Ferrara's in Florida

Teaching Joel is super fun!  While studying South America and Bolivia with the kids out of Sable's curriculum, we decided to touch on Central America and Panama.  How do we make this interesting for a  4-and-a-half year old boy with an interest in baseball?  Why, Mariano Rivera's story came in handy.   So many different topics for teaching a little boy, materials I never knew of when teaching Sable and Ruby preschool--seated work with fireman and police lessons, counting from 1-10 with footballs, baseballs and bats, and lots of play time...lately behind a home-made home plate! Nana's Pops taught Joel how to hold a bat, throw a ball and use his glove. I noticed Joel even leaves one of his fingers outside of his glove, he is tooo cute!! Matching ball caps--Joel picked out the NYY--good choice, buddy! Watching yesterday's Yankees vs. Blue Jays game into extra innings, where one of our young neighbors & customers pitched as a closer for NYY

Yesterday's Scores: Vault 9.35 Bars 8.425 Beam 8.75  Floor 8.125 AA 34.65 Sable scored higher yesterday than she did for the 2014 State Meet last November.  Way to go, Sable!

She started the day over breakfast with Daddy. Afterwards, she went to work with him, dressed the part and all! Ending the evening with her special buddy, carrying him into bed with her

Joel started regular school sessions with me this summer. I don't think there's been a day when he's wanted to quit when it's him and me, one to one.  Sometimes he brings me his workbooks so that we can have two-a-days.  I'm thrilled to have a motivated student. :)

Selfie at 23 weeks Feeling good, baby is moving great Joel prays for baby James every morning and every evening. He talks about his baby brother so much, and James is even in his dreams. Yesterday he drew a picture of himself playing baseball. Daddy, Mommy and James were the fans behind home plate. Sable and Ruby, well...they didn't make the picture.

Matching with our neighbor, Ella, at church Sable, Ella, Ruby Simone Miss Brittany is so good to us.  When she visits, she often makes a few stops by our home. The kids were begging for me to leave so they could have her to themselves, but it didn't work out this time.

Florida, especially Alachua County, boasts multiple springs.  Poe Springs, located in the town of High Springs, proved very enjoyable on a 90+ degree August day.  The fresh spring water generally sits at 72 degrees year round.  Swimmers can view an underwater cave with wildlife, and one can walk to the Santa Fe River.  Daddy and the girls were able to jump from a tree into a river and they enjoyed it, despite the out of order rope swing.  I hope to make this an annual family day trip. Ruby Simone, almost 7 Mia, 8

We studied an introduction to art this summer.  Artists included Michelangelo, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, DaVinci, Rembrandt and a few others.  The children created art in different forms: Expression through Costume Expression through Fashion & Shopping for Artistic Pieces Painting with Oils--outside of course Art through Architecture: Fire Station Thanks, Mimi, for the craft kit! Joel enjoyed it all, especially Art through Construction

Annual Beach Trip with college roommate, Souhaila's family Sable & Eli (8), Joel (4), Ryland (5) Napping super hero prepared for action check out the big gun in his lap She dressed herself for church the day I was home sick-- the shirt is one of mine but she made it work on her little body Sable wearing my clothes from a college bin I saved for my future daughters Her summer reading included Cleopatra & Antony, her choice of pleasure reading (Note:  We read this book together; she read more age-appropriate Cleopatra books alone) Patio furniture arrived! FIreman Joel "helping" me lead the 2 year old class at church