summer

emerald isle

 

dolphins

orlando

We are home from the great pleasure houses of Orlando, Florida. The children are having a hard time coming down from the constant stimulation and entertainment. We stayed at a gorgeous resort in Universal Studios, and the kids enjoyed nighttime movies in the lagoon pool. We spent a day at SeaWorld and a day at Universal. Ella was fully immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter {she has perhaps officially joined the house of Ravensclaw}, and John was all about rides. Ruby loved it all, riding every ride in Dr. Seuss with her new friend Camille. I took her on  roller coasters and rides, and she loved every one. I think her favorite was the Pteradon Flyers in Jurassic Park. It is a hanging seat beneath pteradon wings and swings high above palm trees and flowering tropical plants. When the ride came to a stop she looked at the person helping her out of her seat and said, "That was beautiful". She loved all the animals at SeaWorld, especially dolphins, whales, and stingrays.

The two littlest had never been on an airplane. Ella flew several times when we were living in Portland, but she doesn't remember it. When Ruby realized that the plane had left the ground she shouted, "We are flying"!


Thanks Joe, Ren, Jen, and Manu for the wonderful whirlwind weekend.

birthday girl

When school got out we headed down to Emerald Isle, North Carolina with two other families for a week on the beach. I'd go back there in a second.

Ruby turned five while we were there, and we spent her birthday at Hammocks Beach State Park. We took a ferry to Bear Island to swim in the beautiful green water. John and John hiked to the point to collect seashells, and Ruby flew a kite by herself for the first time.

5

our house for a week

boogie

castles

june

One quarter of the garden is weeded and mulched. Since only tomatoes are planted in here, I let the ladies in in hopes that they might nibble a few of the weeds. They thoroughly enjoyed kicking the hay around.