Fourth of July

We are doing a Patriotic unit this week. We are reading stories about the flag and working with alot of red, white, and blue. This project was kind of a refresher on art etiquette. Baby dots with glue, glitter stays at the table, all art supplies stay at the table, no throwing glitter or foam or scissors etc...you get the point. Needless to say it was a red, white and blue collage. Preston and Nicholas had alot of fun and actually worked on it for about a half hour. So now we are ready to conquer and have fun with more projects. I am so excited to start doing more literature studies with Nicholas...he finally seems ready to humor mom and have some fun alongthe way. Happy Fourth of July..a little early!!

F is for Flag!!

Beach Again???

What is a Floridian to do...but go to the beach. I know I do a new beach post almost every time but we go so much. We do vary the beach we go to..but sorry they just look the same!!! Anyway..I am aware I post alot of beach photos but we just love it!!! And it is Florida!!!

A day at Sand Key Beach with the Yureckas

Boy Scout Camp....Clayton, Georgia

Summer Camp

For the first time ever one of our children went to a summer camp. However, John did go too. Devin and John spent a week in Northeast Georgia at boyscout summer camp. The week did not start out on the most positive note in that our whole family took turns having a 24 hour stomach bug that week and John and Devin were lucky enough to escape it until the day they left for camp. Needless to say they both got it, spent the night in a hotel and were recovered and ready for a great week by noon the next day. They had a fabulous time at camp hiking, and taking classes in riflery, fishing, first aid and boyscout merit badge work. Devin absolutely loved it and can not wait to go back next year.

Best of all it was such a neat time for John and Devin to have a whole week together. That time alone does not happen often in a household of four children. I am most thankful they had that time together especially as Devin nears the magical age of 13 in a month. Next year Mitchell enters the boyscout ranks and will be joining them on this adventure! As for me, I will look at the pictures from camp when they return each year and just ponder on how time passes by you in a moment...once again a reminder to treasure the time that I have been given with my family.

Boyscout Summer Camp

Finding my oldest and youngest snuggled together always warms my heart

Infant Swim Research

Each child has undergone the struggles of Infant Swim Research. Being Florida boys, exposure to tons of water was inevitable. Through much research, this was my best option to give them a fighting chance for survival should they fall into a body of water unsupervised. In an idyllic world drowning would never happen but it is a reality and as a parent this is not a fool proof answer but at least one line of defense should an accident occur. Nicholas has not enjoyed his "refresher" lessons this summer. (he actually passed these lessons last summer and had to go back for a short period to "remember") Nicholas has cried, whined, and tried to bargain his way through lessons. Many times the bargaining has been humorous. But all in all he has done a great job and I am just so proud of him and for him as his little body swims and floats it's way to safety.

Little Nicholas Conquering the Float

Enjoying Splittsville with the Jones family

Precious Gifts we are given

There are gifts that we are given that sometimes we may not even know are priceless treasures. MY Dad is a gift the Lord gave me. He has been the MOST supportive, loving, protective and Godly father a daughter could ever wish or even ask for. He has been there for me in every step of my life as a cheerleader, supporter, a source of wisdom, or just a shoulder to cry on. There have been times in my life when I have watched "life" deal out a card that seemed so unfair...but my father has always showed me through his example what real strength is. He has taught me to get back up and try again. He has taught me to never give up. I feel I owe all of my tenacity to my father. As I look at these photos below...I know that there may be things in life that try and steal our joy as a family but it is just not possible in the end because of the FOUNDATION my parents put in to us throughout our life. In that I can take peace. There is no way I can ever thank the Lord enough for my dad. He is a gift I will always treasure...so I say Happy Birthday DAD and Thank You for being you!!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Dinosaur World and Medard Park

An amazing experience

This weekend the boys had an amazing opportunity to honor those that have given their lives for our freedom. The Scouts met at the Veterans Memorial and placed flags on all of the graves for Memorial Day weekend. I have always wanted to take my kids to see this.. so it was really cool that they were able to be a part of the process. I was out of town during this event but just had chills looking at the photos and video footage John took. IT is amazing to look at the number of flags out their and to equate that to people and families....I am truly grateful for the men who died for our freedom...words can never say enough!

Honoring those who gave us our freedom

My Cute Little Cubs

Cub Scouts.. this year's new endeavor

This year we added cub scouts and boy scouts to our list of things we do. I must say I love it. The things they get to do and the things Devin has learned, especially, have been amazing. We have set our family's goal at four Eagle Scouts by the time it is all said and done. When I look through the badges and look at their goals I just marvel at all they will have learned and experienced while on this journey. We are very excited to continue on this path through the summer and in years to come.

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet

Making men who can cook

Cooking is one of my hobbies. I love to cook and bake. I love to try new things out on my family. This does not excite them all of the time. Every morning they will ask me what is on the menu for the night. I feel sometimes they are trying to mentally prepare themselves for what is to come. Sometimes they breathe a sigh of relief when I say something like "tacos". So as I love cooking I want my children to experience it as well. Obviously this experience may help them in the future. All this leads up to the point that they will each cook with LITTLE assistance from mom one night of the week for the summer. They seem pretty excited with the freedom of choice. We have one rule in that they can not cook the same thing twice. Devin kicked us off with a beef and broccoli stirfry that we all agreed was really good. So far success!! (I forgot...the other rule is everything is made from scratch..no box help!) I will update on the menus chosen by my "Little Chefs" later on this summer. Until next time!

Devin's First Dinner Solo

End of Year Spring Piano Recital

The journey of Life

Well this past week I felt a jolt of reality buzzing in my ear telling me to enjoy every moment because things never remain the same and sometimes change in an instant. We said goodbye to the boy's tennis coach this week. This may seem insignificant to some, but he came into our life two years ago and became a constant in the boy's lives for that period of time. He trained them 2-3 hours a day for two years. He made them sweat, he made them laugh, they did cry (not so much because of him), he made them believe in their abilities, and he made them strive to be better players even when they wanted to give up or give in to lazy thoughts. Mike's love of the sport was reflected on the court and reflects in my boys every day whether on the court, in a match, or playing short court in the driveway. I am so thankful that Mike was a part of their lives and we are all sad to see him go. But we do believe he needed to make different choices to fulfill his goals as well. Our family will miss Mike all the way down to Nicholas who has spent time with Mike as well. But this whole post circles back to just enjoying each and every moment....never take any moment for granted. So it is, we say goodbye to Mike and thank him for the wonderful memories the boys will always have... along with the fabulous technique he gave them.
Until next time...

Saying Goodbye can be so hard to do!

Birthdays are more fun with our cousins!!

Sweet Kathryn and Mitchell

Celebrating Mitchell and Preston's Birthday with the family

Trying out new birthday skimboards!

Hydroponic Picking with the Hackney's

Tag...I am it and so bad at these things!!!

I have now been tagged by my friends Amanda and Angela to do the "eight things" list. Probably to everyone's surprise I am going to complete it. I do not know how to link things so I will have to contact those tagged individually!! Here it goes!!

8 things I look forward:
1)Meeting my Lord one day
2)Celebrating 15 years of marriage in a couple months
3)My husband arriving home from work each evening
4)Completing a 1/2 ironman in a few months
5)Lazy days with my kids at the beach
6)Vacation
7)Looking into my kids eyes every day as they discover the world
8)The hugsand kisses the "boys" in my life dole out each day at random

8 things I did yesterday:
1)Sat outside and smelled the blooming gardenias
2)Went to the gym and ran 5 miles
3)Pushed Nicholas on the swing
4)Taught my children about the Monroe Doctrine
5)Enjoyed the cloudy breezy day
6)Did laundry
7)Listened to the kids practice piano
8)Prayed

8 things I wish I could do
1)Participate in a bible study
2)Read more books
3)Have more hours in the day
4)Run faster and farther without the pain of training
5)Spend more time with my husband (less work for him)
6)Take more family vacations
7)Have a second home in the mountains and live there 1/2 the year
8)Tour the country a few months at a time in a motorhome with my family enjoying the beauty of God's earth.

8 shows I watch:
1) American Idol
2) Old Christine
3) Dancing with the Stars
4) Tennis tournaments
5) Golf Tournaments
6) Into the Motherhood
7) Movies
8) I really prefer books to TV

I tag the following people:
Dana
Jolie
Tina
Jill
Tammi
Jen