January 22, 2008
Stretching and Spying....the kids on Tuesday 1-22
Alyssa is gaining a lot of balance. She can reach for things and not fall over now. Here she is grabbing for a toy.
Kyle and CJ played "spy" this afternoon. They got sunglasses, hats and assorted "spy gear" like phones and fishing poles and pencils and ran around the house spying on the enemy. It was a very involved game and included dastardly enemies like the "bad" transformers and allies such as Scooby Doo and assorted Superheroes.
January 21, 2008
For Uncle Jonathan
Kyle's inspiration to kick harder with his roundhouse was for Mom to be the target. He had to kick the bag as hard as he could in the hopes that it would sail and hit Mom in the head or the camera. Here is a true action shot as the bag comes straight at Mom and she moves out the way still vigilantly trying to take the picture.
Master's Club Karate
Kyle is now training at Uncle Jonathan's very own studio inside NextLevel Fitness. He is in Master's club working on his green belt (4th level). Things are getting more complicated and involve grappling and sparring --- but Kyle takes it all in stride.
Today, he worked on the scissor sweep and mount escape in grappling, the roundhouse kick, the turning side kick and a five move punch/kick combination. He is doing well --- getting it all figured out and still has a lot of enthusiasm.
January 20, 2008
Dad is back in Austin --- we are already missing him
After all, Mom is not nearly as good at giving baths and she does the whole bedtime routine in the wrong order and not up to Daddy's standards. Kyle and CJ do allow that Mom can at least read books correctly.
....we are all missing Daddy....
Alyssa plays around before her bath...toes are a lot of fun.
Kyle and CJ in bed...waiting to call Daddy and wish him a good night.
Now, we won't put a picture of Mommy...she looks a little too haggard.Maybe tomorrow....
January 17, 2008
Been a busy winter season so far
It is amazing how having three children, a full time job and volunteer work keeps you from being able to do the "little" things like posting to a blog. I am just keeping my head above water. Of course, Grandpa Potter's death on the 4th did effect all of us. I know that he is in a better place and is no longer in pain or suffering, but it was still hard to say goodbye.
Now, I have a few moments to spare as school is at break in between semesters so I have Friday and Monday off. The boys are upstairs playing transformers and teenage mutant ninja turtles, John is playing Medal of Honor Airborne, and Alyssa is in my lap alternately hitting random keys and windows buttons while I type. I keep having to backspace and click off programs she initiates but that's okay...adds to the adventure.
Since last I posted....
Family News
We had our pictures made for our annual Christmas card --- and managed to get one where everyone was looking at the camera. CJ was being himself --- and wouldn't cooperate 100% so.....it made things interesting (probably why Mom has veins sticking out on her forehead!)
We did get cute ones of the "boys" and the "girls" as well --- they didn't make the Christmas card as there wasn't enough room. :-)
Before Christmas:
We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas during its "soft opening" and had a wonderful time. It is a great place for families with crafts, swimming, great restaurants and games.
The room we stayed in had a "cabin" for the kids and a queen bed in a separate area for the parents. Their cabin had bunk beds, a desk and a tv. There was a kitchen area, and a separate adult area and a balcony. Of course, in December, who wants to go outside on a balcony!
The boys and Alyssa LOVED the indoor waterpark, and the MagicQuest game. One challenge Kyle liked was walking across the lilypads in a pool. Dad helped hold those tricky pads in place. They also had waterslides, pools, a wave pool, a lazy river and a fort with water falling everywhere. I couldn't get as many pictures since my camera isn't waterproof but I did get one of Kyle on the lilypads.
Kyle, CJ and I got to run around the hotel (all 8 floors using stairs NO ELEVATORS) with our magic wands and make things come to life --- pictures, crystals, treasure chests and magic lamps. We made ceiling tiles sparkle and completed over 10 different quests. I had to help a lot in figuring out the riddles but they loved waving their wands and making things happen. We went on enough quests to face the dragon -- each quest gives you a magic talisman to use in the dragon battle. If you don't have enough the dragon will win and set you "on fire". In the future, the hotel will even have a special room where you can turn on the lights and the tv with your wand.
CJ's Unique Wand Style -- master mage that he is
Kyle turns the white crystal red
Kyle completes a quest
I'll post more and hopefully get all caught up on the Mullen happenings!