Our Deer friends

Anyways, the screen looks crazily large on this picture (not sure why, it didn't look like this when I uploaded it to my computer...?), maybe you can see the herd of deer feeding at the grain pile?

They fight over the grain.  That one day we had 12 deer trying to get to it.  It was neat to watch.

Panama City Beach, Florida

We had a wonderful time in FL!  It was nice to get a break from the freezing temps and piles of snow.  Yes, it was hard to keep driving north into the frozen tundra!  We didn't see any snow until we were about halfway through Illinois.   We had  a very nice condo with an ocean view and full kitchen.  The first day we were there it was rainy, but that was okay, we just relaxed, got stuff we needed, etc. Then we went to the beach for two very nice days (75* +) and then we had another rainy day.  The last 2 days were on the "cooler" side about 60*ish, and we headed to Gulf World Marine Park on one day and deep sea fishing the next.  Then all too soon we had to pack up and begin the long drive home. 
Here's a few pictures of our trip~~~~

 Kinda blurry...but it's a picture of the condo's nightly dancing water show.

 Sand castle time!

 Love the sound of the waves crashing into the shore!  We loved wading out into the waves and James told me it was a good thing he had his "jumpiners" on, so he could jump on the waves =) 

 Meri enjoyed burying herself with help from Emily...she did this a few times!

 =) Cuties

 Dolphin & sea lion show at Marine World...the kids loved all the different shows there.

 It was a bit chilly

 Beautiful

 Ready to head out to sea!

 I went and got my winter hat because it was chilly & breezy!

 This was one of the highlights of the trip, up front on our way out to sea, 2 dolphins swam with us.  It was amazing!  They must have joined us for a few miles!  Every once in a while they would jump out of the water!!

 The first fish Joe caught.  Can you see it's teeth?

 We went up on the upper deck to "spy" on the guys =) 

 The fish haul!

 Last night there, beautiful sunset yet again!

Brother & sister =)

 As you can tell by all the comments, people thought this was so neat....it was!

And, lastly, a video for kicks and giggles (Meri had already done this numerous times, so she was a bit more tired here ;-)  By the way, this was her general mode of transportation on the beach.  We got a few smiles from others!  Another funny Meri story--she loved chasing the seagulls (on her hands and knees of course) and then she'd jump straight up and down (think kangaroo jump)...so there was a group of people to our right sitting on beach chairs and the gulls came around.  Meri goes galloping over and jumping up at the gulls  to try and keep them away.  Then, she seemed to draw more gulls.  It was funny to watch, I think the people were a bit amused with her =)  Then she changed to kind of stalking the gulls and pouncing....so funny!  We were just cracking up from our blankets watching her =)  I would've loved a video, but not sure how they would have liked it!  Good memories anyhow.

My loves ♥♥                       ^^^^^       

Just a quick update on our plans here~~~
We are heading down to Florida for a week-long much needed vacation!  Leaving on Thursday and driving down....crossing our fingers for decent driving weather! 
We'll be staying at Panama City Beach, which is on the Gulf side, mainland part of Florida.  Needless to say, the kids (well, & us) are getting excited =)

Hope all is well in each of your corners of the world. ♥

Birthday and snow pics

 James is 4 =)

 Excited boy opening some packages that came in the mail for him!

 Big smile!

 Busily using one of his new tools.... (as you can see, they LOVED the peanuts too ;-) 

Snow fort 

Big enough for two!

One lovely winter afternoon

 We went to check on the goat herd at a friend's since they are gone for a while.  Our 5 were brought over there a month or 2 ago to get bred and will be back sometime this spring.  The kids liked seeing them again, I think they remembered us, came right up to them while the rest hung back a ways!  I loved how they had a trail beat through the snow and they followed single file on the trail, none of them ventured off into the deeper snow! 

 Joe cut down a few pine trees for them.  In the top picture that's where they were headed (pines off to the right).  Here they are eating it...they love pine.

 The kids & I didn't venture across the field, we stayed back by the goat's shed and they played on this trailer.  Jumping off and stuff

 Safe landing

 Cocoa was along and LOVED the snow

 I told James to jump off the end where no one had jumped but he was afraid he'd hit that old piece of machinery WAAAY over to the right!  (10-12 feet away)  Oh little boy, you crack me up!

 Smiley kids=)

 Pics out of order, Joe trudging over to the pines.

Some land we are buying, and the view....oh so pretty.

 My burrowing girl, love the snowballs on her head. (Video of why she looks like this below!)

Another view!

 

♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

{"Aw, man, my land in Emily's spot"}

 

Cocoa ran and ran and ran and well, leaped through the snow I guess is more like it! 

 

Such a beautiful day and so so lovely to be together outside enjoying family & nature.  ♥