Green heron nesting

I found this little green heron sitting on her nest this evening at the Blue Hole.  She was hidden in the tree's branches hanging right over the water.  

Great way to end a stressful day

We had a REALLY rough day today... My older son is having some kind of stomach issue...Doc today thought it might be appendicitis.  :{ We spent the whole morning/early afternoon in the hospital getting blood work, x-rays, etc to determine what is wrong.  No answers yet.  My poor baby still has no diagnosis, but at least we know it is NOT appendicitis, thankfully! He seems to be feeling a little better tonight... we'll see what tomorrow brings.   I didn't realize just how stressed and worried I was until we got the kids to sleep tonight.  I was exhausted and felt like I'd run a marathon!  Erich suggested that I go take some photos of the sunset to unwind.  That was a GREAT idea.  What a beautiful night!  The sunset was gorgeous over the mangroves... 

Somebody missed his Daddy...

The boys sure missed their Daddy while we were gone... Their reunion was so sweet....lots of hugs and cuddles.  Here, I caught my husband playing "the tickle claw" with my baby after dinner.  :)

Sweetie pie

I had a photoshoot with my precious little nephew today.  Here's one of the pictures.  I love him to pieces....such a sweetie pie.

My nephew

In between holding my baby nephew a LOT today, I released him (for just a few minutes) and put him on the couch for a couple pictures.  I just love the drool.... He is such a sweetheart!  I love that everytime I make eye contact with him he smiles or laughs.  He is awesome.

Racing cars

The boys had such a blast racing cars on a new racetrack that their cousin, Micha, passed down to them today.  The hysterical screams, giggles and laughter coming from the living room were priceless. :)  THANK YOU Laura and Micha!

Salvaged day

We had a pretty rough start to the day today when my sweet son had to get two baby teeth extracted (they just wouldn't fall out) at the dentist... and then I had to drop off my camera at the shop for some minor repairs (won't get it back until Thurs night!! Luckily, my mom is letting me borrow her point and shoot to get through until then...), BUT we both recovered and salvaged the day with a super- cool Ninjago Lego purchase, and a swim in the pool with my sister's family.  We had a great family dinner all together.  I can't believe how big my nephews are getting!  I LOVE watching all the kids together.  My boys couldn't stop kissing and cuddling their baby cousin....so sweet.

View from the house after sunset

This was the view from my parents' dock in Jupiter long after sunset tonight. I guess the Dengue Fever, which I most certainly must now have, might have been worth it.  ;-) What a beautiful night!

Yellow petals

Today, the boys and I went to the new Publix in Key West, and when were checking out, I was surprised when they gave me a free bouquet of flowers as part of their grand opening!  The flowers are beautiful - they really cheer up the house.  Here is a close up of one of the yellow flowers in the bunch.  

Preening at sunset

I saw this heron late in the day by the salt marsh/mangroves near my house.  I liked his fuzzy silhouette as he was preening.  

My date for sunset tonight

I watched the sunset with this curious little Key Deer tonight.  Isn't she sweet?

Hair cut

Nothing too exciting today...just wanted to document my son's nice summer hair cut.  I had to sneak the photo while he was watching a show on tv.  He looks so handsome and grown up.... ugh.  

Lovey Story Time

My son made a circle and held Story Time for his lovies in his bedroom this afternoon.  He was actually "reading" the story (by heart) to them when I walked in.... 

Beautiful tiny yellow flower

I came across this tiny little yellow flower this morning on the side of the road. It was only the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil.   

Kids playing doctor

I walked into the living room this morning to find my children playing doctor in a nook they made out of blankets and pillows which they were calling their doctor's office.  My older son was going through the whole routine - listening to my younger son's heart with the stethoscope, taking his blood pressure, looking in his mouth and nose, checking his ears, taking his temperature, checking his reflexes, and giving him lots of shots with a needle (ha ha!).  I managed to get a picture of the doctor checking one of his very good patient's ears before the moment was over.  So sweet...I can't stand it!

Long way from high school...

I took this photo of my dear friend Lori and her daughter and me and my boys today.  I finally got a photo of all of us together...used the tripod and self timer.  It is surreal sometimes when I think about our long friendship, how much we've been through and how much we've grown.  It's hard to believe that over 24 yrs ago, when we were only 15 yrs old (feels like just yesterday), we were lucky to meet on the school bus and at swim practice!  We had such adventures together... I would drive her home from my house after school by boat!  Who else can say that?  My favorite memories are when we would take the boat out on the Loxahatchee River all day long on weekends...exploring, snorkeling, searching for alligators, going to the Sand Bar, swinging on the rope swing.... those were the days.  So carefree.  Now, I can't even believe we are grown ups with our own children.  Wow.  How is that possible?  All I can say is that I am feeling very grateful and blessed to have this true friend in my life so many years later.  

Daddy reading time

I just had to snap a picture of this adorable moment between my husband and son tonight.  Precious.

Golfing buddies

My dear friend from high school and her daughter came down to the Keys for her birthday weekend.  Today we spent a fantastic morning at the beach and then went to play miniature golf and then to eat dinner.  It was so much fun!  The kids had a blast!  Here are a few shots from the evening. :)

Watching the Bob-Cat

A friend very kindly came over to our house to help us remove a couple tree stumps from our back yard with his bob-cat tonight.  The kids were ENTHRALLED watching the action in our back yard.  So cute...

Ice cream for my swimmer

Today was my younger son's first "real" private swim lesson. We went to the same woman who taught my older son.  She is phenomenal.  I was SO nervous and concerned that he would freak out, cry, be full-on stubborn and throw a complete fit, BUT he was AMAZING.... totally surprised me - no crying, no fits, no complaints... AT ALL.  He went right to Ms. Colleen, giggled and did everything she instructed! He had a blast.  He said "I want to get back in the pool" when the lesson was over!  I was so happy - I was giddy!  It was awesome.  I promised the good boy some ice cream afterwards to reward him for such amazingness....His big brother got a treat too for being our "helper" - he showed his little brother how it's all done in the pool.  Having a role model and idol at your lesson definitely helps. :)  Here's a picture of my baby with his treat at the end of the day.   

Crazy jumpers

Today, the boys and I had a special guest who I was babysitting at our house for the morning.  The kids had a great time! They painted, played with play-doh, made bead jewelry, ate some snacks, played chase, and went on the trampoline THREE separate times.  Here's a shot of the crazy jumpers.  

Movie in the fort

This morning is VERY stormy - lots of lightning, thunder, and pounding rain.  The boys' swim lesson got cancelled, so we are watching a Disney movie under a fort I built in the living room with some popcorn and flashlights at the ready in case the power goes out.  Candles going.  Very cozy.  I love this time with my babies.

Peeking raccoon

Tonight, we saw a little raccoon walking around high up in one of the trees in our back yard from our dinner table.  I ran out with my camera while the kids squealed in the kitchen at the little guy.  He just hung out peeking at me through the branches.  What a cutie.  I much prefer seeing raccoons up in the trees where they belong instead of on my porch eating all the birdseed out of the feeders or pooping in my water bath.  

Roseate Spoonbill

Look what we saw today - a roseate spoonbill in the shallows at the beach!  He was scooping that beak through the sand looking for breakfast when we came up on him.  We took the boat out and explored around the beach and on one of the little islands off the beach this morning - snorkeled around on some hard-bottom and then walked checking out the little tide pools and rocky shoreline.  It was really nice to spend some time relaxing with the family. 

Another wildflower

I saw this purple wildflower growing on the side of the road in the grass today! I love finding such amazing beauty in ordinary places. 

Yellow ground orchid

We have the most beautiful ground orchids growing in our yard right now.  I didn't even plant them!! I thought I'd get a macro/detail shot of this beauty this morning.  Isn't this flower fantastic?

Great Blue Heron

I saw this beautiful bird (Great Blue Heron) just perched on this driftwood tonight at the beach before my photoshoot.  Isn't he gorgeous?

4th of July!

I had the best day today... my family and I went out on the boat in the morning/early afternoon, did some fantastic snorkeling, and explored the island off of the Bahia Honda bridge.  It was amazing! Then, tonight, after a nice family dinner and fun with sparklers, I went off on my own and photographed the fireworks from the beach.  It was beautiful!  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Hiding among the lovies

This is how I found my son in his crib today after his nap...  Can you find him?  ;-)  

Pool fun

Is there anything better than swimming and splashing in a pool on a hot summer day with great friends?  I think not!  What a great way to end the day.  :)

Palms in paradise

I live in paradise.  Really. I have to remind myself of that sometimes when the mosquitoes are biting or when I'm sweating my head off and not out on the boat...but this chain of islands is beautiful.  I am so lucky.  Today, we went out on the boat all morning and part of the afternoon.  My son and I swam along by the boat and kept track of all the queen conch that we saw along the hardbottom reef that we were snorkeling.  That is good stuff.  :) I used to dream about snorkeling with my children.  I am so blessed.  This is the view of the beach before sunset tonight.