The Fishpond: September 2015

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Black Belt!

When Jolly J was 8 she came to me and said she wanted to take karate. Her aunt had a studio in her basement and her kids were taking karate. Pretty sure it was her cousins that planted the idea and Jolly J started karate just because they were doing it and it sounded fun.

First Tournament

Soon karate became Jolly J's passion and she made it a goal that she wanted every belt. She worked her way through the junior dragon program earning every striped belt, including a black striped belt. She then started progressing through the ranks of the solid belt colors. Her bedroom walls are covered with trophies she has won at tournaments. She often receives comments on how high she can kick.

There were days Jolly J just didn't want to go to karate. All she needed was permission to quit and then she reminder herself this is what she wanted. She had set a goal to earn the black belt. It was enough motivation to make it through the grueling routine of running, sit-ups, push-ups, strikes, blocks, forms, kumite (sparring), breaking boards and weapons. Jolly J's weapon of choice was the nunchakus and she had to come up with her own routine using these. Along with all of this was the expectation to have good grades.

Last summer, the task of essay writing was added in order to complete the black belt application. This was pretty difficult for Jolly J. There were times we wondered if this was going to be the one thing that prevented her from making her goal. Jolly J was a trooper and preserved, turning in all the paper work just in the nick of time.

At last the day of the black belt test arrived. This was a 5 hour test where she ran 5 miles. She then did 100 sit-ups and 100 push-ups. It was then an exhibition of strikes, kicks, blocks and forms.

This was then followed by weapons and kumite. Man can she swing those nunchakus

She then finished the test by breaking 11 single and 1 double boards in whatever manner she choose. She started this out by doing her first one blind folded.

At last she was finally able to hear you have earned a 1st degree black belt in shin-toshi karate. Not only that but she also simultaneously earned a black in taekwondo.

Couldn't wipe that smile off her face for nothing

Wonderful to share this day with her

Says her name

Cousin who tested for 2nd degree black belt with Jolly J

Sensei and Aunt. Pretty special combination

I should write that down

"Shut up and listen to what I meant", Minnie
I asked Princess if we should go watch Minnie unwrap her presents. After hearing presents,Princess said, "Ho, Ho, Ho"
While traveling home from Kindergarten Bud Boy told his dad, "School gives you something to do while you wait for lunch."
Tator commented, "I thought dad was weed hacking and you were going to mow." Mom replied, "He is probably just getting the lawn mower ready." Tator then replied, "or he's scaring a cat."
Important decisions need prayer!! Heavenly Father can answer our prayers with a Yes, No, or Maybe So. "When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence. When He answers no, it is to prevent error. When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act." Elder Richard G. Scott
Our home teachers shared a lesson on being thankful. After the lesson he said this is important, even for the wee ones. Bud Boy pipes up, "I love the Wii!"
Bud Boy is showing mom how Tator just hurt his arm. After showing her all the ways he can no longer move it he then says, "and this is the arm that does the remote."
We overheard Bud Boy trying to sing the lyrics to Check Yes or No by George Strait. "Do you Love me? Try guessing No"
Bud was asked to pick the song for FHE. He said I want to sing, "Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet, Don't go straight....."
"Mom, we're on the free way. That means you can go whatever speed you want. It doesn't matter. What matters is that you keep driving" Bud Boy
"I've seen Avengers 20 times. Wait a minute. Am I just making things up? I do that sometimes." Bud Boy
Bud Boy said to his sister, "You're a toilet". She said, "that is so rude". He then said, "Okay you're a couch"
When Bud Boy heard the song Call Me Maybe on the radio he yelled, "it's the song where she says Just give me a banana ; call me, maybe."
Bud Boy was listening to music on the ipod, "Mom it's the song where the guy plays the piano and the other one plays the Jell-O!"
After watching the Olympics, we overheard Tator saying( while playing with Barbies): "And she sticks the landing; no wobbly bobblies."
After going under his bed, in an attempt to retrive some toys, Bud Boy said, "I have a slight problem. I can't breathe under there."
Bud Boy said, "This is the bread I want, it's wheed bread."
While going through the clean laundry on the couch Jolly J exclaimed, "Quit sitting on the laundry! Now my clothes smell like butt."
Tator asked, "Dad what time does bedtime even start?" Dad replies 8 o'clock. Tator then says, "that's why we go to bed at 8."
Jolly J said to her sister, while counting up her game score, "You made me count to neven and I don't even know what letter that is."
I overheard Tator singing, "Adam was a prophet. First one that we know. He was called to Egypt."
Karebear was showing us that the outside lining of her lunchbox had a hole in it. Teasingly Dad said. "What, you expect us to buy you a new lunch box every year?" Bud Boy piped up, "You can just use a paper sack."
The song, Live Like You Were Dying, was on the radio. After hearing the line, "I loved deeper", Tator asks, "Why does he love big bird?"
Grandpa F often gives the girls money after attending a game they have played in. We went bowling as an extended family. After Bud Boy finished bowling he went up to Grandpa, held out his hand and said, "I had a game."
Karebear stated that "Dad was using his frustrated words" while working on the car.
Bud Boy asked mom to look in his eye because it was hurting. While inspecting he looked at mom's eyes and said, "Mom your eyes are starting to crack."
While driving Jolly J asks, "What does prindel mean?" We figured out she was looking at the gear shift (PRND3L).
Tator sits down with her plate of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a roll at Sunday dinner. " Mom, this is like food from the olden days!"
Bud Boy is 22 your favorite number? "Yeah, it's a high number"
Hearing my son call out, "Amer-i-caw flag" every time he sees the flag.
Bud Boy claiming, "It is tomorrow" whenever we talk about doing something tomorrow.
After watching the news Tator asked, "Do we get tormadeos?"
While licking the beater Tator said, "Mom, Santa must really like you" Why? "Because you make good recipes!"
Bud Boy gets in the van and states, "Hot! I can't breed"
After hearing someone burb Bud Boy said, "Ha, Ha I do that too!"
Tator asked, "Mom, how long have you been married? " After answering she then asked, "How long has daddy been married?"
"I'm going to make my bed. That's a great idea and great ideas give you power!" Bud Boy
When we ask Bud Boy something and he doesn't know he says, as he shakes his head, "I can't know."
"We don't discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves." Dieter F. Uchtdorf
After putting on his tie Bud Boy exclaimed, "I look like daddy's age!"
Bud Boy's current favorite song is Tinkle, Tinkle little star. Up b b b the world so high.
Tator comes into the room where Bud Boy is attempting to stand on his head. "Bud Boy I can see your butt crack. Mom, What's a butt crack?"
As we pull out of the garage to take the girls to school, Bud Boy states, "Good-bye house, we'll see you soon."
After watching her dad dance Minnie asks, "Is that a dance from the 80's?"