Shepherding My Sheep: April 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tae Kwon Do

The first test. Testing to be ‘accepted’ into the Valley City Tae Kwon Do Club/School and receive their uniforms. Dash, who is already a black belt, received his uniform the prior week. He’s been enjoying being a helper at this class and taking part in the older student class.

Graham, Zeke and Angelina called forward to begin their testing.

Entering Angelina’s name in the record book.

Entering Graham’s name in the record book. He was hilarious. Mr. Mike asked him to spell his name … we haven’t covered that yet. Well, he knows how to spell it, but I teach using 100 Easy Lessons, so he’s learning the letters by their sound instead of by their names right now. He can spell his name on paper, and I’m pretty sure he knows the names of the letters, but he’s never been asked this before. So, instead of saying the letter names, he drew them in the air with his arm. It was really cute and funny!

Zeke’s name entered in the record book.

Angelina being tested on kicks and blocks by her brother, Dash. ONE of the benefits of taking Tae Kwon Do with your brother’s is that you DO get to spar with them.

Louis is a busy boy at TKD. He wanted to keep running out on the mat. Thank goodness, they are used to little kids at this gym.

Graham’s first go-round on breaking a board.

Angelina’s board break was so quick, her dad didn’t catch it on film. She’s just picking up the pieces! Eric didn’t even get a shot of Zeke, who broke his on the first try, too.

Graham at it again. He did break it, but it took a bit of trying. The cheers went around the room when he broke his board, though.

Mr. Mike presented Graham, Zeke, and Angelina with their uniforms after the testing.

The white belts with their broken boards. Now, I should mention that Angelina isn’t quite as thrilled to be in TKD. But, we’ve told her it’s a great work out and provides valuable lessons in self-defense. When she thinks I’m not looking, she actually smiles in class. Ballet/tap/jazz are still her favorite activities.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Where was I?

Oh, yeah! Life got a little busy and I needed a huge break! We actually took the whole of Holy Week off from homeschooling, which should have created lots of extra time, right?? Not really. But, that’s okay. We cleaned each morning, then took a movie break in the early afternoons. The kids and I enjoyed ‘The Book of Ruth’, ‘The Ten Commandments’, and an assortment of other religious themed films.

Graham and Louis came down with a nasty cold. In fact, they still haven’t beat it. The cough just lingers on and on. So, I stayed home with them both on Holy Thursday. They needed to be home and get to bed at their normal times. The rest of the kids went to Mass with Dad.

My mom; SIL, Laura; and her three kids arrived on Friday just before we left for church. Laura stayed at the farm with her kids, as they’d just ended 5 hours in car seats. The rest of us attended church services at 3pm in LaMoure.

Saturday was a day of food prep. Mom, Laura and I worked all day to get ahead for the day and Easter Sunday. It was fun and the day went incredibly fast. It was a beautiful day, so the kids played outside during the morning and afternoon hours. My niece loves to play dress-up, so the kids paraded through the kitchen with their many creative ideas (all my old dance costumes provide plenty of fodder for creativity!). My brother, Eric and Doug (husband to Laura) and my dad arrived just in time for supper – smoked turkey!

Easter Sunday morning was a little nuts trying to get everyone ready and out the door by 8:30am, but we made it and enjoyed a beautiful Mass together. Considering the kids had little sleep (my two were still under-the-weather and Laura’s oldest two didn’t sleep much, not to mention the moms!), they were amazingly good during Mass. All moms can be thankful for that. I was even allowed a few minutes of adoration before Mass began … that’s an even rarer occurrence. Beautiful day, beautiful. Thank you, Lord, for dying for us.

Today was great, too! We took the day off from school. I planted onions in the SFG’s and the kids cleaned out the barn in preparation for their hogs and sheep, which will arrive next week. Many of the seedlings were replanted in larger pots and the kids went to TKD with their dad this evening. No cooking today because we have a large quantity of leftovers.

Graham and Louis are still trying to get over this darn cold, and my SIL said my nephew caught it. I pray he gets over it quickly.

Plans for the week:

Tuesday: Start up school again. Can I take another week off? Yes, I could, but that would just prolong the REAL end!

Wednesday: Nothing much for the kids and I.

Thursday: TKD for the kids.

Friday: WOG for me and a girls night out with my sister.

Saturday: My fraternity’s reunion day- my sister; SIL, Anne; and my mom will also be attending. Home to be with the kids while Eric attends his fraternity’s Spring Formal (he’s the board president).

16/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

My seeds are growing quite well. Almost time to move to the next pot size. Below are onion plants. I’ve never purchased plants before. They were stored in the frig for almost a week, but needed to go into soil to make room for all the extra food that needed a home in the refrigerator (in preparation for company).

These two cousins (Louis is on the right) are just hilarious. I’m not sure why Louis was fascinated with his cousin’s nose. But, they’re sure cute little guys!

Dying Easter eggs with Grandpa Dave, Uncle Doug & Uncle Eric’s.

Little cousins with Oreo cookies – chocolate all over!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Birthday, Dash!

My oldest is officially 14 today!

I watched as he served at Mass this morning, and just wondered where the years have gone. He pays attention to detail when he’s serving at the altar, and he is often complimented for it. It’s not often I have a chance to notice that … so often busy taking care of little siblings. When did he get so tall and broad shouldered? When did his feet grow to a size 12 (which means he’s probably not at his full height)? He’s starting to come out from behind the awkward teen look and be more comfortable with himself.

We all sang Happy Birthday after our Easter meal, but I forgot to bring out the cake. I think we would’ve all been too full anyway, at that point of the day. Remembered to offer it later that day, after supper, but only Grandpa Green Acres and my hubby had enough room left to eat a piece … and it was a half piece at that.

Dash is old enough to hunt in this Fall’s deer season, and he now owns a gun.

He did have his annual celebration with friends earlier in the week. I didn’t get any photos, but they had a great time bowling, eating pizza and cake, and visiting. He stayed with his friend, Tom, until my meeting was over later on that evening, so he had bonus time with friends, too.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter to all friends and family! Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres; my brother, Eric; and my brother, Doug, and his wife, Laura, and family stayed at our home to celebrate Easter. Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres, and Tante Lori came to share our Easter meal on Sunday.

Alleluia!