Blue Moon

I shot this photo of the Blue Moon tonight right outside my front door.  Yes, I was too lazy to drive anywhere snazzy tonight....

Beautiful view

What a beautiful view. :) Looking at this is not a bad way to spend the evening, eh?

Soccer!

My youngest son had his first soccer practice this evening.  This was his first official sport (besides swimming lessons).  He was THRILLED!  I always knew he'd be a soccer player - he's been kicking balls since before he could walk!  He had a blast out on the field tonight...smiling while running and kicking the ball.  What a cute little guy...  I couldn't stop smiling myself. :)

After the storm

I saw this gorgeous rainbow on the way to check out the beach tonight.  Nothing like returning to paradise to find this view waiting for me after the storm...

Rain, rain, rain

Another day, more rain, more wind from Isaac... It actually sounds like Jupiter got much more rain than the Keys.  There is flooding everywhere here....  We're starting to get cabin fever - kids are going crazy.  I took this photo looking out at the river this morning.  Gray and gloomy, but still beautiful in a way.  Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny for our drive back down to the Keys.  

Another cake!

We have had three different birthday cakes for our son in the last four days! :)  He's having a "birthday week" since he celebrated with Daddy, me and his brother on Thurs, then Nani and Papi last night, and my sister and family tonight.  What a lucky boy!  Here he is blowing out his candles this evening.

Fun in the puddles

There was already a lot of rain and wind coming off bands from Hurricane Isaac today when we arrived in Jupiter.  During a lull in the storm, the kids had a blast playing outside in the puddles in my parents' yard.  My baby boy got QUITE muddy and wet, but he had such a good time! :)

Fuzzy baby heron

I saw this cute little fuzzy baby green heron tonight at sunset.  

Birthday and a Gator

We had a celebration for our son all day today.  First, we had "Mommy and son day": no school, just quality time together.  We went bike riding to see the alligator, played cars in the living room, and then after my older son and Daddy came home, we had Chinese food,  cake, opened presents and had "family movie night" and watched Cars 2.  It was fun!  I honestly can NOT believe my baby is four years old already.... Time really flies.  

Gator

I love that I can go photograph an alligator within 5 minutes of my house whenever I want here in the Florida Keys.  

Beach fun

We went to the beach with my son's best friend and his family today after school.  The boys had so much fun together: swimming, snorkeling, playing on their surfboards, and climbing in the sea grapes.  Good stuff.

First day of school

Well, BOTH of my boys went to their first day of school today.  Unbelievable... I really struggled with leaving my baby boy today when I walked out of his preschool classroom.  How did this happen? I JUST gave birth to him, didn't I?  It is soooooo hard to watch my babies growing up.  It is heartbreaking to be alone in the quiet house during the day....  I have lost myself a bit in this parenting process... BUT, my baby had a great first day - he didn't even cry!!!  That screams adjusted and confident, right?  I, however, was a disastrous mess. I cried/sobbed and paced in my empty house all morning until I got to pick him back up and heard his happy "Hi Mommy!" when he greeted me with his contagious, beautiful smile.  :)  Being a Mommy is a very difficult and emotional job, but it is also a very rewarding and inspiring job.  I love my boys so much.... they are becoming these amazing little people, and I guess my hubby and I have a little something to do with that.  That makes me (us) very proud.  :)

Motor Boat Daddy

My family and I had a fantastic morning out on the boat today.  We drove to the island off the Bahia Honda Bridge, swam around, explored the rocks for awhile, saw a huge manatee (with lots of fresh prop scars...poor thing), and had a blast!  Here is a picture of my husband "motor-boating" the kids back to the boat from the island.  They loved it!  What a fun way to end the summer! 

We also had a great dinner out tonight and got the kids to sleep right at 7pm.  They'll be ready for school tomorrow.... what about Mommy?  I just can't believe my baby will be starting preschool in the morning....where did the time go?

Ahhh..... childhood!

I had a photoshoot tonight with 13 people - 8 children.   Yes, it was a challenge, but so, so, so fun!  I love my job!  This shot makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it.  Notice the third boy from the left biting his cousin's hand and the baby crying her eyes out?  Ahhh....childhood..... it is so innocent and so precious and so hilarious! :)

Hammock Skipper butterfly on the sea-lavendar

I saw this Hammock Skipper butterfly on this flowering sea-lavendar today and had to stop and try to catch a few shots.  It flitted around quite fast, so it was challenging, but totally fun!  What a little beauty.

Improvised sandbox in our yard

Today, the kids decided to use a pile of sand that we still need to spread in our yard as a sandbox.  They had a blast with their diggers, beach toys, and dinosaurs while I did a little yard work.

Grasshopper

Saw this little guy walking across the road today.  He kept coming right at me and actually climbed up my leg TWICE!  

Another beautiful sunset

I am reminding myself tonight of all there is in which to be grateful... I needed to get away for just a bit for sunset tonight to try and "recover" from my worrying.  Lately, I am so consumed with all the stressful things going on right now that I have been forgetting to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the little moments.  Well, I went and did that for a little while this evening. :)  I just have to breathe... things are going to be ok....they'll be more than ok.

My little tricycler

My little boy is sick with a cold...poor baby.... but he still had enough energy to want to go tricycling around the neighborhood today.  Here he is doing his thing.  What a happy little angel.  

Sunset through the mangroves

I watched a gorgeous sunset tonight through the mangroves.  True, I was standing in knee-deep muck and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes (I could actually hear the humming from the mosquitoes in the nearby woods...scary sound), but it was still amazing. :)  

Yellow plumeria

My favorite color Frangipani (plumeria) variety is yellow.  The flowers smell soooooo good.  I saw this one today and had to stop to "smell the flowers". 

Bubble Fun

A little somebody is starting to get more and more comfortable blowing bubbles in the water and getting his face wet..... 

My nephew

While we were all outside at my sister's house today before dinner I shot a couple pics of my sweet nephew while the rest of the boys played in the sandbox.  

Paddleboarding with Daddy in Jupiter

The boys took turns paddleboarding with their Daddy today in the intercoastal.  They had a blast and each got to explore the mangrove islands in the middle of the river.  I couldn't believe my luck when I looked up and saw them paddling right past Jupiter Lighthouse. :)

Gazing out the window

We had a really nice visit this afternoon/evening at my sister's house.  I certainly needed to take my mind off things for a little while. We had pizza, the kids played with a huge amount of Thomas trains, and we had such a relaxing time. :)  I took this photo of my sister and nephew looking out the window.  I caught the moment when he reached out to move the curtains...so cute.

My baby

I just love this boy so much. He had a great time swimming in the pool today, which made me very happy since he's not been feeling well lately.  Praying we figure out what is hurting his tummy soon... I could stare at his face all day long. :)

Sunset through the cypress

I took this photo looking through the cypress tree outside in my parents' yard tonight...just another beautiful evening on the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter.

Fort in the living room

My son was feeling up to building a fort on the couch today.  He built this one all by himself.  Then, he took all his Rescue Heroes into the fort with 2 flashlights and set up a whole layout.  I was so happy to see him having fun and not having pain in his tummy.  

Sunset at Bahia Honda State Park

I had a photoshoot tonight with an adorable couple and their 5 month old baby.  In between shots, I quickly took this picture of the sunset on the bay.  I see this view all the time. However, people that are just visiting frantically take pictures in awe of the beauty, and sometimes it shakes me a bit so I remember that.... I live in paradise.  I am grateful.   

Sunset kayakers

I went out after Erich and I got the kids to sleep tonight to take some pictures and to try and clear my cluttered/stressed mind.  Turns out it was good medicine... I would have loved to be those kayakers on the water tonight.  What a beautiful night. 

My lovebug "winking"

My oldest boy has been suffering through many days of a stomach illness.  He is having pain in his tummy, and we've not been able to figure out what is going on... In between painful bouts, he's, of course, still the sweetest, most precious boy around.  Tonight, right before dinner, he was "winking" at me.  This is his winking face.  hee hee...  God, I can't imagine loving anyone more than I love him.