to pick up the phone just to call her. I had to remind myself Friday and Saturday "DO NOT CALL HER!"

Well, it was even harder to go out and do shopping or just even drive on the road. I had no idea where she would be and because I couldn't call her; I couldn't even check where she was.

Any ways, the kids were invited to a Halloween party which was just a whole lot of fun. We had a blast, but boy was I exhausted. I felt so sad driving home from the party because the kids could not show grandma and grandpa their costumes. Every year we swing by their house and ring the doorbell like tricker-treaters and see if they recognize their grand kids.

60th Surprise Party

Today is my mom's 60th birthday. Happy Birthday MOM!!! We celebrated this past Saturday with a big surprise party at my friend's,Julie, house. It was going to be tough to surprise her, but we did it. I pretended I was out of town on a camping trip with my family, so that would keep her from ever suspecting a party was being planned. Julie invited her and Jack over for dinner.

It was awesome. When we yelled surprise, I thought she was going to pass out. She actually started to back out of the door, like she was really going to get away. I appreciate so much all of our friends who came and celebrated this very special day with my mom. It was such a blessing for her. She is still on cloud nine. To cap off the evening, Jack, gave my mom the best present ever. He is going to take her to Israel in Feb. She balled.


My mom is opening the card that tells her that she gets to go to Israel in Feb.



Mom is crying and hugging Jack.



Mom is trying to read all of us what the card said. She reacted and half of us did not even know what was in the card.

An addition to our family

We are the proud parents of Godzilla...

Isn't he a beauty!!!


This is Godzilla's own private home. Mike is building it in a beautiful corner spot of our yard. Lots of sun light.


Dalton loves looking at him all the time.

Our friend Rich gave us the iguana the other day. Just in time for the cold front. We had Godzilla out on the back porch the first night it was cold. Dalton woke up and right away wanted to check on him. We open the door and pulled the covering off the cage and there he was sitting in his water pan frozen stiff. Poor thing was so cold he had no energy to move. It was fun petting him, because he just sat still.
Last night we brought him inside; since it was going to be even colder. He was nice and cozy and still energized in the morning.

Busy as can be

I know it has been kind of quiet on the blog for a while. It has been a little crazy for us. I have recently started working for the church on two nights a week and it is amazing how everything just seems to pile up quickly. I have not had the time to check on other blogs, let alone mine. I do miss keeping in touch with others and seeing what is new in some of my friends lives.

There is always the hope that next week my load will get lighter, but it never ends up that way when the week begins. I am hoping that November will slow down some for me, and boy do I love getting close to Thanksgiving. One more busy October week and than we can all breathe. Maybe I will have some great photos to share of our great camping adventures we are going on for Halloween.

We are starting up our new garden and have begun with herbs this time. They are sprouting great and we hope to see some veggies soon. We will keep you posted.
Talk with you all real soon!!!

Congratulations!!!

Mike and I were so excited when we received a call from his niece, Terri, last weekend. Terri and her boyfriend, Todd, had traveled down to the Keys to get married. They decided to stop by and stay the night with us on their way back home. It was great having them come stay with us.

They shared their whole two week experience with us, and let me say, I would have given up on the trip after the first disaster. Yet, they persevered through a lot and they enjoyed every bit of their honeymoon trip. It opened my eyes to just how impatient I am in things, when they don't work out my way.

I can't name everything that went wrong but I will name the major ones that stood out the most.

1. They broke down on their way to the Keys, on the Seven Mile Bridge, at the top of the part that allows the boats to pass under. (If you have been there, you know how horrifying that is!!!)YIKES...
2. The breakdown caused them to be late to their own wedding ceremony on the beach at sunset, so all their pictures are in the dark.
3. They got evacuated because of Hurricane Ike.
4. They were camping in a tent for two weeks, with a lot of rainy days.
5. Their boat broke down while out on the water.

Need I list anymore!
They were awesome;they had a blast and looked at it as more memories to share. It was great having them, but we wish is was longer than just one night. We are so proud of Terri and excited for her new life with her husband, Todd. We pray the very best for them.

By the way, they called us when they got home to North Carolina the next night and Terri told me that they got a flat tire on their truck pulling their boat that day. I am glad they made it home.