My new wallpaper

The previous post has a picture in its gallery of Noah walking across a bridge.  I love the image within the image. A little boy confident enough to take off in front of his family on his own because he just can't wait to see what's on the other side.

I had to do something with that photo because I just...love it. As most of you know my main hobby according to my wife is collecting hobbies. One such hobby is photography and photo editing. One of favorite types of images are Japanese woodblock art. 

I combined the two into an image I absolutely adore. It even made my iPad wallpaper which is no small feat since my phone wallpaper is now on its 3rd phone. 

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Natural Falls 2012

On Sunday afternoon we really needed to get out of the house.  Cam and I sat at home all day Saturday and that night we should've gotten out.  As it was we chose to have a family outing Sunday after church.  We were on a time crunch to get Noah back for choir practice so we stuck close to home.  We headed across the Oklahoma line to Natural Falls.  It's an easily accessible paved trail down to the base of the falls so it was perfect.  The kids spent some time ​on a playground afterwards while Jenna and I sat on a bench. It was Campbell's first waterfall to see and she ooooo'd and ahhhhh'd. 

Day of the Pumpkin-Updated

We could not decide how to spend our Saturday together.  The decision to get out early wasn't going according to plan.  At our house, we rarely have a plan and when a plan goes awry it tends to make a grumpy bunch.  Finally Jenna, told us to put on clothes and we headed to a pumpkin patch.  It turned out to be a fantastic day.​

UPDATE​

This page now links to a gallery page instead of the gallery being within the post.  Hopefully this will speed up the site a bit.​

Yellow Belt-Level 2

Noah graduated last weekend to his 2nd level of Yellow Belt. This time he was graded on form and was allowed to do his weapons freestyle and spar.  His motor memory makes the therapist in me proud.  If he can just overcome the short hamstrings he inherited from me, he'll ​be an awesome black belt.

I also updated Noah's ATA page with all his graduation pics.​

Boys night in!

Jenna has been in Conway for a conference so it's just been myself and the kid's this week.  Annie decided to stay to pitch in a helping hand as well.  I can say the kids were fed, went to bed,  made it to school on time, and thanks to Annie were picked up from their respective locations.  I'm sure my methods would make Jenna cringe though.

Last night Cam spent the night with Annie so Noah and I planned a boys night out.  I was going to take him to Shogun's but he honestly wasn't that excited. He's been obsessed lately with Beyblades (a spinning top battle game you have to be below 12 to understand) so I surprised him with a boys night in.  We ordered pizza, he was allowed to drink Mountain Dew, we battled Beyblades, we watched a few episodes of Beyblades, we ate popcorn, we battled more Beyblades, I had to keg a beer from the fermenter (thought I'd sneak that in there), and we went to bed watching football.

This morning ​I blew his mind and served him pizza for breakfast. I let him dress himself and then I sent him outside to demonstrate why he shouldn't wear shorts when it is 50 degrees and raining.  He said he was fine through clenched teeth so I had to pull the Dad card and made him put on jeans.  Once in 18 hours isn't bad though.

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Battle Up Amanda!

Cancer sucks. It doesn't care who or what you are.  It doesn't care about the color of your skin or the size of your portfolio. It also doesn't care how loved you are.​

​Tomorrow my aunt Amanda begins her battle against ovarian cancer. There are people I fret over. There are people in this world I worry about.  There are people I pray for. Amanda's never made the list before.  Funny thing cancer.

She has surgery tomorrow from 4-730​ at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, OR.  She has setup a website at akrportland.com to keep family and friends updated.

Amanda's most visible trait has always been her most beautiful; her strength. I've never met anyone as strong as her.  She's never even bothered to knock the dust off after being knocked down.  She just gets up and walks on. I think cancer picked the wrong fight.​

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Jordan's in ElDorado

Holly came home from Arizona this past weekend.  It was the first time we got to meet Malia.  When they came to visit right ​after she was born, Campbell was sick so we weren't able to make it down.  This time they came during the weekend of Arkansas/Alabama.  She apologized they coincided but I assured her this wasn't a big deal.  It was like I was prophetic because it couldn't have been less of deal and I'm glad I missed the game.

The kids played well.  Campbell and Jon Isaac were able to interact much more than the last time they were together.  Even then they mainly chased the bigger kids or played by themselves. Noah and Jana were...Noah and Jana. It's like there were no other people existing in the world.  They remind me of twins finishing each others thoughts.  When you ask one of them what they are doing, they look at each other and I swear there is a silent dialogue between them getting their story together. ​

We tried to take a picture of all the kids in their Razorback garb.  I took 70+ photos and not a single 1 has all 5 kids looking at the camera or with their eyes open.  Go figure.  

I know it's exhausting to tote 2 small kiddos across the country to see people they don't honestly know very well but it's awesome Holly is able to come as much as she does.  She almost comes as often as we go to ElDorado​.  Over the past 2 years it's more since she comes for 1-2 weeks at a time and I have a 3 day limit going anywhere away from my house.

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ATA Demonstration

Yesterday Noah's Taekwondo instructor spoke at his school.  The topic was responsibility.  I'm always amazed at Mr. O'Connor's ability to keep kid's engaged and correct behaviors without raising his voice.  Yesterday though, it wasn't 20 kids it was over 300.​ It didn't seem to be any different. After he spoke, Noah and 3 other boy's in leadership from his school were asked to put on a demonstration for the school.  

Noah did great.  He demonstrated a self-defense move that got the crowd excited.  He was a little rockstar. Afterwards a bigger kid stopped us in the hallway to say "You  were awesome!"  ​

When Noah is proud he loses his big smile and gets a little grin on his face with his lips together.  Yesterday his lips were so tight I thought he'd burst from pride.  The kid was right. ​He was awesome.

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Labor Day 2012-City Museum

For the second straight Labor Day weekend, we traveled northeast to St. Louis to visit the DiCarlos.  We left after work and arrived late but there was no time to catch up on rest as we were off this morning to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis.  It was one of the best museums ever for children.  There were multiple levels both indoors and out.  The rooftop was closed due to rain so no ferris wheel and crazy bus hanging off the building.  The place is highly recommended.  You can tell by the pictures, I was in charge of Noah.  You've never lived until you've tried to scale 40-50 foot scaffolding holding a camera and chasing a fearless 6 year old. ​

P.S. This is the type of post that made me change the website again.  I love the idea of a gallery within a post instead of making so many stand alone galleries. Enjoy!​

First Grade!

Noah has been pretty low key about moving up to the first grade.  In fact, until last night he didn't seem to even notice it's arrival.  His teacher this year is Mrs. Collier.  I know her pretty well having had students in her classroom each year since the school has been open.  At the open house she sent home a really nice poem.  Noah wasn't allowed to open it until bedtime last night.  It was very cute and it came with magic confetti to put under his pillow to help him get a good night of sleep.  It kind of had the opposite of the intended effect.  He suddenly got super excited and was telling us all the kids he couldn't wait to see tomorrow.  He was also pumped about all the science he will learn.  He wants to be a marine biologist in case you haven't heard.  This morning he was ready to go.  His mom had to fix the cowlick he couldn't fix himself.  A big breakfast he was set.  Jenna was pretty ok with everything.  She decided to not walk him in the building this year so her emotional time was last night.  This morning though, it was Cam who talked the most about Noah's first day at school.  She followed him everywhere and just had that look on her face.  I think I captured what both of them were feeling perfectly.

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Leader in Yellow

Noah graduated to his yellow belt Saturday morning. Even more exciting was being invited into the leadership class. Ever since he began Taekwondo he has cast an envious eye towards the kids in the leadership class. Each graduation 1 or 2 students are recognized and are issued an invitation to a separate more advanced class.

During the orange belt level 1 cycle one of the monthly lessons was Goals. Noah told us he was setting a goal to work hard and be invited into leadership. The leadership class has different lessons beyond form and technique. Most importantly (to Noah) is weapons training and contact sparring.

That graduation he was very disappointed when he wasn't invited into leadership. Jenna and I were disappointed too because he wanted it so much. Honestly though it was a good lesson to be learned. I always tell him you learn more from failure than success and it held true here. Yesterday when they called his name Jenna let out a squeal. He was comically stoic as he walked up to accept the invitation. Afterwards he beamed for the rest of the day.

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Swim lessons 2012

Noah did group swim lessons for the first time this year. He was tested the first day and was the youngest kid in his group. This made Jenna both proud and nervous. He was nervous because he was the only kid in his group who couldn't touch where they met. So during instruction he had to tread water.

I'm always amazed how much kids learn from strangers. It's maddening. His lessons corresponded with the Olympics perfectly. At night what he learned was reinforced by seeing the best in the world.
This morning I stopped by for the first time to see him going off the high dive. He is such a good swimmer but I think this is his love.

Paint the Park Pink 2012

The Naturals hold a benefit for Komen every year.  This is the same one a few years back when Jenna threw out the first pitch.  This year she was asked to be part of a group of survivors recognized before the game.  This kids had a great time.  If it hadn't been 12000 degrees we probably wouldv'e stayed past the 5th inning.

Blueclaws go undefeated!!!

I'm sure if we kept score it would've been a successful season but the kids think we were undefeated so that's what we'll go with.  This was Noah's last teeball season as he'll move on to pitching machine next year.  He's definitely ready in batting and his catching/fielding came around big time in the summer league.  It was a fun group of boys.  The summer season was way more crammed in versus the spring season so I don't feel I got to know the boys as well as past teams but they all had fun.  That's the main goal anyways.