Sunday, May 18, 2014

He won a sword. An actual sword.

Last summer, we started J in a mixed martial arts class.  We did it for discipline.  We did it for exercise.  We did it for strength training.

What we didn't know at the time was J would take to it much like a duck to water (so to speak).  He loves it.  And he's good at it.  So when he was invited to train at a Combat Athlete level, and J wanted to do it... So of course, Mr. M & I agreed.  He has worked so hard, between going to school full days, plus before & after school most days - then training for an hour 3 nights a week.  On top of that, he likes to work out at home. 
Our always lean boy, as become very strong. 

All that hard work paid off in full on May 3rd.

J was invited by his coach to compete at the North American Grappling Association NAGA competition on May 3rd.

At his coach's recommendation, we signed him up for both informal no-GI and formal GI competitions.
 





And a medal.

And a patch.

Needless to say, he's pretty proud.

The whole Extreme Martial Arts team did awesome. 



I am honored to have been there to support him & his fellow teammates that day.

Mommy love!!!!

ps - you can find J on page 3 pic 19 & page 7 pic 23 for the formal Championship pictures. 

Friday, May 16, 2014

where to start?

Bud... I am sooooo sorry... This past year I have sucked (truly sucked) at keeping this up to date.  I'd like to excuse it as this reason or that, but at the end of the day, the truth is - I've completely stopped posting here.  I'm shocked when I looked at the stats, that someone still stops by here...

For you though, my precious son, I need to get back to documenting...

So I guess I will start where I left off in August.

Kindergarten.  Oh boy have you loved this school year.  You have grown so much.  I love my little reader, and I love how much you love school.  Math comes naturally to you, but spelling takes some work.  You get mad at me when I give you memorization tips that you are not learning the words, but I'll be darned if you tell me how you aced your test because you recalled my little memorization learning tip.

You have gotten into science, really learning about recycling and how important it is to the Earth.  Your Spanish teacher asks me where you learned to speak like a Native.  Of course, I have to defer all props back to her, as I cannot speak a lick of foreign language.  You were even given the lead in a lunchtime performance for your class demonstrating your Spanish speaking skills.  I'm so looking forward to the video at the end of the year, so I can see it. 

This has been a cool year with you.  In some ways you've grown past the innocence and moved into a mature little fixer.  In other ways, you are just a sweet-hearted little boy who likes to snuggle both his parents knowing he is safe & loved in that cocoon. 

Sports this year... Oye - that I will save for another catch-up post.  Along with Halloween, tooth fairy visits, and the like...

Love you Bud!