Sandhill Cranes

I love sandhill cranes and one of the perks of being here in Florida is that we get to see a lot of them and they are definitely a big reason why I take my camera with me on the golf course.

And they are especially entertaining when they are 'dancing.

I know it kind of looks like they're bickering or fighting but a few seconds later they settle back into their compatible routine.  And whatever they're doing I have always thought they were some of the neatest birds in the world.  But, come to find out, there's a bird that's even cooler.

The baby sandhill crane.  Oh my goodness!  I happened to have my camera in my hand after photographing him.

And turned around and saw them.

Seriously.  Could they be any cuter?

Ethan James - Yesterday and Today

Today is Ethan's 11th birthday!

Ethan is an important part of this large family.

And an even more important part of this smaller family.

I wrote about Ethan in these previous birthday posts:  2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

So they tell a lot about Ethan 'through the years' and these pictures show how his appearance has changed in that time...

but now I want to talk about Ethan in just the past year.

He's always had a great imagination and he's always been very creative.

and loving and protective of his younger siblings

He continues to be a great student and is in advance placement classes in school  where he consistently lands on the honor roll.

He had a very successful cross country season

despite the fact that he powered through all but the last meet with a developing stress fracture.

He got contact lenses this year 

And he and his family visited Hilton Head during the summer

And Gulf Shores over the Christmas break where he couldn't enjoy the beach quite as much because of the stress fracture however he always made the best of it

And he did a good job faking the jump during the famous grandchildren jump shot!

So you can see what a wonderful boy Ethan is!  He's sensitive, loving, smart, and creative; and he makes the best of the most difficult situations!  We're very proud of him and love him very much so we're wishing him his best birthday ever but one only half as great as the many more to come!

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Matthew Clinton - Yesterday and Today

Today is Matthew's 14th birthday.

Matthew is an important part of this large family.

And an even more important part of this smaller family.

I wrote about Matthew in these posts:  2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

So they tell a lot about Matthew 'through the years' and these pictures show how his appearance has changed in that time...

but now I want to talk about Matthew in just the past year.

As always, he's been popular with all his cousins but particularly one of the younger ones.

And he's continued to be a great helper to his dad (or anyone else that needs a hand),

and a friend to animals

And birds (I think),

Also, this year he's taken a hiatus from volleyball to concentrate on basketball.

He was Master of Ceremonies at his brother's Eagle Scout induction ceremony.

And this year he was inducted into the Order of the Arrow brotherhood.  The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America.  It uses American indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of scouting - including leadership and service.

He visited Myrtle Beach over the summer and of course Gulf Shores over Christmas.

And he's continued to be the all-around, wonderful, engaging, athletic, smart, and sweet boy he's always been.  Only now he's 14 and we're wishing him his best birthday ever but one only half as awesome as the many more to come!

Happy Birthday, Matthew!