school firsts

mad's first day of school ever.
em's first taste of video school. (she's had lessons since the 15th)

it went well.

they both actively participated in the lessons. mad seemed to enjoy the first grade as much as em. last year em seemed disengaged and uninterested in her lessons, but today she was jumping up and shouting answers, so was mad. i realize not everyday will be this good, but i'll take what i can get.

chalk, curls, cantaloupe, caterpillar and contusion

chalk fun
















chalk art on the
back sliding door

















focussed on
her work


















em wanted
curls!















her hair typically
falls below her
shoulders














our 2nd home
grown "baby"
cantaloupe











eating the fruits
of our labor












yum













our new friend






















mad's
contusion

"i'm tired of all this hair"

yesterday's hair style
mad made her crown
all by herself














mad decided to
take up
cosmetology
this morning










she left the
back long
thankfully

















she cut both sides
at an angle

actually, they were
fairly even












the end result
after a trip to
the local
cookie cutters















her eyes say it all -
guilty

fun in the sun

we had a fabulous time at the shore with the family.
hope you enjoy the picts
















bear, em and uncle j playing on the shore






















em's collecting sand





















mad discovers first hand why we told her the ocean is salt water and not to drink it.

















wave jumping





















both girls loved wading into the ocean until the jelly fish started attacking

















wandering heart's happy and not so happy family


















Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. I Chron. 29:11






















a belated bday party for em


















an early party for caslon. all the little ones got gifts
















caslon and mad enjoying the party





















em received a fishin' pole from trader mom and dad. of course she had to give it a try

















catfish caught


















mad hanging out on the lagoon dock






















mad fishing with papa





















em fishing with grandma
















em and grandma reeled in the catch of the day - a dirty old coke can


















camera man and caslon taking a break and posing for a picture on our dolphin watching excursion.






















em before she felt sea-sick






















mad before she got tired of being on a boat and seeing nothing

















our happy family. em's feeling dizzy here and taking a rest






















mad eventually crashed and fell fast asleep. the nap rejuvenated her and the girls played into the wee morning hours.






















our science experiments for the week being released into their natural environment

















The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Ps. 19:1






















my three fishermen

















upon returning home we caught this grasshopper and then we went swimming in the neighborhood pool.

em declared, "it's good to be back in our comfortable home." it sure is.



to check out other fun picts from our beach vacation see wandering heart and hannah bear's cave on the side bar.

it's ok for me but not for you...

em defended mad against a couple of bigger kids at the pool today. even though mad was holding her own against the bully, em stepped in and told him off. after that the boys left the girls alone.
interestingly enough, em loves to push mad's buttons, but apparently nobody else is allowed to do the same.