Jarin can be easily amused when he wants to be
Visiting Bok Tower Gardens. Jarin always used to giggle over seemingly nothing.
Enough amusement, time for a drink
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"Can I have some nuts for the squirrels?"
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Scoping for squirrels
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The peanut pitches a peanut
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Jarin joins the action
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Up close and personal
Careful, Jarin. A squirrel once tried to take a chunk of my finger at this same park a long time ago!
Jarin spies another squirrel
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Miss peanut
Ashlyn learned early on how to ham up a pose for the camera, but this first time I tried, she was restless. Stay tuned.
Up close and personal again
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Lots of beautiful flowers at Bok Tower Gardens
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Lots of beautiful flowers at Bok Tower Gardens
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Camera ham
Like I said earlier, Ashlyn always knew how to ham it up for the camera.
Jarin's turn
Jarin, on the other hand, was too young for much more than an earnest attempt.
Bok Tower
The focal point of the park is, of course, the actual Bok Tower. There's a huge carillon at the top. Anyhow, since I dabble in photographing lighthouses, taking lots of pictures of the tower is a pretty natural thing for me.
Bok Tower
I wish I'd been at the park when the sun was on the other side. There's a great reflecting pool over there, and my photos on that side aren't nearly so striking.
Bok Tower
Just in case you wanted a desktop wallpaper orientation!
Bok Tower
There are way too many places where the trees just seem perfectly shaped around the tower to be a natural occurrance. The grounds workers must stay really busy!
Bok Tower
Another desktop wallpaper candidate.
Bok Tower
Hmm, sunny, but not as striking.
Bok Tower
Amazing how just zooming in helps.
The little ham is back
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Bok Tower
Too many trees.
Bok Tower
As I said earlier, the reflection pool side wasn't as bright.
Bok Tower
Although, this one still turned out reasonable.
Bok Tower
Same shot, sans pond.
Bok Tower
One more composition.
Flowers at Bok Tower
Oops, didn't realize a cloud moved over just before I snapped the photo.
Flowers at Bok Tower
Cloud didn't go away immediately, so I adjusted exposure and tried again.
Tired boy
This was so precious. Jarin was getting really tired by this time of the day, but he was trying so hard to stay awake to try and pose for the camera…
Tired boy
…he was moaning to keep himself awake. Another minute, and he probably would've just leaned backward on this log and fell asleep on the ground.
Tarpon Springs
The next day, our gang trekked to Tarpon Springs. I think Ashlyn wanted one of these in her bedroom.
Tarpon Springs
She probably wouldn't mind having the turtle, either.
Fake shark
Jarin initially wanted nothing to do with the fake shark that Melissa pointed him toward, but it didn't take long for him to get brave. We didn't force him to get close to the shark, but he eventually wanted to. I think by the time I took this photo, he realized that request was a mistake.
Ashlyn helps choose sponges
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One of everything was the name of the game
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"Here's a good one!"
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Greek dress twirling
Tarpon Springs, as you may or may not know, is very much a Greek community, and we found this little Greek-style sun dress that miss peanut fell in love with. The remainder of the day, she was perfectly willing to demonstrate her twirling ability to anyone who asked.
A moment of sibling love
You have to snap pictures like this quickly when you see a brief moment of sibling love!
