Summer Critters

Living in Florida, everyday is mixed with unusual wildlife- whether you like it or not. For starters there are the little gecko-like lizards that run around everywhere, even in your house : ) In fact, they have been doing construction near our subdivision and its chased all kinds of animals out and about...last week we saw a large gopher tortoise and a GIGANTIC Florida Cottonmouth. The Cottonmouth slithered right up to the car while Joey and I watched it for about 5 minutes straight! Of course, I didn't have my camera in either case, darn!!! I have been carrying it since and have seen nothing, nada, zippo. Anyway, enough of my chatting...here are our summer critters : )

Early this summer this dove took up residence in one of our outdoor speakers. Bill was NONE too happy!! He even was going to pressure wash its nest away, when we noticed she had laid eggs. So Bill has dealt with a dirty speaker and she has dealt with our music, haha!

and soon enough here are the little baby birds

Aren't they cute!!!

We also have a resident toad. Who must be super toad surviving our resident snake (more below) But we have seen him or her all summer

Here is Joey trying to catch it

and it jumped up on him....look at that funny face!!

a better pic, big toad must be eating all the bugs and lizards

Well here she is, our snake. My first sighting of her was about 1 1/2 yrs ago and she has been haunting our backyard ever since. I know she is a girl because her babies ran over my foot while I was mowing....I screamed VERY LOUD!!! You can see she is very long and will rear up on you when you approach. For that reason and for my sanity while Joey played out back, I finally was successful in "shoveling" her. Sorry animal lovers, she was driving me mad!!

Not sure if I posted this one before but here is our resident gator, she comes back and forth to our pond and we have seen a couple of her babies....for this reason we do not walk around ANY ponds here anymore.

More coming, Animal Kingdom Lodge, first soccer game, Summer of 09...

More from the Jax Zoo...

After going with our pals Joey and me decided to take Da to the Zoo as well. Here is Joey and Da feeding the giraffes


Joey trying to coax this bird onto his finger

Beautiful silverback Gorilla, very regal

Joey trying to harass another big bird

The Jaguars, always asleep

The lions were out, yay!!!

Jax Zoo with Kyle and Evie

This summer we went to the Jacksonville Zoo with our pals and great neighbors, Evie and Kyle (and their Mom, my pal Beth)

We got to see the new baby giraffe that was just born!!!

Evie liked pushing Joey in the stroller, so funny!!!

Of course, the best part of the Jax Zoo, feeding the Giraffes...just LOOK at the tongue

We also lucked out and got to see the snakes being fed, this one was munching down...YUK!!

The Jaguars are SO awesome!!! The black one wasn't out this day, too HOT!!
Elephants, my favorite!!

It was so hot, the kids all got changed and splashed around

Joey and Evie riding the dolphin

Space Shuttle and JFK Space Center

Well in addition to the many other activities we did this summer, we TRIED to catch the Space Shuttle Launch from the JFK Space Center, unsuccessfully....but it was lots of fun anyway!! Here's Joey and Da waiting for the takeoff...but it started to storm before takeoff : (

The waiting got a little boring : )

The museum inside was awesome though, and Joey got to meet a REAL Astronaut and see the Space Shuttle Discovery

Joey in front of the actual capsule that carried our astronauts on their first mission. Let me tell you folks it is SMALL!!! I would never be able to stand it!!

and Joey in a replica of the capsule, you can see he fits nicely, now imagine a tall man in there, cramped

Joey in front of Gus Grissom, John Glenn some very brave men!!

More of our summer to come : )

School Days - 1st Day of school

Well the day has finally come and gone, Joey has started school. This year he started an afternoon pre-kindergarten program. He was so extra special excited he just was about to burst!!! Here he is at Teacher Orientation, the first time he would see his classroom : )

Me and him first day of school, he kept saying "You can leave Mom. They will take good care of me." Haha... I still cried

About an hour before school was to start Joey told me that he needed a mustache and beard like Da. Well in my haste to get everything perfect for his first day I just kindof said "Oh that's nice honey" about five minutes later...I found this complete with leg and chest "hair" too!!! Good thing it wiped right off : )

Meeting his friends in the hall

Waiting for school to begin, we got there early....he looks so peaceful. Totally ready to go to school!!!

Hanging up his lunchbox on his hook!

I cannot believe my baby is in school already, time sure does fly by!!!

I know (BILL) that I have missed some of our summer activities...now that I have 3 hours in the afternoon I should be getting more and more caught up ; )