Who's the dragon on the boat?

So my son has an awesome athletics teacher. He gets them involved in so many great activities. One of them happens to be a dragon boat race between other elementary schools in the area. So three practices (some more successful than others), a false start (let's just say really crappy day, which turned out to be unsafe for the kids to race.), and finally the rescheduled race day. We rushed over right after school to get to the race and were pumped and ready to go. On a brighter side because of the postponement hubby was off so could join us.



Marcus' school had three boats competing during the day. After the heats Marcus' boat ended up in the A final which was so exciting they were going to get to race for gold.

Here is a video of the final race and as you can see it really wasn't all that close. Not to be mean the other boats did a great job, but I think team "2" was not going to lose this one. Yes I was screaming in the video. And yes of course the kids could hear me cheer. (I seriously am pretending they noticed me cheering them on.)




After the race we had to snatch a couple of photos with fellow teammates.







So much fun. I wanted to get in the water and race. Instead this is the day I mangled my left foot. Almost a week later and it is still healing. Oh and we also ended up getting a parking ticket. I know! I don't think either of those things could put a damper on the night. Marcus was still in shock like hours after it happened. Will remember this one for sure.

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Marcus turns 10! What?

Okay so I spent the afternoon doing this post and then went to cook dinner. Somehow the whole thing didn't save! So annoying.



Back to the post. I have to start out by saying it isn't fair that my son turned ten because I can't exactly lie about my age and pretend I am still in my twenties. Me sobbing that I actually entered the big 3-0 this year. I don't mind the aging part really I just want to stay in my twenties because they were really fun. I am hoping thirties turns out even better. Wishful thinking?



The kiddos cooperated with the group shots.

For Marcus' actual birthday he wanted Popeye's, which disgusts me that every year he wants fried chicken probably because we never really eat it on a regular basis, so we stuffed our faces with greasy fried goodness. Then he wanted cherry cheesecake for dessert. I had to make him one and one for the rest of us.





Ignore my awful singing!!!


For his party he wanted a sleepover with his closest friends.



What was on the agenda? Gaming of course!



His buds were not camera shy and really enjoyed playing games. So much I don't think they went to bed until almost 1 o'clock. I thought putting on a movie would settle them down, but I guess X men origins: Wolverine is probably not the wind down movie they needed. They talked through the whole thing about all the different cooll things all the Xmen can do. I was kind of funny, but I am sure kind of annoying for those kids who hadn't seen it yet.



This time I made ice cream cake. I should have made it in a springform pan because it would have been so much easier to cut, but oh well next time. Marcus was terrified of the sparklers. I guess growing up in the city and not getting to set of fireworks every year he has no clue what he is missing.



One of these things is not like the other...oh and they couldn't stop to come back for a retake. Too much happening I guess.

All in all it was a good night. Worth the fact that they were up before 7 playing capture the flag. Yeah...

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What's on Charity's (or really Donavan's) phone?

SO another addition and I have to say that having to use someone else's phone to take picture's is annoying!!



So the title is a lie this photo was taken from a friends phone who emailed it to me...no nap so he fell asleep on the couch during dinner. SO sweet.



This was also taken by that same friend who found Marcus' love of ribs enjoyable to watch. He seriously ate more than any of us adults did for sure!! Here he is thinking this is good, but the expression is priceless I had to include it!!



The kids at Keppel Club after a few hours in the arcade getting a snack before dinner.




And saving the best for last another food shot!! This time curry puff. Crispy goodness!



It is so super tasty. hmmmm I haven't had breakfast yet now I want a curry puff!!

Looking forward to Christmas and more yummy food.

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Embrace the Camera: November 4, 2010

So this week we have been lucky to have a guest in town with us. So time to blog hasn't been in the cards, but I had to squeeze in a photo with my boys. We got Toy Story 3 this week because my monkey is obsessed with Woody and Buzz. Need less to say he has been glued to the t.v. He keeps wanting to watch it and nap time, eating time, picking up his siblings, or going absolutely anywhere that doesn't have it on is terrible. He has been...well...moody today especially! So the first pic is him still glued to his Buzz trying to save the day again.





Marcus actually smiled for me. I think that just made my day! When you have a wet, cold day like today be sure to snuggle into your goodnesses (yes that is a word I just made up) and enjoy the evening.

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Cross Country

So weeks ago my kids had a cross country race. They trained for weeks and ran more than I think I ever want to run, but good for them staying heart healthy and building up some good muscle. I "booked" my husband to be off for the big race because my kids need encouragement from daddy. (He ran along side them.) Especially my daughter who has yet to realize how incredible she is and can become if she pushes herself. Last year she wanted to give up almost immediately and then with some encouragement placed 7th. This year she didn't train as hard as she could have. She admits to it. I told her not to expect a good as good a showing as the work that was put into getting there. I didn't realize teaching your children sometimes involved such philosophical discussions.



My son on the other hand worked hard. Not every practice, but definitely tried to get better. I think if the race was twice as long he probably would do a lot better because it seems like he can go on forever. He just isn't that fast. But if you knew my son you would know that he doesn't really mind that he isn't fast. Well maybe that isn't right. Let me just say this he has three favorite sayings. "It's okay." "I'm fine". and "sure". Let me just say until my daughter came along I thought I was going to go crazy because nothing seems to excite him. The complete opposite of McKayla who as you will see in my soon to come out birthday post of her is very expressive and gets overly excited about everything. Every once in a while you get a small little crack on the side of his mouth and you know that he is excited, but can't bring himself to jump up and down and show any emotion. Even when he is upset and cries it is very subdued and he goes into hiding.

So anyway back to the race. We went along and Monkey got into it too.




(I think he had a little too much gatorade that day!)



We ran along the credit river waiting for the race to start and took the opportunity to take some pics of our backyard. I say that because the race was being held in the park behind my house.




McKayla showing me her muscles before the race.

McKayla was in the third race with the rest of the grade two girls. She was ready I think there were 39 of them. I can't be sure.

Her goal was to stay close to her good friend Nika who is a great runner, but the run got the best of her and she just couldn't keep up, but I was proud she rallied in the end and past somebody almost catching up to pass somebody else.





In the end she got a participant ribbon because she wasn't in the top 10, but she was happy she finished strong. As you can see she could barely put on a smile for me.


Marcus before the race. I distorted his good friend Jason because well I don't like posting kids that are not my own on my blog so he will be the star here seeing as he did really well in the race and finished the best from Marcus' school.


Marcus raced 8th with the other 4th grade boys. There were a lot of them too. There were I think 5 schools racing that day. As always with the boys the race starts with a massive sprint to get in front and then the pace slows a bit. Marcus had a prime spot with his good friend Jason, but when the race started I think he lost track of the line he was going to follow because he ran straight into people the had started to sprint. The race was tough and in the end he didn't get what he was hoping for, but he ran hard the whole way and finished strong. I didn't get an after pic because he went off with his friends.



I learned something that day. I know I may be getting older, but I can still learn things. I think I would be a terrible soccer mom. I really was rooting them on and wanting them to do well. Part of me kept pulling myself back and saying hold on don't push too hard and the other part was screaming run harder I know you can push more!! I felt like I had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other arguing over who was right. I just tried to get the balance between the two. We as parents try really hard to push our children to be better and do better and reach their full potential. I just hope I don't push them to far or push them in a direction they didn't want to take in the first place. Hopefully I can be strong and guide them without imposing on them things that they in the end didn't want in the first place.

Today was piano lessons and I learned that my son has great coordination and can do things that are difficult for a lot of people. And that was natural no pushing on my part. I think we can find the greatness in ourselves when we let them find the greatness in themselves.,

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Embrace the Camera: October 7, 2010

This is my son Marcus. In the womb and not planned. I definitely don't recommend that, but I do recommend children. They are definitely sent from God and given as treasures to us to keep and protect until we return to him.







This is me about 7 months pregnant and really happy I started to show. Let's just say about a week before this I had barely a bump and then as if overnight this showed up! I knew I was shooting on that day and had to look pregnant!!





I do not believe that any of these swimsuits were actually maternity.



I was surprised when a few weeks before my due date they wanted me back for another spread. As you can see I am much bigger. Even my face is swollen!





When he came home I was thrilled, but as you can see not camera ready anymore!




Today he is 9 and I am thrilled to have him as my son.



He brings me such joy and love and pride. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I realize just how lucky I am. My father in heaven has truly blessed me and our family with good health and strength. You have to join me and embrace the camera.

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