Sigh...

I've kind of had it with this weather.

Brown Belt!

Max earned his brown belt in tae kwon do last week.  He was very proud (as he should be).  I am continually impressed by his memory in tkd.  I always ask him to help me with the forms because he remembers them all!  Our instructor, Mr. Gibson, said some very nice things to Max (as he always does) when he was tying on his new belt.  He told Max that he was very impressed with his seriousness and focus, and that Max would be successful in whatever he wanted to try with those skills.  Mr. Gibson also told Max it would be cool if he waited for Maggie and I to catch up, and we all tested for our temporary black belts together.  I kinda think it would be cool for Max to be the first in the family to be a black belt!! 

KC visit

A short-but-sweet visit to KC over Memorial Day weekend to get all the cousins together!!

 V and Max were making a "bunny nest."

 At a sweet new little aquarium with O.

 Popping up inside the bubble! 

 Max fills the space!

 All the cousins!

So sweet!  I have virtually no photos of the grownups.  Ha ha!  But it was so great to hang out with my siblings.  I do wish we lived closer together. 

On another note, I ran my Dam to Dam 20K race yesterday.  It was a beautiful morning, and despite the fact that I woke up at 3am (buses to start began at 5am) I felt great!  I was happy with my time, which included some time waiting in line for a Port-a-Potty.  I was totally spent afterwards, but I am proud to have accomplished it just in time for turning 43!  Woot!

Piano recital

The latest musical extravaganza!!  Maggie at her piano recital. 

5K!

Maggie ran her first official 5K with her dad a couple weeks ago.  She got a nice prize of a free tuneup for her bike at the bike shop!  That's Phoenix's dad and another professor (who is a long distance runner) with them.  She is thinking about running cross country next year at school.

I had a great Mother's Day yesterday!  The fam prepared a delicious breakfast (complete with breakfast dessert and Top-Chef-inspired presentation!), and then we took a family bike ride around town.  I took Max to his swim lesson and then took Maggie to the outlets...she has woefully few summer pants/shorts that fit her.  Grilled brats for dinner and a trip to Dari Barn with our international student (so we went twice in one weekend...squeee!) finished the day.  The weather was beautiful, and even though it's a cliche: I really am blessed with an amazing family!  (And that includes all of you, too!) XXOO

Project Share

Max had to do a research project for his ELP class (Extended Learning or something like that), and he chose Machu Picchu.  Now I want to go there!  He had to give an oral presentation in front of several other students at the regional Project Share.  He did a great job!  I was so impressed!  He actually looked people in the eye, and he fielded a few questions.  Plus he had a good time at the learning sessions he chose: robots, electricity, and fish printing.  Nice job, Max!

Joshua

Maggie specifically asked that I record this for her new cousin.  She is standing sort of above the music stand.  Only one more concert to go before the end of school!!  Four out of five done!  Whew!