SATURDAY IN THE PARK

I wouldn't say we have cool weather yet, but I'm started to deal with the mornings better. So the first 2 1/2 hrs of Saturday was spent at our neighborhood park with the cousins. I was smart and brought my camera. Here's my family and Jean-Jacques' in order - Colton (with the preteen angst look), Asher and Kyler, then Michael, Sofia, Sariah, Jean-Jacques, Ruslan and Joseph. They had fun playing and then building in the sand. They even got to see many dogs and pet a few of them. Thanks to our cousins for starting our "park season" off on the right foot. (Sorry Jean-Jacques - no pun intended!)

ASHER'S BIRTHDAY BASH!

I run into a problem every year with Asher and Colton's birthdays. Colton's birthday is during spring break and Asher's birthday is during fall break. I always try to plan their party before or after their break, which is 2 1/2 weeks, and the break for Gilbert schools, since they have friends that they don't want left out. Asher either ends up with a birthday party WAY EARLY or one around HALLOWEEN! This year was early - last Saturday. Eighteen children gathered at the World Tae Kwon Do Center to celebrate 10 years of Asher! Asher wore his uniform, complete with orange belt and showed off his kicks and punches. Instructors CJ and Jacqueline kept order and ran the party like a class. For some of the games, they were divided into three teams and chose their own team names - The Dragons, The King Cobras, and The Smokin' Hot Guys (thank you Colton for your guidance). Kyler was so adorable and LOVED following the instructors. After the party he said he would only join Tae Kwon Do if his best friend would (come on Deanna - let Kevin join!). After stretching, learning jab, cross, front kicks and running races it was time for cake (and the tradition of the instructors smearing frosting all over the birthday boy's face), then presents and finally getting back in line to review what they learned AND TO BREAK A BOARD!!! Every kid was able to break their own board and take the pieces home to show off! Asher started off breaking his board with a step-in back kick - which he did beautifully. Every one else was taught to use their hand. This party far surpassed any expectations that I had!!! Thank you again, CJ and Jacqueline!!!

SUMMER OF 2005

I was looking through photos the other night and came across these of Kyler. The second picture is my favorite! Could he be any happier....PURE BLISS! It was the summer of 2005, we had bought the Southern California City Passes and visited - Sea World, The San Diego Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm and 3 days in Disneyland. It was a very fun trip - Kyler especially liked Sweet Tomatoes! He was so intent on getting every last noodle that he finally picked up his plate to lick it all up. Today he's a very picky eater - I wish he had the appetite and the willingness to try foods that he did at 14 months.

TIME TO BUZZ THE HAIR!

Kyler has avoided the clippers for far too long. So I got them out last Wednesday and took my underwear boy out back to cut his hair. We generally give the boys mohawks first, just for fun as we buzz their head, but Kyler didn't want to do that this time. Instead, I decided to cut the top first - Yes, the male pattern baldness cut! He was really looking like Terry Bradshaw to us - Tony and I were cracking up (yes, we have NO life when cutting our kids hair reminds us of Terry Bradshaw - AND WE THINK IT'S HILARIOUS!) Now Kyler is back to his WAY TOO CUTE status with his buzz cut!

19 YEARS ON THE 19TH - PART 2

When we came home from dinner, we found two notes waiting for us. Colton had written a very nice note to me (we had a conflict earlier) and Asher wrote a Roses are Red poem for me and signed his dad's name! He also had a drawing of the two of us holding hands on a boat. He told his dad that he figured he'd need some help with romance. When Asher heard what we did on our date, he just shook his head and informed Tony that he should have bought me flowers and candy. So the next day, that's what Tony did....but in true Tony style! He showed me the beautiful roses and then handed me my box of candy........."What's this?" I asked........."Candy for your anniversary, " he said..............."Then why does it say Happy Birthday?" I comment............"WHAT??!!???!!!!! HOW DID I DO THAT?????!!!!!!!?!"
That's my husband!

ORANGE BELT

We have had computer problems for a little bit and it's prevented me from blogging, so please scroll down to see all five of my posts today. Ok, now on to Asher! We are so proud of this kid! He works really hard and LOVES Tae Kwon Do and it shows!!! He tested last Friday for his Orange Belt and easily passed! Check out his breaking technique on the video. He has also made a choice to continue on in the Black Belt club - which is a 3 year commitment. Yesterday he had his first class toward this goal. I'm excited to see him continue in a sport he loves. I'm appreciative of Grand Master Hong and all the other Grand Masters, Masters and Instructors (especially Instructor CJ who works with him regularly) and all the training they give him. Asher, enjoy your orange belt!

19 YEARS ON THE 19TH

That's right, August 19th marked our 19th wedding anniversary (and I was 19 when we got married)! I know what you're all thinking (all 4 of you that read this!) - This anniversary is even more monumental than Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals in the 8-8-08 olympics! And really......WE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE! We started out in 1989 with nothing to our name. We enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon at Disneyland and our song was Debbie Gibson's "Lost in Your Eyes". 19 years later - We have 3 kids at 3 different schools, a Mita, Tae Kwon Do lessons, Dr. appts, volunteering, jobs, orchestra rehearsals, church jobs and never enough sleep. We celebrated last night (after Tae Kwon Do) by having a great dinner at FATBURGER (hamburgers and onion rings to die for!) and coming back home (school night) to watch The Simpsons Movie. Just in case you were curious about our song, that's changed in the past 19 years too! Tony could never (DIDN'T WANT TO) remember our song. In 2004, I helped Tony correct the only regret he had in his life - TO SEE VAN HALEN WITH SAMMY HAGAR. (that is a long story in and of itself....maybe one day I'll share.....maybe this is enough embarrassment for now, we'll see) When they sang "When It's Love" I sarcastically suggested that we choose that for our "new" song. Tony was so excited it was (and is) embarrassing - but hey, he now ALWAYS remembers our song. I'll leave you now with some of the timeless lyrics to our "new" song WHEN IT'S LOVE:

HEY (kind of screamed out by Sammy)

How do I know when it's love?
I can't tell you but it lasts forever
Ooh, how does it feel when it' love?
It's just something you feel together, hey!

(Guitar Solo)

(Oh oh oh oh) Yeah, you can feel it
(Oh oh oh oh) Oh, when it's love
(Oh oh oh oh) When nothin's missing, ow!

Ooh, when it's love
Hey! It'll last forever

Well, I agree with the last lyric IT'LL LAST FOREVER.....HEY! (screamed out in Sammy Hagar fashion)