Silver Glen Springs

On Thursday we all went to Silver Glen Springs in the Ocala National Forest. It is beautiful there. The water is crystal clear and Freezing cold, but so pretty. You can actually look down and see the water coming out of the spring and it is full of some very big fish. We took a picnic lunch and it was a very fun day.

You pretty much have to just get in, get numb and then it is ok. It is worth it to see the spring and the fish.

Stephanie, Tanek and I had a little more trouble getting used to the cold water than our Maryland family did. They are used to cold water, we Floridians are not, but we braved it and went in.

Sweet Hannah was enjoying snorkeling.

Tanek and Stephanie thought it was pretty cold, but he enjoyed collecting the shells

Heather, the snorkel queen

We had our picnic lunch out on the grass and it was so nice. It really is a pretty park and a nice place to spend a day.

The beautiful clear blue water, reminds me of the Bahamas

Collecting shells and catching little minnows

Hannah & Tanek

Kirsten & Hannah

Papa enjoying the day

Emily gets her ears pierced!

Our sweet youngest grand-daughter has wanted to get her ears pierced. So her mom and dad took her to the mall and she got her ears pierced. She was such a big girls. She never shed a tear. She was so excited to have little diamonds put in her ears. She also had swimmers ear and had been to the Dr. that very day about that.
Lots of preparation for the big moment

She had her little dog with her for support. Sam, (her stuffed dog) also got his ears pierced after Emily did.

All smiles while waiting

Maybe getting a little nervous about it???

The girl at Claire's was getting everything ready for the big moment

In an instant both ears are done

Putting the backs on the earrings

So proud and happy to have it done. What a brave girl.

And a lollipop is her reward...plus some new earrings.

Emily and Tanek walking in the mall after is was over

Special Papa Time!

It has been a little quiet around here the past couple days. The cousins and their mom and dad have gone to the beach for a few days. Yesterday it was raining so today was the first day since Sunday to be swimming. Papa had just mowed the grass and was ready to take a swim and Tanek is always ready. So just the two of them spent some time in the pool today.

Here I come Papa
Papa and Tanek chillin

Now this is what I call relaxing

More 4th of July Fun!

Swimming in the pool by the grand-kids was a lot of the fun for the 4th. Even though the weather wasn't perfect at least it wasn't thundering and lightning and so they swam even in the rain. We did have a few hours of no rain for them to swim. Emily learned how to swim this year and she really enjoyed swimming and jumping off the edge.

There she goes

Hannah is a real fish in the water. She loves it and it doesn't matter to her if the water is cold by our Florida standards.

Emily also likes to be thrown up in the air. Papa was happy to oblige

Tanek and Hannah loved trying to get the best of Rick. Usually he got the best of them

You can see bodies under the water. That would be Kirsten & Casey (I think)

Noodles make good weapons

Hannah loved using her Uncle Rick for a diving board.

Hannah, Rich and Tanek all jumping in together. You can see the sky was promising rain and it did deliver.

Hannah and her daddy

Hannah being thrown by her dad

Emily and her daddy

Tanek and Emily

Jumping in is half the fun

So much fun

We will do it together. The two youngest cousins

These video's below will show a little of the fun in motion. I was happy to sit out and take the pictures because after all the rain the water was a little cooler than I like and it wasn't all that hot outside. But kids don't care and they had a great time. It was a great 4th of July week-end and lots of fun shared with family and friends.