Monday, November 3, 2014

Club Lake Plantation in Apopka - Fall Festival

We decided to kick of the Fall Festival season with a trip to Club Lake Plantation in Apopka.  I read an awesome review that they had an opportunity to do some "punkin chunkin" and I knew the boys would be thrilled.  Keith stayed home to take care of some things around the house and Grandma and Grandpa Holloway met us there.  



I was thrilled with the amount of bounce houses for the younger crowd as well as big-kid activities.  Middle school kids are a tough age to please on these "little kid" outings.  



The shack for punkin' chunkin.  We decided to use tennis balls for these launchers and save the pumpkins for the giant sling-shot. 


Daniel getting ready to shoot his tennis ball at the target. 


Joshua was really trying hard to hit the target. 



I love the irony of a corn maze with palm trees hanging overhead.  I had no problems keeping my orientation with this maze.  



Off we go into the corn.  


After surviving the corn maze, we raced rubber duckies down water gutters.  These boys are fiercely competitive! 



This sweet girl was hot and we decided to check out the refreshments.  We had some delicious fresh-squeezed lemonade.  


Grandma and Grandpa Holloway


This was super-addicting.  The string seems barely long enough for the horse shoe to hook on the mounted horse shoe.  Daniel really got into this. 


This sweet boy is growing up much too fast!!  Those dimples are the sweetest! 


The boys chilling out before the hay ride. 


Megan preparing to chunk her pumpkin out into the barrel in the water.  


Joshua getting ready to launch.  Over near the closest fence post, you can see Megan's pumpkin flying through the air. 


Watching her pumpkin soar! 


Daniel getting a little help in the muscles department from the teenage volunteer.  


We took a hayride all around the grounds and met a very friendly deer.  


Joshua and Grandma chilling on the hayride. 


Such a sweet face! 


Megan practicing her driving skills.  


Joshua and Daniel trying to determine if it's a real tractor, or just a prop. 


Picking out pumpkins. 


Grandpa Holloway and the kids. 


Daniel painstakingly looked for the perfect pumpkin, and it died about 2 weeks later. 


Megan picked out a big pumpkin and it lived on our front porch for a while. 


Showing his pumpkin lots of TLC. 


Joshua and I in the pumpkin patch.  

It was a great time! We can't wait to do it again next year! 

Pop Warner Little Scholars Banquet - Joshua May 2014

Joshua was selected to attend a banquet for the Pop Warner Little Scholars program.  His grades put him in the top 2% of all Pop Warner players.  The banquet was held at one of the Disney resorts.  Somehow, I was thinking that a 5pm banquet would be serving food.  I was mistaken on that and so we all had peanut M&Ms from the hotel gift shop for dinner.  



The boys checking out Joshua's swag bag full of goodies.  


Aside from not having food, it was a very nice banquet and we saw quite a few families from the Lake Brantley Pop Warner team, as well as families from all over the country.  


Can you tell they are tired and hungry? 


We are trying to look like a football family, when really we are more like a marching band family.  It was a fun season, but these boys weren't interested in signing up for a second season. 


I'm not quite sure what's going on here, but I think Keith is talking Megan into asking if we can leave to go get some food.  


Joshua crossing the stage shaking hands with Pop Warner leaders. 


With his certificate. 


You can't really dress us up and take us anywhere.  



5th Grade Graduation - Joshua

In May of 2014, Joshua graduated from the 5th grade, officially leaving Forest City Elementary.  His plans are to attend Milwee Middle School's Pre-IB Engineering program. 



Graduation was held in the middle of the morning, and in true Florida style, was very, very warm.  


Mrs. Clifton, the music teacher.  She has positively influenced Joshua in many ways.  He plans to continue his musical interests by playing the trumpet in the band in middle school. 


That's a sharp looking group of young people. 


Here he is in all of his Pomp and Circumstance, getting ready to cross over to middle school.  



Grandma and Grandpa Holloway made it out to our special event.  


Very official looking!! 


Joshua's homeroom teacher, Mrs. Butler.  We love Mrs. Butler.  We are so lucky to still have her in our lives, as she is now Megan's teach for math and science.  


Joshua and I taking a graduation selfie.  Look at that gorgeous sunshine!