YELLOW

Chris and Nick started taking Hapkido Karate together in January of this year. They train twice a week and practice their "moves" on each other nearly every day.  After three months of hard work, they were ready to test for their yellow belts! Chris was sheer perfection out there and little Nick was darling. The audience would smile and "Ohhhh" every time he stepped up to test. The pictures speak for themselves!

Warming up with Dad...

Nervous Nicky...

A little pep talk before testing...

Dads up...

Nick's turn...

Hanging with the big boys...look at how little Nick is!

Another pep talk from Dad mid-test...

Nick sporting his "No-shirt-Chuck-Norris" look..

Ben saw this fella and said, "Hey dad! Is that your body?" "Um, yeah, buddy, that's me alright..."

broken boards x2...

Reviewing his scores..

Checkin out his new belt!

Tying on the new colors!

Way to go, boys! We are proud of you!

LEPRECHAUNS

Okay, we have leprechauns.  Naughty ones. They show up every year and the kids think they are great. I think they are a pain. They sneak into our house, make a mess and leave sugar for breakfast. Every year, it's the same thing. Writing on the walls, milk dyed strange colors, green toilet water, chaos. This year we woke up and the dog was wearing my swimsuit! SICK! The kids were toilet papered into their rooms, the living room couch was torn apart and Ben's shoe was in the microwave. The word "Stinky" was written on every mirror in the house. Gold coins were hidden all over and a little leprechaun man statue thing was hiding behind a bookcase in the living room.  Why they have chosen to visit us annually, I do not know. Maybe because my kids WAIT all year for them to show up. Maybe because this is really a holiday at our house. In fact, Olivia was shocked to find out Chris did not get the day off...

DIRT

Now that the weather is getting nicer, we've been spending a little bit more time outside. My big pots out in front are thawing out and Ben has made them into a sandbox/mudbox/garden for himself! The other day he came into the kitchen and said, "Mom! Close your eyes! I have a surprise for you!" He pulled a little handful of pretty purple flowers from behind his back and said, "I love you, mom." (melting heart.) Then I followed him outside and saw this...

His new garden! He had transplanted the budding tulips into one of the pots. So cute. Look at this face.

FUNNY

Chris found this note on his back. Since only one of our three chickens can write legibly, I am pretty sure  of where this came from....