We went on a field trip today with our homeschool co-op group. We went to Apollo Beach Nature Perserve and the Manatee Viewing Center.
The kids had so much fun finding all sorts of creatures - this is some sort of sea worm.
Derek and Dusty looking for crabs
Drew and Maddie
Dusty climbing the sand hills
Manatee Viewing Center - we only saw a couple manatee, lots of tarpon and sharks.
The smoke stacks covered with fog
Look at all the crabs!!
"Barbara" Manatee!
Saturday was a fun but busy day! The kids had soccer - starting at 8:30am and at 11am they were in the parade in Ruskin. Derek and Macie got to carry the flags - the kids had a competition that whoever said the most sections in Truth and Training got to carry the flags and banner. Derek and Macie both made it!!! Here they are waiting for the parade to start.
Madison had a hard time trying to decide which float to ride on - soccer or Awana......she went with the Sparks.
Drew's first parade that he has ever been in! So excited for the parade to start!!!
Here they come!!!
The T&T float was followed by the Sparks, then Cubbies & Puggles and then the soccer float.
Derek and Macie carrying the flags
Sparky
Maddie
Drew, the only mistake I did today was forget to put sunscreen on the kids - they all got a little pink today! It was a very fun morning - Trent and I got lots of beads and candy!:)
I have enjoyed Saturday mornings - watching soccer and visiting with so many really nice people. It was a beautiful morning - perfect temperature for soccer today! Drew just chillin before his game.
Drew and Evie - they have so much fun playing together - sweet little friends!
After the big kids finished their game they tend to organize another casual game until all the little kids are done playing. It was so cool today, I turned around to make sure the kids were ok and there were 3 coaches playing with the kids! They had a blast playing with the coaches!
We went to get the newspaper this morning and this is what our pumpkins looked like!!! We just carved them on Sunday and 3 days later they are crumbled and molded!!!!!
So sad.....not a very welcoming sight! Good thing today was garbage day!:)
We went to Hydro Harvest Farm to get pumpkins, not too many pumpkin patches in Florida. It is so hot here and doesn't really feel like fall - it can be hard to get in the mood for all the fun fall activities when it is 90 degrees!
We went on Drew's 6th birthday and are going to carve them on Sunday - when it is supposed to cool off a little!
Papa and Drew
Madison getting a ride in the wagon
Drew trying to lift his pumpkin!
The man of many faces - he cracks us up, such a funny sense of humor!
Madison with her pumpkin
Our sweet, energetic Mandy loves to chase feet and we have been so careful but.....Drew accidentally stepped on her paw and broke it! A puppy is already a lot of work but add this little mishap and my workload has gone up huge!! She is so cute and a little groggy in these pictures from her sedation from having x-rays taken.
And here is Mandy's x-ray of her foot - see if you can find her broken bones(there are 3 on her paw)! 
This is the newest member of our family.....Mandy! She is 8 weeks old, weighs in at 1lb 8oz and is a Malte/Pom. This is Rusty first meeting with Mandy, he does not really think too much of her....yet!
She is playful for about 10 minutes then sleeps about 30 minutes!
So sweet!!
She looks like some little animal - a bear, lion and my mom thinks a hedge hog!
We love her and can't wait to see what her little personality will be like!
We had such a great afternoon with friends! Our new friends Chet and Jennifer so kindly hosted a fun afternoon at their house. There were 5 families and the fun part - we all homeschool!
The kids had fun playing ping pong, swimming, kayaking, going for a ride and driving the boat and playing games!
I think the kayaks were the best for all the kids - they had so much fun!!
First boat ride/tour and driving lessons!
Loading the kayaks into the canal
Drew and Isaac
Jenna, Kaitlyn and Madison...and Daisy, the cutest little dog!
Jenna and Macie
Their canal they live on goes right out to Tampa Bay - this is a view of St. Petersburg. Thank you Chet and Jennifer for a fun afternoon!!
After soccer games this morning we went to the Southeastern Guide Dog open house. It was a hot day and the kids were a little tired from soccer. But it was fun to see all the puppies and dogs and learn about this incredible facility!
Listening to the lady about Freedom Trail and learning about all the buildings - so interesting!
Petting the puppies, we loved this building! It was fun seeing the really little puppies and then actually petting the older puppies. We want to come back on a weekday and play with the puppies - they encourage families to do this, they want their puppies used to kids.
This little puppy was giving Maddie a kiss!:)
These dogs are in training - these guys just got done playing and were very tired!
Watching a bunch of dogs playing - what a fun job this would be to work with these dogs! There is another open house December 5th - I recommend visiting it is fun and so interesting! We weren't able to do the blind walk today - they were just ending when we finished our tour. The blind walk they actually put blinders on you and you get to walk with a working dog to see what it would be like to be blind.
My funny boy, Drew...he is playing a secret service agent today. He has a Fantastic Four costume under his shirt to make him look like he has big muscles! He is a funny little kid! He will sit for hours and play all by himself - he is in his own little world!!:) Love this boy - he makes us all laugh a lot!!
Our new art class with the Slagill family - the kids had fun learning about the color wheel and starting their painting project. Next week is water colors....that will be fun!
After our art class we did Spanish....we are doing Rosetta Stone at home but the kids think they learned more from Miss Donna, who actually speaks Spanish! We had a great time and turned our afternoon into a whole evening of fun with fishing, swimming and pizza!
We were doing our science this morning and talking/learning about giraffes. We decided last minute to go to Busch Gardens and do science up close with all the animals. It was fun - nobody was even there but it was hot!! I laughed at one point while we were watching an animal show and we were literally soaked - my hand looked as though I had soaked it in water!!:)
These little meerkats are so cute!!
We had fun riding the sky ride - or as Drew calls it, the Sunshine Sky Ride! Derek and Macie got their own little bucket to ride in!
The kids practically had Jungala to themselves!
Sand Storm - Macie and Derek don't enjoy this ride as much as they used to. Drew and Maddie love it - I get way to dizzy to go on this ride!!
Macie and Jenna - great friends!
Macie is number 41 - she did so good today!
Go Macie!! Macie and Derek's team won today, we were so excited!!
Macie and Derek's game started at 8:45 and Drew's game started at 9:00 - so glad the fields were next to each other!! Drew scored 3 goals today...again! Slurpees here we come!:)
Derek was the ref for the U6 team that started right after his game ended. He was tired but so excited to ref his first game!
Madison's game started at 10:00 - she did awesome today - she is very aggressive!! Madison scored 3 goals - yay!!
She looks so tiny next to that kid!:)
Fun, fun morning...but it is so hot - looking forward to the weather cooling down a bit!! We love FBCR - so many sweet friends in such a short time!!!
First day of soccer games...Macie and Madison had to miss the first game because they were sick. Derek and Macie are playing on the same team which makes my schedule a little less busy! Derek is number 17, on the red team.
It was really hot today and 4 players on Derek's team had to sit out because of heat exhaustion.
Drew scored 3 goals today....so we got slurpees to celebrate!
Drew twists his tongue while he runs....I think this runs in the family - the Jones side!:)
Drew is very aggressive, I think because he is used to playing with Derek and Macie and he has to run fast and play tough to get the ball from them!
The ref did blow the whistle on this kid - he was tripping and pushing Drew!
Boy, was it hot today!!! We went to the pool and had fun swimming and cooling off - Brady loved the pool!
Aunt Tina and Brady
Brothers with their kids
Brady - just discovered his tongue
Drew hooking his feet around Uncle Nathan's neck!
Drew thinks Uncle Nathan is pretty cool with his underwear hanging out....little copy cat! 
Uncle Nathan showing Drew how to make an egg in the hole.....
Memom Charlotte, Uncle Nathan, Aunt Tina and Brady are visiting from California and we are having so much fun! Today we went to the aquarium - Brady laughed at all the fish - he loved it!
Maddie, Brady, Aunt Tina and Uncle Nathan
Cousins
Macie and Madison
What a fun afternoon at the zoo!!
