Blue Belts!

McKay and Jaxon tested and received their blue belts this last month. It was a long time coming!  They both worked hard and did great!

Here is McKay at the belt test.  He was doing self defense and one-steps with a partner.  (I tried to get action shots, but needless to say I would like a new camera for my birthday.)

Jaxon (and McKay in the back) doing their forms.  They have to memorize several forms and moves in order and then perform them.

The belt ceremony.  Jaxon receiving his his new belt from his instructor.

He then received his old belt by it being placed on his head.

McKay receiving his new belt.

McKay giving me the thumbs up after his belt ceremony.

These boys had worked hard to make sure they would get to the belt test this month and we are proud of them.  They had both taken their time while green belts and we made a big push at the end to get it all done.  Our schedules have gotten busier and they have only been able to go to karate once a week as apposed to twice a week.  (We are now taking a break from karate.  It is all about choosing between good, better and best.)

Going To The Zoo

It has become a tradition to go to the zoo with our friends and Grandma (when she is available) every spring break. Here are all the boys ready to go for a ride on the train at the beginning of the day:

Everyone is equipped with their maps and all smiles.

Kaden and Josh (good buddies) checking out and imitating the wild life.

McKay measures up quite well (as he never stops eating). As for the rest of them, they have a bit more growing to go!

All day long Kayden kept asking me to take his picture. This was at lunch time and just as he asked me to take his picture, a Rhino walked up behind him. (It is on the other side of the fence behind the bush.)

Here is a monkey looking at the monkeys.

Josh checking out the wild life.

I took the stroller for my friend's little boy, but half way through the day Kayden decided to hop in with him.

Messing around on the play ground. Kayden was being silly while hatching from an egg.

Playing on the spider's web....

....while the bigger boys were doing some relaxing on the spider's web.

It was a fun day with good friends--and Grandma too!

Easter 2012

This year's Easter was full of dying eggs, finding eggs, and eating chocolate. Who could ask for more?

Coloring Easter Eggs for family home evening is always a delight. I have to admit, I probably stress out a little too much about the dye getting everywhere. Nevertheless, we had a successful year coloring eggs and we had no dye mishaps.

The boys had a sleep over together the night before Easter down in the basement. So on Easter morning we were woken up by our boys calling through the intercom that they were ready to go upstairs and find the Easter Bunny's Egg.

Josh is definitely my most animated child. I love it when he gets excited. He has the best facial expressions. He was glad to find the Easter Bunny left a couple of DVDs along with lots of eggs full of candy.

Kayden had a great time finding eggs. If only he was as fast as his brothers!

The Easter Bunny even left some eggs outside for the boys. Here is Jaxon and Suki looking for Jaxon's eggs.

McKay was successful in finding all his eggs...after a few hints.

Here are my boys with their baskets full of goods. It was a successful Easter morning. It was a beautiful day as well remembering the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that He lives and that we can return and live with Him again. Happy Easter!

Thirty-Something...

...at least for one more year!

It is Jeremy's birthday today. McKay made Jeremy a "Happy Birthday" sign out of craft sticks and displayed them for his dad to see first thing in the morning.

My Grandma Haacke loved to have strawberry shortcake for her birthday every year. Jeremy loves to have it for his birthday too. This year because my parents have their mission farewell the Sunday we celebrate his birthday and can't make it, I learned how to make the family recipe. It turned out great and it was tasty! We even topped Jeremy's off with a candle so we could sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Happy Birthday Jeremy! You are the love of my life and I couldn't ask for a better best friend.

Battle of the Books

McKay participated in his school's battle of the books this year. He, and his team members, read a list of books throughout the year and then they had to answer questions about and identify the author of each book. His original team fizzled out, but he was paired with some other kids (whose teams had also fizzled out) and they ended up doing really well! They came in second place for the whole school!

Here is McKay and his team during their last school battle. They battled in front of all of the fifth and sixth grades.

Here is his team with their trophies.

Since they came in second, they were able to go to the district level of battle of the books. They battled with kids from other schools in the district. The competition was a lot tougher!

Here is McKay with his school librarian, Mrs. Christofferson. She was in charge of the school battle of the books and helped on the district level. McKay is also currently working with her as an aide for service club. She is an amazing librarian. She makes it a point to learn all of the kids' names at the school. (I was amazed that she knew my kids' names at this last fall's book fair--we were so new to the school!) McKay had a great time doing battle of the books and we are super proud of him!

Die Hard Basketball Boys

Josh and Jaxon L.O.V.E. to play basketball. Heaven forbid if they go outside when it is nice so they can play. No, they waited for a snowstorm. They didn't like the fact that the snow was flying in their eyes, so they put on some safety goggles so the snow couldn't get in their eyes and therefore they could see the hoop.

It was quite the sight to see the two of them out shooting hoops. Funny boys.

NOVA

McKay graduated from his school's NOVA program this month. NOVA stands for: Nurturing Opportunities Values Accountability. It reminded me a lot of the DARE program that I had when I was in school and teaching. An officer came to the school every Wednesday to talk to the sixth graders and teach them about being good citizens and making good choices.

Here is McKay with his class during the program.

McKay graduating and receiving his NOVA card from Officer Smith.

McKay and his card of completion. Way to go!

On a side note, I sat next to a friend of mine during the program and she gave me a fantastic recipe for a single serving chocolate cake that you make in your microwave. I thought I would share it:

Big Mug Cake
4 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Mix together in a larger microwavable mug and then add:
1 Tbsp oil (or applesauce)
4 Tbsp milk
dash of vanilla

Microwave for 1 minute. Enjoy warm with a nice scoop of ice cream.

Thanks Kim!