Leotards and gi's

It is 28 degrees outside (and it doesn't feel much warmer inside) yet my girls are dressed in leotards!!! They have worn them all morning!!

They are GIRLS...need I say anything else!??!?!

Silence please...these moves require much concentration!

KARATE...D's dream come true!!

D has wanted to take karate for probably over a year now. We found a place that offers it for FREE and Papi can go so the boys are learning together!

Just last night they boys bought their gi's.

They practice together every night!

D really enjoys it!!

Self defense...even I have learned this sequence of moves! It's so cool!

Pay It Forward

Remember that movie from a long time ago titled, "Pay It Forward"? The idea (if I actually do remember) was to give to others when you are given to instead of paying the person back. Well, my sister is the absolute best at giving to others. We are so often the recipients of this generosity. Our most recent "hand me down" was a trampoline! Yes, you read that right...a TRAMPOLINE!!!

The girls love to be bounced, but it makes mommy feel very motion sick .

Despite D's declaration that the trampoline is the best toy we have, he will still at times forfeit his turn to play soccer.

My soccer champ!

The good things

Today was one of those day where I was able to see "the good things" that were happening. I wanted to document them because so often the "good" gets lost in the "difficult or challenging" parts of the day.

Today though, as I fixed breakfast, my children chose the following activity to occupy themselves...

Indepedent reading...
Each with a blanket and a pile of books.
(Sorry about the aweful lighting...I couldn't get my camara to cooperate and I was fixing breakfast and taking the pics in a bit of a hurry.)

Then while D worked diligently on school...

The girls played very well together

and then independently!

After nap a craft was requested, so I just pulled out whatever was in the closet.

The kids had a blast working on crafts.

E was very concentrated on her glueing.

L displayed her work of art!