My Boys

School is back in session. Summer is almost over and hurricane season is officially here. Since I am able to do this post you will note that I still have electricity and internet even as Tropical Storm Faye is making her way through my neck of the woods. Chris is doing well at RichbourgMiddle School and Ethan is a 2nd grader at Walker. His teacher told me yesterday what a good boy he is in class when I went to visit Ethan during his lunch time. Ethan proudly introduced me to his 3 new friends that he was eating with like they were his frat buddies. Hmm, I wonder where he gets his social "butterflyness" from?!

Biker Boys

We were at the Harley store at Downtown Disney while visiting everyone in Orlando and took some really good pictures last summer. Ethan really can ham it up. I love it.

Future Einsteins

Every nine weeks Walker Elementary does an awards ceremony for each grade. In the 2007-2008 school year Ethan was in 1st grade and Chris was in 5th grade. They both got the same award that week. The teachers from each classroom chose 1 boy and 1 girl who had done really well in science and gave them the "Future Einstein Award." The award came with a cool T-shirt. We have what is sometimes a small community here in Crestview. Once at the grocery store the cashier noticed Ethan's shirt and congratulated him. Her granddaughter had gotten the same award at some point last year. What can I say, I'm proud of my boys.

A Day at the Beach

We love the ocean. Fortunately that's a place all four of us like and can go to together. Matthew and Chris love the water and Ethan loves the sand. We spend a lot of fun time making sand castles and moats around them that always dry up in moments. My favorite beach on the Emerald Coast of Florida's Panhandle is Navarre Beach. They have the best sea shells. Even when it's crowded it's a wonderful, beautiful and serene place to be.

More Cousins

While in Illinois to see Baby Cassie, I was able to get together with my Grandmother, my Aunt Lana, and cousin Lisa and her family. Lisa and Mark have two adorable and sweet boys, Zachary and George. George is camera-shy as you will notice from the photos.

My Mom: Michelle Post

My mom is an author! She self-published her baby, The Spirits of Nature in 2006. It's a fantastic journey into the real and beautiful cuture of the Crow Indian tribe of Montana. Mom started this novel when I was about 9. She put it aside for about 20 years and then completed it in the summer of 2005. After numerous editings and the completion of the cover art by a good friend and amazingly talented artist, Lorita Atwell, the Spirits of Nature was ready for print. For more info please visit http://www.thespiritsofnature.net/

My New Cousin

In January I got a new cousin! My mom and I were fortunate enough to be able to go up to Chicago and meet the newly arrived Cassie Hochbaum. She was a really amazing newborn with such a sweet way about her. When she looked at you it was like she held the wisdom of a sage in her and that she wanted to share it with you. I haven't seen her since but I'm sure she's just adorable and doing the things that a 7 month old does.

Field Day May 2008 Walker Elementary

Oh, the joys of Field Day...I wish I could say I liked it more. I do love watching my kids in their events but the rest of the time is spent trying to keep Matthew happy and trying not to roast in the heat and sun. The PE teachers put a whole lot of effort into the weeklong event, and that is to be commended.

Ethan turns 7

Ethan, like all children, loves his birthday. I went to his school and surprised him and had lunch with him. That was fun. First graders are so cute and animated. I love the kids in his class. I help out for a few minutes three times a week in his class so I've gotten to know each child a little bit. They are precious. Matthew loves the classroom too. Most days he brings his own little multi-colored backpack. He looks so cute and little in the hallways. He waits until we get to the school to use the toilet. He likes the bathroom in the classroom for some reason. He's cute, I didn't say he wasn't a little strange!

Easter 2008

Easter was nice. My boys had to take a lot of pictures. It was hard to get one where all three were smiling and looking at the camera.

New Orleans

I had some timeshare points I needed to use and so I wanted to go somewhere fairly close so I chose New Orleans. I've never been there so it was way cool to go somewhere new. The boys were ith their dad for a week in July and that's when I went. The hotel I stayed at was nice and the food in New Orleans was good! I rode the streetcar a couple of times. It's quite the ingenious invention. The French Quarter had some cool architecture but was not as exciting as I thought it would be. The Garden District was really nice. The houses are so nice. The majority of them are of the Greek Revival design. I took a guided tour (in which I was the only person) in a really old home called the Ashley House which is said to be haunted. Confederate soldiers stayed there during the "War of Northern Agression" (Whatever!!) Those soldiers ethched names, dates, and poetry on the walls. Very cool to see.

On one of the main streets in "the Quarter" there are still Mardi Gras beads hanging from a street light!

Girls' Camp

A couple of days after my finals I was on my way to girls' camp in south Georgia. It was really fun even though I'm not the best camper. Our cabins were legendary gross and redefined the word rustic. I found out they were built in the 1940s I think around the time that the Nazis were building concentration camps. I think they used the same architect.

The hike on day two was great and we climbed to the top of a massive Indian temple mound. The best part of camp was the testimony meeting held on the last night. I feel so blessed that I was there. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the testimony I have.

I had so much fun with our young women. We have such a special group of girls. I love them all so much.

Welcome

Hello Dear Friends and Family,
Welcome to my Blog. I am challenged when it comes to these things so forgive me if my blog is lame.
I have a lot of pics and events that I want to post and they will most likely not be inchronological order. But you can check the date to avoid any confusion.
Enjoy.
If I haven't seen you in a while then: I MISS YOU!!! Come to Florida and visit!
Love, Nicole