The Year of the Monkey

Last year's Chinese New Year festivities left such an impression on both of you, that you were excited to go again. I was too!

 

Remember last year how we didn't know that the Lion/Dragons would demand to be fed money, so you Aidan fed them trash and they bit your butt? Not this year! That's right: your daddy remembered cash this year!

 

So with cash in hand, we sweatered up, loaded up, and headed to downtown Dallas.

 

Aidan, last year you were decidedly unafraid of the lion dancers. This year was definitely no different. You are bold, brave, strong, and curious, and you eagerly went up to many different Chinese New Year lion dancers to feed them money and pet them.

 

 

 

Julia, last year, you did not like the Lions. You didn't want anything to do with them. You were glued to my lap. You cried. But...then again, you were excited to go back this year.

 

2016 Chinese New Year didn't look like it was going to be any different for you. I mean...just look at the look on your face.

But...then you got a little brave and left my lap to go near one of the lions...

Then, perhaps inspired by your brother's "enthusiasm" you happily and willingly ventured even closer and closer:

And then, in a moment of pure courage...you reached out and TOUCHED one of them!

You were so proud of yourself, and I was (and am) too! Way to go, Jules!

 

 

The lions had to stop dancing eventually, so the three of us enjoyed some live music...

 

 

...some costumes...

...some selfies...

 

 

...and then made our way over to Klyde Warren Park for running and playing...

 

...cool snacks on the ever-warming day...

 

... a quick and ill-advised, but still fun- dip:

 

 

...and then some soaking wet swing-dancing lessons!

 



 

You know...just a father, daughter, and son monkeying around downtown to ring in the year of the monkey!

 

LEGOS - Everything IS awesome

Aidan, Julia,

Let's just be up front about this. You both LOVE Legos. You've both been playing with them - both the big ones and the regular sized ones- for years. In fact, both of you started playing with the little Legos- the real Legos- for years.

You were well under the recommended minimum age on the box. But, you've always known what to do with them. Your dexterity and dedication have grown, but your creativity has flooded the floor! And grown to the ceiling (the sky is the limit!)

Aidan, your favorite part of the Legos used to be stacking the heads up on top of each other and putting them in a PEZ dispenser.

Then you graduated to building and collecting the little characters- sometimes with multiple heads, sometimes with one. Now, you've recently gotten into building little vehicles and ships and 'PEW PEWs' for your characters. In fact you just made this beauty all by yourself the other day:

It's a "wormer harvester" that "cleans the whole house." Pretty cool, huh?

And look at this cool one too! It looked like this yesterday...

...and this is what it looks like today with even more modifications! 

Julia, your favorite thing to do is make the tiniest most intricate, colorful abstract creations you can. Of course, you like to build big, and make spaceships and shooters and 'Pew Pews' too...but your humble beginnings were in manipulating the smallest of pieces - usually colorful little circles- into amazing creations.

Here is your mermaid which you made all by yourself. So amazing.

And check out this creation I found which you had made. You said it's called "The Million Falcon!"

Legos- to me- are so great because they're like you. They're colorful, they're kind of a mess, and they can be anything in the world!

I love it when we play Legos as a family. Everything is awesome when you're part of a team!

And I love it when I hear that familiar 'crash' of a cascade of Legos being poured on the floor- even if it's just to find one head or to build for hours- because I know that Legos leads to creativity...and love.

...And some occasionally hurt feet.

From your Eyes

We love watching you watch and experience the world, and there's nothing better than a change of scenery to really get your attention.

But there's always something fascinating whether you're close to home...

or just plain home...

 It's a beautiful world.

And even more awe-inspiring watching it through your eyes.

Karate Kid: part three

Aidan, 

In 2014, your karate journey began. You were a wiggly, squirmy, excited, fun-loving, bouncy, kind, gentle, amazing 3 year old.

Today, you reached quite an accomplishment: you have attained the highest belt that a Little Rhino can- the black stripe.

For the record, you are still wiggly, squirmy, excited, fun-loving, bouncy, kind, gentle and amazing. Now you're 5 (almost 6).

But, you've grown so much thanks to karate and during your lessons with Mr. Garcia and the Pro Martial Arts gang.

You've learned lessons on patience, respect, responsibility, and confidence (this was one of your favorite lessons, often asking us to repeat the examples of not confident vs. confident).

You learned a lot of skills, including Anjo (sit), Jerryip (stand!), Joomby (ready stance), sparing stance, backwards brake fall, star block, escape from bear hug and run away shouting "you're not my mom! you're not my dad. FIRE!!!!!!!!!", and how to properly make a fist.

You earned many stripes on your belts for behavior at home, doing good deeds and chores without having to be asked.

You learned and loved many great games here, including TAG, dodgeball, and don't get hit by the ball (you really like to get hit by the ball).

You overcame adversity. A very pretty female teacher kind of made you too shy to even enter the building for many weeks. We thought you might want to hang up your belt, but you chose to continue and continue working at karate.

You had fun!

You grew so much. When you started you could hardly hold still long enough to participate in activities, but now you have poise, patience, and preparedness. You have grown so much as a Little Rhino, and we are SO proud of you.

This may sound a bit like a 'goodbye' to karate. And in a way, it is. You're going to take a little bit of time off from Karate to really focus on Swim classes,  which you really, really like!

But, it doesn't have to be goodbye- it's just a pause for now. You can always suit up with your black stripe again if you so-choose.

And, swim lessons are right next door to the Dojo, so you'll always be able to drop in and say KI-AH!

We are so proud of you, and so proud of what this accomplishment up 9 belts in about 18 months means for you.

You can do anything you set your mind to, and you are a great example for others.

Every class ends like this:

Salute to the flag. 

Salute to your instructors. 

Salute to your families.

You run -and salute- off the mat into your family's arms with a huge grin and a sense of accomplishment. You are proud. And we are SO proud of you, our little black-stripe karate kid.

TANG SU!

Sunday Funday - January Edition

A New Year just bloomed- 2016; and with it we're jumping in feet first for a whole lot of fun. Today, I invite you to feast your eyes on a crazy, lazy Sunday Funday:

The day started off in PJs...

Then moved to clothes and shakes and Legos...

Then, since it was warm enough for a January day, we slightly bundled up and went to explore a new playground...we call it "Hidden Playground."

New obstacles, new challenges, new fun!

You created fun new games on the double slides:

You played hard:

We witnessed major static hair:

And you both had a song in your heart:

With a happy song in my heart, despite the cold weather and odd request, we went to the dollar store and ended the day with shaving cream fun!

Thank you for joining me on this adventurous Sunday, kids. May 2016 and beyond be full of fun, songs, and a little electricity.