January 28, 2008

My cousin Jane and her husband Pat visited us for a few days this weekend. They are on a month long excursion around Florida and we are so glad they came by because we had a blast and Jim has gotten way into kayaking. I would like to try it myself when the weather gets nicer.

The weekend started off with Jim bringing home our new 46" LCD flat panel TV so we all parked in front of it Friday night and watched movies. Saturday was a little dismal but Pat took Jim out kayaking on the Gulf. The waves were very calm so it was a great learning environment. After an initial spill, Jim became a pro. They went out again Sunday morning and had a gorgeous day kayaking in the canal and on the Gulf riding the waves.

We had homemade pizza and barbecued enjoying the weather. I hooked Jane up with some knitting needles and yarn for the rest of her trip. Can't believe she didn't bring any to begin with! She hooked me up with something for my mac. Hardly a fair trade. Unfortunately it won't work on my computer until we upgrade the operating system. We had a talk about self-employment and I am seriously considering starting a website to advertise my photo retouching skills. I'll keep you posted on the newest venture.

We had a great time catching up on the old and creating another Florida memory. It was also great to finally get to know Pat better and we will have them back anytime. No visitors are looming in our immediate future but the room is open for guests anytime! Don't know if I mentioned it before, but March 7 we find out our next assignment so any future visitors you better get crackin' and get down here!

Kayaking Take 1

Kayaking Take 2

Flipping Kayaks

On the Gulf






Rhiannon and Jane


Rhiannon and Pat


Jane and Jim Hiding Secrets!!



Brad on the Beach at Sunset


Rhi and Daddy on the Beach

January 22, 2008

All of us at St. Vincent Island

Travis and Emily left this morning and I've spent the day trying to catch up on my chores, etc. We would much rather have them back so we can continue showing them all the great things about our latest stomping ground.

Friday night we caught up over a few drinks around the cozy fire bowl and believe it or not, it has been cool enough to use it. After a rainy start Saturday, we ended up having a really nice day in Destin capped off with dinner at our favorite Irish restaurant, McGuires. Sunday, as predicted last week, we enjoyed watching the Patriots kick some Charger booty! We had a full house as usual and we always love sharing our game days with friends. Jim made a bold statement last week about buying a big screen LCD TV if we made it to the Super Bowl. We'll see if he follows through.

Monday Jim initiated a trip to St. Vincent Island which is about a half hour drive from here. It was a 5 minute boat ride to the island which was only about 7 miles around. It started off really windy but once we got to the interior of the island it was beautiful for hiking. We definitely saw deer tracks and Emily and I are pretty sure we saw some bear tracks too. The beach side of the island had some of the best shells we have come across so far in Florida. Rhi and I could have spent all day there collecting new treasures; like we don't have enough already. The jelly fish were enormous too! I am looking forward to going back there in the Spring when it is a little warmer and we have more time to lounge there all day.

It is a bummer our friends had to leave so soon but we really enjoyed having them here. This weekend my cousin Jane passes through so I am off on a mad dash to get the place ready for our new guests. Can't wait to share my homemade wine with ya Jane!

Travis and Jim

Danielle and Jim

The Group

At the Go Kart Track (I think it's Jim whizzing by)

The Go Karters

At McGuires...

Travis and Emily

Rhiannon and Lisa

Danielle and Jim

Playing Peek a Boo

Peek a Boo Buddies Travis and Brad

The Game...

Patriots Group

Brad

Mom and Brad

Rhi and Em

St. Vincent Island...

Danielle and Emily

Island Landscape

Beach Shots

Sand Mushroom

Jelly Fish

Jelly Fish

Bear Track?

Misc. Beach Shots...

Mom and the Kids

Rhiannon Pics

January 18, 2008

So I built Rhiannon a baby crib out of wooden trays and dowels we found at AC Moore. She was so excited and she helped me paint it and put it together. The beds are lined with silver satin fabric scraps I had laying around and I stuffed them with polyester filling. Roswell seems to think it's a bed for her!

Last weekend we had some friends over for the Patriots and Jaguars game and the kids played in their gear on the porch with our new safety gate firmly in place. We definitely don't want any more porch/stair mishaps and it is a huge relief to be able to let them play outside since they love it so much.

This weekend we hope to go to the Mardi Gras festival in Destin with our friends Travis and Emily who are here until Tuesday. Sunday we are all getting together to watch the Patriots beat the Chargers! I hope to have more pictures to post next week. Also, this video is one from the archives. It's of Rhiannon meeting her brother for the first time.


The Kids Reading Together


Rhiannon's Baby Crib




Roswell's Baby Crib