Getting Ready For Christmas

Ashton participated in her Christmas program at her preschool. Her performance was ALL thumbs-up. Literally, thumbs-up the whole program!

For Ashton's preschool party Zena, Mema Margaret and I helped them create a snowman in Florida, all based on the theme found in the book 'Stranger in the Woods'! They had a snowman for dessert and built a snowman from paper mache that they adorned with nuts from the woods and topped with birdseed in his cap to attract the birds. The finished snowman was placed near their playground so they could see the animals their new friend would attract! Check out: http://www.strangerinthewoods.com/pages/book/book.htm

Ashton got to go on a date with Mom & Dad to see Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the local Community Playhouse. It was a little scary at first, but she really enjoyed the production. It was a real treat to meet the actors & actresses following the play!

Basketball

Future Gators in the making?

Zachary nearly touching the net while trying to block a shot!

Zachary clogs up the middle

John Tyson dribbles past the competition

John Tyson eying his shot...he is averaging nearly 10 points per game!

Fall Reprieve

Our fall reprieve from the Florida heat came in October when we road tripped to Blacksburg, VA for Virginia Tech’s Homecoming…20 years after Zena first went to school there…YIKES! What a perfect time to visit…the fall leaves were beautiful! We had fun catching up with some friends and visiting Pandapas Pond, Mountain Lake and The Cascades.

We also stopped at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina along the way. What a treat for the kids...

Catching Up...

It's been some time since I last updated the blog. So, to bring us up to date…

The summer got off to a fast and furious start. The boys went to Arkansas to spend over two weeks with Mema and Charlie. They visited with the cousins, Tori and Rachel. Took a trip to Silver Dollar City, in Branson, MO and hiked through Devil’s Den State park. They also went fishing for catfish in the neighbor’s pond, rode Charlie’s four wheeler, shot the air rifle, chased fireflys and saw numerous deer in the field at Mema’s.

While the boys were in Arkansas, Zena went to her Dad’s and worked feverously with Bobby on a DVD of family pictures and music for the Arnold family reunion. After their Arkansas visit, Mema and Charlie brought the boys to meet us in Knoxville, TN and from there we went to Charlotte, NC for the reunion. We celebrated with Grandma Letha and three generations of Arnolds. It was a wonderful time of closeness and fun.

Once we returned from North Carolina, Zena and the boys attended Florida Bible camp for a week. John Tyson went as a camper and Zena was one of the craft coordinators. It was a really good week, but really hot. Zena seemed to suffer the most…just ask her about the geckos and the mouse in the cabin, and the roach in her hair!

Finally, in August things began to slow down a bit as we geared up for an earlier than usual start to school. We celebrated John Tyson’s birthday and then started school the following week. John Tyson started 4th grade and Zachary started Kindergarten! To celebrate John Tyson’s 10th birthday we took him to swim with the dolphins at Sea World’s Discovery cove. What a treat, even for Mom & Dad!