Karate Tournament

This afternoon was Hannah's Karate Tournament. Poor kid was so nervous and stressed out.

Yellow and Orange Belts warming up. First competition was forms. She competed against about twenty other 4-6 year old boys and girls. She got up there and did the steps perfectly. She could have put a little more "oompf" into her punches and blocks, but otherwise she did an awesome job. Apparently the instructor judging the competition was having a little difficulty in deciding winners, so he had four kids come back up and do their forms again. Hannah was one of those kids. She started off even better than before, but somewhere in the middle of her form, she got confused and messed up. She had no idea why she was having to do her form for a second time. She had no idea she was just a smidgen away from placing and doing the form for a second time was going to determine who placed. You could tell she was dissappointed, but she held it together well. Next competition was sparring. She did another great job, but unfortunately the girl she sparred against scored the third point before Hannah, therefore the other girl won.

She's the one in the yellow helmet.Hannah was presented her competition trophy and that was it, Hannah was done and we were able to leave. She had a rather large cheering section for her, and we all went to a early dinner at Hannah's place of choice...with the exception it wasn't McDonalds or Chuck E Cheese. She chose Applebees.

McDonalds for Lunch

Hannah has had another good week of mornings. I can't tell you what a relief it's been to not have such struggles every morning. So I am more than happy to reward her somehow at the end of the week for her good mornings. Today, she asked if I would bring her lunch from McDonalds. And that's what I did, as her reward for another week of good mornings.

I was waiting at the lunch tables with McDonalds and her face lit up and she skipped her way on over at the sight of me sitting there waiting with her Happy Meal. I wasn't sure how long she was going to want me to stay. But she wanted me to go out onto the playground with her for a bit, so I did. Hannah and her friends led me to the tetherball courts. Hannah was suprised when I told her I used to play tetherball in school. Just sitting on the bench watching the girls brought back many memories of running to get the tetherball courts at recess. LOL.

Practicing for the Tournament

Hannah's been practicing and working hard for the Karate Tournament on Saturday. Her form was practically perfect this evening!

California Adventure with Friends

We spent the ENTIRE day at California Adventure today with our friends and neighbors. With it officially being Spring Break season at the Disneyland Resort, and the 2Fer tickets approaching expiration date, the park was BUSY! But we managed to see and do alot!

Despite the drama they sometimes have as friends,
Hannah really will miss Emily when they move this summer. Knowing how to work the system with Fastpass, we got those for Soarin over California, as those go quickly. From there we headed back to the Paradise Pier to get on California Screamin, the big rollar coaster. The wait time was already over an hour, so we decided to try again later. From there we hit just about all the rides on the Pier. Hannah was brave and tried the Orange Stinger, the look on her face for the duration of the ride was priceless. While she wasn't exactly singing the ride's praises when she got off, she did ask if we could go on it again as we were leaving. So she must have enjoyed it some.

She's in the pink shirt.After a few other rides that the toddlers couldn't go on, we went on the Golden Zepher, a ride where there are no restrictions. Since our party was big, and odd numbered, it was uncertain if we'd all be able to ride together, so I opted out and was the official photographer. The older and braver ones in the group went to Tower of Terror, while Hannah accompanied me and Christy and the girls to Playhouse Disney. After that, we did some browsing through the stores. Hannah spotted a pair of pink and purple crocs and expressed her desire to get them. I told her maybe for her birthday, since it's in three weeks, that wasn't good enough, she wanted them today. So a deal was made...if she went on California Screamin, she could get her crocs! And she did it!!!

The fourth car back, Hannah is sitting next to Steven. I wasn't sure how she'd come off the ride. It's pretty intense, goes upside down, fast, etc. She wasn't crying, but she wasn't thrilled either. LOL. While the rest of our party headed down to Downtown Disney to put our name in for dinner, Hannah and I went and got her pink and purple Mickey Mouse crocs! She wore them the rest of the night! We went to dinner, and relaxed a bit and then headed back into the park. Hitting a few more rides and then sitting and enjoying the Electrical Parade, which is currently back for the Spring Break season. We had a great day. Made lots of new memories with friends who've never been to California Adventure, and as always, look forward to another day we can go back...especially now that Hannah perhaps will try new rides!!! LOL.

Mis Match Day

Today was Mis Match Day at school. can you tell??

Hannah's Fridge

Hannah's homework packet this week included a writing assignment in which she needed to write about a family pet, or someone in her family and then draw a picture. This is her writing assignment. "I am writing about my Gramma. Her name is Patty. She lives in ***** ****** with my Papa. She looks like the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She likes to quilt. During one of my breaks from school, my Gramma and I made a quilt. My Gramma had a dog. The dog was named Wendy. I love my Gramma."

Hannah
March 22, 2007

Sparring at Karate

Some pictures from tonights Karate class. This is the little boy who Hannah sparred against a couple weeks ago and knocked him on his butt. She likes sparring against him because he's aggressive. She fights back when someone comes after her, when she's paired up with someone passive and shy, she does the same, which makes for a boring sparring session.

Tired and worn out after their three sessions of sparring.

Hannah the ROCKSTAR

Today Hannah went to an American Idol Birthday Bash. The invitation suggested dressing up, so that's what she did! Thanks to the help of a friend who planned Hannah's outfit, here is Hannah, the Rockstar. This picture while she looks older with her hair up and bangs curled, under it all, I can still see the face of my baby. :)
The girls had a GREAT time. The birthday girl's mom had a girl from church who auditioned for American Idol, and made it to Hollywood week, come and sing for the girls. The girls who were familiar and watch American Idol were so much in awe of Eirika. Hannah and the Birthday Girl, Emma. They've been friends since birth.

Practically Perfect

Another week has come and gone. And I am so happy to share that Hannah had a really good week of mornings. It was a tough week for all of us with Daylight Time Saving and "spinging forward" an hour last weekend. It was dark when Hannah's alarm went off every morning at 6:25, none of us really wanted to get up and face the day, but Hannah did good. She eventually got up with minimal complaint and did the things she was suppose to. So as her reward for a good week, she chose a fountain Cherry Coke from the liquor store on the way home from school. Hey, whatever works! LOL.

Hannah's Guestbook

I've added a guestbook to Hannah's Happenings.

Hannah and I would love to know who's keeping up with her by signing Hannah's Guestbook.

Thank You!

Playing at Recess

Everyday Hannah comes home from school and tells us what they played during recess. Some of the kids in her class all take on a character and play together, this week it's been Fantastic Four and Peter Pan. LOL.

When we asked Hannah why it is that she always plays with the boys, she said cause all the girls want to do is sit on the benches and not want to play, and that's boring. Hannah said she'd rather play and that boys are more fun. LOL.

Don't Mess with Hannah

Hannah, in the last several weeks has improved so much in her sparring at Karate.

Two weeks ago, she totally knocked a Blue Belt boy onto his butt. LOL. Tonight she sparred against a another boy, a little bit bigger than her, and she did great! I think it suprises these boys that this tall, skinny girl can be so aggressive. Steven says it hurts the little boys egos to be beat up by a girl. LOL.

Tonight after one of her sparring sessions, the instructor called her over and asked her how she thought she did. She shyingly shurgged her shoulders. He told her that was the best sparring he'd ever seen her do, including her kicks and punches.

We'll be heading to the tournament coming up on the 31st of the month. It'll be interesting to see how she does there.

An Evening at California Adventure

We were suppose to be gone today to California Adventure with our friends and neighbors, but unfortunately one of the girls came down with a cold, so they opted not to go today. Hannah was pretty bummed because we'd been talking for the last two weeks what rides we'd go on, etc. She was really looking forward to going with her friend Emily. Today is the last Saturday we can go before being blocked out through the end of Summer, so we won't be able to go with them at all now.

Steven had a church project to work on, so the girls and I headed over to my parents house knowing that my Uncle was up doing working on a project. They knew we had had plans to be gone all day, but long story short, Uncle Bart was up for making an evening trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. So after his project was finished at my parents house, we headed to the Disneyland Resort.

We had a great time. Hannah loves hanging out with Uncle Bart and how goofy he can be with her. A perfect picture of her having an attitude. There are a few things at Disneyland and California Adventure that Hannah will not do, due to fear of the unknown, or something that used to be scarey. But until she tries things again, she won't know if she's still scared or not. The Muppets 3D show is one of those things. I can't tell you the last time we've been to see this show because Hannah was scared of the ending. We went and saw it tonight. She came out saying it "wasn't bad". But this picture is of her before the show and her "you're making do something I don't want to do" attitude. We had a great evening, and was really glad that Uncle Bart was spontaneous and had energy to go with us to California Adventure after having worked at Gramma and Papa's house most of the morning.

Planting Flowers

This morning, the girls and I went to Home Depot to get pots and flowers to put in front of each of our patio columns. Hannah was such a big helper, she lifted the big bags of potting soil all by herself onto the bottom of the cart. She also helped carry them from the van to the backyard once we got home. Both girls had fun using their little shovels to scoop potting soil into the pots. The pots and the flowers sure added something to the patio. I also bought Hannah a little watering can so that she can help out with watering the flowers which she enjoyed doing!

A Week of Perfect Mornings

Mornings around here can be pretty caotic. It's usually a struggle to get Hannah up and moving and ready for school. And it's a fight to get her to eat. Having been off for a whole month, and not forcing Hannah to get up or to eat, I was really dreading going back to school for the sole purpose of how bad our mornings usually are.

Suprisingly, on Tuesday, Hannah was up, dressed, bed made, hair done, and breakfast eaten by 7:15, all without a struggle. It was wonderful!! I made a deal with her that if our mornings could be that good for the next three mornings, I would take her to the Book Fair on Friday morning and she could get what she wanted.

I'm so happy to say, the rest of the week was just as perfect and I took Hannah to the Book Fair this morning and she got two books and a bookmark. I'm currently working on a deal with her for next week...five good mornings and I'd take her to Starbucks on the way home from school. The negotiations are still in the works on that one. LOL.

Now, I'm dreading the time change this weekend and how dark it will be when she needs to be getting up for school. :::Sigh:::

Back to School!

After four weeks of being off track, Hannah went back to school this morning. She had such a great morning. She woke up on her own, made her bed, was dressed, and completely ready for school by 7:00!!! She had such a great attitude and ate her breakfast without fighting, it was wonderful!

This is the long stretch...she'll go 12 weeks now without any days off or holidays (aside from the weekends of course) and that'll be it. She'll have her 1st grade year behind her, which is so hard to believe.

Some Pictures from Our Day

With only days left until Hannah goes back to school, a weekday trip to Disneyland was due. Hannah wanted to spend some time at the Princess Fantasy Faire where you can spend time with some of the Princesses, do crafts, learn how to be a Princess, etc.

Snow White has been Hannah's favorite Princess for years. I think most moms can relate most to Cinderella.Working on her crown. In addition to seeing the Princesses, we did some things we've not done for a while...
...explored the Sailing Ship Columbia...
...rode the Double Decker bus down Main Street,
where Hannah got to sit up front with the driver......ate lunch inside the Golden Horseshoe and watched some of the show, did some of our usual stuff,
and had a fun time.