We had a very relaxing day at the beach... since it is the off-season in south Florida, we had the beach practically to ourselves!  Not really sure why there is an off-season down here- it was a gorgeous day. :)   90's and a nice breeze,  and the water was heavenly!

Summer!

Most people slow down in the summer months, but not the Hulls!  Although Annalee's Dance Class is over, we still have plenty ahead of us before the beginning of next school year... not to mention that we won't be finished with this school year until about August! 

We had homeschool evals last Saturday, and the kids did very well.  Our evaluator signed us off on another year well done!  I really don't remember half of it.... it all goes by so fast.

Andy took some pictures at Annalee's final dance recital of the year, so I thought I'd share:

Here's Annalee and her friend, waiting for the show to begin.

Smile, Annalee!

Elena was hanging out with the big girls- she refuses to join the dance class :)

Gabe's friend loves to give hugs :)  Gabe was being a good sport!

And the dance begins... they were dancing to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy :)

Big finish!

Annalee and her friends, watching the rest of the show.

What a great group of talented girls!

When my parents visited in February, my mother got me a few flower bulbs to plant.  I wasn't sure if I could keep them alive... but, look!  They are actually blooming :)  The top is a peachy-colored cannie and below is the red variety.  I enjoy looking at them from the lanai :)

Last week, we had some very cool guests in our creek... otters!  These two beauties fished for two days in a row then moved upstream.  I was lucky to catch them out of the water!

Last but not least, here's the new addition to our family!  The day before my birthday, I found a flier outside our local butcher shop- Doberman puppies!!  So, after having given up on finding a local breeder, Roy II found us.  We brought him home last Friday :) 

New Orleans/ Audubon Zoo

We recently made a trip back to the New Orleans area to visit with my husband's family, and the kids wanted to go to one of their favorite places- Audubon Zoo!  Actually, I should say they wanted to go to Monkey Hill, which is located in the zoo...  Monkey Hill is the best place to cool off on a hot summer day, and boy was it hot when we were there!

The Audubon Zoo is beautiful, lush and full of neat things to see!  Above, on the left, is the entrance to the elephant exhibit and, to the right, is the top of Monkey Hill- the highest point of elevation in all of New Orleans!  That's Noah, sitting on a large carved tiger. :)

Elena didn't want to go in the water, so she opted to walk on the lush green grass of the rolling hill. 

 

Leave it to my little ones to try out the wettest part of Monkey Hill!  Gabe wasn't going to get all wet, but he couldn't resist the waterfall. :)  As you can see in the second picture, he is soaked to the bone!!

 Elena finally waded in the shallow pool to cool her feet off...

This is the kid web on the back side of Monkey Hill.  If you look closely, you can see Noah and Gabe racing to the top!  Annalee is on her way up.

Time for a snack at the Cypress Bayou part of the zoo... there was a very tame squirrel that would have eaten out of Gabe's hand if I hadn't told him "no!"

There is also a part of Audubon Zoo that is dedicated to Central American animals and the Maya civilization .  Even the entrance to this section of the zoo is modeled after Chichinitza.  Very neat stuff!

 

The Maya sculptures are good for climbing, too! :)

 

Goodbye Audubon Zoo, until next time!