Hello?

Anyone out there? Am I talking to myself?

Honeydew Popsicle

I received a Zoku popsicle maker for my birthday this year and so far, we've had some interestingly flavored popsicles: strawberry/pineapple, blueberry, blackberry/pineapple and regular strawberry. I bought a honeydew at Publix last week and it was tasty, but a bit overripe and squishy. Solution: make popsicles, of course!

The recipe was simple enough, but the popsicles are very decadent. Who would have thought something as simple as a honeydew melon would make such a rich popsicle? Eating an entire popsicle is really difficult and, when he couldn't finish his, Mason offered it to Callie.

I would have never thought a dog would enjoy a honeydew anything, let alone a popsicle. She finished Mason's and, for the sake of documentation, we pulled another out of the freezer just for her.

She was extremely suspicious about the camera, so Brian (her true love) had to hold the popsicle for her in order for me to photograph. It was pure amusement for all of us.

She watched me the entire time she licked...

and she ate the whole thing! Wow, her tongue is long!

And In the Beginning...

Over the last 8 months, our family has had an educational epiphany. The epiphany is this: Some children don't learn well in a public school system-type environment, and Mason is one of those children. He began going to a homeschool co-op in January of this year and has really blossomed academically, emotionally and spiritually.

We are fortunate to have found an environment in which Mason can learn what 2nd graders should be learning (and then some) as well as receive spiritual guidance through weekly Bible lessons. This week, he learned about the beginning. A good place to start, right?


And, of course, on the 7th day God rested. No need to illustrate God lounging on the couch that day, I suppose.

Summer's Ending Soon...

Where has the summer gone? Didn't school JUST let out? Brian heads to Kansas next weekend for his cousin Charles' wedding. Mason and I head to Panama City for a Labor Day taekwondo tournament and then, it's back to the regular grind. Stay tuned...more end-of-the-summer photos to come.

ATA Intra-School Tournament

The ATA intra-school tournament was this past Saturday and students from all over the Atlanta area came with their game-faces on to compete in forms, sparring and weapons. As always, Mason was prepared and knew, and performed, his 44-move form spectacularly. His score 7-7-8.

I posted this photo, not to show off mason's stance or concentration, because the "oh crap" face on the kid watching is priceless.

After every student went through their forms, there was a 3-way tie in scoring. Just when I thought I couldn't be MORE nervous! All three students had another chance to show their stuff. Mason wowed the judges (and me) with a different form the second time. Man, that kid has a good memory!

Sparring is not Mason's forte, but he did very well in his first, and only round. It's hard for mama bear not to come out when someone is kicking Mason in the head, but that's what sparring is all about. The final score was 4-5, so he held his own until the very end. Well done, indeed!

After all the excitement, nervousness and judging was over, Mason took 1st in forms overall and didn't place in sparring. A good day!

The smile on his face is enough to make any mother proud – win OR lose. The bonus to those trophies is that they are bendable and posable. Fun!