Rachel is talking more and more. She tries to repeat what we say but it still comes out a little jumbled. I just love catching this cuteness on video because before you know it she will be pronoucing her words correctly and this stage will be gone forever.
My Karate Kid
Nicholas has been taking karate lessons at Karate for Life since the beginning of the year. He is in the Little Dragons program for ages 4-6. I love that even though this is a young age group, they are still taught by adult black belt instructors. I also like that parents are encouraged to stay and watch the classes. Even Rachel enjoys watching big brother out on the mat.
In Little Dragons, young children not only learn some basic karate moves such as punching and kicking but in doing so they also learn to improve their coordination, balance, and overall control of their bodies. Hmm, perhaps this is good for a little boy who can fall out of his chair at dinner more than once in a sitting! The classes are high energy and fun which is just perfect for any active 6 year old boy. But interwoven in the classes are also lessons to instill respectful behavior such as good manners, making eye contact, how to shake hands, and how to give a polite greeting. Classes are structured to reward positive actions, with an emphasis on teaching the importance of focus, listening skills, and self control. All good things!
Nicholas started with a solid white belt. As he learned new skills, he received a colored stripe to put around the ends of his white belt. This picture was taken the day he received his second to last stripe on his white belt. He is always so proud to get a new stripe for a new skill learned.
A few weeks ago, Nicholas completed a level in his white belt training and had to test for his next belt level, white with yellow stripe.
Students line up at the edge of the mat to bow before stepping on the mat.
Instructors and students line up to say a short set of statements together before each session.
Here are some highlights from the belt test...
When the students had completed their belt test, the instructor had them pat themselves on the back. Notice our ambidextrous little guy is the only one patting himself with his LEFT hand!
The new belts were lined up in front of the kneeling students. Then they leaned over to touch their forehead to the belt as the instructor said, "May the first sweat on your new belt be the sweat used to earn the belt."
Master Haddock ties Nicholas' new belt on him.
Congratulations, Nicholas!
Daddy got a big hug from the Karate Kid!
Congratulations, Little Dragons!
Karate for Life is located at 2608 Long Prairie Rd, #201 in Flower Mound. They teach American Karate and they have classes for children as well as adults. To find out more about their classes, please check out their website at www.karateforlife.com or give them a call at (972)899-0202. Tell them Nicholas sent you!
In Little Dragons, young children not only learn some basic karate moves such as punching and kicking but in doing so they also learn to improve their coordination, balance, and overall control of their bodies. Hmm, perhaps this is good for a little boy who can fall out of his chair at dinner more than once in a sitting! The classes are high energy and fun which is just perfect for any active 6 year old boy. But interwoven in the classes are also lessons to instill respectful behavior such as good manners, making eye contact, how to shake hands, and how to give a polite greeting. Classes are structured to reward positive actions, with an emphasis on teaching the importance of focus, listening skills, and self control. All good things!
Nicholas started with a solid white belt. As he learned new skills, he received a colored stripe to put around the ends of his white belt. This picture was taken the day he received his second to last stripe on his white belt. He is always so proud to get a new stripe for a new skill learned.
A few weeks ago, Nicholas completed a level in his white belt training and had to test for his next belt level, white with yellow stripe.
Students line up at the edge of the mat to bow before stepping on the mat.
Instructors and students line up to say a short set of statements together before each session.
"I will start each day with a positive attitude.
I will always show respect to others.
I will use common sense before self-defense."
Here are some highlights from the belt test...
When the students had completed their belt test, the instructor had them pat themselves on the back. Notice our ambidextrous little guy is the only one patting himself with his LEFT hand!
The new belts were lined up in front of the kneeling students. Then they leaned over to touch their forehead to the belt as the instructor said, "May the first sweat on your new belt be the sweat used to earn the belt."
Master Haddock ties Nicholas' new belt on him.
Congratulations, Nicholas!
Daddy got a big hug from the Karate Kid!
Congratulations, Little Dragons!
Karate for Life is located at 2608 Long Prairie Rd, #201 in Flower Mound. They teach American Karate and they have classes for children as well as adults. To find out more about their classes, please check out their website at www.karateforlife.com or give them a call at (972)899-0202. Tell them Nicholas sent you!
Pond Life at Bob Jones Nature Center
Nicholas had another Adventure Club class at the Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake. We got there a little early so we could look around.
Mommy loved the flowers...
Nicholas loved the black widow...
Yes, that's a REAL black widow in a web inside a old piece of log. This isn't a caged exhibit but outside in the open. It made Mommy a little anxious but the spider stayed in the same spot the whole time we were there (I kept an eye on her!)
We looked at some toads and turtles inside. Odd that the harmless toads and turtles are in aquariums and can't get you but the deadly black widow is free to do as she pleases. Mommy is still a little bothered by this, as you can tell.
Today's class was all about Pond Life. The instructor had a child pool that had been sitting outside for a while to try to develop an ecosystem similar to a pond. I thought it was a pretty neat way to create your own "pond" for research purposes. There were lots of little water beetles and other things swimming around.
The kids talked about what you can find in a pond and Nicholas made a frog picture frame. Then the group headed down to the pond to see what they could catch. I didn't go with them but I loved seeing how happy Nicholas was as they were walking back to the nature center.
Nicholas and I both love this place so we hung around inside and looked at a few more exhibits before we left.
Giant wasp (maybe hornet?) nest...
A cool box turtle shell...
Looking at bugs through a magnifing lens...
Mommy loved the flowers...
Nicholas loved the black widow...
Yes, that's a REAL black widow in a web inside a old piece of log. This isn't a caged exhibit but outside in the open. It made Mommy a little anxious but the spider stayed in the same spot the whole time we were there (I kept an eye on her!)
We looked at some toads and turtles inside. Odd that the harmless toads and turtles are in aquariums and can't get you but the deadly black widow is free to do as she pleases. Mommy is still a little bothered by this, as you can tell.
Today's class was all about Pond Life. The instructor had a child pool that had been sitting outside for a while to try to develop an ecosystem similar to a pond. I thought it was a pretty neat way to create your own "pond" for research purposes. There were lots of little water beetles and other things swimming around.
The kids talked about what you can find in a pond and Nicholas made a frog picture frame. Then the group headed down to the pond to see what they could catch. I didn't go with them but I loved seeing how happy Nicholas was as they were walking back to the nature center.
Nicholas and I both love this place so we hung around inside and looked at a few more exhibits before we left.
Giant wasp (maybe hornet?) nest...
A cool box turtle shell...
Looking at bugs through a magnifing lens...
Rachel's First Car Wash
I usually let Nicholas help me as we wash the car in the driveway. However, recently we have just been too busy to take time to do it ourselves so we ran through an automated car wash at the gas station. We didn't think anything of it but Rachel had never been through a car wash so she got really scared with all of the activity going on around her. I felt so bad for her but by the end of it she was much calmer and able to comment about how loud it was.
Spidey Scooter
A few years ago, Santa brought Nicholas a Spiderman scooter. It has been well used but Nicholas has gotten too big to be able to ride on it. So for his birthday, he got a new Razor Scooter which he absolutely loves. He usually tries to hang on to old toys even after he has outgrown them but he told me I could get rid of his Spidey scooter on Freecycle because some other little boy would love to have it. I love that he appreciates giving things away on Freecycle so that they can be reused by others instead of just thrown out.
I got the Spidey scooter out and cleaned it up before posting it on Freecycle. But just before I got rid of it, Rachel discovered it and picked it up like she knew what she was doing. Next thing I know, she was "riding" it around the house like a pro. Now keep in mind that her idea of riding it was to straddle it with both feet and just push it around as she walked.
She did start getting bolder and tried to put her foot on up the scooter at which time she promptly fell over with the scooter on top of her. As cute as she was walking around with the scooter, I had to get rid of it because I didn't want her to get hurt with it. She tries to do everything that she sees big brother do and she gets frustrated when she physically can't keep up with him. Just be patient, little one. Before you know it, you'll be scootering, and biking, and climbing everything just like Nicholas.
I got the Spidey scooter out and cleaned it up before posting it on Freecycle. But just before I got rid of it, Rachel discovered it and picked it up like she knew what she was doing. Next thing I know, she was "riding" it around the house like a pro. Now keep in mind that her idea of riding it was to straddle it with both feet and just push it around as she walked.
She did start getting bolder and tried to put her foot on up the scooter at which time she promptly fell over with the scooter on top of her. As cute as she was walking around with the scooter, I had to get rid of it because I didn't want her to get hurt with it. She tries to do everything that she sees big brother do and she gets frustrated when she physically can't keep up with him. Just be patient, little one. Before you know it, you'll be scootering, and biking, and climbing everything just like Nicholas.
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