Ferrara's in Florida

I started noticing James' uncanny ability to tinker with metal objects just last week.  He managed to remove a door stopper in the hallway by my office area.  Yesterday when he supposedly went down for some shut-eye, you can imagine the surprise of victory sounds that echoed through the first floor over the baby monitor.  Naturally, I made my way upstairs to the back of the hallway and what do I find?  Baby Houdini removed his baby mobile.  Not only that but it was removed rather quietly--no loud thumps, just quiet and stealth, reminiscent of Big Brother's infant days.  Today the monitor beeped to alarm me of its disconnected status.  This time, I bolted upstairs to find that James had pulled it from two feet above his head, unplugged it from the wall more than 18 inches from the crib WITHOUT getting his chubby-baby arm stuck between the slats (impossible!)...apparently he has tricks up his sleeve that I know not of... James elated by his disassem...

Yesterday James Richard turned 8 months.  He celebrated by standing, "look ma, no hands" style before falling and repeating over and over and over... He enjoyed frozen blueberries in the mesh lollipop ring.  We are uncertain which he enjoyed more--the sweetness of the fruit or the cold for teething his gums.  One tooth broke through last week and a second two days before his 8th month. Sweet Baby James turns to temper tantrums when he protests sleep times or wants his spoonfuls of mushy goodness quicker than the human hand can move.  When he really rebels in the crib, pacifiers go flying and the bumper is bent and pulled every which way.  We get it James, you just want to do what you want to do. He pulled a new stunt on us yesterday; that is, when he wants to be put down he throws his head and arches his back with the quickness of a high jumper leaping over the horizontal bar. Being the fourth baby, it's no surprise that James' favorite toys are not toys...

Ruby Simone's monologue this morning: "My coach was at jury duty yesterday.  I hope she is back today.  What is jury duty? If I was a jury, I would demand everyone tell the truth or both sides are going to jail!"..."Can the president of the United States be on the jury?" Joel: "Mom, you use the word 'nuts' alot, like peanuts, peanut butter."  You say it alot and you know what it makes me think about don't you?" (then comes the snickering) Sable and Mommy: at 7:00am "Sable, good morning.  What are you doing all dressed up?" "Oh Mommy, I have 4 hours exactly until I leave for my date with Nana.  I think this is the right dress to wear, don't you?" at 7:54am "Mommy, can you move? I need to see the time on the clock and you're in my way.  Oh goodie, only 3 hours and 6 minutes until Nana picks me up for lunch and shopping!" at 8:00am, 8:02am, 8:12am... "Only XX:XX left until Nana picks...

Double Dating with Nate & Alisa Dressed Up for the Baby sitter in Gator Gear Baby Gator & Big Brother Busy Summer, Oh Yeah!  Three Trucks & the trailer loading up, one already on the road. Dinner with college roommate Souhaila & her husband Matt

Creation Science continues throughout the summer.  Although I am not schooling this summer, we are still learning.  We're enjoying science A LOT.  It's everywhere, and 100% of scientific facts (not to be confused with science theories) agree with Biblical truths.   What came first, the chicken or the eggs?   According to the Bible, God created the chicken first, just like He created two adults, Adam and Eve.  He created the chicken to create, so naturally the chicken laid eggs. Eggs starting to hatch -- note the little chick on the right & holes in a few of the eggs  A chick beak and the hole it made Notice the Lego watch on this gentle-egg-holding-super hero's wrist Observing the 8 eggs & 1 baby chick Black and yellow fluffy babies Sable took a break from drawing & reading to observe the hatching eggs Yippee!  Holding new life! On the left in black and pink-- last one to hatch--a perfectly ...

Having four children and taking time off from teaching has been a wonderful experience.  Blog posts are fewer because of the busy-ness, and we are busy doing fun things!!  Lots of reading as a family, boating on the lake, a little bit of the beaches, and less of the playgrounds this HOT time of year.  Sweet Sable getting messy outdoors At our neighbor's exploring their new aquarium Joel learning about twins! Picture Perfect!!  What a class act! I think this is a repost.  But it's a favorite around the house. Five months = army crawler When Pops and Nana invited the girls to sleep over, I missed them so I walked into their room and lingered for a bit. Look what I found in Ruby Simone's bed--her cuddly sleeping friends and two of her fave books--one from Aunt Ginger, one from the library. Sable's bed--her Odyssey Bible, a bracelet and a new stack of books from Aunt Ginger. This is what happens when Big Brother e...