Coloring Easter Eggs

This evening after dinner we colored Easter eggs. Because it's been a tradition the last couple of years, Hannah invited Emily over to join us. This was also Rachel's first year of being allowed in the same room as the coloring dye, and as far as Rachel goes, it went really well. With Hannah on the other hand...um, she somehow managed to tip over the cup of the bright blue egg dye (I even added vinegar to make the dye extra bright) and it went all over the tile counter top, and onto the floor...the carpeted floor! You should have seen how fast I moved to get my handy dandy bottle of Folex. I went to town on that spill and suprisingly...I think it all came up. It helps that it's just below the barstools at the counter and there were already major spill stains from eating at the bar, but at least the blue dye came up.

See that really dark blue egg in her carton??
That's the color of dye that spilled.
The finished products!

Karate Belt Test

As always, the class following a tournament weekend means a belt test! Once again, the parents were all kicked out of the room by the instructor and the kids were given their belt test. We could see Hannah through the windows and she did a great job! She had now earned her purple belt.

For the longest time, Hannah said she was going to quit Karate once she got her purple belt because purple is her favorite color. She changed her mind on that one. But the last couple of weeks, Hannah has been saying she's done, just because she's done. Truth be told, she doesn't like to practice and the friend next door often makes Hannah doubt her abilities.

She has to make a final decision this next week, whether she's going to continue on, or whether she's done and ready to try something new. At any rate, she'll be awarded her purple belt at next Monday's class when they have their belt ceremony.

Celebrating Uncle Bart's Birthday

Uncle Bart's request for celebrating his birthday this year was for the family to get together for the Character Breakfast at Disneyland and then spend the day together at the Happiest Place on Earth. Gramma and Papa, who's annual passes expired a year ago, and haven't been in a while were able to come today thanks to some passes Uncle Bart picked up on the military base. We had a great breakfast at the Plaza Inn and were greeted by quite a few characters. As often as we go to Disneyland, we've never done this character breakfast, so it was something new to us as a family. Both the girls loved it and enjoyed seeing the characters come to our table.

Having worked up enough courage to ask
Captain Hook for his autograph, she then stood for a picture. Following breakfast, we headed into Tomorrowland, doing some of the rides there. As we were heading out of Tomorrowland the back way, I noticed a member of the Dream Squad walking right towards me and Rachel, looking directly at us. Knowing it was still early in the day, I was hoping he was going to offer me the night's stay in the Mickey Mouse Suite at the Disneyland Hotel. LOL. No such luck this time. He first asked if we'd been on Space Mountain, and then he realized that Rachel was too small for Space Mountain. I think he was going to give us some FastPasses to get on the ride, but seeing how Rachel was too small for the ride, he then turned his attention to Hannah who had now joined me and Rachel. He acknowledged her birthday button (we got her and Uncle Bart one since her birthday is next week). He asked if she collected pins, and she does. He then presented her with a special package of two pins. He explained that one pin was hers to keep, but the other was for her to spread the magic and give away to someone today.

Mommy was very impressed that Daddy had the camera ready to capture this moment. I think he was hoping the Dream Squad was going to come through with something bigger for us. LOL. Hannah found a little girl later in the day to give the other pin to. Turns out, it was the little girls first time to Disneyland and she liked Tinkerbell! Our afternoon was filled with more rides and a stop to enjoy the shade and a corn dog. If you've never had a corn dog at Disneyland, you've got to try it at least once! They're huge and good! Hannah enjoyed hers! Daddy had left mid afternoon to head home to serve in his ministry at the evening church service. The girls and I stayed into the evening and hitched a ride home with Gramma and Papa. We finished out our day by watching the parade and hitting a few more rides. We grabbed dinner and then it was time to use our Fastpasses for Space Mountain. Hannah willingly went on the ride, but had second thoughts once we were five feet from boarding, and again once we were seated. She chose to sit next to Uncle Bart and she held on to him for dear life. I'm not sure she'll be going on that ride again anytime soon. LOL. The weather, while a little warm for Anaheim, was beautiful. It was crowded, as there are a couple more weeks of the Spring Break season left. But all in all, we had a great day and a lot of fun.

Karate Tournament

This afternoon was Hannah's Karate Tournament. Poor kid was so nervous and stressed out.

Yellow and Orange Belts warming up. First competition was forms. She competed against about twenty other 4-6 year old boys and girls. She got up there and did the steps perfectly. She could have put a little more "oompf" into her punches and blocks, but otherwise she did an awesome job. Apparently the instructor judging the competition was having a little difficulty in deciding winners, so he had four kids come back up and do their forms again. Hannah was one of those kids. She started off even better than before, but somewhere in the middle of her form, she got confused and messed up. She had no idea why she was having to do her form for a second time. She had no idea she was just a smidgen away from placing and doing the form for a second time was going to determine who placed. You could tell she was dissappointed, but she held it together well. Next competition was sparring. She did another great job, but unfortunately the girl she sparred against scored the third point before Hannah, therefore the other girl won.

She's the one in the yellow helmet.Hannah was presented her competition trophy and that was it, Hannah was done and we were able to leave. She had a rather large cheering section for her, and we all went to a early dinner at Hannah's place of choice...with the exception it wasn't McDonalds or Chuck E Cheese. She chose Applebees.

McDonalds for Lunch

Hannah has had another good week of mornings. I can't tell you what a relief it's been to not have such struggles every morning. So I am more than happy to reward her somehow at the end of the week for her good mornings. Today, she asked if I would bring her lunch from McDonalds. And that's what I did, as her reward for another week of good mornings.

I was waiting at the lunch tables with McDonalds and her face lit up and she skipped her way on over at the sight of me sitting there waiting with her Happy Meal. I wasn't sure how long she was going to want me to stay. But she wanted me to go out onto the playground with her for a bit, so I did. Hannah and her friends led me to the tetherball courts. Hannah was suprised when I told her I used to play tetherball in school. Just sitting on the bench watching the girls brought back many memories of running to get the tetherball courts at recess. LOL.

Practicing for the Tournament

Hannah's been practicing and working hard for the Karate Tournament on Saturday. Her form was practically perfect this evening!