bathtime/ cute pics

Isaac and Zoe took their first bath together, they both had a ton of fun and Isaac says he wants to take all his baths with Zoe! I caught some cute pics of the two of them...this was not set up, they were really sitting together like this, they adore each other!
For anyone who didn't know, Dave got laid off last June, it has been really tough but he got a job! There are positives and negatives, I got really spoiled having him home to help take care of the kids, especially when I go to my sister's to babysit her kids. I didn't have to take Zoe and all her kids are pretty self sufficient, I could decide when I wanted to do quiet time, with Zoe, it's up to her! So now that Dave is working I have to take Zoe with me! (trust me I'm happier that Dave has a job even though it makes my days a little bit rougher!) Yesterday was my first day taking her with me and it was exhausting, I think I've mentioned how she gets into everything...well, Michelle's house is not Zoe-proof so I spent the first hour putting things out of her reach that she could break or hurt herself on. She has never watched TV because ours is downstairs and is not Zoe-proofed so we hang out upstairs. So I thought I'd turn the TV on and she would be mesmerized. No such luck, she had no interest! By 10:00 I was exhausted and ready to pull my hair out. I don't remember what went on between 10:00 and 12:00 but lunchtime was a welcome change...Zoe strapped in a high chair!!!! Then it was nap time and she actually slept! After that I was recharged and the rest of the day was tolerable. But everything I had to put up had to be put back when Tony and Michelle got home. Not easy because she'd go after what I'd put back while I was putting the next thing back! And this summer, I am going to have all the kids ALL day! Five of them, one of which is an insane 20 month old. Hopefully we'll get to spend a lot of time outside and I can hope she won't have much to get into out there? please pray for me!!!!

karate promotion test

Isaac had his Karate promotion test a few weeks ago, he is very proud, he is now a yellow/green stripe belt. His test was grueling, it lasted 2 1/2 hours starting with about a 1/2 hour of conditioning (sit ups, jumping jacks, etc), then sparring, he sparred against all members of his class, including a guy who is taller than me, he also had to spar against 2 other students at once, he had to do all of the forms he knows (like the one in the video from the competition), breaking boards with kicks and punches, demonstrating kicks and punches when asked to do so, in Korean! All the kids were so exhausted just after the conditioning then had to do 2 hours of the test. His instructor explained that at this level he is not just testing what they know but also letting them see what it is like to have to defend yourself when you're exhausted because that's what real life is like, you don't get to stop to catch your breath when someone is attacking you. That is something I love so much about their teaching methods, they teach the kids how to use what they are learning in class in real life situations. I am so proud of Isaac, he is really excelling in Karate and I can see the differences in him...his self esteem has increased, as well as his discipline and his ability to handle things when life gets rough, (example...at one point while he was sparring, he was so exhausted he just started crying, but he didn't stop! He kept on going!)
He also made the honor roll again, all year so far! He has matured so much in the past year, I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!