"It's gonna blow!"

Jacksons class had their open house celebration.  One of the projects they showed off was their groups volcano.  I have to admit, it was pretty cool once you got past the smell of vinegar......

And then there were 3......

Karate Kids! 

Avarys day has finally come......she started karate this afternoon! 

She has been waiting for this for a very long time!

My little no belt ;)

 Learning how to punch, punch, palm, palm, chop, chop!

She did great, although she should have.  She has been watching Griffen and Jackson for the past 7 months!

 

At the end of class, Shidoshi Harrison presented her with her white belt!

Little League Night at Raley Field!

Griffen and Avarys t-ball team went to the annual Little League Night at our local minor league baseball field.  They had a ton of fun.  We couldn't stay as long as we would have liked because of the yelling, "MY EYES, MY EYES!" coming from Griffen and his horrible allergies, but we still had a good time.  Turns out the game went 16 innings.  YIKES!

Griffen, Avary and Gosh (aka Josh)

The teams all got to walk the field!  You can see Craig right in the center with the white hat and white shirt.  They LOVED this!

They couldn't believe they got to be on then same field as the 'real' players.

Can't go to a ballpark without having a hot dog :)

Soon after this picture was taken, Jackson discovered many of his friends were also there.  We never saw him again until it was time to leave.

Orange belt promotion for Jackson

He started the night as a Gold Belt......



He showed everyone why he has earned his next belt......

He folded up the Gold belt to hold all he has learned thus far....

He wiped the hard earned sweat from his brow......

He was presented with his new Orange Belt!

We are super proud of his accomplishment.

Oh Yeah!!

Griffen being Griffen

We have this same picture with Jackson wearing the hat.

  I couldn't pass this up!

Hubba Bubba!

We all remember the very first time we blew a bubble!  I just about crashed the car when Griffen and Avary saw that Jackson knew how.  Yelling and screaming like you wouldn't believe!  It is exciting I guess.

Too pretty not to share

Jackson gave me a hand painted frame with A PICTURE OF HIM for Mother's Day! 

He hates to have his picture taken, so this is a huge deal ;)

Please Ally, make yourself comfortable......

Our new Home away from Home!

Craig and I recently surprised the kids with a new toy, a travel trailer!  We have had a tent trailer for a couple of years now and love going on little weekend trips to camp!  With the kids growing like weeds, we needed something bigger or Craig and I were going to have to 'tent' it.  Now if we can just find a weekend that we don't have some sort of activity already planned......

Relay for Life 2011

As you know, my friends and I participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  It was about 4 months of planning, fundraising, crying and laughing, but all worth it.  Together we were able to raise over $14,000.00.

 Just one of the many reasons I wanted to do this. 

My grandma is a survivor!

Orange belt - check!

 Just waiting to put that new belt on!

 Griffens instructor, Mr. Wong, doing the honors!

 So proud!