For Natalie:

Here are things we found right outside our house.

Is it a stick or a bug? 

Attack of the Walking Stick!!! 

"Can't catch me!"

There are huge butterflies everywhere

Growing wild outside our garage

Cape San Blas 

Trying to show how clear the water is. 

Isn't he adorable? 

I'm having fun!! 

Toucan's 

Sunset Friday 

Fun in the Sun

Jason and I took a road trip this weekend. We decided to leave Friday night and drove to Mexico Beach, FL. Got a small cheap hotel and then went out for drinks. The place we went to, Toucan's, was so much fun. It was the perfect kitschy beach restaurant: right on the beach, open air seating, sand volleyball, playground for kids, bar on an upstairs deck, and live music. We recommend it to anyone who just might happen to be driving along highway 98. The next day we got up and went to Cape San Blas, a beach close by. The beach was really pretty. White sand and very clean. Saw some fish and the shadows of stingrays. Jason was mad he forgot his snorkel and mask; he could have seen a lot more. The whole trip was so much fun that we've decided we need to have a savings fund set aside for more little "vacations" like it.

My First Week

I finished my first week with kids. I haven't seen them for therapy, yet. I have gone into the classrooms to meet them and help out. They are so cute! I know already that I made the right choice in working at this school. The children are at the age that they love just about anything you do. All you have to do is look at them with a silly grin and they are intrigued and want to tell you what their cat ate this morning or that they know how to open their milk. I have a feeling that they will wear me out, but in the best way...by playing hard. Yeah, yeah, we will do some work, too.

My Room

This picture is mostly for mom, as she is the one who bought the posters for me. They make such a difference next to that dark wood paneling. I know it will help the kids feel more excited about coming to my room. The far corner is my little library and the table is where I will do therapy...well maybe the floor in front of the table...(I am working with 3 and 4 year olds).

Welcome to Speech! 

Our Last Summer Fling

Jason and I wanted to go to the beach last Saturday because I start work on Monday. It was going to be our "last fling" before getting back to the grind. But of course, after a week of hot sunny weather, Saturday was rainy. So instead, Jason suggested we go to the small town of Apalachicola, just over an hour away. It is a very small charming town with about a dozen shops, boutiques, and antique stores. Most everything was too expensive for our little budget, but it was still fun to look. After being deprived of (window) shopping for so long, I was feeling pretty excited to have discovered this place. All we ended up buying was dinner, seafood, of course, which was excellent. For dessert we went to an old fashioned ice cream parlor. Jason got a shake and I got an ice cream scoop which they topped with free hot fudge when I asked nicely. All in all, it wasn't quite the "fling" we had in mind for our last free weekend, but a very good day and a great find. We'll definitely be back. In fact, we'd love to take you there!

My husband, the fisherman

Well, Jason finally got to go fishing! He has been wanting to catch a fish ever since he learned we were moving here. Almost everyone around here fishes. There are tons of lakes, rivers, and yes, a gulf to fish in. We met some new neighbors, Tim and Becky, this weekend and they invited Jason to come fishing with them on their boat the very next day (the people around here are so friendly!)

This really isn't the time of year for "good" fishing (too hot so the fish go to cooler waters), but Jason had some luck. In fact, he was the only real success of the whole day! He caught a 22 inch grouper just big enough to keep. (Anything under that has to be released). Several other fish were caught but they were fortunate enough to be smaller. This poor fishy became our dinner. Tim came over to cut and clean it for us (thank goodness), while Jason was the chef. He made lettuce wraps with pan seared grouper and a cilantro-jalapeno-dijon sauce (a Rachel Ray recipe). It was mighty tasty. I just might let him go out with the boys again if he can bring home more "bacon!"

BEFORE...yuck!

AFTER...yum!