Yellow belt!!

Aidan had his belt test on Saturday and is now, I am proud to say, a yellow belt.

He is just so excited and proud of himself that it makes my heart happy. He loves karate. Initially I was scared I would plunk down the rather large tuition fee and he would decide after a month he didn't want to do it anymore. But, it has kept his interest and he truly loves anything to do with martial arts. Plus, he loves his instructor, Renshi. I really like him too. He is so good with the kids--very firm when he needs to be but also very funny and kind to the kids.

So here is Aidan getting his belt!

Bowing to his teacher.Meditating before he begins.

During his test, doing Pinyan 1.

Getting a high 5 from Renshi.Yellow Belt!

R.I.P.

My favorite coffee mug. Gone. I never break anything yet when I do it is something really special.

This isn't just any coffee mug. I got this when my husband and I lived in Ireland for a short time back in 2000. He had thought there might be an opportunity for him to go because his company was keen to take advantage of Ireland suddenly booming economy--the Celtic Tiger as it was called.

My husband comes from an Irish heritage--his grandmother was born there--so he got his dual citizenship to make things easier. We had already been to Ireland and the UK a few times so I knew I would love it. It was such an exciting time in our lives. No kids and his company was picking up the tab for renting a place and utilities so I wouldn't have to work. I could just explore and enjoy. We went on an apartment hunting trip in November of '99 and settled on Malahide. We lived right on the Marina and it was beautiful! Malahide also had it's own castle which is where this mug came from. I loved this mug. Every time I sipped my morning coffee I couldn't help but remember our apartment overlooking the marina with the huge floor to ceiling window so I could gaze out the window at the boats. Sigh....

So, R.I.P. my poor little mug. I hope to replace you someday soon when we can get back to Malahide.

Watchin' the ships roll in...

Meltdown at Target

I believe I have sworn, oh about 4 or 5 times now, that I would never again step foot in Target with all three kids in tow. I have learned through many a meltdown that no good can come of it.

So why, you ask, did I take all three kids into Target yesterday? Well, for one, my mother was with me and I figured she could help with crowd control. Second, we were bored. IT was 95 degrees and humid out and we were stuck in the house. We had to get out. So when my mom stopped by to drop something off and mentioned she was on her way to Target, I begged her to let us go with her. Lucky her.

I tell the kids in the car they can pick something out of the dollar bin (love those). I confirm this with Gavin as he is my button pusher and boundary overstepper. So they pick out their things and connive to get a 2nd dollar item. Fine, I say. Then my mom buys them each a bouncy ball. We are on our way to the checkout when Gavin says he wants something else. He tells me what he wants and I say "Well, if you put back your three things you can get them." He proceeds to open up the waterworks. This can not end good.

What does he want to get? Underwear. Yes, you heard me. Underwear. What kid has a meltdown because he wants underwear??

I will spare the gory details of the tears and negotiations that followed. The end result was that he put back two of the three items he had and got one package of Kung Fu Panda underwear which he immediately put on as soon as we walked in the door.

I have always said that Gavin is my odd duck. But I mean that in the most endearing way.

I wonder what he's thinking about?

The first beach day of the season

These pictures are from a couple of weeks back. We went to a different beach than usual. It had huge boulders and rocks which formed cool tide pools when the tide went out. The kids loved it! Although it was about 10 degrees cooler at the water than about 30 feet further up at the softer sand. Aidan was complaining the whole time about it being chilly. For him to have the optimal beach experience the temperature has to be juuuust right. Not so chilly that he has to wear his sweatshirt but not too hot that he sweats too much either. I think he took after me.

We all just love the beach and can't wait for our weeklong vacation in August!