buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks

This year, for the baseball opening day ceremony, I lost my mind momentarily. I agreed to take Logan's BFF, Jonathon, along with us -- leaving me the lone woman amongst 5 crazy males! The highlight for the boys had to be the rock climbing and bounce houses, while the highlight for me was hands down the half price Red Elephant pizzas at the end of the day. We took home three! Play ball!

size doesn't matter

He might be small, but it's all about the technique and confidence. And this little guy is great to have around for protection (even if he does talk back and eat all the food in the house)!

Dragon System Belt Testing 6/26/2010

today is the big day

They've practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more. June 26th is finally here and Logan has been counting down the days for weeks. This morning we head to the Dragon's Den for belt testing and awards. Gavin earned his yellow tip last week, and Logan and Jay are up for their green tip. Logan wants to be a green belt so badly because that's when you get to start training with WEAPONS! Of course, he has to break a board with his front kick, which looks awfully painful. But I know he can do it! Go Logan!!!!!

Karate Kid

I'm so proud of this kid! We average 4 nights a week of this and he never gets tired of it.

He's gonna be great!

What are YOU lookin' at?!?!

March Madness

In March we....

celebrated Papa's birthday

and he dined on a hamburger cake courtesy of Liz

we danced the night away at the Gilchrist auction

and I won a bid for Gavin's birthday party!!!!

we wrestled some grizzly bears

and read

and read

and read.

"My TWO"

Keegan

Age: 2 years, 1 month

Likes: "boot" (popcorn), "nack" (snack), picking veggies from Daddy's garden, playing with his brothers, "MoMo" (Elmo), "ChooChee" (trains), "yinner" (dinner), O.S. (his Build-A-Bear from our other nanny, Allie), "yake yella ducks" (going to Lake Ella to see the ducks), "gogo" going anywhere, dancing, "yewyo, pink, blue and white" (his pacifiers of aforementioned colors) singing, "ice" (ice water), laughing and tantruming as appropriate.

Accomplishments: learned his colors, is able to recognize a few letters, counts to 3, speaks in complete sentences.

When I grow up I want to be: (he hasn't told us yet, so I'll decide for him) a doctor

The Lovely Logan

Logan

Age: 6 years, 2 months

School: Kindergarten at Gilchrist (soon to be first grader)

Likes: ramen noodles, the weather, Wii, sword fighting, salads with ranch dressing, karate, swimming, reading

Accomplishments: yellow belt (and about to test for a green tip), learned to read, completed kindergarten with 180 days on green!

When I grow up I want to be: a psychologist or meteorologist

Growing with Gavin

Gavin

Age: 4 years, 10 months

School: Pre-K4 at Betton Hills Prep (soon to be Kindergarten at Gilchrist)

Likes: macaroni and cheese, dancing, karate, Baby Keegan, drawing

First Love: Jada

Accomplishments: Yellow Tip, knows all his letters and sounds, swims like a fish, first t-ball season under his belt

When I grow up I want to be: The President

newer isn't always better

Since he was about 12 months old, Gavin has had an infatuation with tags. Tags on shirts, tags on shorts, tags on comforters. It doesn't really matter. He just likes the way they feel in between his fingers. For his second birthday, we gave him a Thomas the Train taggie blanket and taggie pillow (which is basically just a normal blanket and pillow edged with different types of tags). Needless to say, 3 years later, that pillow and blanket could use a good face lift. I mean, they could really stand up on their own. So, Nana has taken upon the task of making a brand new, cooler and cleaner taggie pillow for Gavin to use.

This conversation occurred just before bedtime tonight:

GAVIN: Mommy, when Nana makes me a new, cool taggie pillow can I still keep my old taggie pillow?
ME: Sure, Baby.
GAVIN: Because I love this taggie pillow and he'd be lonely without me feeling his tags all the time.
ME: Ok, that's fine.
GAVIN: It's ok. Tell Nana I can love them both! I can love them equal!

He said a bad word

The following is a true story. One day, I received a call from Logan's teacher. Seeing the school's name on my caller ID, I panicked, of course.

ME: Hello? What's wrong?

MRS. Z.: Hi, Mrs. Allison. Everything's fine.

(It's not, of course, or his teacher wouldn't be calling me in the middle of the school day)

MRS. Z.: I just wanted to call to inform you of an incident that occurred in my classroom earlier today. I mean, Logan didn't do anything wrong...really...but just I thought you should know....

ME: Okaaaaayyyyy....

MRS. Z.: Well, during circle time today, Logan came up to me and said that another kid said a bad word.

ME: Yeah, he does that.

MRS. Z.: Yeah, but he came up and said, "Mrs. Z., Michael (not his real name) said a bad word and we shouldn't say bad words. He said, 'F**KING BUTT' and 'BUTT' is a BAD WORD!"

Yes, "butt" is a very bad word in our house. Ah, childhood innocence....

What'd he ever do to you?

This is how I found poor Rudolph in my dining room the other day.

Boys will be boys?

Oh, What a Beautiful Day!

To just hang out with Ashley and have some fun!

Look how high they are!

And loving every minute of it.

Gavin, dancing as usual.

Is it too much to ask to get both kids looking at the camera at the same time?

The Keegs Man

He's almost two and that little personality is starting to shine. These pictures need no descriptions. This pretty much sums up the life of the Keegs Man!

yellow belt!

Back in February, Logan earned his yellow belt. Clearly, this post is way overdue as he's about to test again on June 26th for his green tip. I can't say enough great things about Master Murphy and his program. As you might remember, I enrolled Logan into the TaeKwonDo program as kind of an add-on to my gym membership last fall. I had no idea whether he'd like it or not, but the price was more than right for these types of schools. The downside: lessons were from 8:30-9:30pm on Tuesday's and Thursday's. This little guy needs his sleep, and he's an early riser like his Papa, but he was dedicated enough to make it work. In April, Master Murphy achieved his dream of starting his own studio, and Dragon System was born. You can "like" them on Facebook and check out a bunch of pictures of my little rising star. He was the "profile pic" until just the other day. Master Murphy is the real deal. He was some kind of world champion back in his day and is also a retired teacher. His classes strike just the right amount of discipline and seriousness mixed with humor and fun. And he knows that every moment is a teaching opportunity in the eyes of a child.

Master Murphy

So proud!

He's ready to start!

Ok, so he didn't break a board for this picture, but he successfull snapped a similar board in two the week before on his very first try!!!! Jay broke his board and Master Murphy surprised him with a yellow belt as well on this same evening. Can you find him in the background? He's the proud Daddy!

Logan, Daddy, and Malik (a student at my school)