Keeee - Yah!

Max and Sam started Tae Kwon Do last December, and have been filling our home with exuberant kee-yah's! ever since. A few weeks ago they took their very first belt test, the Saju-Jirugi white belt test.

Here they are before the test with two of their best pals from class, Aaden and Nolan.

To take the Saju-Jirugi white belt test, they had to learn a four-part pattern of downblocks, steps, and punches, which they performed for a panel of judges.

 They also had to count to 10 in Korean and memorize and recite their oath:

I promise to obey my parents and teachers.
I will treat others with respect.
I will never misuse what I learn in class.
I promise to tell the truth and keep my word.
I will always do my best and never give up.

and the five tenets: 

COURTESY (YE UI)
INTEGRITY (YOM CHI)
PERSEVERANCE (IN NAE)
SELF-CONTROL (GUK GI)
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (BAEKJUL BOOLGOOL)
MODESTY (YOM CHI)

After weeks of practice, it was pretty awesome to hear them recite the oath and tenets loud and clear to the judges.

The boys absolutely love TKD. The discipline, self control, and tenacity that is routinely taught in their class is so good for them to be learning at such a young age.

Their teacher, Master Zang, is phenomenal.

They both passed their tests with flying colors!

 

We are so proud of our yellow-stripes!

Both Max and Sam are determined to become "black belts like Master Zang."

And, seriously, are they the cutest things you've ever seen in these outfits? I can't stand it :-).

Scenes From My Morning Run

Morning has broken, like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for the springing fresh from the word

 Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dewfall, on the first grass

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden

Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning

Born of the one light, Eden saw play

Praise with elation, praise every morning

God's recreation of the new day

 "See! The winter is past;
    the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth;
    the season of singing has come"

Song of Songs 2:11-12

It's Nice to be Appreciated

This was the scene I happened upon this morning when I wandered into the kitchen to make coffee:

Sweet, special presents, all thoughtfully chosen with me in mind.

Sam spent a half hour wrapping his "present" to me on Wednesday morning, and has asked me every morning since if it was Mother's Day yet so he could give it to me.

Yep, bugs. Pretty awesome, eh? When I asked why he had given me bugs, he said it was because he "heard I liked bugs." My favorite part of this gift is that it is probably one of his favorite things to play with right now, and he spent the last four perfectly good bug-playing days without his beloved creatures, all because he wanted to delight me with them on Mother's Day.

The instant route to my heart, with no detours: Mon Aimee chocolates  from the Strip here in the Burgh. The kids and I couldn't resist a few pre-breakfast bites.

After church, we're headed to my parents' house for a brunch my dear sweet dad has made all by himself to honor his girls.

Happy Mother's Day to all the loving, hard-working, selfless mothers out there! I hope your day is full of blessings.

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.  ~Mildred B. Vermont

Does a Stink Bug Nibble or Bite?

Lately, Sam has become very interested in whether random animals he happens to be pondering "nibble or bite." I think he first started considering this last year, when he was intrigued with the class guinea pig at preschool and had to be constantly warned not to stick his finger in the cage or the guinea pig would "nibble" it. Suffice it to say, Greg and I have spent lots of time laughing after he is tucked in to bed as we chat back and forth about the various "nibble or bite" inquiries we've each fielded that day. Herewith, a few of my favorites, complete with the answers Greg and I have come up with :

Does a stink bug nibble or bite?  It nibbles.

Does a moose nibble or bite? It bites.

Does a yak or nibble or bite? It nibbles.

Does a frog nibble or bite? It nibbles

Does an elephant nibble or bite? It bites

Does a bat nibble or bite? It bites.

Does a giraffe nibble or bite? It nibbles.

If any of the three people who actually read this blog happen to know for a fact that I'm wrong with any of the above answers, please feel free to comment. I will gladly tell Sam that I need to issue a retraction.

Half-Birthday Boys!

On Tuesday, Max and Sam officially turned five-and-a-half!

As is our custom, we toasted with cardboard bowls of frozen deliciousness.

These five-and-a-half year olds can count to 100, name all the states and capitals, recite the names of the U.S. Presidents and the full first seven verses of the Book of John, write their first and last names somewhat legibly, and are learning to read! They're playing on their first soccer team this Spring, and just earned their yellow stripe belt at Tai Kwon Do! They disappear for hours into the backyard (praise the Lord for my new fence) and come back covered in dirt. They are expert tree climbers, bug catchers, and pirate ship makers.

It is exhausting and exhilarating to be their mama. I am so grateful they're mine.

PS...

Guess who else likes Yum?