The Florida Aquarium

Today we went to The Florida Aquarium. Despite the threat of thunderstorms we thought we'd chance it because it's a place where you can be indoor - looking at all the great sea life or outdoors- playing in the splash/water area. We were fortunate enough to be able to do both. The kids loved looking at all the sea animals, and petting the stingrays. After some lunch we headed outside and everyone loved playing on the pirate ship and water fountains. Take a look...

Weekend update

This weekend we had an extremely full house! My oldest brother and his two kids came over on Saturday and stayed until Sunday evening. It was great to have the cousins together. Abby and Izzy are a year apart, and Sam and Zander had a great time together too. We went to Ft. Desoto beach for a cookout on Saturday, had pancakes for breakfast Sunday morning before church, after church the guys went to the local 'pitch and putt' and the girls did some crafty projects. We all went out for lunch then a bunch of them hit the pool to cool off in the afternoon.

Today it was raining, so we did some more 'essential' shopping, and rewarded the kids with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese in the afternoon. The evening was lovely so we went for a walk and then the English had to cool off again in the pool!

Aleah at Chuck E. Cheese - she was SO happy to be able to give Barney a cuddle!

Pictures!

Here are some pictures of Disney and a few others. You can check out more pictures on my sister-in-law's website (The Bates Family - Robbie).

The Dryden family infront of Cinderella's Castle.
Samuel eating his very favourite cereal...Fruit Loops!
Abigail driving the Jungle River Cruise Boat at Disney.
Strike a Pose! Abigail on the carousel @ Disney.
Sam on the carousel.

Aleah sitting on Minnie Mouse's chair.

Dean and Aleah after the Dumbo ride.

Today is a bit quiter. Dean went to the Library for the day to work on an Essay that he has to resubmit in September. The kids, Grandma, and I went to visit my Grandmother (Grandma Charlotte) who was a little overwhelmed with all the little ones and was amazed that we had to come on an aeroplane to visit her. (Bless her!)

Grandma has taken Abby and Sammy to the bookstore and Aleah is having her nap.

Grandma Charlotte with some of the Gr. Grandchildren. (Avonlea is the little girl in yellow)

Holiday Update

Just to let everyone know that we arrived safely in FL without a glitch. I haven't managed to download any pictures yet of our trip, but I wanted to let you all know what we have been up to.

Sunday - swimming in the pool in the back yard, shopping for 'essentials'(Old Navy Sale, and Target), drove to Orlando, swimming in the hotel pool.
Monday - Disney World, it was extremely hot and at one point I thought my Mom was going to pass out on us...the kids did great! Samuel thought that he was going to melt. Abigail rode Space Mountain, drove the Jungle River Cruise Boat, and had a blast. Aleah enjoyed the 'Small World' ride and everything else.
Tuesday - swimming in the pool at the hotel, shopping in the afternoon - Sam and Abby went to IKEA with Robbie and Kelli, Evening at Downtown Disney where Sam could have stayed at the LEGO shop all night and Abigail could have danced all night at the kids Dance Party in the square!
Wednesday - swimming in the hotel pool, drove back to St. Pete, took the kids for a walk around the neighbourhood - where once again Samuel almost melted!, hit the beach in the late afternoon, and played card games with the family in the evening.
Thursday - the Dryden clan went to Great Explorations (a hands on museum) and then caught a movie ...'Kung Fu Panda', and had a treasure hunt in the back garden after dinner.

Needless to say we have been pretty busy. More family coming this weekend - My older brother, Donnie and his kids, so this house is going to be full to the brim.

Will try and get pictures posted soon!

Sorry for the delay...

It is now 11:45 pm on Wednesday evening. All the children have been in bed for several hours now, the laundry is folded - some has actually been packed in a suitcase, the rest is waiting to be put away when the children aren't sleeping. Dean is still out at a meeting. I would have loved to updated the blog with Aleah's birthday pictures...but I can't find the memory card that has the pictures on it!!!! ARGHH!
Our computer was acting weird last night so we had our local computer whiz look at it and I think my memory card got lost in transition! I need to speak to Dean to see if he put it somewhere, if not, hopefully our friend has it and I will be able to add photos later.
Tomorrow is Sports Day, for those keeping track of what we are up to. Abby and Sammy are both on the yellow team - which makes my life easier! Last minute playgroup party prep is taking place...and of course there is an addition to my schedule - a school meeting about the recent education authority report.
I'll keep you updated!

Countdown

We are really getting excited now! The final countdown has begun. It's been 2 years since we have all gone to the US to visit our family there. Everyone is looking forward to it. We leave Saturday afternoon. Aleah, Dean and Samuel have colds so please pray that they recover before Saturday.
What's in store for this week?

Monday: Kris @ work / Abby&Sammy @ School - they get to spend about an hour in the afternoon meeting their teachers for next year./ Dean @work
Nothing in the evening (I think)

Tuesday: Aleah Bethany is 2 years old!
Kris @ work/ Dean @ work/ Abby - Jazz dance performance afterschool / Sam class trip to Bognor Regis (seaside) / Little birthday tea party for Aleah in the evening @ Nanny's house.

Wednesday: Kris @ work / Dean @ work/ Abby&Sam @ school/ Dean out in evening with various meetings, youth group, etc

Thursday: School sports day - all of us at the park all day watching various races etc.

Friday: Abby& Sammy @ School / Playgroup end of year party / Dinner at friends

Hopefully I will be able to do some packing in the evenings. There is also piano lessons to fit in somewhere which usually happen on Tuesdays so we will see when that happens.
I am also struggling to put my hands on my camera at the present time and hopefully I will be able to find that soon!!!

SURPRISE!!!

For those of you who haven't heard the news yet...we are having baby number 4!! SURPRISE!!!
We've only recently told the family...mostly because we were a bit unsure of due dates, and I don't like all the fuss. I had a dating scan today and it looks like Dryden Baby 4 will be due around December 16. Let's pray it is on time or early...the farther away from the Christmas rush the better! Dean is already worrying about what this means for our church's Christmas programme which usually takes place around the 16th!!! Well, I'm sure it'll all sort itself out!

Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans wherever you are! (Dean would say, 'Happy Rebellion Day') We had a great time celebrating with our new Pastor and his family along with another American family in our church. Our Pastor claims that it was in honour of his youngest son who was born in the USA. (How American can you get....their son was born in Washington, DC at George Washington Hospital!) (The Gilbart-Smiths are English but were ministering in DC for the last 3 years.)

We enjoyed a great barbecue and lots of fellowship. We even lit sparklers and all stood around singing The Star Spangled Banner! It was hysterical!

Dean - wearing a shirt of rebellion!!

The kids enjoying the sparklers. Notice my 'American Girl' proudly wearing red/white/blue stars on her shirt!

Dean was in the spirit of things - being the first one to light the sparklers.

Our new Pastor (Mike Gilbart-Smith) singing the American Naitonal Anthem on behalf of his American born son!