Too Cool 4 School

Where has the time gone???  I cannot believe this is Maddie’s last year of middle school and Robert’s last year of elementary school.  My babies are not babies any more (2 second sad face). I do love their current ages, they are so much fun!  They are independent enough, but still dependent enough.  If only I could freeze this age forever!

Maddie's first day of 8th grade & Robert's first day of 5th grade (August 20, 2012)

who's excited for 8th grade...y...e...a...h...right after I ooVoo & twitter & im & facebook & & &

who's excited for 5th grade????

the coolest (and the most stylish) 8th grader of the 2012-2013 school year 

the biggest hearted 5th grader of the 2012-2013 school year

just a little fun before we head out

here's your sign... (compliments of Kristy Neville)

sometimes it's fun to switch things up a bit

Maddie has 7 classes this year.  She is in all honors and 5 of her classes will count towards high school, the other 2 are electives (P.E. & guitar).  (Maddie says she's going for straight A's this year, you can do it Madeline, YES YOU CAN!).

Robert was put into the gifted class this year, this is a first for him, however due to having the highest FCAT scores in the 4th grade we have taken it to the top. (Go Roberto!).

Ready set go!

Sunshine, Scallops, & Steinhatche

So you ask, where in the world is Steinhatche and how in the world do you scallop??  Steinhatche is a little town located on the Gulf of Mexico at 29°40′16″N 83°23′15″W / 29.67111°N 83.3875°W / 29.67111; -83.3875.  It has just over 1,000 residents and is known for fishing and scalloping.  My mother has owned a little bungalow in Steinhatche for about 10 years now.  I'm not a big fan of the town or fishing, however I do love a good day on the boat and I do love to scallop so I usually make a trip about once a year.  Almost every year my cousin Emily goes with me as her and I are the scalloping masters and we like to compete against each other for the most scallops.  This year we brought a few extras along who were first time scallopers.  Oh yeah scalloping is just like an Easter Egg hunt, only in the water and more for grown-ups and big kids.  You should try it some time!

3 of the 13 cousins (representing 3 of the 5 Jones children) 

Robert was the first one in the water, like his mother fear is usually not an option.

My crazy Aunt

 Mini Me Maddie

 Mini Me M (Emily)

Scallops Scallops and more Scallops, we came very close to our 10 gallon max.

 My Surfer Dude

These two make my heart smile.   

Maxwell's first time scalloping.  He was a little scared at first but after several hours warmed right up.  If I would have had him on the boat one more day, he would have mastered scalloping.

and last but not least our friend at the marina Mr. Pelican.

The sunshine, the sheriff race, & Shaq

On Sunshiny Sunday, July 1st I was designated to take a few photos for a Sheriff's campaign and any excuse to take a few photos is always exciting to me.  I loaded up the McDougald crew and we headed to Clermont.  The event was out at a beautiful park next to a lake, we had great sunshine, a great potential new Sheriff, and?  What could possibly be missing?  SHAQ  Yes, Shaq! 

Shaq requested to have his picture with Madeline and after no thought I snapped it.  He also requested to have his photo with Robert, however Robert declined (true story).

red, white, blue, & coffee

It is mornings like these that I wake up with a good cup of coffee and ponder on the past, the present, and the future.  Who I was, who I am, and who I will one day become, who my kids were, who my kids are, and who they will one day become.  We really do have so much to be thankful for today and for that matter every day.  I've always been one to be intrigued with faith, government, & the military and today I can combine all 3 into one day...a moment of silence please...