Ladies and Gentlemen

We have bike riders.

Fun times

This creatively titled post will fill you in on our recent happenings. Starting backwards, yesterday was A and J's first karate tournament. It was so much fun, so well done. Ali won a sparring match (which she only competed in to get a second medal) and Jason was the best of the orange belts in his forms. Mimi and Pops came to watch and afterwards we went spring shopping at the mall, doing our part to stimulate the economy.

We had another sleepover a few weeks ago during which we practiced our cake decorating techniques and watched a movie. Everyone was asleep by 10, which was a record.

Mostly we've just been schooling, karate-ing, drama-ing, ice skating... soon softball will start, too. It's all good here. Dave's busy with camp hiring and organizing. We're looking forward to bike riding and letter boxing soon....

Um, we're busy.

Oh great, another annoying recurring theme to my blog posts - we're so busy, blah, blah, blah. Well, here we are, driving to some activity or another every afternoon - ice skating, karate, drama... It's what I said I would never do, but now I just want them to try everything so they can decide what they really like to do. And besides, I like this part of being a mom - sitting in the waiting rooms, or on the freezing bleachers at the ice rink - watching my kids have fun, being part of the mom tribe. We share stories and give advice and talk about the books we're reading. It's so ordinary - so blessedly ordinary - that I love almost every day of doing it. (Qualifier in there because of days when I have to pick up one kid, drop off, pick up other kid, drop off, drive like a crazy driver to pick up first kid... you get the idea.)

Jason got his orange belt - we went to the Asian Bistro. Ali will be next for her yellow belt. We'll go to the Asian Bistro. Traditions are good.

Oh, and we went to Niagara Falls. It was dark and cold. And Jason's comment? "I thought it would be bigger." Funny.

Inappropriate

Randy and Natasha were over for dinner. Dave made his famous burrito tostadas and we were all having a great time. Ali and Jason decided to retell a "story" they had written at school. It was a team story - with each person adding 3 or 4 or 5 words at a time onto the story.

Before Jason started talking, Ali said, "Don't say the whole thing. Leave out the inappropriate part." and Jason nodded seriously, in agreement. He started telling the story - which, truth be told, made no sense but when he got to the "inappropriate" word, Ali's eyes got big and he said, "He blanked it out and it was all water." They looked at each other with clear delight. They had found a way around it. The four adults at the table tried to figure out an inappropriate blank but didn't want to ask the kids to tell.... but we finally caved and made them tell us -

Are you ready for the inappropriate word? Puke. Yup, puke. I love seven.

They spent the whole next day telling everyone, "Mom said puke. And it was while we were EATING."

They are funny people.