Skill Recital

Last night Luke was promoted to Green Belt and performed in a martial arts skill recital. Here he is with his fellow new green belts, performing one of the forms they were recently tested on. He received a new uniform, too, but I need to wash it before he can wear it. I'll post pictures next week.



Then it was time for a costume change (who knew I'd be doing costume changes with a boy) and Luke did one of his demo team solos. You can see Justin run through the frame. It was a LONG evening.

Thanksgiving

Food + games + family = Thanksgiving.

 There was much playing of Lord of the Rings Monopoly. I believe the team of Nan/Michael won this round.

 Much demanding of cake by Justin.

Much receiving of cake by Justin.

Poppy!

Well, my goodness, have you ever seen a more quintessential photo of grandfather and grandson? I suppose they could be holding fishing rods. Perhaps that could be arranged next time.

Battle of the Backyard

Black Tigers Demo

Luke finally got his Black Tiger uniform--after 6 months of waiting! He looks so sharp. Here are 2 videos from today's demo at Polaris. The space was really small, but the kids did great!

Celebrating

We left for Luke's belt test today at 11:45am. We got home at 4pm!!! It was a full three hours long (then we detoured to McDonald's for ice cream). There were 25 testers today. That's A LOT. They barely fit in the gym. Luke's portion of the test was 90 minutes (although that includes the 30 minute warm-up). His was so long because he is moving from Orange to Green and had to take a comprehensive test.  He completed the first half of this test in Sept., so he was only being evaluated on the second half of his material, but he still had to take part in the other material even if he wasn't being evaluated (which we did not anticipate going in). So he performed with all of the white belts, master-white belts, yelllow belts, master-yellow belts and orange belts before doing his master orange belt skills by himself. It was LONG and insane. There was stuff he didn't remember. A couple of times, he and his friend Thomas (same age and rank as Luke) were just told to sit down or stand back because they were clearly lost. But, in the end, he did great on the material he was supposed to do great on and he nailed his terminology and breaking skill. He gets his green belt and black uniform on the day after Thanksgiving!

Lazy Morning

90 minutes from now we will enter what I have been calling The Perfect Storm of martial arts activities. Luke is testing for his green belt at noon--it will take at least 2 hours.  When he gets home, he has to go hit up our neighbors for donations for the Salvation Army for Koguryo. Then, tomorrow, he has a big demonstration at a Salvation Army event at Polaris. So, since Matt had to work, we are having a very lazy morning while we can.

 Justin watching Thomas on the upstairs couch.

While the other two play Super Hero Squad on the Wii and lounge on their recently refilled bean bags.

Walk-a-thon or not

This is supposed to be a post about the walk-a-thon at Luke's school in honor of Veterens Day. I rushed to drop Michael at preschool, dashed down to IC, threw Justin in the stroller and ran to the office. I was assigned to help the kindergarteners--I guess there were too many first grade volunteers and not enough K volunteers. We started walking right away, we went around the block. It took 10 minutes. Then the kindergarteners peeled off and went back to the classroom--they were done! So another first grade mom and I waited for our kids and walked with them for less than 2 minutes until they peeled off and returned to the big building-they were done, too! I don't think they got the whole "thon" part of walk-a-thon.  Seriously, I checked in at 1pm and I checked out at 1:23pm. I didn't even get a chance to take a picture. So I took Justin to the park and took pictures of him and his puppy blanket (one of his puppy blankets) instead!

Pottery Class

Michael still remembers that he got to make pottery at a friend's birthday party when he was 2. He has been asking for a pottery class since then. Now that soccer is done, Michael needed a new activity and so he is finally getting his pottery class. It's a little crazy as it's just before preschool on Thursdays. Dealing with Justin while trying to help Michael is unpleasant and reminds me of why we quit all of Luke's activities when Michael was Justin's age.  But Michael is having a blast and it's only for six weeks. Each week, he gets to make one thing on the wheel with help from the teacher and then can free build as many things as he wants. The first batch goes into the kiln this week, so by next week, he will be painting, too. Best part is the whole class was only $30 through Columbus Parks and Rec.

Our weekly tradition after church. . .

Mmmmmm, donuts.

All Saints Day

The first graders at Immaculate Conception come dressed as saints and process during the All Saints Day Mass. I had to teach, but Matt took the little ones and went to church.  He said Luke did great. I'm so sorry I missed it, it looks like it was adorable. 

I made Luke put back on his costume to pose for a picture back home, but he'd been eating a blue lollipop, so he looks kind of creepy. And just for comparison, here I am dressed as Mary Magdalene for something or other. I'm thinking it was something at church, but maybe it was school. I just remember my mom telling me "you're Mary Magdalene" and having no idea who that was!

I am already looking forward to Michael's costume in 2 years. St. Michael the Archangel will be very cool.

Trick-or-Treat 2011

The pumpkin-carving kit I bought was horrible this year. The knives were so cheap, they weren't long enough and the blades bent and broke. And I didn't even really use the patterns except for the ghost. Michael wanted a monkey and Luke wanted Spongebob, so I had to look on the internet for some pics to use as guides. Somehow, they all got done, but my hand is sore. I'm not sure it's ever fully healed from falling down the stairs Labor Day weekend.

 Grim Reaper Luke and his evil monkey servants--Senior Monkey and Junior Monkey.

 Junior Monkey would not trick-or-treat without his doggie blanket.

 So chubby. Michael wore this costume when he was a year older than Justin and I think it was a bit big on him. Justin barely fit in it.

Luke got this ghost decoration from the Koguryo party and he was preoccupied with hanging it just right.

Koguryo Halloween Party

 Koguryo hosted a Halloween party again this year. Last year, Luke got really scared by the teens in the haunted house area, so we thought we wouldn't bring Justin. However, this year it turned out to be much more kid-friendly. Matt brought Luke and Michael and they just had the best time playing games, getting prizes and talking with local policemen about Halloween safety. Next year, Justin can come.

 Lining up to play "wrap the mummy,"look how tiny Michael is compared to the other kids.

 Michael and Vili wrapping one of the instructors. Vili is on the demo team with Luke. She just friended me on Facebook. She updates her status every five minutes--now I have a window into the life of an eighth grader. Not sure I needed one, but she's a cute kid.

Happy Halloween from 1988

I believe I am 13 in this pic and dressed as a french maid. Bart was dressed as a cat. He was still a puppy in this picture. What an awesome dog. Thanks for the scan, Mom and John.

Boo at the Zoo 2011-take two

There is so much to do at Boo at the Zoo and it is so crowded, that it really demands two trips. Last weekend we did treat stations, animals and playgrounds with friends. This weekend, we did the rides at Jungle Jack's Landing, the carousel and more playgrounds. I still didn't get many pictures and poor Matt was miserable with his allergies. The kids had fun, though. Last weekend we put Justin in the monkey costume, yesterday we tried the puppy. Not sure what we will do tomorrow for the real Halloween. Luke is the Grim Reaper and I don't have to tell you what Michael is.

Busy Weekend

Not that the pictures will tell you that! Friday night we let the kids stay up to watch a Spongebob Squarepants Halloween special.  They set up their blankets and pillows themselves. I thought they looked very "kid." After the kids went to bed, we saw there was a frost warning, so Matt and I went out back at 11pm to harvest the rest of the peppers. On Saturday morning, Michael had soccer and then our friends came over for violin lessons. We've been off the wagon for violin for quite some time, but the kids picked up again pretty quickly. Too bad I didn't think of taking pictures. Then we went to Boo at the Zoo. It was crazy crowded.  We saw some more friends there. I only got like 3 pictures of the boys because it was so insane, but somehow they got erased from my bloggie anyway. Is it terrible to hope for slightly worse weather next weekend, so that we can go back to watch some more shows and ride the rides with slightly less company? Then we went to dinner and finally got home around 8pm. Sunday was church, grocery store, repainting the deck and various other projects including this one:

Luke's first report for school. This is part of his All Saints' Day project. The picture and report is due tomorrow. Then on All Saints' Day next week, he will go to school dressed as Saint Luke and process during mass. His costume is basically finished and I think he did a great job on his report.

Field Trip to the Fire Station

Luke's class went to the Clintonville Fire Station today and since it's midterm break, I got to go! We were walking and if it had rained, the trip would have been canceled. Luke prayed so hard last night that the rain would hold off and, thankfully, it did.

 Coats on and ready to go.

 The "Mrs. Ponesse" group--Luke, Evie, Sophia and Abbey--arriving at the station. It was a pretty long walk all the way across North Broadway and then up High.

Taking turns holding a big metal hose hookup.

 In the truck.

 The class. Mrs. Hansberry is in the back. She's so darn cute.

And speaking of cute . . .this is Evie. She was Luke's first friend in K and they are still close. They goofed off and whined the ENTIRE walk back. Evie burps and talks about farts and flashed her underpants at one point. No wonder Luke likes her. She was the only little girl in pants today and check out those glasses! She's a major PITA, but I love her!

Hard at Work

In the new study/nursery.

It's About Time!!!

Luke FINALLY lost his first tooth tonight! Well, pulled it out because it was driving him crazy is more like it. Watching him standing in front of the mirror all bloody-gummed as he wrenched it out totally brought me back to doing the same thing. I never had the patience to just wait for a tooth to fall out on its own. I had him put the tooth in an old pill bottle (stole that idea from Ali)  and told him that the tooth fairy will take the tooth and leave some cash. He has by now heard from everyone that $5 is the going rate for the first tooth. Rates beyond seem to vary by family. I told him that the tooth fairy may leave her "terms and conditions" along with payment tonight.

A Work In Progress

Our house is 1238 square feet. And, due to the crappy housing market, it will likely remain our house for a few more years. We have been long overdue for a major reorganization project. Our long term plan, and I know some folks disagree with this, is to have all 3 boys sleeping in one room. Justin's room is destined to be an office/library/guest room. Moving all of the office stuff upstairs, will open up two large closets in the play room to store the toys that have been creeping out into our living space. Matt has been chomping at the bit to get started, but Justin is nowhere near ready to share a room. But we are so desperate for some space that we decided living with a temporary solution would be preferable to waiting it out.

Step One: move all of the books out of the boys' room and into the nursery. Justin liked this part a lot. 

Step Two: move out the changing table that Justin doesn't really fit on anyway and bring up two large bookcases and the desk from downstairs. We moved out the rocker, as well. Once Justin is out of his crib, there will plenty of room for a reading chair and an air mattress when guests sleep over.

Step Three: buy Michael a big-boy chest of drawers. Move Justin's clothes into the plastic drawers in the boys' closet. I'm leaving Justin's hanging clothes in the other closet indefinitely.

Tomorrow we will reorganize the toys in the playroom, but we are super happy already with the changes, even if  Justin will essentially be sleeping in an office for the next 6-9 months. He is quite happy to have loads of books to unshelve.