This afternoon, we went to a Hawaiian Luau party in honor of my uncle turning 50. For anyone who knows me and knows how I love to plan parties and totally theme them with all the matching accessories, etc, this party was done 1st class! I enjoyed it all the work that went into it! As did my girls, who were spoiled by all of the goodies that Great Aunt Judy had for them.
We arrived at Karate this evening to discover there would be testing for the next belt level.
After warming the kids up, and practicing with them a bit, the instructor sent all the parents out of the room out into the hall so the kids could test without the pressure of their parents sitting there. It didn't keep us from watching through the windows though and wondering how our kids did.
After all the kids were tested, the parents were allowed back into the room. The instructor told us this was probably the best class he's ever worked with and despite the need for some perfection, all the kids had all the basics down and everyone received their yellow belt!!!! And because Hannah went to the Tournament yesterday she'll get a stripe on her belt showing an extra degree. We are so proud of Hannah!
Next week, there will be a belt ceremony were the kids will get their new belt, a certificate, and a trophy. And then will perform for the parents, grandparents, and who ever else comes to watch.
McKenzie and Haylee came to spend the weekend with us so their Mommy and Daddy could go away. Hannah could hardly contain herself with excitement on Friday morning before heading off to school. For she knew, when school got out, who'd be there at the gates waiting for her.
Our weekend was full of fun. Friday they just played together and enjoyed being with each other. Saturday we met Uncle Bart and Peggy at Disneyland. Yes, you read that right, we took four girls to Disneyland. It went well, we had four adults to four children, so it wasn't bad. It really was a fun day, and the girls had a blast together. And today we had Hannah's Karate Tournament. After that, the girls came home to play together some more before our weekend came to end when Uncle Robbie and Auntie came to claim their girlies.
Of course, Hannah is already asking "when can we do that again?" The girls were great and we enjoyed having them, but I sure have a greater respect for mothers of more than two children! Four is a lot to keep your eyes on when you're not used to it!!
Today was the day!
Hannah has been nervous off and on all week leading up to today, but when it came down to competing and performing her forms, still being nervous, she did an awesome job!!
While she didn't place in trophies, every kid who competed walked away a winner with a participation trophy. A trophy in which she is extremely proud of this evening!
This was Hannah's first ever individual competition and boy did she have a cheering section - her parents, both sets of grandparents, two cousins, and Rachel! We're all so very proud of her for going and competing!
Today is Labor Day, a holiday pretty much observed by most everyone. We had forgotten to ask last week if there would be Karate tonight, but on an off chance there would be Karate, we went ahead and went. We figured worst case scenario was we'd show up and no one would be there, so we'd come home. No big deal.
So we arrived at Karate, to find no one there. We waited for a few minutes and then the instructor showed. Hannah ended up having the entire 45 minute class one on one with the instructor as no one else showed up! It was an awesome session of Karate. He worked with her on her kicks, forms, and her 8-step.
There is a Karate Tournament coming up this weekend and the instructor really feels Hannah could place if she competed. He said she was doing an excellent job. So we're going to the Tournament and Hannah has agreed to compete! She's pumped now, knowing she'll get a trophy just for participation.
One of Hannah's top front teeth has been loose for the past couple of weeks, getting looser and looser the last couple of days. This afternoon she sat and played with it for a while...until it finally came out! 
It's amazing how different loosing one of your top teeth can make you look. Hannah looks so different with that tooth gone. It's an obvious reminder that she's getting bigger and growing older! 
