Registered for Kindergarten!

Well, it's official. Ethan is registered for kindergarten as of today at Belle Terre Elementary School. The thought makes me anxious, happy, excited and scared all at the same time! I can't believe he will be starting his school career for the next 13 years in the Fall.. I've thought about this since he started pre-school and it has always seemed so far in the future. Now it's really here. I think I almost started crying when I sat down with the registrar to hand over the paperwork but I told myself to hold it together! I am sure most moms feel like that though. I am not really looking forward to his 1st day of school because I WILL cry the ugly cry. I hope I can get out of the school before anyone sees me. But, I doubt it. In the meantime, I will be treasuring the next 4 months with him before enters the world of  homework, sports, tests and academic expectations. As for Ethan, he is excited. He can't wait to start kindergarten. Mostly he can't wait to have lunch at school! He's already planning his menu to take in his Star Wars lunch box!

What a Life!

Ethan and Noah have it so good and they don't even realize it. I am sure someday they will. We are fortunate to have a backyard where the kids can play freely and have plenty to do! Here are a few pics of them thoroughly enjoying their backyard :

 It's so nice they are experts at "pumping" so that they can swing to their hearts' content!

 Best friends! They have so much fun together.

 Time to warm up and have some lunch!

St. Augustine Sea Turtle Fest and Pirate Museum

On Saturnday, April 16th, we decided to head to St. Augustine for a fun afternoon. Since we missed the Flagler Beach Sea Turtle Fest, we checked out the one in St. Auggie. The kids had a lot of fun learning about beach and ocean conservation and the sea turtles. The weather was beautiful  and there was live music in the pavilion near the pier.

 Noah gave the Sea Turtle a great big hug!

 Cleaning up the beaches.

 Ethan and Noah learn all about the inside of a whale: how they gather and digest their food.

 Noah goes fishing for items that are not supposed to be in the ocean.

 

The bracelets made with beads gathered by Ethan and Noah from each learning station.

 On our way to The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum.

 I need one of these in my backyard with smaller holes for when the kids get out of line......kidding!

I wish we could have gotten pics of inside the museum but cameras weren't allowed.

 Bummer!

 Noah could hear the loud cannons from outside the entrance. They had him a little freaked out at first!

 

The Poisonous Caterpillar and the Butterfly Story and Picture by Ethan Beck.

Ethan drew us a beautiful picture and here is the story he told that goes with it:

Once upon a time in Storyland was a little, little poisonous caterpillar that was creeping to it's nest. Then he saw the little babies hatch out of the eggs. The butterfly was going to eat them but then a little boy saw what was going to happen and saved them. And the sun rose up and said "Yay!" The little boy almost got stung by a black and yellow bee on the way home but got inside safe and sound. 

Then he lived happily ever after!

A Late Evening Picnic at Marineland Beach

One of our favorite beaches is at Marineland. The sand is so fine and soft. And, all the rock are a great place to find sea life when the tide recedes. We got to see quite a few starfish that some teenage girls were rescuing that were left when the tide went down. The boys were so excited to get an up-close view and touch them. The boys had a lot of fun getting buried in the sand by daddy. We had a beautiful afternoon and dinner picnic and then headed home to see one of the biggest moons in years!

 

 

I didn't take this pic but here's the beautiful "supermoon" that appeared later that evening!

Jungle Hut Beach Day!

 

In early March it was finally warm enough for our 1st real beach outing of the year! We went mid-morning so, unfortunately, Ethan was still in school. But, this gave Noah time to hang with his best buddies Harrison,Brayden and Brooks. Harrison's mommy and my wonderful friend, Christine, took these amazing shots. Me, Kayla and Christine had so much fun watching the boys soak up some rays, get their toes wet and run like the wind!