The Steel Family: June 2012

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Key West with G & G Steel

Grandma and Grandpa Steel came to visit us a couple of weeks ago and we had so much fun! We went to the science museum, played tennis, went to Key West, and enjoyed every day we had with them.

At the Museum we had to check out the gift shop to see if any of Grandpas display cases were there, and sure enough there was a couple of them. He had figured that they were ones he had made over 10 years ago! We love finding these all over the country!

One our way to Key West we stopped at Islamorada and went to Robbies. We had a delish lunch (the shrimp tacos were fabulous) and also fed the tarpon. This was a definite highlight for the boys.

Eating lunch right on the water. Tanner was a little ornery here because he was hungry!

These Tarpon were huge. As you will see from the video I was a little scared to feed them. As the fish jumped up to get the food I saw my life flash before my eyes!

Beautiful sunset in Key West

While in Key West we rented Kayaks, rode jet skis, and went snorkeling.

Grandma and Tanner went out on the Kayaks first and were gone for quite sometime (they got a little lost) but had a great time!

They also had a fun pirate ship playground for the kids to play on.

Drew and the boys also went out on the Kayak

Mason, Drew, and I got to go out on a wave runner and had an absolute blast.

To say Mason loved it was an understatement. Tanner on the other hand wanted nothing to do with it. He gets nervous trying new things.


Last, we headed to the beach and did some snorkeling. My camera went dead at this point so this was the only picture I got there, but the boys loved it and got to see lots of fish.

We really did have such a great time! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the fun fun time! We love when you come to visit!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Today marks ONE YEAR living in South Florida! Really one year has gone by SO fast! I remember pulling up to our house here one year ago and just bursting out in tears. I remember sitting in the car feeding Hayden as everyone else started unloading the truck and just crying. I wondered what the heck I was doing in this strange, unfamiliar place and why did we have to leave somewhere we LOVED so much. I was scared. Scared of what life was going to be like. Scared we would hate it here. Scared of what Drew's schedule would be like and if he would like it. Scared my kids wouldn't find friends and wouldn't adjust. Scared! I was so grateful that mine and Drew's parents were there with us. They helped in so many ways. By the time they had all left a few days later, my house was completely unpacked, decorated, and clean and organized!

I can honestly say a year later that we really like it here in Florida. Life is good. The boys have adjusted, Drew's program is going well (of course there have been bad days, but for the most part it has been good and we have made it through the first year:) and we have made some great friends. Drew is busy, but the time he does have off, we make the most of it, and this is a great place to live to have fun. We do still miss our Old Kentucky home, and our friends, and our family, but I am grateful for this experience, and grateful to live in this part of the country.

A few things we have learned over this last year about Florida:

-you really do wear shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops year round (a definite plus for me. Drew claims to miss the seasons, but I know he likes it too!)
Here the boys are when we went out looking at Christmas lights 3 days before Christmas wearing shorts and flops!

- You can always do something outside. Even when it rains it usually will rain for a few minutes, then the sun will come back out and be a beautiful day.
Here Tanner is learning to ride a bike in February

-We swim year round
Here we are swimming in December (notice the Christmas wreath on the fence)

-The best time to go to the park is November thur April.

-There are LOTS of bugs and critters and lizards! (a definite negative for me. I totally get creeped out, especially when I see a lizard in my house!)
This picture is of the tree in front of my kitchen window. I see these guys daily.

- There are lots of fun things to do here

Disneyworld!

- Everything is more expensive here (rent, insurances, groceries) FYI don't register your car here if you don't have to, you may have to give an arm and a leg!

I am glad for this past year. For the things I have experienced and for all that I have learned!

Here are the boys 1 year ago

And here they are one year later

Friday, June 15, 2012

Mason finishes 1st grade

Mason finished 1st grade on June 7th (on Hayden's Birthday). He had an awesome year. He loved his school, his teacher, and his class. The week before, the whole first grade got to go on a field trip to the bowling alley for an end of the year party.

Eating Lunch

Mason and his teacher, Mrs. Smith, we loved her!

He really did have a great year. It is so fun to see your kids grow and learn and progress and love going to school each day.

Mason receiving student of the month award. This was earlier on in the year, but I wanted to include it.

I also wanted to include this. During the year his class had a unit on the Wright Brothers. Mason loved learning about them and how they invented and flew the first airplane. He told his teacher that he would build the first airplane they made and bring it to school. He came home and went right to work. He looked on the internet for some pictures (blueprints) and started building away. This is what he came up with. Pretty darn good replica if you ask me (but I am bias). The pictures really don't do it justice. His teacher loved it and had him share it with the class next door!