Kicking a little Trash!

Lately I have just been dropping the kids off for Karate, then racing home to work on dinner, before going back to pick them up.  This week, I finally planned ahead enough (cock pot dinner that didn't require rice!) and I hung out while the girls did their thing.  It was a sparring day, so it was extra fun.  The kids got to put on their sparring gear and brawl.  

Callie is in the black gear.  She is a cautious fighter.  Some of the kids go out pretty aggressive (Ah-hem, Marian!), but Callie hangs back and waits. 

She watches and has some pretty good blocks. 

 And sometimes she really does get in a punch or kick.  Sadly, I never seem to push the camera button at the right time to get the good shots.

Yep, that is Marian in the blue.  She goes out in a flurry of kicks and punches.  All movement, not much form. 

Her technique works well on the less aggressive kids because they can be intimidated by her no-holds-barred method.  The kids who have been doing this longer stay calm and kick back.  Like this kid here.  I think she scored more touch points and beat Marian.  Marian does not like sparring with the higher ranking belts because they win.  Heh heh heh.

This weekend, there was a little tournament at the Karate place.  Marian did not want to participate.  Joshua was mildly interested till he realized it might infringe on his fun.  So only Callie signed up to do it.  Dan took her in at 9am, and I swapped him out just before 10:30.  Callie had already done her sparring competing and had won.  Dan said there was only one other kid in her age division, so Callie beat her and won the first place trophy and the other girl got second.  Score!

I got to watch Callie do the sword fighting portion. Chumbara (That's what Callie calls it, but I don't know if it is spelled right), uses these foam swords.  There is nothing more fun than watching kids bash each other with them in a controlled environment!  Super fun!  Callie beat this kid.  Callie is the one on the right, with the blue tipped weapon.

 Then Callie beat this kid too!  It was single elimination and there were 10 kids in her category.  Only one other girl, the rest were boys. And Callie kicked some trash! She looks so cute and little and passive, and the kids would come swinging, and she'd step back and then deliver a blow that counted.

A 2 second video of Callie getting clobbered.  If you watch it carefully, you see that the kid bashes her pretty good, but Callie sneaks in a shot that counts a split second before.  It is a pretty accurate depiction of her fighting style.  She rocks!

Callie fought in 4 rounds and won them all.  So she won the Chumbara portion in her age group as well!  Here she is with her 2 trophies.  I was incredibly impressed (and a bit shocked) at how well she did.  Watch out world! 

And Rylee wanted a picture in here too.  Here she is, torturing the poor dog and asking for a picture with him.  Love my kids!

Base 5K Race

Saturday was the Base 5K.  Dan and I ran it last year and it was a very small affair.  It was also very very cold.  This year was a little different!  There were probably twice as many runners, and it was hot and humid for the run.  Bleh.  I think there were 30 runners and it was 70 degrees when we started off at 9am.  Well, 9:15.

We're Off!  This is the start.  Again, low key, small race.  This is all the people in it.  I'm in the center, in one of the teal shirts.  My running group got matching "Stroller Warrior" shirts and I wore mine.

 Dan was awesome and trotted over to a point 2/3 of the way through the race to take pictures.  Here I am.  I'm running with my friend and she made me run faster than I usually do!

I thought it wouldn't be that much harder to step it up, but I was wrong!  I can go forever at an 11 minute mile and I can feel pretty good at a 10 minute mile, but she had me at 9! It did not feel good at all.

Yeah, we're cool.  We hammed it up for Dan.  I'm gasping for air but you can't tell.   I was so done in that I couldn't even make a glorious sprint to the end.  I was only able to lengthen my stride.  She whupped me big time on the finish.   But I don't care.  My time was 27:17.  And I will confess, it was only a 3 mile run.  The Garmin put it at 3 on the dot.  No .2 in there at all.  Still don't care.  27:17 is still a PR for me at 3 miles!  So I was happy, but pooped.

This was the best shot ever.  This family started out running together- 1 kid running, and 2 in the stroller.  This is how the Dad finished- 2 kids in the stroller, 1 on his shoulders.  He was still jogging along.  I was immensely impressed!

Silly Socks are Funny.

Today in church, Rylee was disgruntled with her sister.  So she hucked her binky across the aisle.  Yeah, she still has a binkey and yeah, I let her have it in church because it keeps her quieter.  (Not quiet, just quietER!)

Rylee thought I should go and get her binkey from across the aisle and 2 rows up.  I sent Callie to do it and this made Rylee very angry.  She threw the binky again and scowled at me.  I, of course, laughed at her.  Callie giggled and said, "That's funny!"   Rylee glowered at me and growled,  "That's not funny!  Silly Socks are funny!"

Why I love my dog

Sometimes Levi is a naughty dog.   Earlier this week, he managed to get up high enough on the table to lick the butter dish clean. He will snag plates left unattended as well.  Sometimes he gets into the trash. Sometimes he shreds napkins or chews stuff he shouldn't, and sometimes he is a little rough with the kids.  However, he lets Rylee sit on his head and pull his legs.  He lets Callie "wheelbarrow" him and manhandle him around. He is always happy to wrestle and play with Marian. So he is a very good dog too.

Here, we have Rylee riding Levi like a pony.  Callie is dragging him around by the blanket. 

He is a good dog and I love that my kids have a friend.

Lost

The Christmas Season is upon us and I LOVE Christmas.  For me it has always represented family togetherness and that special feeling where all is right with the world.  And, of course, my mom always baked a lot and there was usually a ton of chocolatey goodness involved.  I love baking and I especially love Christmas baking.  Toffee, caramel, oh yes!

But I cannot seem to get myself in gear.  I feel like I can't quite seem to get things together.  I know I have made good stuff in the past and I was doing well with making gingerbread houses till someone stomped on my Christmas cheer a few years ago. But this year I can't seem to do anything right.  (Case and point, was last nights dinner rolls debacle.)

Sure, I have some marvelously grandiose plans, but I am exceedingly lacking in the execution department.  How is this happening?!  Who is sucking away my motivation and organizational skills?  I need them back!  If you happen to find some spare work ethic floating around, please send it my way.

thank you