Father's Day Weekend

Saturday kicked off Father's Day weekend with a 6:00 AM alarm call to get up and go to the first swim meet of the summer. I offered to take the 4 Fledglings by myself so that Daddy could sleep-in, lounge around, or just spend time on Words with Friends without interruptions. Wouldn't you know it, he opted to get up and wash and wax MY ride. (THANKS Daddy) SO- after the swim meet and photo session at the park (good way to kill time so they are not all up in Daddy's business back at the hacienda) we returned home for hair cuts and cool time in the pool. Daddy decided he needed some cool down time too...and joined us in the pool. (what a FUN Daddy...car washing clothes and all)For dinner Saturday we took Papa (Nana and Aunt Yvonne) to Uncle Dave's (AKA- Mexican in Starke) for dinner. We provided shuttle service to and from their front door so that there only needed to be one DD (Me)! The meal was YUMMY and, apparently, the margaritas were as good as they (father and son) remembered. As dinner was winding up the youngest two took pictures of each other with our cell phones (Braxton took this one of Coly...pretty good)This morning we went to church, ran some errands, and sent everyone to NAP at quiet time! Afterwards was an evening swim. In this picture you'll see Evan running away from Ashlyn Grace (I wish you could hear his screeching too) as she was chasing/taunting him with her handful of... a FROG...and a small frog at that. While running Evan gave up his PVC toy...so here is Little Sister with her HUGE frog and recovered loot.

We ended the evening with gifts and kisses...

Braxton had a side game of tug-of-war going on with Snickers. (both seem to be smiling)
Now let's all get around Daddy and take a picture!

Then Ashyln Grace suggests "let's do one with funny faces!" (Evan doesn't look so funny, Daddy looks like he's experiences severe pain on his toe, Ashlyn Grace is fully participating and Coly and Bdog...well...)

Happy Father's Day Daddy! We are SO blessed to have such a honorable, kind, loving, involved, and patient role-model. Love you Daddy!

Daytona Museum of Arts and Science

Around Christmas last year Grandma and Grandpa took the whole Flock (and Aunt Yvonne of course) to ICE in Orlando. This year they took us to the Daytona Museum of Arts and Science after Christmas. It was a fun place for the kids (and adults).

Braxton enjoyed trying out ANYTHING that his older siblings did.
But I think he really enjoyed riding the MoMo!
Colson was ALL about the Pizza Shop...he loved the apron, the oven spatula (you know it's used to take the pizza in and out of the oven), and serving his pizza concoction to Mommy and Daddy.

He, too, was a big fan of the Harley Davidson motorcycle and went back for many rides (yep, you could push a button and ride it for FREE).

Ashlyn Grace was...shall we say OBSESSED with this lever thingy. There were three stations: Hard, Harder and Hardest. She conquered the first two levels on her own many times and would return back again and again to repeat her conquest!!!

She also dazzled the crowded with her elephant portrait! (ET at the top are the first and last letters in the word elephant...she didn't know how to spell it so she just abbreviated - LOL)Evan seemed to like this bike...the faster you peddled, the more lights in the linear sequence would light up.And, of course, he was all about the Pirate's Treasure in the Pirate's Cove. He loves gems, jewels and treasure boxes! He wants this WHOLE THING for his birthday! LOL

They "staged" this picture on their own...too cute!

Guess whose blood sugar is a little low at this point?? (Thanks for Team Jackson for the super cute shirts!!!)

So we wrapped things up at the Pizza Place...

And headed out for some lunch at Chick-fil-a!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a super fun day!

What is Christmas...2010

Usually Christmas means pictures of someones FIRST Christmas (Evan, Gracie, Coly or Bdog), being REALLY pregnant (with AG), nursing a newborn (Colson and Braxton) or seeing the magic of the season through the eyes of a child (or 4 of them in our case). This Christmas was different...in lots of wonderful new ways. We shared our first Christmas in our new home with ALL of our family Christmas Morning....and I mean ALL (Aunt Yvonne, Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Papa and Nonnie and Pop). We didn't have anyone's First Christmas. We were all healthy (no seasonal virus or bronchitis) and it was the FASTEST Christmas on record.
Christmas Eve (after 3:00 Trinity Church service where the oldest two ended up on the front page of the Gainesville Sun... http://www.gainesville.com/article/20101224/ARTICLES/101229733 ) was calm until Grandpa broke out these wooden car sets...then the squeals and screeches began!
Then the Fledglings gathered at the table to decorate Nonnie's homemade sugar cookies (made each year in loving memory of Nanny Nelson). Looks like they had fun decorating! They each picked out their favorite cookie to leave for Santa and off to bed they went.

After an adult glass of egg nog and some Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur the real work began. Thank goodness for ALL the helping hands! Christmas Eve ended around 11:45PM.

As the alarm went off at 6:15 AM Christmas Morning, Daddy got up to start his morning routine while Mommy stayed in the bed until the last possible second. Then Nana and Papa arrived, Nonnie and Pop brought in the Flock and Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Yvonne popped out of their rooms. BLESSINGS BLESSINGS BLESSINGS
I thought that this would be the last Christmas with a Lap Baby...I had visions of Braxton cuddling in my lap while I savored every second of his second Christmas (you know the one they GET...but aren't SO independent yet). But, Braxton clearly had a plan of his own. From the very first present - from Evan (important note: Evan gave items from his private collection to each of his siblings...unprompted I might add..after much thought and lots of wrapping preparation). Look Papa...Evan gave me a dog!

And after attacking this Comfy Coupe (a favorite) from Grandma and Grandpa, Braxton was back to Papa for the gift opening and oogling and googling. Not as I had planned, but what a blessing for Papa to be so admired and coveted on the special morning of Christ's Birthday! Warms my heart just to remember Braxton's big grin as he delivered each and every gift to Papa for his helping hands.

The hour of gift opening was C-R-A-Z-Y. With 9 adults and 4 children in one room, opening tons of stuff, there just wasn't much time to see what EVERYONE was doing. I tried to catch each person's reaction to certain key gifts...and as I scanned the room I took a moment to thank God for each and every person who wanted to be here with US! I blinked and then it was over.

Before breakfast could even be served Ashlyn Grace came down in one of her dress up gowns from Mommy and Daddy. (speechless)

She loved her tub of dress-up clothes. Evan said his favorite was his laptop. Colson was all about his big CAT Tractor (and Braxton's Comfy Coupe) and Braxton loved his Coupe, wooden train, caravan of cars and everything that everyone else got!

The day seemed to go by so quickly. I just couldn't help but laugh: I looked up from the kitchen to see Daddy vacuuming up some ashes that fell out as a log came crashing out of place. Don't ever wonder why Braxton's favorite gift for his birthday (see previous blog) was a little red Dirt Devil...something about these Fleming Men...they are led to clean!!! (that's NOT a complaint)
Anyway- besides a house full of family, we also had the Scott's over for our mid-afternoon Christmas Dinner. Looks like our kids table was maxed out and maybe even a little too little for the bigger kids. LOL

Then the reason for the season...we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior AND our little dog Snickers. (this might be one of Snicker's only redeeming qualities...that he shares a birthday with Jesus)
After over-indulging on tons of Christmas Yumminess, desserts and mimosas, Evan and Oliver provided the entertainment while we squeezed on the couch. (yep...Grandma, Nonnie, Me and Stacey were nestled on the couch for prime viewing)

Christmas wrapped up with showers for all and more cuddle time before they were all in bed. It's hard to believe that we've celebrated 8 Christmases since Evan's birth...wow...it seems like just yesterday we were privileged enough to share Evan's First Christmas with him.And talk about births...have you ever thought about Jesus' birth this way:

And so, with barely a ripple of notice, God stepped into the warm lake of humanity. Without protocol and without pretention. Where you would have expected angels, there were only flies. Where you would have expected heads of state, there were only donkeys, a few haltered cows, a nervous ball of sheep, a tethered camel, and a furitive scurry of curious barn mice.

Except for Joseph, there was no one to share Mary's pain. Or her joy. Yes, there were angels announcing the Savior's arrival-but only to a band of blue-collar shepherds. And yes, a magnificant star shone in the sky to mark his birthplace-but only three foreigners bothered to look up and follow it.

Thus, in the little town of Bethlehem...that one slient night...the royal birth of God's Son tiptoed quietly by...as the world slept. (Ken Gire)

Halloween on the GO

Halloween started early as we stopped at church to deliver some cupcakes, check out their stuff, and grab some quick dinner. (Royalty delivered the yummy cupcakes)

I'm sure Princess Belle looks WAY too grown up for her own good!
Here is the Flock on there way into the Creepy Kiddy Corral, where they each decorated their own mini-cupcake, scarfed it down and were quickly ready to move on.

Then we shared some hotdogs and hamburgers and loaded to car to head to Turkey Creek to trick-or-treat with BeBe and the Scotts. We got going just before 7:00 PM (it was still light) and there weren't a lot of houses with lights on...oh no...was this gonna be a bust (there was concern amongst the adults because this was Sunday- a school night).

At Braxton's SECOND house, he received his all time favorite candy and lifted it up to show his Daddy!!! (the green wear around his lips shows signs of dinner being eaten)

Here's the group we went around the block with! The King and Queen were never far apart and it should be noted that Belle wore her official "plastic heels" until they finally broke while clopping up to one of the final houses.
Had to grab a shot of Daddy and the "Tu-dus"...they are posing with their ferocious karate chop! Colson REFUSED to move his face in ANY way after his face paint dried. It was SO funny to see his dedication to NOT moving ONE facial muscle. :) He really was having fun!

Hurry grab the Family Picture...they are ready to dash off to the next driveway!

And now we pose with our favorite BeBe!

Then there were still a few houses to go to...love to see my turtles hanging together! Yep- that's an Easter basket for Colson...but he picked it...so we went with it! (He has a Ball Room and LOVES all the sports balls)

Braxton (in keeping with his social personality) stopped to waive "Hi, Kiddy" to the black and white cat sitting in the bushes.

And FINALLY we found the Scotts. Do you think these girls are happy to see eachother! TOO precious!

Two beautiful Belles! (and NO they did NOT plan this...they were totally surprised to find out what eachother was going to be for Halloween)

Of course, I had to get the boys together as well. They seem far more casual about the whole encounter. Evan was bummed that he and Oliver didn't get to go around the block together, but he was most happy to run into his pal before we left.

So we loaded the car again and headed to our last stop at Nana and Papa's house (now on the way home)! WOAH...PAY DIRT...check out what they were handing out to their Special Trick-or-Treaters! T-I-C T-A-C-S...notice Colson has a LITTLE smile even again his best effort not to crinkle his face paint!

Thank you Nana and Papa. Always good to see you! LOVE the Tic Tacs!

And I just couldn't help capture this...(notice Colson FINALLY smiled...in the buff)!!!