Yellow Belts and High-Low Competition

Nathan and Sarah earned their yellow belts in karate (before Christmas, and I'm barely writting about it).  They practiced so hard for their test, and did great.  I had been nervous, because I thought they would be devastated not to pass, after putting in that much effort.  To my relief, they passed, as did everyone in the class.  (what was I worried about?!  of course they want all their students to continue).
At the karate party, where they were awarded their belts, they had a high-low competition.  A high-low is one of the exercises they do at the beginning of class.  From a crouching position, they do a frog jump straight up, pulling their legs up, and then land back in a squat.  The kids were excited to participate, and see how many they could do.  Their Sifu (karate instructor) announced that the winner would receive a lucky cat figurine.  Whatever- Nathan was really excited at that prospect.  Rob said there were some green-belt students back by the refreshments table, watching the competition.  They were commenting to each other, "Why are they doing this?!  Don't they know that it's pure torture?" 
Here they are at the beginning of the competition.  My kids are the ones in jeans at the front.

They had a great time!  Nathan said, "Wow, we might get all the way to 50!"  They did, and just kept going.  The students were out of the competition if they sat down, or weren't getting their feet up.  I finally pulled Sarah out when her feet were barely making it off the ground.  The kids that got out got a sucker, so it was all good.  Every once in a while, the Sifu would have them pause while they pulled kids out an gave them a sucker.  Those still in the competition had to stay squatting, and not straighten their legs or stretch. 

It was so hard, but Nathan kept going.  The competition started with about 40 kids, and Nathan made it to the final 4.  He did 136 high-lows!!!  He was awesome!  When he finally could do no more, he sat down, then came hobbling over to me with tears running down his cheeks.  I asked if he was crying because he was in so much pain, or because he didn't win the lucky cat.  He said it was because he didn't win the lucky cat.  The Sifu came over to him and said that anyone that could do 136 high-lows deserved something special, and gave him a Chinese coin necklace.  I told him it was a lucky coin, and he was pleased with that.

I couldn't hold back the tears myself.  He had literally given it everything he had.  I was so proud!  I really didn't know he had it in him to put out that kind of effort.  I know he's got somewhat of a competitive spirit, but I hadn't expected this.  When we joined Rob and the other kids, who were with the spectators, Rob's chin was quiverring and tears were coming from his eyes too.  He was so choked up that he could barely get the words out saying how proud he was...  Maybe it sounds silly now, but it was a really emotional experience for us!  Other parents were choked up too.  Nathan was so cute about it.  His legs were so sore he had a hard time getting down the stairs.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do 136 high-lows, and especially not walk afterward!  The winner, a red-belt girl with springs for legs, did 176 high-lows, and looked like she could keep going and going. 

We told Nathan several times what a good job he had done, and how proud we were of him.  Later on in the day, as the two of us were going to the store, Nathan asked, "Mom, I don't get it.  Why would someone be proud of how may high-lows a person could do?"  I told him that it wasn't the number of high-lows he did that made us proud.  We were proud because he had given it all he had.  I told him that I knew he wasn't just uncomfortable doing the jumps, but that he was in a lot of pain... yet he kept going until he absolutely couldn't do any more.  We would be proud of him in anything that he did where he gave that kind of effort.  What a kid!!!

Sarah also participated in the iron cross competition.  She was so cute and giggly.

The kids love going to karate.  They got to try out sparring.  Doesn't Sarah look like such a fierce warrior (one with a helmet that's way too big!)?! 

She thought the gloves would make it easier to do her knuckle push-ups.

Nathan loved sparring...

and is actually quite good at it.

Sarah and her sparring partner just giggled and giggled while throwing silly little punches.

I love my kids, and I'm so proud of them.  Karate's been fun for our family because none of us have had any experience with it before.  Rob and I feel like we are learning cool stuff too.  Who knows how long they'll choose to stay with it, but it's taught them some great things: respect, hard work, balance, protection, self confidence, discipline, as well as physical strentgh and stamina.

Abby's Scoot

I love to watch the different ways babies develop into their preferred mode of transit.  Nathan hated being on his stomach as a baby, so he never could get into crawling position.  He was a butt-scooter, but bounced really high like Tigger.  He made people laugh everywhere he went.  He ended up bouncing onto his hands and knees, and learned how to crawl a little bit that way, before learning to walk at 10 1/2 months.  Sarah was a lightning fast crawler.  She loved to explore.  She started walking at 10 months.  Matthew began pulling up to furniture and walls at 7 months.  He walked/ran along the walls, and crawled when there wasn't anything to hold on to.  He started walking/ running on his own at 9 1/2 months and hasn't slowed down since.
Abby started scooting a few months ago.  On carpet, she now crawls, but on wood and tile floors she does this super speedy scoot/slide.  Check her out.  She makes me smile all the time.

What's great about her scoot, is she can hold something in one hand while she's going.

You're Too Young to Make This Much Trouble

Abby is 9 months old already, and I think I can officially call her a rascal.  She is so curious and adventurous.  Sometimes I have to search around a bit to find where she's gone off to.  Quite often I find her under the table or chairs, behind the couch, or in the bathroom.  If the water is running in the bathtub, she makes a bee-line for the tub.  Just this morning, she was standing up to the tub trying to reach the toys in the water while Matt and Sarah were bathing.  She actually did a little jump and dove head-first over the side and into the tub of water.  Luckily I was right there to pull her out.  That left my heart pounding and my head shaking.  Oh that girl!  I know this is just a small taste of what is to come.
Just follow the path of destruction and you'll find Abby.  She finds and empties my diaper bag at least twice a day.

She loves to help with dishes.

Another favorite pasttime is emptying the wipes container.

She found the newspapers I had just pulled out to take to the recycling bin.

...And my personal favorite: tasting the potting soil in my house plants.

I need to come up with a better solution for the plants, because I don't know how many times I've seen this face.  Honestly, how can you be mad at that?!

Really, I 'm just happy to have her happy and active again.  She spent the entire month of January sick.  She and Matthew picked up  nasty colds over New Years, with a terrible cough and snot every where.  After three weeks, she seemed like she was getting a bit better when she got pink-eye.  Later that week I took her to the doctor with an ear infection.  As she got over that, finally she starting acting like her old self.  I had forgotten what a happy, content baby she is.  We are so happy to see those dimples again- even if it means more messes to clean up.  Hooray for being healthy!  WAIT... WHAT?!  Check out the rash that appeared on Sunday.

I worried it was a reaction  to the amoxicilian she was on for the ear infection, though she was on day 9 of taking it.  I emailed pictures to my Mom, and she thinks it looks like fifths disease, a virus that just has to run its course.  You can see, however, that she's plenty happy even with  the rash.  Thankfully, the rash cleared up the next day.   Now if the nasty (two blow-outs a day) amoxicilian induced diapers would just clear up, we'd be great. 

Family Pictures

Must catch up...must catch up...

Shortly after Christmas, we got together with Rob's family to take a family picture.  Everyone was there, except my nephew Jayson- serving a mission in Canada, and bro-in-law Walt- who had to work. This is a very rare picture, because we aren't all together very often.  We were so glad Rob's dad had the strength to be with us!

Here's our happy little family

...and a not-so-happy Sarah.  Boy can she be stubborn!

Clint and Jerany.

I love Sarah's Christmas dress.  What I love best about it is: I got it for $4.60 clearanced at Kohls last summer!  How I love a good deal.

Christmas 2009

I'm only a few weeks behind, right?!  So here are lots a pictures, and not too many words.

We had a great Christmas.  Nathan woke up really early, and was sent back to bed until a more reasonable hour.  I love the awe and wonder of the kids as they see the tree Christmas morning.  It's magical.  After reading Luke 2, we let the chaos begin.  We went easy on Christmas this year, but it still seems like there was a ton under the tree. 

Matthew was so excited about this Mack truck.  He LOVES Cars.  Boy does Santa know what this kid would like or what?

It looks like Abby was thinking, "Aw, not more clothes!"  What can I say, that's all she needed-and I'm all about getting them things they need for Christmas.

This may be my favorite picture from all of Christmas.  I love this little girl!  See those cute little teeth?  They are really sharp!

Nathan was happy about this deka Bakugan.  I don't get the whole thing about Bakugans really (maybe because we don't have cable and haven't seen the show) but Nathan thinks they are way cool.

Yeah for basketball shoes, especially with the basketball season starting up soon.

Did Santa get this Ute stuff for Rob, or did he just buy it for himself?!

After Nathan opened up this Ute stuff, he asked why only Dad's name was on the gift tag, and not mine.  Duh!  Silly question son.  He knows I would never take part in buying anything Ute.  I would have bought them some great BYU gear, had they not become such traitors.

My parents sent us all some awesome sea shells and shell decorations from Guam.  Here's Terri with hers.

My parents also sent us each a book about sea shells.  We've had a great time identifying all great shells they sent.

We've had a lot of fun, hand-slapping games of Slamwich.

Nathan got a new bat and batting gloves.

The only things Sarah wanted were:

a magnet princess paper doll book.  (Thank goodness Santa was able to find it!)...

A snow globe...

and a piggy bank (which are not easy to find, btw).

Nathan can hear the ocean in his sea shell.

Matthew is so fast on his new scooter.

Rob and I got to open all the "gifts" that Nathan and Sarah wrapped up for us.  Here, Rob is loving his(broken) bead necklace and Halloween candy from Sarah.

I can't believe I'm showing a picture of the chaos.  It took a long time for us to recover.

Nathan and Terri had a great DodgeTag battle.  But watch out... those velcro targets really grab hair, and don't let go!

Sarah made this (ok, she painted it) for Nathan to hang in his room,  He thought it was pretty cool.

Rob and Nathan had their 1st annual Christmas Day baseball game and frisbee toss in the back yard.  It was all fine and good until Nathan got a frozen frisbee to the nose.  I wonder if that's what broke the frisbee.

Christmas night, Jim, Lynette and family came for pie.  Here's Jim with Matthew and Adam.  They are such cute pals.

Lynette and Erin.  Lynette told me not long ago, that a lot of people tell her that Erin looks like me.  What do you think?  I think she looks a lot like her mom.

Erin had a great time running the trains with Rob.  It was really cute how into it she was.  They played for quite a while.

Should I hide the Ute stuff?  When my kids wear it, I feel like I have to put on my BYU gear to counter-balance it.

Toothless Ryan playing DodgeTag.

Matt and Abby with their Christmas toys.  See... Abby did get toys- from Grandma!

Who doesn't love curling up in a chair with the Cat in the Hat?