Celebrate Literacy

This week was Celebrate Literacy week at school and to close out the week long celebration all of the kids were able to dress up today like one of the character's in their favorite book - as long as they carried the book with them all day.

Ethan chose to be a football player from his Family Huddle book.

Surprise! Surprise! Madison picked Cinderella. Bet none of you saw that coming? :~)

Sadie was a puuuurrrrfect cat.

Coral too had fun dressing up and carrying her book to class.

The whole crew

In addition each class decorated their door in honor of one of their favorite books.

Ethan & Madison's class chose Fancy Nancy

And Sadie's class picked Freddy for President

It was a SUPER fun week!

Future Engineer...

Or just a kid who enjoys taking things apart???

Truth be told I really don't know!

Ethan was invited to a friends birthday party which had quite a unique theme. It was a "boys only" party and all the little men were given a tool belt, some tools and a bunch of appliances to take apart.

All the boys ~but especially my boy~ was in heaven!!!

And since that day he has devoured as many appliances as we can deliver. I have even stooped to walking the neighborhood on trash days and once found a TV for him.

Our neighbors have brought him items, his aunts, uncles, his grandparents and friends from school.

It's been an exciting new hobby for this kid and I am not sure he'll outgrow it any time soon.

I guess as long as he stays away from my working appliances ~~its all is good. :)

Good Golly, Miss Molly!

My girl Molly camped out on ~not 1 ~but 2 pillows...

Oh My!

Is this really what goes on when I'm not looking????

Winter Misery in Florida, REALLY???

It wasn't just us Floridians that had a hard time with the record breaking temps that invaded our normally Sunny South Florida

This WAS my Tropical Paradise

They were crying out for prunning and trimming, warmth and SUNSHINE

7 large bags and 1 HUGE pile we think we've made them feel a little better.

My Beloved Gardenia

My most favorite tree in my Tropical Paradise is my Gardenia Tree.

and this poor baby got infected with an absolute horrible fungus

The branches and leaves have a dark black gook caked on them

it seemed like it was screaming for me to just Euthanize it

but instead Madison and I spent the day scrubbing it with a tooth brush, wash cloth and warm soapy water

and now hoping this beloved tree of mine has just a little fight left in it...

Stay tuned.

Perfect Fit

Reading Buddies

Ethan saves his reading homework to do with his Grandpa daily

And Grandpa faithfully sits with Ethan and reads book after book after book; day after day after day.

These boys make me smile :~)

Hard Day at School???

This is how/where you will find my Madison almost everyday after school...

It's a tough life she's got. :~)

Goodbye Nursery, HELLO Boy Cave...

As you know Ethan is a whopping 7 years old. I don't know how it happened I just know that it did.

This little man of mine was still sleeping in a "nursery". Although he had a regular bed his walls were still painted pastels and he still had the baby animal print boarder, valence, lamp shade, etc...it was quite sad, really.

So this weekend Ethan and Brian set out to transform Ethan's once nursery into a full fledged BOY CAVE and WOW did they do a GREAT job!!!

Check it out:

He picked out an army green paint for the walls, cameo comforter and valence. He has army planes hanging from his ceiling and a poster of every super hero EVER known without forgetting to give props to his 'Cannes. He has a spot for all his trophies, and a place to study, he has a "guest" bed for a friend (or someday brother), a cubby for reading and and containers for all his boy toys.

The boy is in his Glory.