Another Tournament

Not karate this weekend though. We fished! Two Days! We haven't done that in a while and boy is my arm tired. You can read about those two tournaments here and here. All you Mattie May and karate fans, don't worry! She has another tournament this weekend in Austin. And don't forget to mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday April 15 and 16. That's is the tournament in Abilene - Tumbleweed Karate Championship. She will be doing some breaking at this tournament! Let me know if you want to come watch! God Bless!

Big "D" Nationals - Addison 03.19.11

It was another fast but fun weekend! We left Friday night as soon as we could headed to Addison. As we left town, we passed a stand on the road that was selling bonsai trees and Mattie May asked Grumpy if she could have one. She told him they had been there all week and Lolo wouldn't buy one. He told her if she won a trophy that he would buy one for her.

We grabbed something to eat in Weatherford and got back on the road as soon as we could. Mattie May needed to get in bed even though she didn't have to be at her tournament as early as last week. She loves staying in the H Hotel but this time she didn't know she did until the next morning. She fell asleep in the car and never woke up as we moved her to the room.

Up bright and early to get breakfast and to the gym. The tournament was held at Greenhill School in Addison The facilities were fantastic. And what a crowd. But thank goodness we didn't have to rush. We decided last week that Mattie May didn't need to be entered in the demos so all she had to do was her kata and sparring.

After the opening ceremonies and rules meeting, a traditional lion dance was done. It was great! We were on the front row so we could see very well. And as they came around to the crowd, well, you can see how close we were.

We had her practice her kata several times before they called her division and she did very good. So when we called her name we thought she would do fine. She had a little trouble with the floor. There were no mats, and her feet wouldn't slide. But then she did something she has never done. SHE FORGOT HER KATA!! When she was finished we asked her what happened because she knows her kata very well. She told us she didn't do hers, she did Rayven's! Oh my, what a little stinker! We had a little discussion about that right then and there and that should never happen again!

She had about an hour and a half before sparring and we did everything we could to get her to rest. But that just wasn't going to happen. We did manage to get a corn dog down her before it was time. I know, real healthy diet!

There were 16 kids in her division again and I think three girls. She did very well the first two rounds, but by the third she was telling us she didn't want to spar anymore. Yikes! She made it through the third round OK. She took the lead but then let him catch her, but she managed to move ahead of him and take that round too.

She really did not want to spar the last round and we kept telling her it was the last round of the day and if she would just get out there she could do anything she wanted when she was through. She still didn't want to go but she did, crying all the way. I was having flashbacks of soccer where she would just stand there and cry! She didn't just stand, she kicked and threw punches crying the entire time! She lost by two but won second place! We were so excited and it took a bit for it to sink in that she had won!

5 & Under Boys & Girls Sparring - Beginners

Second Place

When she headed up to get her trophy, the tears were gone and she had completely forgotten about being hungry. She grabbed her trophy and headed straight to Grumpy. What do you think was the first thing she said to him? "Grumpy! Do I get my bonsai tree now?!" I sure hope they are on the corner this afternoon!

Don't forget to mark you calendars for the Tumbleweed Karate Championship April 15 & 16. It's going to be a blast! Breaking on Friday night, kata and sparring on Saturday. Let me know if you interested in getting tickets early!!!



God Bless!

Texas State Championships - San Antonio

Before I get started, I want everyone to mark their calendars for April 15 - 16. That is when we are having our tournament in Abilene. I will definitely post more details as it gets closer, I just don't want you to plan something else.

Last Saturday, Mattie May attended her second karate tournament. She missed the last one because of the flu, so she was ready for this one. Of course, we got to stay in the H Hotel on Friday night and she always loves that!

We had to be there by 7:30 for her demo. When we got there we noticed how few cars there were in the parking lot. When we got inside we could see why. She was the only one there that was not from the host dojo! She was easy to spot! Every where she went, she was in black surrounded by red, blue and white. But as you can see from this picture, it didn't seem to bother her.

Happy as a lark and ready to go. From this picture it looks like she was the only girl, but there were several others, she just ended up surrounded by boys.

They gave her #1, which of course meant she would go first.

Again, didn't phase her. She did great, just fast as usual. I've been working on using my manual settings. I need some more practice! Most of my pictures turned out a tad blurry, but I'm using them anyway.

Everyone that participates in demo gets a trophy and medal. She displays hers proudly.

She has been working on sparring a lot. She didn't do well at her first tournament because she wouldn't block. Shehan has been working with her on following through after she throws a kick and blocking her opponents strike. Grumpy took the opportunity between demo and forms to work with her a bit. Protect your head!!!

She was so happy when Rayven finally got there. Here they are waiting their turn at forms.

I would love to know what this conversation is about!

She did slow down a bit from her demo to forms but she still needs more work. I also changed some settings on my camera and got a few better pictures.

She had a pretty long break between forms and sparring. Even though she was getting tired, we could not get her to lay down and rest. She was sitting in my lap at one point with all her gear on and was just about asleep. Thank goodness Autumn stepped in! She had her doing some exercises and got her good and awake.

There were only two girls in her division, so naturally they both had to face a boy for their first round. This little boys mom was not sitting far from me, and when he got up to fight, I could here her encouraging him. She said something close to "Oh look! You got a girl! You can win this EASY!"

REALLY?! I guess we'll have to wait and see. She got in some great kicks but as you can see in this picture, she is still dropping her hands.

And in this one too.

But all was good. She won 7 - 4! You go GIRL!! Maybe other mom will choose her words a bit more carefully next time!

Next round was not so good. She was ahead 4 - 0 when this little boy took advantage of her not protecting herself and not following through. He won 7-4. But she is definitely still learning and we can see improvement in her all the time. Her first tournament, she lost in the first round. Her second, she lost in the second round. Maybe we have a pattern forming here and she will make it all the way through soon!

Next weekend, Addison! It's going to be another fun weekend!

It Is Passing Way Too Fast!

This week has just disappeared! I can't believe it and it seems I have accomplished nothing. One thing that has taken some hours away from my days is my bed time. I have been very good about going to bed at a decent hour this week. I have not had an easier time waking in the morning for the simple fact that I have never been, nor will I ever be, a morning person. But I can say I have had great days and have not felt tired.

Mattie May has been spending a little extra time at karate preparing for a tournament this weekend. I know she will do well. We want he to get all the experience that she can but continue to enjoy it at the same time.

She practiced sparring last night. I love watching her spar. She is getting better if we can just get her to keep her eye on her opponent! She cracks me up!

I also practiced last night. I have had my camera for 5 years now and have never worked with the manual settings. I decided last night was the night to try. I got some pretty good shots. I will leave you with my favorite. It is straight out of the camera, absolutely no editing. I love her expression. Let me know what you think.

God Bless!

February First

This was a slow month but went by way to fast. If the year doesn't slow down, Christmas will be here before you know it!

February 1st we woke up to one of the worst ice/snow storms we've seen in this area. Mattie May had her first snow day. Actually, it was a snow week. They called off school from Feb. 1 thru Feb. 4. Abilene ISD has a policy of not announcing a snow day until the morning of school, but for the last two days of the week they announced them the night before. That is how bad is was around here. I was sick for most of it and spent my time trying to get well. On Wednesday, Frank was even told to stay home from work. He was still on call, but didn't have to get out in it.

Our church had Daddy/Daughter Date Night on February 18. Of course Frank took her and you can read about that here.

Frank also had a first this month. On the 19th he went on a hunt for axis deer. He came home with a nice doe that filled our freezer and that is always nice.

The end of February brought more sickness to our house. Mattie May had a fever of 103.3 Wednesday night Feb. 23. This was just the start of her first bought of the flu. Yuk! She made it through and will tell you the worst part of it all was the nasty medicine she had to take. But because she took it, she got a bow and arrow set and a new movie. Yes, sometimes you just have to use a bribe!

God Bless!

January First

January was full of fun!

New Year's day Mattie May's first for the day was her first plane ride. Oh the fun! A few nerve's and a lot of excitement starting at 4:30 in the morning! We rode a shuttle from our hotel to DFW airport where we boarded the plane to Florida.

That was her second first for the day, going to Walt Disney World. Of course you can read about all that in my previous post starting with this one. I don't want to bore you any longer about that trip, but it has to be included in her first.

When we got back home, she got her first puppy. She had asked Santa for a puppy for Christmas and he delivered, sort of. Because of our trip, Santa didn't think it would be right to deliver a puppy only to have to find someone to care for it just a week later while we were gone to Florida. So he left her all she needed to care for a puppy and a letter in her stocking explaining that one of his elves in Abilene would be keeping it until we got home. And he delivered! We got Tramp on Sunday after our trip.

We ended January on a sad note. Mattie May attended her first visitation and funeral. My great aunt, Fonda Day, went on to her eternal life January 25. Mattie May did very good at both. You never know how children will react in situations like this. She even gave Granny a final good bye kiss and told her she would see her again some day. I just love that kid!

So on to February.

God Bless!