Yet another round of belt testing.
Bennett's Board Breaking.
Bennett's Listening Skills. Bennett had to learn 5 listening skills. Unfortunately due to the fact that a) his back was facing me b) I am sitting on the floor and c) Mia is jabbering away, he is difficult to hear. This does not make an ideal video taping session. So this is what he is actually saying.
1) Look at the person talking.
2) Don't interrupt the person talking.
3) Ask questions pertaining to what is being said.
4) Give appropriate responses, such as "I see," "Yes," "Uh huh."
5) Repeat in your own words what you believe was said.
Now if he would only follow these listening skills.
Taylor's Board Breaking. A jumping horse kick.
Taeguk Chil Jang - For each belt test Taylor has to learn a new form. This is his red belt form (English way of saying it). When he tests he not only has to do this form but some, most, or all of the previous forms he has learned. It all depends on the mood of Master Augustine. This time around he had to do 7 of the 8 forms that he has learned. He also had to do his board breaking, a series of attack and defense moves,sparring and a kicking combination (25 kicks in 12 seconds).
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Favorites of 2007
I am finally getting around to putting together a list of my favorite things that happened in 2007. So in no particular order, here it goes!
Switzerland & Italy
Now I will be the first to admit, I am not one that can claim “world traveler” status. But in my limited travels, I was so incredibly impressed with our trip to Italy and Switzerland in the spring. The word that comes to mind when I look back is stunning. I have never seen such picture perfect views. And when you add wonderful cheese, bread, chocolate, cows with bells and chalets tucked into the mountainside, a very good trip is made.
The Swiss Alps - My favorite part of the trip
Everywhere you looked there were tiny chalets high on the mountainside. We kept trying to figure out how anyone got up to them?
The Grand Canal - Venice, Italy
All you can eat chocolate at the Nestle Factory!
Asolo, Italy
Did the pizza taste as good as it looks? Yep.
My favorite picture of the trip. Scott has a special dislike for pigeons. They are plentiful in Italy and one was kind enough to give him a souvenir.
My First Garden
This year was the first time I have been able to try my hand at gardening. Our old home in Eagle Mountain had no yard, so when we moved to Saratoga Springs, I was itching to grow some veggies. As soon as March rolled around I was setting up my square foot garden. Scott made the frames and I bought the “special” dirt and planned out what I was going to grow where. It was definitely a learning experience. I had great success with some veggies and not so much success with others. There is nothing that tastes as good as a homegrown tomato and nothing that smells so good as fresh dill. So I will take what I have learned and work on it again this spring. I will get loads of fresh peas this time around!
Camping
Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a camping girl. However, I do enjoy being in the mountains, watching the boys load the creek full of rocks and eating huge amounts of junk food. Bacon, cheetos and hot chocolate top my list. This year we had mixed success with camping. One time, we had to cut it short because after 7 episodes of throwing up within 24 hours, (2 were from our dog in our van) we decided we were done being tortured. Our favorite spot remains Tinney Flats up Santaquin Canyon. This summer we were visited by deer in our campsite numerous times. With three boys, I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be camping a lot, so I might as well find some enjoyment out of it right? Perhaps I need to talk Scott into purchasing a camper!
Owen pointing to the deer next to our campsite.
Being a Mom
Every parent knows that kids are excellent at bringing out the entire range of emotions in their parents. My boys are no exception. But for all the frustrations, messes, crying and chaos I am so grateful to be able to stay at home and raise these boys. I never knew how much I could love and be so protective of my kids!
Beijing, China
Anyone who knows me, also knows I love to shop. And shopping without my kids is a rare thing these days. So a shopping trip to China with my good friend, Kari, would definitely make my 2007 list. Although there were some funny quirks I had a great time. I loved The Great Wall, Hutong Tour, Summer Palace and Forbidden City and of course the shopping!
Switzerland & Italy
Now I will be the first to admit, I am not one that can claim “world traveler” status. But in my limited travels, I was so incredibly impressed with our trip to Italy and Switzerland in the spring. The word that comes to mind when I look back is stunning. I have never seen such picture perfect views. And when you add wonderful cheese, bread, chocolate, cows with bells and chalets tucked into the mountainside, a very good trip is made.
The Swiss Alps - My favorite part of the trip
Everywhere you looked there were tiny chalets high on the mountainside. We kept trying to figure out how anyone got up to them?
The Grand Canal - Venice, Italy
All you can eat chocolate at the Nestle Factory!
Asolo, Italy
Did the pizza taste as good as it looks? Yep.
My favorite picture of the trip. Scott has a special dislike for pigeons. They are plentiful in Italy and one was kind enough to give him a souvenir.
My First Garden
This year was the first time I have been able to try my hand at gardening. Our old home in Eagle Mountain had no yard, so when we moved to Saratoga Springs, I was itching to grow some veggies. As soon as March rolled around I was setting up my square foot garden. Scott made the frames and I bought the “special” dirt and planned out what I was going to grow where. It was definitely a learning experience. I had great success with some veggies and not so much success with others. There is nothing that tastes as good as a homegrown tomato and nothing that smells so good as fresh dill. So I will take what I have learned and work on it again this spring. I will get loads of fresh peas this time around!
Camping
Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a camping girl. However, I do enjoy being in the mountains, watching the boys load the creek full of rocks and eating huge amounts of junk food. Bacon, cheetos and hot chocolate top my list. This year we had mixed success with camping. One time, we had to cut it short because after 7 episodes of throwing up within 24 hours, (2 were from our dog in our van) we decided we were done being tortured. Our favorite spot remains Tinney Flats up Santaquin Canyon. This summer we were visited by deer in our campsite numerous times. With three boys, I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be camping a lot, so I might as well find some enjoyment out of it right? Perhaps I need to talk Scott into purchasing a camper!
Owen pointing to the deer next to our campsite.
Being a Mom
Every parent knows that kids are excellent at bringing out the entire range of emotions in their parents. My boys are no exception. But for all the frustrations, messes, crying and chaos I am so grateful to be able to stay at home and raise these boys. I never knew how much I could love and be so protective of my kids!
Beijing, China
Anyone who knows me, also knows I love to shop. And shopping without my kids is a rare thing these days. So a shopping trip to China with my good friend, Kari, would definitely make my 2007 list. Although there were some funny quirks I had a great time. I loved The Great Wall, Hutong Tour, Summer Palace and Forbidden City and of course the shopping!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Ready to Read!
To put it simply I've done good. I haven't picked up a book in over a month. That doesn't mean I haven't been looking for my next one though. A few weeks ago I was trolling around Amazon looking for something good to read and I remembered hearing about these books.
Most of you don't know, but for the past couple of years I have kept a little sketch book by my bed that I pick up every once in awhile to sketch out house plans and write little notes about what I would want in a perfect house. Who knows if that perfect house will ever be built, but one can dream right?
Moving into this house a year ago has given me even more insights into what would be a house just right for me and my family. This house has plenty of space, but to me it doesn't feel cozy. I know that probably seems silly to some, but I have added that, as well as efficient, to my list of what a perfect house would feel like. I am gravitating toward a smaller house with just enough space.
I have been anxiously awaiting these books and I am so excited to read them. However, I have promised myself I will not crack them open until tonight when I will not be interrupted by anyone under the age of 7. Don't the covers just look cozy? This will take all of my will power.
Most of you don't know, but for the past couple of years I have kept a little sketch book by my bed that I pick up every once in awhile to sketch out house plans and write little notes about what I would want in a perfect house. Who knows if that perfect house will ever be built, but one can dream right?
Moving into this house a year ago has given me even more insights into what would be a house just right for me and my family. This house has plenty of space, but to me it doesn't feel cozy. I know that probably seems silly to some, but I have added that, as well as efficient, to my list of what a perfect house would feel like. I am gravitating toward a smaller house with just enough space.
I have been anxiously awaiting these books and I am so excited to read them. However, I have promised myself I will not crack them open until tonight when I will not be interrupted by anyone under the age of 7. Don't the covers just look cozy? This will take all of my will power.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Christmas 2007
By the looks of my house, Christmas definitely came. Toys are still strewn about. The fridge is full of leftovers. Candy is lurking everywhere. And surprise surprise, my pants are a bit snug! One of these days I will have to put my house back in order. The good news is that my boys are quite content playing with themselves for awhile. It is a nice change!
Taylor was thrilled with his new football from his Uncle Dalin and a BYU jersey from Grandma Larsen. Bennett was disappointed because he didn't actually get to see Santa. Although later that night he was telling his Uncle Grant that he saw Santa and that he was wearing a BYU hat. Thank heavens it was a BYU hat! Owen after opening his drill, politely told us "no" when we asked him if he wanted to open another gift. He was happy with just one.
The boys in their new p.j.'s anxiously waiting to go downstairs to see what Santa brought them.
Buzz was definitely a hit with Bennett. Notice his buzz-like pose he is striking.
The drill was Owen's favorite gift. He hauls it all over the place.
Ties from China! Let me tell you that shopping trip helped tremendously!
Taylor was thrilled with his new football from his Uncle Dalin and a BYU jersey from Grandma Larsen. Bennett was disappointed because he didn't actually get to see Santa. Although later that night he was telling his Uncle Grant that he saw Santa and that he was wearing a BYU hat. Thank heavens it was a BYU hat! Owen after opening his drill, politely told us "no" when we asked him if he wanted to open another gift. He was happy with just one.
The boys in their new p.j.'s anxiously waiting to go downstairs to see what Santa brought them.
Buzz was definitely a hit with Bennett. Notice his buzz-like pose he is striking.
The drill was Owen's favorite gift. He hauls it all over the place.
Ties from China! Let me tell you that shopping trip helped tremendously!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sugared Up
Tis the season for sugar. School parties, tae kwon parties, family parties, neighbor gifts. The sugar supply never ends. My house has so much junk you can't open a cupboard without some sort of sugared treat falling on your head. My kids are on such a sugar high right now, I am going to have to put them through a serious de-tox program when Christmas is finally over. Their moods range from the running around the house in circles uncontrollably, to crying and whining and begging me for just one more fix. I've got some serious addicts here. Some part of me tells me to just throw it all away, but throwing away perfectly good candy? Is that possible? I don't know if it is. Especially when I know I will be craving a piece of chocolate in a week or two when things start to settle down and I will most likely kick myself for throwing it all away. Oh and the making of gingerbread houses with my sister and her family, though fun, didn't help the addiction!
Monday, December 17, 2007
That's not how it works!
Have you ever started something, only to become frustrated because it is not going according to your plan? That's how I feel with this year's advent calendar. We have a tradition each year to set up a Playmobil advent calendar, similar to this one. This year, instead of buying a so-called "holiday" one, I decided to buy a Playmobil nativity scene(for some reason they don't make an advent calendar with a nativity scene) and turn it into an advent calendar using old parts from previous years calendars. After making items fit into boxes that aren't suppose to fit, I got it set up and ready to go. This is how, in my mind the advent calendar is suppose to work. Each day 1 child gets to open the box, they oohh and aahh at what's in it, they put the newly opened piece on the background to admire, and then by Christmas we have a lovely nativity scene to look at that reminds us what Christmas is all about. That's not happening at our house. Let me tell you how it's not going according to my plan.
Each day the boys argue about who's turn it is to open the box. They all insist it is their turn. Once I determine who's turn it really is and somehow convince the other 2 their turn is coming up, the winner opens the box. Arguing then begins again because they all want to look at the piece and play with it. After I break up the arguments the piece eventually gets put on the set momentarily. After about 5 minutes someone takes it off and we never see the piece again. I looked at our pathetic nativity scene last night. Not only are less than half the pieces even there, somehow Han Solo, a dinosaur, a dragon and a trojan horse have ended up in the nativity. Now I know my memory is not like it use to, but I clearly don't remember these things in the nativity story. This is not going according to my plan. So I take a deep breathe and try my hardest to remember this is EXACTLY how the advent calendar is suppose to work with three boys in the house!
Each day the boys argue about who's turn it is to open the box. They all insist it is their turn. Once I determine who's turn it really is and somehow convince the other 2 their turn is coming up, the winner opens the box. Arguing then begins again because they all want to look at the piece and play with it. After I break up the arguments the piece eventually gets put on the set momentarily. After about 5 minutes someone takes it off and we never see the piece again. I looked at our pathetic nativity scene last night. Not only are less than half the pieces even there, somehow Han Solo, a dinosaur, a dragon and a trojan horse have ended up in the nativity. Now I know my memory is not like it use to, but I clearly don't remember these things in the nativity story. This is not going according to my plan. So I take a deep breathe and try my hardest to remember this is EXACTLY how the advent calendar is suppose to work with three boys in the house!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Flashback Friday - Our First Pet
Betcha didn't know Scott and I had a bird when we were first married. Our good friends, the Wolfe's had a parakeet. I can't remember how they came upon it, but for a bird - it was pretty cool. For Christmas maybe(?) they decided to buy us our own bird. Unfortunately, ours was not so cool. It had some serious anxiety issues and never did seem to warm up to us. We kept it until we moved to Y View. They didn't allow pets, so we gave it to Scott's sister, who lived in Santa Fe. It lived with them happily for several more years and then one morning they found it dead in it's cage. So long little bird!
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