Strawberry Picking=Fun and Amazing Day!!!

We had so much fun on Saturday at Oak Haven Farms!!! It was family day, we picked delicious strawberries, played on the playground, went on a hayride, had cotton candy (JT's first on a stick like that!) and bounced in the bouncehouse!!!! So much fun an FREE fun at that (well paid for the strawberries!!!)....and the weather could not have been more perfect!!! Such an awesome day that we will remember for so many years to come!!!! :)

What we did after school.......

Well...we started with good educational intentions....practicing letters, writing word problems out etc. in the cookie sheets filled with shaving cream!!! But soon it turned to this.....tons of fun!!!! Oh, well........guess we will shoot for a little more time on task for next time!!!! ;)

Buses and children and gardens.... oh my!!!!

Yesterday was Rachel's very first fieldtrip!!!! We went to Bok Tower Garden. I must admit, when I first heard of the trip a couple weeks ago, I thought it would not really be much fun to go there for five year olds! I was still excited to be going....but was a bit unsure of the "fun factor" to come!!

I was happily surprised at how much fun the kids had. Me too! I drove myself, but the kiddos got to ride in chartered, air conditioned buses while watching Eric Carle videos! Things have certainly changed since my field trip days!

Once we all arrived,we watched an "informational" movie (requested popcorn from the kids could not be given!!!) Then, we were off on our Sensory Scavenger Hunt , looking for animals, flowers, gardens, the Tower etc.

My four kids were awesome!! Such well behaved kids, loving being free in the warm, outdoors to giggle, learn and just have fun! I loved seeing Rachel with her classmates. So animated and happy. My little girl is growing up so fast....everyday when I think I can't love her anymore, I am proven wrong as she falls deeper into my heart.

After the hunt, we had our picnic lunch and then the kiddos played in the play area!!! So much is expected these days at school...even in Kindergarten. It was so nice to sit back and watch the kids be what they are...KIDS! I am still amazed at how well 90 five and six year olds got along. I have been on a lot of fieldtrips before, from when I was teaching. But this is by far, my favorite one, as I was able to just be with Rachel to relax and have fun!!!

Really, a blessing. A blessing to add to so many other blessings in my life! :)

Germ Patrol...Rachel style!!!!

Yesterday morning as I dropped Rachel off at school, I heard a story from the lunchroom the day before. Not from Rachel...but from one of the teachers at school. Ms. Green, is out at the car line each morning helping all the students and she also assists in the lunchroom every day. She helps the kids get settled, open difficult things etc. She thought the story was so funny, she wanted to tell me...and I was glad she did, as it put a big smile on my face!

Rachel apparently, asked her "do you remember to wash your hands everyday before you come here to help us!". Ms. Green told her, "definately, we wash our hands...why are you asking?" Rachel then told her..."well I just want to make sure there are not germs all over the place from you since you help us and are close to our food everyday!" So then, the teacher asked her, "what made you think of that?" "oh just my brain".

Then that was it, she was content to have the two Ms. Greens do what they have done since day one at school, help everyone....knowing their hands are clean of course.

So, as I laughed, I also smiled to myself thinking...I guess her brain has all of her father and my reminders filed away about hand washing.

Even if those reminders are usually followed with groaning and a relunctant "allllll riiiight!"

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

Summer is coming...and......we all scream for ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of life's greatest treats...going out for ice cream!

JT is definately one of ice cream's biggest fans! So is Rachel, just couldn't get a picture of her enjoying it! Oh well....there will be lots more times for that!

A perfect end to a perfect day...YUM!

Snowball Fight!!!! :)

So tonight, we had a family "snowball" fight. Yep, that is right, a snowball fight.... in March. Right here in Florida!!!! Right in our house....just the four of us (oh, I guess five the five of us for the couple of times Brandi was in our path!!!)

Gary gathered up all of our socks.........all folded up in nice little balls. Had Rachel close her eyes...put a pile right in front of her and then proclaimed........"SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!!!!!"

Gary and Rachel started...I joined in right away...and about two seconds later, around the corner comes JT, screeching...."SNOWBALLS!!!!"...as he raced to pick up some from the floor and join in!

The shrieks of excitement continued!!! This is what memories are made of!


The snowballs were flying. And so was the love!!!!

Gary Dean Brown

When I was 16 years old, the most awesome thing happened to me. I met the most amazing boy. Yes, back then he was a boy. And I was just a girl. Afterall...that was nearly 22 years ago.



I walked into a fast food restaurant, Wendy's, to start my first job. Behind the counter was another employee. I remember he opened the door for me. I remember he smiled back at me when I said "thanks". I remember hearing his voice on the intercom reading off an order as I followed my new manager to the back of the store. I remember it all...because it is truly at the top of the list of defining moments in my life.

Little did I know on that day, in that moment, I had met the best friend of my entire life. Little did I know that in just a little over a year after that time (July 12th 1988 to be exact), I would realize that he would start to be my second "real" boyfriend...which I would eventually come to find out would be my last boyfriend. And little did I know, that just a little over four years after that (August 1, 1992), he would become my husband. My definate better half. My ultimate supporter in every way. My hero everyday. And of course the love of my life.


Since I met Gary, we have certainly been through a lot. New jobs, college graduations, births of babies, deaths in our families, a lot of moves, some hard times and tons of great times. He is the person in my life, that I know, no matter what, I can go to and have that soft place to fall. Or when I have good news, he is the first person I want to share it with. He embodies the phrase of "putting your family first"...in every single way. He loves me unconditionally. He is the most positive role model to our son of what kind of man to be in life. And he is a shining example, for our daughter to see, of what a husband should be and how he should treat you, so she in turn one day can find someone positive and loving to share her life with.

I have worried about a lot of things in my life. I have second guessed myself on a lot of decisions I have made. But, the one thing, that I have never worried about or second guessed myself on is that I found the person in the world that God literally created for me. I found my soul mate. I found my best blessing in life. I found Gary Dean Brown....I love you so much!!!