From the Road...

We are in North Carolina right now staying with a college friend of Ollie's. Jason has two dogs so the kids are having a ball. We left Friday at about 7:30 and drove a couple of hours. We had planned to camp at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine but we were too late for that. Our "getting ready" took 10 HOURS!!! Do you see why I hate it?? It always takes sooo long. So anyway, we decided to just camp on the beach. We found a great spot in Marineland and set up the tent right on the beach. We really weren't sure how it would go, we didn't know how far the tide would come up, would we be swept away to sea?? Honestly, at 11 pm I was prepared to take my chances. Hannah, Joe, and I went to sleep right away and Ollie and Grace walked the beach for about an hour. We woke up with the sun and it was just beautiful. We were on the road again by 7:30. The ride was great to Asheville. We stopped for boiled peanuts and cherry cider in South Carolina and continued on our way.
Today we make our way to New Jersey. We don't have to be there until tomorrow evening so there is no rush. We plan to at least do a drive through tour of DC tomorrow probably. Tonight we will find a place to camp along the way. Of course we don't know where yet, we are not planners! We always manage though. I convinced Ollie to bungee the kids bikes to the roof of the van. I'd love to find a fun campground or state park where the kids could ride their bikes and play a bit. We'll see...
Until I find another computer...

Just a cute picture of Joe

Do we have to get ready, can't we just leave?

We are leaving for a two week vacation tomorrow. I cannot get motivated to do anything! We need to pack and do everything that needs to be done to leave town for two weeks. I love traveling but I hate this part. I wish we could just get in the car and go. We could just buy anything we need at the local Wal-mart along the way, we can clean all the rotten food out of the fridge when we get back, the yard can just become three feet high and we'll deal with it when we get home. Alas, my husband doesn't feel the same way and so we must work, work, work so we can leave, leave, leave! I need a list to get myself started so I think I will go make one. Then I can start marking stuff off, that will be fun.

Highlights From Our Week

We've had a lot going on this week. Hannah and Grace each lost a tooth. I pulled both of them which is a little disgusting for me but better than seeing a tooth hanging in their mouth. By the time I was able to pull Grace's she could push it out so that it was perpendicular to her other teeth--gross!
On Tuesday we went with H and B to a kid's program with the London Symphony Orchestra. It was great! There were only about 10 kids there and they got to sit right up close. Their were 5 orchestra members--2 playing violin, 1 playing viola, 1 playing cello, and 1 playing the double bass. They each talked about and played their instrument for the kids. Then they read a story and the musicians played along with the story. It was very good and interactive. We had studied about the orchestra last week so it was neat to see the stringed instruments up close. I was quite proud of Gracie being able to answer that the bow was made of horsehair.
I spent too much time this week reading the new Harry Potter book. I finished at 12:30 this morning. It was great and ended in a very satisfying way. I got to have my picture taken with Harry, Dobby, and You-Know-Who at Barnes and Noble last week.
Joe had to go to the doctor for a physical before starting preschool so we did that today. He was very worried that she would have to look at his privates but thankfully he was spared that embarasssment. The doctor said that if another doctor had at some point confirmed that he did indeed have two testicles and written it down then she could skip checking out his privates. She looked through his paperwork and found the info she needed so Joe was happy. She told me if that ever changes to let them know??!! Always interesting to go anywhere and do anything with Joe. You just never know what subject will come up.
I've added pictures but cannot figure out how to get them in the middle of my text so they are all at the beginning of this post.

Quilting Extravaganza

Here are the finished blocks from the quilt square swap. They are going to make a great quilt all put together. I can't wait to get started. We are supposed to have our final product ready to show off in a month and a half. We are also talking about swapping Christmas blocks then too. I've already got a pattern I would like to try.

Okay, I've gotten hooked on blogs and it's eating away my time! I am reading about 10 blogs everyday which lead me to another blog and another and I can't quit. I'm even choosing reading blogs over reading the new Harry Potter book. I am going to have to discipline myself and only read them at a certain time each day like maybe after the kids have gone to bed. Morning is definitely not a good time to get stuck on the computer. My kids are starving, I'm starving, we have things to do! This morning I put Little House on the Prairie on for them while I get my blog/e-mail fix. I just ate a handful of peanuts so I'm good for another 15 or 20 minutes. All of this will change in a few weeks though. We go on vacation this weekend and the kids will be gone until August 18. August 20 Joe starts preschool and the girls start back homeschooling. I think I will have to make a rule for myself that I can't turn on the computer until the afternoon or get up earlier and have a quiet time and then computer time. For the first time we will be kind of on a schedule. At least he will have to be at school at a certain time each day. We also start keeping sweet baby B and she will get here around 8. So, for these last three days I will let myself revel in computer time until someone faints from hunger.
We have a busy day, I have a couple of hours of tutoring and then we go to a kid's symphony with H and B. Last week we read a few orchestra books, learned about instruments in the orchestra, listened to lots of instruments and now we will go see the orchestra in person. It should be fun. They make it very kid friendly. The kids and O went a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.
Well, I must sign off and make breakfast. For those of you who are Little House fans--my kids are watching the episode where the Olesons adopt Nancy and dress her up just like Nellie. Remember that one????

After Only Three Days...

I got home from my wonderful beach weekend and Joe greeted me with these words, "I've changed." He had told me earlier on the phone that he was mature now so I was eager to see what this change was. Is he going to quit sleeping in my bed? Is he going to go to the bathroom without needing an audience? Is he going to quit screaming about any number of things all day? Can I quit cutting all the tags out of his shirts? Will he finally wear a button down shirt (this would be great since we have a wedding to go to in a couple of weeks)?
So far, from what I've seen none of the above changes have been made. BUT--he did eat some meat and cheese this weekend and had COW milk in his cereal. O had a long talk with him and found out that one of his problems with cow milk was that he thought it came out of the cow's peepee. I wouldn't want to have anything to do with drinking cow pee either! So, once he found out that it comes out of a very clean udder (had to really focus on the clean part) he was more okay with it. I think he will still try to avoid it at all cost but he will let it pass his lips if he has to. Since he is mature now O has given him a glass to drink out of. He is seriously proud of this glass and he doesn't even spill. It takes so little to make these little ones feel good about themselves. Now we'll work on getting out of my bed!!!!

My Son Shows Me He Loves Me By Clobbering Me!

What is it about boys that they have to be so physical in their love??? When Joe is especially happy with me, like a little while ago when I was playing a game with him, he has to show it by climbing all over me. Sometimes in his exuberance it feels more like clobbering than climbing. He loves to rub my hair--aaaaaahhhhhhh, it drives me nuts!!! Especially when I am hot and sweaty. He can't seem to be happy with me without jumping, climbing, running at full speed and slamming into me, etc. I should have seen this coming when at a very young age--4 monthsish he started rubbing his forehead really hard against my forehead. He loved to do that. I try to be accepting of his form of love but it can really be annoying when I am trying to play a game :0). I have to say though that his love can be so sweet too and I'm so blessed to be the receiver of his rough love.

I'm off to the beach this afternoon. I really can't wait. We are having a girl's weekend. I am almost packed--I have all of my scrapbooking stuff, the stuff to make Miss Sally's going away scrapbook, pictures, a couple of books, a new card game, my little espresso maker for making lattes, some clothes, and some toiletries. Everything I need to go to the beach.

Oh yeah, I should bring my bathing suit--not like I intend to put it on but it would be good to have it just in case. You see, I hate the beach! I hate the sand and the sun and the saltwater. I do like walking on the beach in the early morning and late at night but just hanging out at the beach--no thanks!

I have a weekend free of my children, not that I don't absolutely adore them and will miss them terribly :0) but I've got stuff to do!!!! I can never get caught up on all my projects. So this is a work weekend for me, a fun work weekend. I love scrapbooking and I absolutely cannot wait to get started. I got some fun paper, lots of pictures, plenty of adhesive--nothing worse than running out of adhesive!, and some fun family to hang out with. You can't ask for more. I'll post some pictures of my endeavors next week.

But first, before I go to the beach I get to go to my quilt square swap. Some other ladies and myself have been working tirelessly making 13 quilt blocks each. Our theme is red, white, and blue. Today we will meet and swap our blocks so we each go home with our own block but 11 others done by our friends. The 13th blocks will at some point be made into a quilt for a veteran. I've included a picture of my squares at the top.

I have to wrap this up, Joe is not happy that I have been on the computer this much and needs some love and attention.

Happy Weekend a day early!!

The Sewing Bug at Midnight

Once I got out my sewing machine I fully caught the sewing bug! I had bought fabric a month ago to make Fourth of July pillowcases. I've made pillowcases for most of the holidays over the last couple of years but never for the Fourth. And, as it turns out I didn't get them done for the Fourth this year either but better late than never. It's still July. I made the pillow for Elizabeth and then saw the bag of Fourth fabric and decided to go for it. My bobbin was behaving and as long as I had thread I was going to sew. Halfway through the second one the bobbin ran out but I wasn't deterred. I changed it and kept going and it still behaved--amazing!! So, at the end I had 3 pillowcases and a doll pillow. I went in and replaced everyone's old pillowcase with their new ones and didn't wake up anybody. I found Elizabeth(the doll) in her bed box and inserted her pillow under her head. I was rewarded for my efforts this morning when Gracie ran in and gave me a huge hug after finding the pillow.
I did not get the overnight french toast in the fridge. Oh well, it was frozen waffles for breakfast again.
I have a new long list today that involves my children. I have all sorts of things for them to do, let's hope they get into the crossing off part too and will cooperate so we can do it all!!!

Lists

I spent all day cleaning and marking stuff off my list. I love lists. I love to make a really long one with every single little thing I'm going to do so I can have the satisfaction of marking things off. I've even made a list after I've done half the work just so I can mark off all sorts of tasks that I hadn't put onto a list. Today was a work day. We normally live without air in the summer and it's not too bad except that I get really lazy. Who wants to work when they are hot! So, our house had gotten into pretty bad shape. I should've taken before and after pics. So, today was air conditioning, clean really fast, as much as possible day. I started my day with a very long list and almost everything got done. The last few things are to blog--doing it, can't wait to cross it off my list, woo-hoo!, make Grace a pillow for her doll to sleep on, and put together overnight french toast for breakfast in the morning. I think I'm going to be able to get it all done. I can go to bed happy! Does anyone want to come over while my house is clean and cool? I can assure you it won't stay that way for long.
I've also started getting ready for the beginning of our school year. We are using My Father's World and I can't wait to get started. Hannah colored her timeline figures today, not sure where the timeline is going to go yet. I'm thinking that since we already have a world map on our dining room wall a timeline couldn't make it look less tacky. I think for the next 10 years or so our house decor will be called "educational." How's that for interior design, Jill? Bet you don't see that too much. I'm off to make a doll pillow for sweet Elizabeth's precious doll head!

Book Review--Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I've decided to do a book review for those of you who like to read. I just finished reading, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It was a non-fiction book about her and her family. They decided to spend a year eating only what they could get locally. Anything they ate had to be produced, raised, grown, etc. within an hour of their home. They planted a big garden with a ton of food and then froze and canned and whatever to preserve it so they could still eat in the winter. The book is really interesting, she goes into what varieties of vegetables they planted and why, what they did with their bounty, recipes, menus, etc. She also talks a lot about the farming industry and some of the problems with it and why it's so hard to get local produce. Her daughter writes a little at the end of every chapter and there are little blurbs written by her husband throughout that are pretty interesting. It was one of those books that really enlightens you and makes you want to change. Unfortunately, I know myself and I am not going to start some huge garden like her book made me want to. It did make me want to finally check out the organic co-op up the street from me and see what they are all about. It also made me want to make cheese. Yes, you heard me, make my own cheese. Apparently it's not that hard to make cream cheese and mozzarella. You just need some cultures and you can buy those from a website. I have made cottage cheese before, it came out nothing like the store's cottage cheese(it wasn't supposed to), it was more cubey but really good when fried. It's actually really easy, just milk and lemon juice and that makes some nice curds (I had to get that word in here somehow.) Curds--say it four or five times. I think it just sounds funny because it rhymes with "turds." My little brother once asked why Miss Muffett would want to eat turds? But, I digress--back to the book--I highly recommend it as an interesting read if you enjoy reading about food.

Pizza Without Pig

My four year old son has decided he is a vegan. He doesn't know that it's called that but he has sworn off meat and anything made from an animal--milk, eggs, and cheese. In his words, "it's disgusting me." So, I have had to modify our meals to omit these things from at least some of the food. Tonight I made a family favorite, focaccia florentine. He came in as I was crumbling the bacon and announced, "No pig on my pizza please!" Not no bacon, but no pig. This kid is too much. So, a small part of the pizza was just spinach, no pig. The rest of us thoroughly enjoyed our pizza, pig and all!

You thought I was a bum but really I'm Shabby Chic!

I was at Chipssila today, never heard of it? Yes, you have, that chicken place with the cows they use for advertising. That's just how Joe says it so that's how we all say it. So, I was standing in line and as I turned around an acquaintance said, "I knew that was you when I saw that shabby chic outfit!" Can you believe it??? I have a style and it's not el bummo! It's not "I don't know how to dress so all I wear are jean shorts and Target's Ultimate Tee." It's "Shabby Chic." I nearly wet my pants when she said that, it was sooo funny. To think of me being known for any sort of style, particularly shabby chic was just too much. Bless her pea-pickin heart but really?? What I had on today was not my usual jean shorts and the "ultimate tee" but a tiered skirt that made my butt look the size of Texas and a t-shirt. I was feeling hippyish today and bloated so I was going for even more comfortable but not so flattering. And then I get dubbed as "shabby chic." That made my day! Just thought I'd set you guys straight who usually consider me to be a big bum with a big bum I might add.

Pure Silliness

I had a pretty grumpy day on Tuesday (and Wednesday) and after putting the kids to bed I was walking out of Grace and Joe's room and had a cup of water in my hand. Well, Grace decided to scurry down her ladder just in time to collide with my cup and cause me to spill half of it on her head. She looked at me in surprise and I was almost really annoyed and about to tell her so. Instead, I threw the rest of the cup of water right at her (not the cup, just the water). That totally cracked us both up and Hannah as well who was in the hall at the time. Laughing was a much better way to end the day than more grumping!

Scheduling, schmeduling....

Okay, so I tried to make out a very loose schedule just for today--no even for real school or anything--I did it and it wasn't so bad. I wrote out the things I wanted to accomplish and then put them into the schedule. So--it looked like this--
Get up at 6:30 and between 6:30 and 9 I wanted to read my Bible, make pancakes for breakfast, feed everybody, get everybody dressed, beds made, teeth brushed, and start a load of laundry.
9-10 Work on our study go christian heroes and do an Usborne search book with Joe when he got bored of coloring and listening.
10-11 Chores--teach the girls how to wipe down the bathroom using vinegar/water spray bottle, clean the bathroom, and vacuum
11-12 lunch, make popsicles, and free time if we finish early
12:30 reading time
12:30-1:45 quiet time in rooms
1:45-4 library for the Captain Underpants party
4 on freetime
Pretty easy right--easy to stick to, pretty flexible and we'd accomplish quite a bit. So--this is how it really went. I got up at 6:45, late but not too late. I followed the schedule great until 9 (although the laundry didn't get started until later). At 9 when it was Corrie Ten Boom time (she's the great christian hero we are studying). But--this is what was happening at 9. Hannah was reading a book (woo-hoo) and really into it. She made a great deal with me, if she reads three whole chapter books this week I will take her to Target and let her spend her own money on a really tacky pair of capri pants that she is just dying to have. So, she was madly reading and reading today. She finished her book at about noon. But at 9 I didn't have the heart to stop her. Besides, just a few minutes into the search book with Joe he didn't want to do that anymore because he wanted to play star wars with Grace. So, I went and did dishes and laundry and then spent pretty much the rest of the morning helping Joe deal with his overwhelming feelings of frustration and despair because his new ewok won't stand up on his own with his feet together. He can only stand alone when his feet are spread apart as though they are walking. Joe hates this and melted into a pool of frustration numerous times over it today. I'm ready to throw the dumb ewok away but we seem to have gotten past it for now at least. These meltdowns were definitely not in the schedule but with a kid like Joe they are part of life so they should be, if only they were predictable. So, back to the schedule, it's about 11ish now and we've missed chore time too. But, Hannah's still reading and Grace and Joe and I are ready to make popsicles even though the schedule says it's lunch time. So, forget the schedule we made some yummy popsicles--frozen fruit and yogurt pops and rocky road pops (chocolate pudding mixed with marshmallow and put in a cup with nuts and choc chips). Then everybody wanted to lick the bowl so we had lunch first and then licked the bowl. Then Joe had another huge meltdown because he wanted the wooden car so I laid on the bed with him and the girls listened to the Corrie Ten Boom CD and did the coloring sheets and stuff while Joe and I rested for about half an hour. Long enough for him to calm down and me to fall asleep. We got up and he and Grace played in their room for about an hour happily--miracle of all miracles! Hannah and I played skip-bo and she beat me twice. She always beats me! Then I took a two hour nap (not on the schedule) while the kids watched Leave it to Beaver. Then I put dinner in the oven and came to write this blog (not on the schedule). Notice that we never made it to the library. They were having a Captain Underpants party and I told the kids that the punch would be called "Dirty Laundry Water" but it really wasn't and that's all they needed to know to know they didn't really want to go. We don't read Captain Underpants anyway so it wasn't a big deal to miss it. So, I've decided that scheduling is just not our thing. Maybe making a list of things I would like to accomplish will be better. Then as we are ready to transition we have an idea of what we want to do. Of course, we never did get to chores today. Maybe I'll try to schedule a day once we start school and really need more order anyway. Honestly though, I don't think a schedule will ever work for us. Chore charts and a list might be better. Chore charts....I see a blog coming!

Scheduling, sticking to it, and other bad words

I am feeling the need to try to somewhat schedule our days. I feel like so much time is wasted because there is very little structure. I really stink at structure though. I mean, somedays I get up and have breakfast cooked, a load of laundry done, and everybody dressed by 8 am. Other days, like yesterday we ate breakfast around 10 and I don't think Joe ever did get dressed. Of course, he had slept in his clothes so that was okay. See what I mean--no structure! We have a few weeks before we go on a few week vacation and then we get back and start school so I figured we should use these three weeks to get ourselves in shape around here and start practicing having some structure. I have thought all day about this and keep putting off actually coming up with something concrete. We can't be on a schedule tomorrow anyway because we are having company for most of the day. And so go my list of excuses. Always some reason not to start. When I think about how much we can accomplish by having at least a loose schedule it makes me really want to give it a shot. I would love for the kids to be doing more chores, having time set aside for reading, free time, rest time, cleaning time, etc. So, I should stop talking about it and go do it right??? Maybe tomorrow. Right now the new book I'm reading is calling my name--Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Should be interesting!

Happy Anniversary to me and my hubby!

Just two days after my birthday I get to celebrate my anniversary. We've now been married for 12 years! We've had our ups and downs and we are totally-sold out-committed to this marriage. I am thankful for a man who sacrifices for our family so that I can stay home and be there for my children day in and day out and day in and day out and day in and day out... I really am thankful :0). I am thankful for a man who is completely faithful to me and this marriage no matter what! I am thankful that he is such a great father for our three children. He is always willing to do whatever, whenever, and is even the chief puke cleaner upper because it makes me sick! How many men do you know like that? I see many more anniversary celebrations in our future.

Small Children Live Here

These three pictures are best described by the title above--"Small Children Live Here." I give up any thought of ever having my house look normal and in order again. I should have given this up long ago but I always think that if I stay up that extra hour putting everything away we can wake up and start fresh and keep it picked up for the day--ha!!! Let me explain these three pictures--things you will never see in a home where there are no small children. First, over here on my right is C3PO peeking out of my entertainment center. I thought for sure he'd be there for weeks until Joe finally remembered him but I took this picture last night and today he is gone. Where could he be now? What other unlikely place will he be found peeking out? I find it funny that he has been moved. I really thought he had been forgotten and left there forever or until I moved him. The top left picture is the underside area of my kitchen table. I love for my kitchen table to be clear and clean and ready for the next meal. Instead, it is often the dropping off point of all sorts of things, on it and under it. Here in this picture you can see the "LadyBug Land" insect holder now containing a silverfish that Grace found and named "Silvery". Also you will note two crashed airplanes and two stray pieces of paper. I wouldn't mind the stray pieces of paper so much if these were the only two. But no, some child got into a cutting frenzy and those little squares are all over the house! I'm sure that when I see little scraps of paper my children see tickets or money or some other whatever they've created. Lastly, are the frog and the star. Guess where they are? On the ceiling!!! The star belongs there--you know the glow in the dark kind? But the frog was tossed up there by a dear friend, Abby--Debi if you are reading this, yes, I'm talking about your Abby. Do you think she could come over and get it off the ceiling? :0) It would actually be quite easy to get it down, it's just one of those squishy frogs. I just need to get a stool in there and do it but I think I would rather see how long we can leave it there. Like the streamers that we taped to the door for Grace's birthday a year and a half ago that we just recently took off (just little pink remnants--the streamers were pulled down long ago). I must say here that I am not complaining that small children live in my house. I treasure these years and will be sad to see them go. I know one day there will be no little action figures peeking out of odd places, a clean and cleared kitchen table, and only paint on my ceilings. I occasionally have to remind myself that these messes and things are not there to make me crazy but to remind me that "Small Children Live Here," and how blessed I am to get to spend my days with these sweet children (can you tell they're asleep and not interrupting me?).
Tomorrow is a new day--I think I'll go pick up some things (like the box of crayons I nearly broke my foot tripping on earlier) before bed and we can start fresh tomorrow and have a clean house all day!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today is my 36th birthday. My sister has already informed me that I'm pushing 40! It's amazing that I am already "pushing 40" I remember thinking 36 was sooo old and grown up. I thought for sure that by the time I was that ancient age that I would finally feel grown up. Well, I don't. Sometimes I feel like I'm just playing house. Surely I'm not old enough to have three kids and my own home. I still feel (well, not my feet) and act so much younger (can we say really immature--third grade potty humor immature!!!!). Maybe by the time I'm really 40 I will have grown up (but I hope not too much).
I have had a great birthday--I went to Target, Chick-fil-a, to E's house to have my eyebrows waxed--woo hoo!!!, and then to the library and dinner at Chili's. O took G and J to the springs and camping so it's just H and me. She and I have enjoyed our time together. We don't get much time without the other two. I really wish I could have more one on one time with each child. It's much more relaxing and you can really listen to them and have fun with them. H and I love playing Skip-Bo and haven't had a chance to play in about a week. She always beats me but I'm proud to say that I won tonight! She was pretty distracted watching the old tv show "Bewitched" but I'll take a win any way I can get it. She's just finished so I am going to go read to her. My favorite time of day. We are starting a new book, the first in the Spiderwick Chronicles series. We'll see if we like it. There are so many books I want to read with my kids, it seems there will never be enough time.
Signing off..
Tiffany

Happy Fourth of July

Today was a fun-filled Fourth of July for us. It didn't start out that way though. This picture pretty much says it all. A few weeks ago I made G a great fourth of July skirt doesn't do it --it's pretty loud but fun. I had the grand idea of making J a pair of shorts to go with it. I knew H would never wear any of it in a million years so I didn't bother, just bought her a t-shirt from Target. Soooo....I sewed together a bunch of patches to make about a yard of fabric and a friend made J some wonderful shorts. At least she and I thought they were wonderful. H thought they were hideous, Dad thought they were hideous and more importantly J thought they were hideous. I was still not discouraged though. I was going to "make a deal" to get J to wear them just to the parade. I offered him a pack of gum to wear the shorts to the parade. Poor guy, he wanted the gum so bad but just couldn't handle the thought of wearing them to the parade. He said he was worried that people would stare at him and say something to him and on top of it all he doesn't wear "sabric" clothes (he can't say his f's). I realized that even if I could get him to wear the shorts he would be completely miserable and self-conscious and would have no fun at all. I couldn't just give him a pack of gum for no reason though (could I?) so I decided he could get the pack of gum if he just posed for a picture. Well, even that turned out to be an ordeal. He was so embarrassed (his words) that he couldn't even look at the camera much less smile. Finally we got the picture at the beginning of this blog. When will I learn to live with understanding with my son? If I had taken a few minutes to think about it I could've guessed he would feel the way he felt. He is very introverted and absolutely wants nothing to do with people seeing him. He'd prefer to be invisible. Sorry J! I took the shorts to our church function and hopefully one of his little friends got a chance to wear them and I'm sure she looked great. She loves being looked at!
We went on to enjoy our day. We walked downtown for the annual parade. We made it through the whole parade with no rain! We've been here for 11 years now (as of today) and seen probably 11 Fourth of July parades and never has it been rained out. That's amazing for summer in Florida. After that we walked to the park for the festivities. That was a lot of fun, a little muggy but overcast so not so hot. We walked home and the kids spent all afternoon watching "Liberty's Kids" shows. Later we watched the fireworks and everybody came home and crashed. It was a great day!