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 ; )

The Big Gift

Well I meant to include these with Joey's bday pics, but in my haste forgot them.. Joey's BIG bday gift was a playground in the back yard. He was very excited!!! We got a great deal when we went to the store and the one he wanted wasn't in stock, so Bill talked them into selling us the model and they knocked 25% off!!! So Bill took it apart into only 2 pieces for transport!!!
It was still an undertaking though...you can see Joey just couldn't wait!!!

Him and some friends, Leeyil and Maya from next door...we hung the hose on the slide ( its so hot here even plastic will burn ya)

By the time it was all complete it was dark, but Joey was still out there : )

Now you can slide without water

Woohoo, pure little boy bliss

I see you!!!

Climbing the noses (that's what we think the climbing rocks look like)

Joey's 4th Bday Disney Trip

Joey Z. on his 4th bday trip to Walt Disney World, isn't he just a cutie patootie!!! He designed the hat himself!!!!!

When we first arrived at our resort, after checking in our FIRST stop has to be at the Dragon Slide. We let Joey pick his own resort on Disney property and he chose Port Orleans-French Quarter after seeing this very slide. He must have gone up and down about 200 times!!!!

Last year, we used the Disney Florist to bring surprises to our room for Joey. I had planned on also using them this year, the problem was that we ordered every boy item last year and there wasn't much that looked new. So I got a Mickey Basket and we filled it ourselves. It worked out GREAT!!! He was super excited!!!

Just like last year Mickey decorated our room for Joey's Bday....he was so super excited when he woke up!!!

That must be Mickey's helper in the background ; )

Mickey even did the windows

Joey talked us into letting him open 2 presents in the morning : )

Then Bill wrapped him up in all the ribbons....our best gift ever for sure!!!!

Later opening the BIG present The Lego Titanium Command Rig he really wanted....he saw it and said "phew, I was worried I wasn't getting it"

Back in Magic Kingdom, we watched the Celebration Parade...and Joey looked to me and said "Mama, how did they know it was my bday?" It was so awesome....every character greeted him.

Joey and Da got their faces painted, Bill DID NOT want to...but Joey pulled the Birthday card and you see who won!!!!!

Joey got to say "All Aboard" on the Magic Kingdom Train and then got to ride with the Conductor all the way to Toontown. He was very excited. This is free to do, just ask the Conductor during boarding!!!

Joey at the resort getting a Happy Birthday phone call from Goofy

We ate his bday dinner at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary. Look at that kid, he is surrounded by desserts....loads of sprinkles, cake, ice cream, gummy bears.....that's okay its only once a year : )!!!!!

Good view of the back of his shirt!

Bday kiss from Minnie

Of course, bday wishes from Mickey!!!

and the Goof

and Pluto ( my one complaint about this restaurant is you get only ONE visit from each character- and Donald would not stop for another pic even though he cut his time at our table short for someone else. I was VERY irritated by this...cause we have done almost EVERY Character meal in Disney and have never encountered such a policy.)

Back in Magic Kingdom on his favorite ride ( and my least fave) Teacups

We got to see the UP Characters!!!!! Squirrel

Cute pick of Joey and Da

All wiped out after a long and WONDERFUL 4th birthday day!!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to the best son in the whole world. We love you!!!!!!!!!!!