Pirates

Jacob loves pirates. Don't know what it is about these "bad guys" that's appealing to boys, but it is what it is. He got a new Playmobil set and he's nuts over it.

Way to go, Jacob!

After two and a half weeks of taking Tae Kwon Do, Jacob earned his White Belt this evening. We are so proud of him. He got A's on all aspects of his examination, and is now ready to move up into the other classes. Tae Kwon Do is the first sport he has been involved in, and he's been so good about maintaining his excitement and enthusiasm for it. He hasn't complained once about it, even though he's been doing it three times a week. That's quite a bit for a four-year old. Did I already tell you we're so proud of him? We really are!

After Jacob's class, we let him choose his restaurant for dinner. He chose the Teariffic Tea Room, one of our family's new favorites. It's a new place in town and the woman who runs it is from Hong Kong. She has treated us so well since we got to know her. Last week, the week of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, she introduced us to some tasty treats called Zong Zi, made of sticky rice wrapped in corn leaves. Inside the rice were peanuts, and all was boiled and steamed to a sticky, sweet perfection. Her mother made them and the kids and I just loved them. She taught us to cut them into pieces and dip them in sugar. Heavenly. And today, in celebration of Jacob getting his white belt, she brought us some little pastries made with red bean paste, my absolute favorite flavor in the whole world. If you've never had a Chinese treat with red bean paste, you don't know what you're missing.

So our family has had great joy today in rejoicing in Jacob's accomplishment, and it's just one of many days that will be a wonderful family memory. Thanks be to God for each member of our family, and the individual gifts with which He blesses each of us. May our children use their gifts for His glory.

Thankful Thursday

And we're ready for summer! School is out, Jacob has finished his first year of preschool, and we're done with all the pomp and circumstance. Hurray! Today was such a busy day because we had to get ready for school, get Jacob to his pre-commencement practice, go to the ceremony, eat lunch and then scramble to get Merrilee to gymnastics. And it was accomplished with no short tempers or loss of self control on anyone's part. I am so relieved and very thankful.

Jacob and the other kids did a great job singing their songs and standing in line to receive their diplomas. His teacher even gave each kid a bucket of goodies to take home: candy, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk. It was really nice of her...she's a very thoughful teacher. I hope he gets her next year, because she really is good for him. Lots of patience and praise.

Merrilee enjoyed her first gymnastics class and was so excited to tell me all about it after it was over, even though I stood and watched for the entire hour. She was especially excited that she learned new stuff already. I hope she finds it satisfying enough to stick with it.

Here are a few photos of Jacob's past year in preschool. Just looking through the CD of photos the teacher gave us, it makes my head spin that preschool could be so full of activity. I could never be a preschool teacher!