summer vacation part 1

Here's a photo tour of our summer vacation so far. I've posted some of these on fb already, but I can't make a journal out of facebook, so it's important they go on the blog too. Summer has been just as it should be with lots of activities, BBQ's with friends, sunshine, hot weather, summer reading at the library, and of course, ample doses of sibling rivalry. The only thing Mommy would change is for the sun to come up just a little later - it blazes in the windows at 6am and everyone gets up very early! What happened to sleeping 'til 10am all summer? I'd settle for 8 at this point. 7:30? anyone?

We started the summer with a Memorial Day trip to the zoo with Daddy.

It was packed solid with way too many people that day, but the girls got to feed the giraffes!

I am amazed a the beauty of the desert. The ugliest things, and I mean ugly, will all of a sudden burst with the most delicate, colorful flowers! These cacti looked like scrubby weeds every time we went to the zoo, but this time, they were so pretty!

Then, came Daddy's 105 mile bike ride. He did the Albuquerque Century and part of the ride went right past our neighborhood. He needs to blog about the details himself though.

A trip to the museum of natural history and science - good little Rexy! The girls had a blast watching the imax movie and checking out all the cool stuff - just like the movie, Night at the Museum!

swimming and sunbathing (watch out for those rays - this was a recipe for sunburns!)

Another trip to the zoo with our new friends, the Merrill family - still trying to catch that elusive peacock! The zoo pass is already very worn, but we can't get enough!

camping in the living room

Found ourselves a western ranch! Galloping Grace Youth Ranch is seriously awesome. The barn is totally free to use and the kids get to rotate between riding, barn chores, and a gratitude station where they write thank you notes to the many donors who make it possible to run the ranch. The owners are amazing. The woman there pretty much runs the preschool (as a parent volunteer) where Hattie will go next year too. Ahh, my little cowgirls.

stay tuned for part deux - summer vacation vacation! can't wait for all the trips and cousin time!

the yellow sash

(Grace and Mr. Kao paying respect. Note the beloved blue belt on the floor and Grace wearing the pretty new sash.

The Jesus lives sign on the drum kit behind is because the class was held in a church for a couple of weeks...)

A quick tribute to Grace and all her hard work. She has been very focused and serious about her new karate class here in NM. Her instructors have diligently worked with her to bring her up to speed with the new forms and terminology. After almost 4 months, with classes twice a week (double what she'd been doing in MA), she was invited to test for her yellow sash. The tests are pretty intense and the kids are required to have all of it memorized. She had to count to 10 in Chinese, name the 4 values of the system, the 3 focuses, and perform a series of kicks punches, and finally do "short form 1" which is a series of blocks made in various positions and stances. She tested last Thursday and passed with flying colors. I am so proud of my Grace for working so hard and making this transition from Master Doug's program without a single complaint or worry. I am amazed that she just went for it without looking back and willingly gave up wearing her blue belt to start over in this system.

(I had to include a picture of Grace and Daddy too. One thing I really like about this program is that they heavily involve the parents to help the kids learn. After she tested, the class learned a cool self defense technique with their parents.)