Nightly Walk

I was lucky enough to have Todd along with me during my nightly walk of Dylan.  I was able to hand the leash over to him and snap some Christmas lights pics while we walked.

Owen's Orange Belt

This was the evening of the belt ceremony, where the instructors shook the hands of the students and handed over their new colored belts. Owen tested out of his white belt and earned his orange belt.  There were dozens of students waiting to get new belts.  Do you see Owen tucked away near the back?  The white belts were at the back with the highest level belts near the front.

Chloe made herself at home in Todd's lap as we waited for Owen's name to be called.

We didn't have to wait long, since they started with the white belts.

Owen was pretty proud as he walked the line of instructors and shook all of their hands after receiving his orange belt from Mr. Poole.

We later learned that these last two instructors are still students and earned new honors to their black belt status.

Owen had earned so many stripes on his white belt...

but he was happy to take off that belt and put on the new orange belt!

A Japanese Dinner

We drove up to Canton to have a Japanese dinner with the Grandmas.  Todd couldn't join us because he was three doors down at another restaurant with the Cherokee County's USTA annual Christmas party.

We walked over to see Todd for a few minutes after dinner before we drove home and I put the kids to bed because it got to be so late.  Fun evening out, even if I did have to beat a hasty retreat with Chloe when there was going to be fire at our table.  :)

A Day of Christmas Fun

After Owen's soccer game and lunch, we drove downtown to go to the Alliance Theater to see The Christmas Carol.  This was the second time for Owen and me.

But the first time for Daddy and Chloe.  They both enjoyed the play AND the candy canes.  :)

After the play, we swung by the house to whip up a quick dip before going to our friend Ozanna's Christmas party for family, friends and coworkers.  She was prepared with special glasses and art projects for the kids.

There was plenty of good food to be eaten because everyone brang their own dish.  Owen liked the brownies.

The kids asked me to take them for a walk to get out of the house for a bit and then asked me to take a pic of Christmas lights on another house.

We came home to our own Christmas lights, a wall filled with new photos and Owen's snowflake that Santa brought from the North Pole when he was three years old.

What a busy, but very fun day together!

Owen's Indoor Soccer Game

Another Saturday morning to play with the indoor soccer team.  Huddle up!

This boy is all over the ball and does a great job controlling it and keeping it away from his opponents.

This pair of shoes never seem to stay on his feet when kicking.

 Kick it, Owen!

Chloe likes to play air hockey with any of the other kids who will play with her during the game.

Christmas Performance and Belt Testing

Before we went our separate ways for the evening, Owen came into my office to show me all the stripes on his belt.  He had a lot of stripes earned through accomplishments in Tae Kwon Do and good schoolwork grades.

Papa Ford and I took Chloe to her Christmas performance at Discovery Point.  She got to hand out cookies in a cookie exchange before they gave their little performance.

She sang the Twelve Days of Christmas with her after-school class.

And Jingle Bell Rock.

I loved how serious her face was while dancing and singing as she tried to keep up with the class and get the words right with the dance moves.

Then we went home and waited for the other half of the family.

Todd took Owen to karate for his first belt testing to move up to an orange belt.  Grandma Suzanney and Grandma Eloise also went to cheer him on.

The class moved through different stances and moves as a group.

And Owen bowed at the end after he kicked a yellow board in half as a show of respect.

Once the belt test was over, we all met up for Mexican food.  It was a fun night to celebrate Christmas, martial arts and family.

Last Day of School in 2010

The kids were excited for the last day of school this year.  Chloe was having a pajama party with her class because they would be watching the movie the Polar Express.

Owen dug out his reindeer shirt that he made at Sunbrook in pre-Kindergarten.  His hands and one foot were painted to make the face.  I was saving this shirt for him to have when grown and to perhaps show his own children one day.  But it later ended up in the dirty clothes basket and what came out was one wonky red nose and one and a half googly eyes with no more brown face.  Sniff.

The boy was all smiles waving goodbye to us as we drove away.  Owen would be watching the Polar Express with his class, too.  And no more homework!

Dancing Kids

They love to practice their dance routine at home.  Especially after having just had their Music and Dance class at Discovery Point and learning more moves.

And then they go into doing the splits and seeing who can get their legs out wider.  Chloe tries, but she's just not as flexible as her big brother.

Decorating the Grandmas' Christmas Tree

We drove up to the Grandmas' house for dinner and helped pull out all of the Christmas decorations from the attic.  The kids were excited to help decorate another Christmas tree!  They were also excited that there were snow flurries all day and a little bit of it on the ground.

Grandma Suzanney's Christmas cactus was in full bloom.

I stood outside on the back porch to take pics of the kids hanging ornaments on the tree.

Finding the right spot for each ornament took serious contemplation.

Not just for finding the right spot on the tree, but which ornament to hang up next?

They both just love Christmas trees so much.  I think they stare in the hopes they will find the secret to the magic of Christmas.

I think she liked all the glitter on this ornament.

Of course, she had to sing as she was decorating the tree.  Our Bean is always singing.  :)

Grandma Eloise's dog Sophie supervised from her perch on top of the sofa.

Jack curled up with Grandma Eloise.  Snickers was on her other side and Sophie wasn't far away.  Grandma Eloise is a pet magnet!