Heatherfield photos

Jeff's band, Heatherfield had a great opportunity to record in a professional studio one weekend in Baltimore, MD. In preparation for this trip and for the release of the CD, they had their band photo made. I think it looks awesome and very professional.

They should get the recording back soon and then their music will be available to purchase as a 5-song CD or on iTunes.

Holly Springs Picnic

Last year was out first year living in our new neighborhood, Holly Springs. Then we discovered they have an annual picnic for all the families. We went and had a good time. It rolled around again this year and we were excited to go again.
They had lots of fun activities for the kids:
Sidewalk Chalk
Painting Pumpkins
Bike Decorating
2 Bounce Houses
Lots of food

Nathan's Pumpkin
He drew N's because "N is for Nathan"

Bouncing in the bounce house

Norah made quite a mess playing with the sidewalk chalk

A fun park

Louisville has a number of great parks for kids to play. One afternoon, with nothing else to do, we decided to load up a picnic and take it to one of the area playground parks. After eating, the kids played on the playground equipment and had a great time.

My very independent little girl
(she climbed up the steps and slid down the slide all by herself)

So proud of herself

Nathan swinging

Norah has to do everything her big brother does
Nathan was climbing the rock wall so Norah had to try and follow

Halloween at the Zoo

Every year we take the kids to the Halloween at the zoo. They get to dress up in costumes and trick or treat around the Louisville Zoo after hours. We have a great time every year.
Nathan picked out his own costume this year and was Super Why (from the PBS TV show) and Norah was a ladybug.
We all had a wonderful time.

Nathan and Norah in the hay maze
with Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin

Elmo
(it was getting pretty dark)

We didn't go into see the dinosaurs
but they had cool blow-up dinosaurs
Nathan thought they were awesome

Outside In Family Fun Center

I heard about a new bouncie play center on the radio so one day when both Jeff and I were off work, we decided to check it out. The Inside Out Family Fun Center is brand new and located in southern Indiana. They have several slides and bounce-houses both inside and outside. They also have a toddle play zone on the lower level. Also outside are 2 go-kart race tracks and a miniature golf course. We must have gone on an off day because we were the only ones there that day. Nathan had a great time playing on all the equipment and even met a new friend, the owner's 3 year old daughter Makayla.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone with young children looking for a fun day. I hope more people check this place out so they stay in business.

Nathan sliding down the big blow-up slide

Jeff had just as much fun as the kids

Pure joy

Norah enjoyed playing in the toddler zone

Birmingham Zoo

Since the drive to Destin is over 10 hours, we stopped in Birmingham, AL both on the way down and the way back home. We met up with our friends from Highview who had moved there in the last few years. It was great reconnecting with old friends.
With our Louisville Zoo pass, we have reciprocal membership to many zoos around the country. We try to look up zoos near our vacation destinations and visit them if we have the chance. Birmingham Zoo is smaller than Louisville but the kids (especially Nathan) love going to the zoo, any zoo.

Nathan likes to pose in face cut-out placards.
Giraffe Nathan

Nathan and his daddy playing on the natural rock playground

We got to see a snake feeding demonstration
Nathan was fascinated

Family photos

I love my family.
We had several great family photos taken while on vacation.
Enjoy.

playground

Vacationing with kids means finding fun activities that they enjoy. Nathan and Norah love playgrounds so we found a nice play area in the middle of Destin Commons shopping mall. The kids loved it and we had the chance to sit and relax while they played.

Fudpucker's

One of the most unlikely places we ate in Destin was Fudpucker's. We were told by the receptionist at our resort that it was a good family restaurant and she was right. The food was good, but the experience after dinner was unique and one the kids will not soon forget.

Fudpucker's has its own alligator farm, which would be cool all by itself, but the coolest part was that you could feed the alligators.
Jeff and Nathan feeding the alligators.

The Beach

We love vacationing at the beach, especially during the off season when it is not so hot, not so busy and still beautiful. This vacation was all of the above. Destin, FL is a popular beach vacation for people of Louisville and our trip to visit the Doughertys allowed us to experience this beach vacation everyone was talking about. Destin has beautiful white sandy beaches and warm clear water. We will definitely be traveling back to Destin

Family photo on the beach

Nathan loved the beach
(last year in SC we discovered Nathan's love of the beach)

Norah was a little wary of the sand at first but was soon playing in it
What a beautiful beach baby

Daddy's beach baby

Mommy and Norah outside our resort

Santa Rosa Sound and Crab Island

We rented a pontoon boat and drove around the Santa Rosa Sound and anchored on Crab Island (a beautiful sandbar great for swimming and playing in the clear water). Jeff and Joe took the opportunity to fish in the gulf. We had a great day on the water.

Norah did NOT like being in the life-vest

A much happier baby

Nathan loved the boat

Jeff and Joe had another opportunity to fish
The only thing biting were catfish

Captain Jeff with his first mate Nathan

Playing in the water on Crab Island

Nathan swimming in the Sound at Crab Island

Navarre Beach and Pier

Joe and Becky live in Navarre, FL which is about 20 miles from Destin. Navarre is also on the gulf and has its own beautiful beaches.

Navarre has the longest pier in the gulf
Jeff and Joe heading up the pier to fish

Nathan peering off the pier

Hurlburt AFB

As soon as our good friends, Joe and Becky Dougherty were stationed at Hurlburt AFB in Fort Walton, FL we knew we would travel there to visit them. This past month we took that opportunity to take a wonderful vacation to Navarre and Destin, FL.
On our first day there, we went to Hurlburt AFB to see 1st Lt. D. Joseph Dougherty. Hurlburt has an airfield with many Air Force planes and helicopters on display. Jeff was in heaven looking at all of them (we have many pictures not displayed here).