Beverly Beach Campground

We had a fun camping experience in April this year with a new campground - Beverly Beach campground --- which literally is right on the beach - come out of your camper, take 10 steps and you are on the beach.  There was a large group of families - in fact, this was by far our largest group yet!

We're off - so excited to go and spend time outdoors and with friends

Zs, Cs, Js, Acostas, Hilliards, Ottatis, Biris, Reiners, Putts, Shaws, Johnsons (Joe), Wanderslebens.

On Friday night, we had a lovely campfire and had the fun of singing Happy Birthday to our dear friend Kent!  Happy birthday!

On Sunday morning, Amy got up early and went out to watch the sunrise - it was so peaceful and beautiful!  What a reminder of God's blessings to us.

The sky starting to light up

So beautiful with the light streaming across the water

Sabbath morning we got up to a very cloudy, rainy day.  We weren't sure how the day would pan out - so the morning was a bit soggy and standing around under shelter to stay out of the rain.

Talking under the nearby washroom/laundry facility overhang to stay dry!

And inside RVs to stay out of the rain!

On Sabbath afternoon, the rainy weather cleared up we went and explored a nearby park that had lovely trails and flowers.  After that, we went to a nearby beach where they had these crazy rocks all over the beach where the kids could climb.  Zachary stayed back at the campground, so our family picture is sans one!

Love our friends the Reiners --- but not sure about this photo bomber!

Going VERY slowly from one part of the park down to the playground

Capturing a garden snake (No thanks!!)

The flowers were just amazing - so big and fragrant

The campground had a little "connect 4" and cornhole game that the kids wandered over to play with.  This is a sweet little friend who helped cheer Addison up after she had a little tiff with one of her friends - such a sweet little boy!

As you'd expect being on the beach, there was lots of hanging out on the beach playing, talking etc.  The sand was a loose, heavy sand so it wasn't the beach kind of beach but there is always fun to be had on the beach!

Some of the girls buried their feet and the waves washed up over them - much to their screaming delight! 

And lots of sitting in chairs watching the waves

And just standing around in general - talking wherever you could find a place to talk!

Late in the afternoon, two military helicoptors were flying along the shoreline, so that was a moment of excitement to see and hear the loud thumps of the blades.

And just one random picture of Amy, Kelli and Vasti! Blessed by incredible female friendships!

A Newly Minted Teenager & a New Driver!

It is hard to believe, but we have TWO teenagers now in the house!  Pray for us now - the hormones may sweep us all away! 😀  Kaleb turned 13, and Amy always takes off a Friday afternoon in order to do something special with the kids for their birthday week, so she took Kaleb and a friend Lucas to Andretti's (as well as Addison) for an afternoon of fun. His "big" birthday party had to be delayed because each Sunday was taken with soccer so that is upcoming in May.

While we were at Andretti's, the kids did the virtual Daytona race car driving experience, laser tag, and of course lots of arcade games.  Even Addison was able to do the car driving (after an initial big disappointment when she wasn't tall enough to do it because you have to be able to press on the gas pedals) when Amy came into the area and operated the gas pedals while she did the driving.  Joy returned!

Pac Man - a good old classic game!

And of course no birthday is complete without cake!  Kaleb loves lemon and fruit, so we got for a second year the Publix lemon and strawberry cake - it is delicious to be sure!

Happy birthday - we love you!

Even more unbelievable is that Zachary now has his driver's permit!  This generation doesn't seem as anxious to get their driver's license as when us old parents were young, but Karis was determined that Zachary was going to get his permit so that he could start being helpful with errands etc in a year's time.  Zachary is a quick learner, so he passed the test very easily. 

Taking the test

With his actual permit now!

We are starting to have him drive around the neighborhood - not a lot of major roads yet but starting to let him get the sense of the car and how everything works.  How is it that our son is getting this old already!?

Our anniversary is of course also the same time as the boys' birthdays, and for the first time in about a year because of Covid, we ventured out to a restaurant here in town -- Cheesecake!  Yummy!

One of Karis' friends in Canada from his high school days turned 50 this year, and Ontario is entirely locked down because of Covid so it was not going to be a very celebratory event -- but her highschool friends decided to send her special birthday messages.  Karis in his crazy creativity decided to make a funny video - he is just a nut!  So funny!!

With Covid cases declining here in Florida, the school has allowed a few field trips which has been a great pick-me-up for the kids.  Recently Karis went to SeaWorld with Zachary, and sent Amy a picture with all of the dads sitting saying "where are all the moms?"  Hey buddy, moms go on field trips all the time! :)

Male bonding

And last but not least, a picture of rare sibling snuggle bonding time - hope they remember these sweet moments as adults!

Easter & Birthday Celebrations

Easter weekend was filled with fun events - starting with an outdoor "walk-through" event for Easter at the church.  They had sign-up times where you would join a group and walk through different stations at the church where they depicted different part of Jesus' life.  It was very well done!

Talking about baptism and John the Baptist and how it cleanses our sins away.

And in the middle was a left-over hopscotch game from a different day that Karis couldn't resist trying out. 

Nailing things we were thankful for to the cross. 

Kaleb was one of the soldiers guarding the tomb - he did a good job fainting dead away when Jesus rose again

Um, we found this odd creature as we went around -- something now quite right about this man's shirt!

And we found our sweet friend Londy!

On Easter Sunday, we had our family birthday celebration for the boys....and of course some Easter fun!

Because it was a birthday we had birthday donut towers instead of cake.  The boys went with Karis to pick them out with a variety.

We adore our little cousin Sadie, she is at such a sweet age - so while she was here for the birthday we did some fun things for Easter as well!

We started off with Easter egg decorating

And then while they were hard working on that, the men-folk went out and hid the eggs.  Amy followed them taking pictures so that we wouldn't forget where the eggs were.  We had a specific egg color for each kid so that they would all get the same amount....with one special egg that had some $$ in it!

Ready to hide!

And ready to hunt for them!

And they are off running!

Hee hee, there is one hidden in the very top part of the fountain for Zachary!

Exploring their treasures afterwards

We adore our little Sadie - reading a book with her

Every year Amy gets a special shirt for the kids' birthday - so that we can commemorate favorite colors/activities etc.  Kaleb loves himself some neon colors right now!

Goodness, I wish the years would stop flying by - these boys are so precious and we want to savor every minute with them.  Look at big they are now! 😥

A rarity - getting Zachary to sit down on the couch and snuggle with his mom!