That was a full day!

I played basketball at Fruit Cove Baptist Church this morning. Gina, A and E participated in the ASK outreach event at church hosting refugees from Iraq, Africa and some other countries. We took our family picture for the church directory which is our first professionally taken family photo in some time and maybe only the 2nd one ever. Then we went to the Suns baseball game early and received the bobblehead giveaway (#1 parrotthead/Jimmy Buffett). Next it was a picnic dinner across the street before the game at Metropolitan park. A brief stop over at the Jacksonville Jaguars practice fields to watch some of training camp followed. At this time E asked why the girls didn't have anything over their stomachs (cheerleaders). Finally it was back to the baseball game. And for the 2nd time in 9 days...after never getting a baseball at a professional game, this lady at the Suns game walked up to Gina and I and asked if A and E were our children. Upon confirmation, she gave us the ball for them since they were so well-behaved.

A's Last Day of Gymnastics

Well since I remember, even going back to when we lived in Tallahassee, A has participated in gymnastics on a weekly basis. Today was her last session for the summer, and she is going to skip it this fall and spring to play soccer, maybe basketball and softball/t-ball. She has enjoyed going and especially likes the teacher she has mostly had for the past year or so, Ms. Tonya.

Asleep at Publix

Grocery shopping with Dad. But this is obviously not very interesting even with us getting cookies.

Volunteering at the City Rescue Mission

On Sunday, July 20th, we had our first volunteer experience as a family. We had contacted the City Rescue Mission about opportunities and at this time volunteered to help with food service at their McDuff campus. The McDuff campus is where the CRM offers more long-term recovery programs. During the week, they serve a lunch and dinner meal but on Saturday and Sunday they only serve dinner. We arrived shortly before 4 PM and awaited our assignments. There seemed to be some confusion, and we started wondering if we would be able to help with anything. Finally, the boys ended up on the food line and the girls were the dining room cleaning crew. E would hand me a tray to then put rice and and veggies (field peas and green beans) on while the girls wiped down tables and swept the floor when needed. Unfortunately, I forget to take a picture of me in the same outfit as E. We were glad to be able to help and the kids did a great job as well. The people there seemed to really enjoy seeing them there to help. We look forward to volunteering at the CRM again.

I GOT A HOMERUN BALL!

The first baseball I've ever tracked down at a professional ball game. I happened to walk out the stadium to take a picture and was coming back in through the LF gate. I heard the crowd roar...thought that's a well hit ball roar and just watched the fence line. Next thing I knew, a ball flew over. No competition to get it but I still jogged over to right center area and there it was sitting under a motorcycle.

Jim Adduci, OF for the Cubs hit it. I got back to the seats behind homeplate and Gina was like how did you get that.

Single A - Florida State League

We visited Angell & Phelps and took the tour to watch them make chocolate, have some samples and make some purchases. After dinner at Aunt Catfish's in Port Orange, we are ending our Daytona day trip by watching the Daytona Cubs vs Ft. Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins affiliate). They had a Jeff Samardzija (former Notre Dame WR) bobblehead giveaway. Tony Thomas who played for FSU last year is also on the Daytona team.

The ballpark is named after Jackie Robinson. This is where the first integrated professional baseball game actually took place.

It's a quaint old park with a manual scoreboard.

Back At The Bottom!

203 steps to go back down...

Atlantic Ocean

..And driving on the beach.

We made it...and it is high.

Here we go...

Ponce Inlet, FL

Just south of Daytona Beach...Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and 2nd tallest masonry lighthouse in the nation.

Suns Game

We went to a baseball game tonight. They had a bobblehead giveaway. The Suns were playing the Mississippi Braves. They were actually playing 2 games due to a rain postponement after 1/2 inning last night. Clayton Kershaw who was recently up with the Dodgers pitched great for about 7 innings and the Suns won 6-0.

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic

Daddy and the kids went to Lowe's free clinic this morning and made a dune buggy. We were able to hammer nails and sand down our buggies to make them smooth. It was fun and right away the kids asked when we could come again. Lowe's has the clinics every 2 weeks. The kids had the buggy they made and received a certificate and Jimmy Johnson dune buggy patch.

Metro Diner, Zoo & Picnic

Ate with the family at the Metro Diner for a late breakfast this morning. It was the first time we've been there. It was very good. After that we went to the zoo and had a picnic at the playground area...where the raccoons were getting into the trash.

Happy 4th of July...

From our nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, FL.

Added 7-13-08...Ethan also learned how to eat a chicken leg for the first time. We don't necessarily have fried chicken very often so we realized he had not eaten it off the bone when he tried to out the fat end of the leg into his mouth like and ice cream cone.