Karate Pictures – Spring, 2010

Posted March 25th, 2010 by Mom | Comments (1)

The boys received their white belts with black stripe on February 27. They had to take a test showing the various kicks, punches, and blocks that they have learned. They also had to perform their kata (series of movements) with their testing group and individually with no assistance.

The belt that they are working towards now is yellow.

The boys have been in the “newbie” class, but are about to be moved up to the next class. The newbie class is getting a lot of younger children and Mr. Keith said that he is wanting to teach C, J and a few others some more advanced techniques but can’t as the newer students need to learn the basics. So… we are advancing to the yellow belt class a little early. I think it will be good for C as he practices often his moves. For J, I’m not so sure. He is still learning to sit still and doesn’t seem as interested in learning karate – though he tells me that he wants to do it. Maybe he will surprise me. I just need to remember that J IS two years younger than C, even if they ARE the same size…

J does often surprise me – he learns his moves quickly and correctly even when I don’t think he is paying attention. I think all will be good in the end. Mr. Keith says it will be good so I’m trusting him.

I’m so proud of what they have done so far!

Here are their spring pictures…

J – Reading

Posted March 8th, 2010 by Mom | Comments (0)

J has been reading for awhile now. However, he just remembered the deal that we had with C. With C, to motivate him to reading more, we told him that he could have a toy if he read “Hop on Pop” to us. C had been dying to have a Transformer Death Star toy. I fortunately found it on eBay for half the price (around $25 at the time) of what it was selling for at the store. So I had this Transformer put in the top of our closet for about a month before C finished “Hop on Pop.”

J on Saturday came to B and said, “Do you remember what you told C if he read “Hop on Pop” to you or mom?” B replied in the affirmative that he remembered. B then made the same deal with J, “If you read “Hop on Pop” to me or mom, you can have a $25 toy. In fact, if you read that book, I will take you myself to Target, Walmart or Toys R US.”

B of course thought he could still have a lazy Saturday as he expected J would take a couple of weeks to read the book. Nope, it took all of about 7 minutes for J to read “Hop on Pop.”

So B found himself putting on his tennis shoes and taking J to Toys R Us.

J picked out a truck and trailer. Way to go, J! (For tricking your dad, that is… When we got to church yesterday my mom reminded B that J had already read “Hop on Pop” in preschool last year when she homeschooled him. Also, J has read smaller books to me already. So, technically this isn’t J’s first book to read, but it is certainly the longest book he has read TWICE.)

You can’t tell it in this picture, but J is wearing his brother’s Halloween costume, a Darth Vader costume. Cute, Darth Vader wrapped in a heart blanket (that he received for Valentine’s Day). Can’t believe a scene like this didn’t make it into the movies!