Belt Promotion

So it is not the children that are over scheduled...it is me. Second week of summer and I am ready to just fall on my face. As a result I am forgetting to mention the biggest accomplishments thus far. I know.

RJ got promoted from his yellow belt to his green belt!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are soooooo proud of him. He has been working on his tae kwon do belt for almost a year. He has been amazing to watch. He has quite the similar temperament that I have- sensitive, stubborn, emotionally responsive to most if not all situations. However we are different creatures when it comes to competition. I can't remember if I have blogged on it before but, I am very pushy with my children to try harder, do better and I can get down right bossy about it. I know. So it has been a very difficult year for me because there wasn't the type of progress I wanted from him. So of course in my way, I bribed, cajoled and overall made a muck of things trying to motivate him to do better/ try harder. Well I'll be damned. The one who did the most growing this last year with tae kwon do, was me. What I have come to see in RJ are all these wonderful traits that I don't have, that amaze me, and I have sometimes missed. Mainly because as a parent I am always helping, teaching, and generally being in his face. I was forced to take a step back-much pushing from his teacher- and see RJ for all the wonderful things he has to offer. Such as being very much like his mother and doing things his way on his schedule.

My amazing child enjoys life, every moment of it. When he sets his mind on something he can do it- easily. He loves to make friends, and he is good at it. He is very thoughtful of others, very polite, kind hearted and tender. Most of the things in life that cause stress at this age- loosing your teeth in a way that makes you look like a beaver- he finds hilarious! He can make just about anything funny...he is not afraid to laugh, out loud, at himself- or at whatever strikes his fancy. He is not easily embarrassed (always a great trait in my family). When he has to get up in front of a crowd- church pageant, school pageant, 20 people for the belt promotion ceremony- he performs!
With tae kwon do, he was never stressed about his progress. He just enjoyed the process. He never saw it as a chore, or as work. He just had fun.
Whenever I say his name or think of him I see him smiling, laughing, and just being a goof. God I am blessed. He is so much fun to have around.

Oh and I forgot the camera, so Phillip had to run to the corner store and get a disposable one...should have them developed soon and will post them then. I know. Phillip said it already, "like we do this everyday, why would you bring the camera?" RJ thinks Phillip is very funny. Must be where he gets it from;)

It's Summmmmmeeerrr

Pray!

Father's Day

The lone fisherman.
First catch! (pond muck)
On the lookout.

'Worms are sleeping Mama!'
Did you get it?
Just like Dad.

We started w/ his favorite breakfast: crepes

Added a couple of fun hours fishing

Lunch at Sonic

Afternoon of yard work (what can I say, he gets antsy and doesn't really "relax")

Enjoyed a dinner of what we caught and are finishing with a great Celtics game.

Hope yours had a great day too!

Ooohh, there were peacocks where we went fishing. They were loud and beautiful! The pics are of the one that was beside the car when we parked.

Sandcastles

The kiddo's went to my folks for the weekend and enjoyed the Sandcastle competition. They came home full of sand and smiles! Phillip and I enjoyed a weekend of catching up with each other and activities w/out "help". Did get my jam done and the yard looking respectable too:) Oooh and we saw a movie and we didn't have to rush home to get the babysitter! It was great!

Never do this...

Okay, so I never really rant about home projects like I should but this time I couldn't resist!
We just got a tankless water heater. Yes mind you, it was the week we were trying to get out of town and I had no water, let alone hot water, for the day that they were converting but that aside...
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing little thing! Not only do we not use gas when we aren't using water (always pissed me off that you were heating water you weren't using at the time), but it takes so much less water getting it up to heat! It only takes as long as it takes to travel the pipe from the tank to the faucet. We are now water misers! The added bonus is that we run the water heater at a lower temp because you realize how not hot it needs to be. No waiting for it to get too hot and then mixing the cold w/ the hot to get it warm enough.
But when I was canning last night I needed to have the lids soaking in hot water while waiting to fill the jars (sorry if you are not interested in the small details of home canning) and I just had Phillip turn up the heater to 130 and then when the sink was filled I had him turn it back down to the 115! What a great way to save water, heat and time! I didn't need to boil the water to fill the sink (we don't have insta hot I know we suck) or run it forever to get it sorta hot!
Love it! Plus there are a thousand little features of the Rinnai (the brand we got) that make it such a good investment. (P.S. after all the research we did- don't get the brand at Home Depot off the shelf.)
Sorry to torment you with small items, but I really love the thing. Makes me want to SING!

Techno-Phobe

I am seriously technologically delayed. I am finally mastering the basic blog and still learning my text shorthand. I am trying out my space and facebook and not having much luck. Then I see on Jess's site and in the Oregonian even, this new feature of twitter. Are you serious! I still don't have dvr or hd. Can I manage another media? I am one of those dolts that needs a class or tutoring...any takers?

T-Ball

Solid hit!
Waiting w/ Sam
Running the bases

Went to Connor's last t-ball game and got some great shots. It was a sunny day and was very mild so a great day for a ball game.

Book Club Ladies

So we always debate what we really should be called, drunk club, wine club, hen club, but every now and then we throw in a book or two so after five years we are still drinking, eating and sharing each others lives. Here are some of the ladies!