Rudel Family: November 2009

Collin and the cat

We have a cat who has never been officially named. She has been called all sorts of names, though nothing has really stuck. She is usually just referred to as "the cat" and she doesn't seem to mind.

I think of her as Collin's cat because he is always trying to make her a bed out of a box or something up in his bunk and she loves to sleep with him, at least for the first part of the night. (The rest of the night she is sleeping on my feet!)

This picture we took one night as Jay and I were getting ready to go to bed. Our cat doesn't usually cuddle with anyone. She will sit on your lap occasionally and let you pet her but nothing much more than that. Here she was letting Collin cuddle with her under the blankets. She was sleeping too until I went back out for the camera and woke her up. We thought this was so cute!

Halloween 2009

This year we managed to get a jump on the costume buying and had the costumes purchased more than a month in advance. We usually wait until the week of and have to settle for whatever is left on the racks. But this year the kids got to be exactly what they wanted: Sydney was a "bride" and Collin was Darth Vader again-though in a new costume because the old one didn't fit anymore. Funny the things they wanted to be. Of course none of MY suggestions interested them.

I tried to get Sydney to tell everyone she was the "run-away bride" but she didn't like that. At least she wore the shoes I set out for her instead of the fake plastic dress-up ones she had planned on wearing.

Playing around.

Sydney as the bride of Darth Vader.

Ready with their bags to get as much candy as their little arms can carry.

Collin: Are you done taking pictures yet Mom!!!

Collin earns his purple belt

Collin tested for his purple belt back in Taekwondo in October. He also earned a trophy this time because he had all five of his stripes at the time of testing.

Last time he tested, we didn't know he had to have all his stripes to receive the trophy and he ended up being one short of getting it. Now we know better. The stripes he earns are based on reaching his character development goals (i.e. reading and completing book reports, treating self and family with respect, etc.) so we love that he has to work towards these goals. He was so proud to finally get the trophy this time!

I got to help hold the board this time. Breaking the board is such a small part of the whole testing thing. But to the kids, it is definitely the best part!