HIYAH!!!

We are lucky to have good people surrounding us at every turn.  Church people, neighborhood people, work people, family people and... some you would never really think would be involved in raising my beautiful man.  This is my village.  All these wonderful people make up my "village".

 

Smeds have watched Aiden since he was a little mite and they have done karate at this nifty dojo for many years.  Aiden has been toted along and has watched 3 years of karate classes from the sidelines. 

 

The time has come to pass the torch.Friday, Aiden had his first ever official karate lesson.  His cousin, Kelle, is a world champ karate lady, so she was the first to put on his belt.  Ceremonial, if you ask me.

 

 

His teacher is one of his best friends and a man who treats him well. Sensai Josh.  Josh is so patient with little guys and really works well with them.  See?  Already he has Aiden holding still. 

 

 

And Josh taught him how to do his push ups really well.  Little man did pretty well for his first time. Except a few gaffs here and there (which, of course, we laughed quietly, but hysterically about...) but he already is doing great.  Can't wait.

 

 

 

Josh, Aiden, and Jeff.  Three best buddies. 

 

Fun Weekend Together... as a Family

Aiden is super interested in what makes a family right now.  So, we have had lots of discussions of different kinds of families and what our family looks like.  So, we had so many fun outings and we decided to go to the zoo while the fall weather holds out. 

 

We went on the carousel...

 

 

Took pics by the rhinos.

 

Scowled like a gorilla...

 

 

Saw the sea lions in their new habitat

 

Watched a tiger get pretty darn mad about something... (he was growling and roaring for about 30 minutes and pacing toward the crowd.  Fun for the kids, a bit scary for the rest of us...)

 

 

Had lunch at the best Chinese restaurant in Bountiful...

 

 

Loads of fun.  Later that day, we watched a movie and enjoyed the evening.  Sunday, we jumped through leaves in our church clothes. Pretty awesome.  This coming weekend, it will snow and I will be sad to see the fall come to an end, but winter and Christmas are right around the corner and it will fun as well.