Snakes (Update: 9.23.11)

The latest snake picture from our yard on August 3, 2011:

 Primo Matt was in Jax for a bird conference and was able to catch the snake so the girls could get up close to the snake:

                                                              In the backyard on 4.29.11:

Kellisa checking out the snakes at the National Wildlife Refuge Day at Merritt Island (10.08). Kellisa loves all things scary (notice her Spiders shirt).

A few snake pictures taken from our yard. We see many more, but when we return with the camera...they are usually gone. We've seen a Pigmy Rattlesnake, but haven't gotten a picture.

Day and then the Shade (12.10)

Matt drove all the way from Texas to meet his newest primita Egypt. While Matt was visiting, Chris and Kellisa had to take him on some of our favorite local hiking trails. In addition, we also explored some of the areas best off road trails with Matt's new 4X4. Besides a few...many scratches to Matt's truck, everyone had a great time!

Fort Caroline National Memorial and Theodore Roosevelt Area:

(Above photo from Matt's collection)

Ocala National Forest:

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge:

Osceola National Forest:

Halloween 2007

A couple of weeks before Halloween 2007, Kellisa and I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Lisa (with a recently broken ankle) stayed home. Our trip coincided with National Wildlife Refuge Week, which included many activities geared towards kids. One activity was face painting. It was a very long line and I asked Kellisa if she wanted her face painted. I was hoping and crossing my fingers for a "no", but she said "YES"! We waited almost two hours for her turn. We watched countless little kids, mostly girls, getting their faces painted like princesses, cats, tigers, butterflies and super heroes. When it was Kellisa's turn, she started looking at the patterns that were offered. She immediately pointed to a vampire bat. The face painting lady asked if Kellisa wanted fangs and dripping blood and Kellisa answered "YES". I could not have been more proud/happy with her decision. The end result was well worth the long wait in line:

With the face painting fresh in her memory, Kellisa decided to be a bat for Halloween. Again, Lisa gets all the credit for the costume and face painting:

Kellisa and her classmates: