Taekwondo

I never got around to posting these pictures for taekwondo in December.  We started TKD again in the fall.  We travel to Las Cruces once a week for class so that Sue can teach the kids.  We aren't able to devote the time and energy to TKD that we did several years ago, but maybe we will get back to that sort of discipline again with time.  Since Brishen and I don't know the forms, it's hard to make the kids practice them each day.  I know they need one of us to lead them since once a week class isn't enough for them to really improve on their forms and basics.  I'm nominating Brishen to learn the forms (so I don't have to!).

The kids got to break wood for the first time during a Christmas party.

Cassia beamed the entire night after breaking her board.

 Zade found uses for his boards.  It's really hard for Zade to stay focused during a whole class, but his grasping of the techniques is really great.  If he is ever able to learn to be quiet and work hard through a class, I know the discipline of this sport will be great for him.  He also learned his form but has a hard time wanting to do it at the right time.  It's possible he even forgets when it isn't okay to practice TKD, such as on a brother when playing outside.  He so badly wants to do a good job, but he also badly wants to talk and take lots of bathroom breaks and get as many drinks of water as anyone will possibly allow.  I love this child.  He stretches me and forces me to remember that God makes each person just as they are and that, as my kids have learned in a memory verse, Zade is God's MASTERPIECE.  Just as he is!

 Basia likes TKD, but she is struggling with having to learn a whole new style and all new forms.

She was up to a red belt in our old school, and it's tough to go back and have to work her way up again, especially when we can't get her to class multiple times a week or do the forms with her while she learns.  She is determined to one day get a black belt, though, so she really wants to stick with it.  

They earned their yellow stripes!