Going for a Ride

After all the horrible weather on Saturday, Sunday morning was beautiful, so Chase and Cole decided to go for a little spin on the John Deere.

Chase's Art Show

Chase's art school had an art show on Saturday. Chase got the "hardest worker" award; here he is getting his medal:

Here he is posing next to a portrait he did of Cole:

Here are Chase and Cole posing with the alligator sculpture Chase made in front of Chase's fish picture.

Cole in front of his portrait, wondering why Chase drew him with Uncle Jason's lips:

And Chase posing with his medal:

Success!

Well, the boys caught a bird in the trap.
We found the trap on the ground one morning, with birds swarming all around it. The boys rushed outside in their pajamas to check it out and, sure enough, there was a big black bird in there, flapping its wings and trying to figure out how to get out of there. I let the boys pose for a few pictures with their captive, then we released him.
Here's the bird in the trap:

And the boys posing with them (yes, Chase sleeps in a halloween costume). If you're wondering, Cole is learning to pull his own pants up, so that's why they look like that. And yes, he only has one shoe on. He was so excited he just couldn't be bothered to put them both on.

Chase's Higher-Tech Bird Trap

Last year I posted about a bird trap Chase built in the backyard. It was a propped up box with a string attached, and he hid nearby waiting for a bird to enter his trap.
This weekend, he got a little more high-tech in his endeavors. He and Papa built a new bird trap, and Chase couldn't be prouder. He tells anyone who'll listen how he drilled the holes and hammered the nails in all by himself. Papa made the trigger, but Chase is an expert at getting the pieces to fit together just right to prop the trap up. While we were still in Natchitoches, he caught a squirrel twice, but the squirrel found a way out before he could get to him both times. We haven't caught anything at home yet, even with half a loaf of bread and quite a bit of birdseed in the trap. He and Cole are having a great time sitting in their fort watching and waiting, though.

Sparring

Chase in his sparring gear.

Chase convinced Cole to hold the target pad for him while he practiced his kicks. I think Cole should have been wearing the gear instead of Chase, but they were having so much fun I didn't stop him.

Cole just couldn't hold onto the target pad after Chase kicked it (look up by the windows). They thought this was hilarious and kept doing it over and over.

A "Cup Half Full" Kind of Kid

Now that Chase is a green belt, he gets to start sparring (actually hitting other people). He is, of course, THRILLED.
In order to do this, we learned he has to have a $190 set of sparring gear. GREAT. I grudgingly brought him to the TaeKwonDo place to get fitted and pay for his gear. As they pulled everything out of the bag for him to try on, the teenager who was helping him was explaining what everything was for. Finally, I glance up from writing my check as he pulls out the last piece of gear -- a cup. Uh oh. The teenager says something like "OK, and you know what this one's for, right?" and starts to put it back in the bag. Chase says no. Teenager says, "It's a cup." Chase gives him a blank stare. Teenager looks at me for help. I look at my checkbook --for $190, they can explain it. Teenager says, "When you get home, tell your dad you have a cup and you need him to show you what it's for." Way to pass the buck.
Just because I was waiting anxiously for him to spring this on Charles, he waited a while when we got home. Finally, Chase was showing us all of his gear, and he asked Charles what the cup was for. Charles told him that he wore it over his underwear in case someone kicked him. Chase thought about it for a minute, and you could see the lightbulb go off in his head. "Oh," he said, "I get it. It's so if someone kicks me there they won't hurt their foot!" We managed not to laugh in front of him. He's definitely a "cup half full" kind of kid.

Chase gets a Green Belt

Chase tested for his green belt last week and his belt ceremony was tonight. He is still really enjoying TKD and is very excited that as a green belt, he gets to start sparring. I'm considering enrolling Cole in the witness protection program, but I have a sneaking suspicion he can hold his own.

Getting his belt:

Chase with Antoinette (middle) and Kaylee (left):
Chase and Antoinette after the belt ceremony:

Cole wondering how he can get his hands on some of that candy: