Spring Tournament

Hayden had tournament yesterday and he did SO good!! We are so proud of his focus and drive yesterday. He really impressed us.
Here he is sparring, not his strongest event but he won 2 out of 3 matches, He's on the right in both pictures.

Hayden performing his form. I love this event. So fluid and powerful. He placed a very very close second to his friend Chris.

Self-Defense was fun this year.... he actually started flipping people. :) It was a lot of fun to watch. He placed third here but still did excellent!
One proud family!! We were so happy that Nana, Gram, Aunt Nancy, & Bre came out to watch as well. :D Thanks everyone!

Come one come all to the big top!!

There was a small circus in town last weekend so we decided to take in the show.
It was small, much smaller than Ringling Bros but it was still nice and the kids still got a huge kick out of seeing the action. Jaxson loved the elephants and kept asking when the jugglers were coming out and Hayden loved the death defying motorcycles in the cage and the tightrope walker.
It was a really fun night with friends :)

Introducing....

Our BROWN BELT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see Hayden passed his belt exam this past Saturday!!! We were so proud of him! He got out there and did his best and put forth effort we rarely see in class. He was even proactive in sparring instead of just blocking and bouncing as he normally does. He earned this belt, every inch of it!
Now we are only a year and a half away from black... or I should say Hayden is, but it is us and my father, who drive him there and sit on those benches and take him to exams, or camps, and tournament... so in a way it's still "we." We will have all earned it, Hayden will just have sweat the most :)
It will take him 5 month to get to single brown/black, then another 4 months to double brown/black and then it depends on him and where we are in the black belt candidate program progress as to how long after that. Hard to think he will be 10 when this all happens. That is still so young.
Just know that when he does achieve his black belt, we are having the party of all parties!!!! :D

Sparring

It's been awhile since I was able to see Hayden spar at karate so I took along my camera to capture a few snaps. He is so determined but also still so afraid... he's gotten really good at blocking and bouncing on his toes like a boxer but I only saw him throw 3 or 4 punches and kicks in 5 rounds. I thought with me as his mother he might be more assertive :D LOL
Hayden tests for his BROWN belt at the end of April....from there it will be a long road. The classes get MUCH harder and longer in between belts. He will really be tested in his drive and focus to reach black.
Tournament is also around the corner... last few tournaments he's come home with a total of 6 trophies so I know he will do well but he needs to up his practice time if he wants to repeat. The higher you go the harder it becomes...
I will be proud of him either way :D

Teaching Jax

how to run through the sprinkler like only a big brother could.
Thankful for Hayden that he did this because when Hayden was little it was Tim and I running though the sprinkler to give him the idea. I got to stay dry this time :)

Day with Nana

We started out our adventure to the River Walk in Naperville. It was a VERY hot day so we didn't walk far but would LOVE to visit again in the fall. It is just beautiful. Here's Nana and the boys checking out the view.
The boys.
From the River Walk we went to ChooChoo Johnny's. It's a cafe all about trains, so this day was more about Jax than Hayden but he still had fun.
and there were games to play so he was happy :)
Its really neat, your food order comes around on a train connected to the counter top. and they ring the bell every time it delivers.
and have model trains set up everywhere.
Jax checking out the scene.
and here comes our lunch :) Cute place but way to far to visit often.

Tattoo Brothers

The boys got tattoos the other day and wanted them in the same spot. Not real ones people! :D

My knight in shinning armor

This is what I get for being a pack rat and keeping EVERYTHING!!!! Toys that come around again :D This is Hayden on his 4th birthday. Narnia had just come out and he was really into pretending to be King Peter.

I can not believe...

I'm the mother to a second grader!?!? When the heck did that happen?? This year flew by so incredibly fast. 1st grade was a learning experience for all of us. Hayden learned what it was like in a real classroom and to have a teacher that really cared what the student learned and how they behaved, unlike kindergarten. He excelled in Math and Reading, beyond even our expectations. He even learned what it was like to get a referral and have a parent teacher conference about something other than grades. :()
So on the last day he made a card for his wonderful teacher, who would not be returning to teaching thanks to a school district heavy in debt. We also planted a little plant and gave her one of her most favorite things, a monkey :) Here's Hayden with the card and monkey. Very proud of his handiwork.The plant for her home to remember Hayden by...
and finally Mrs. Martinez. She was very caring, stern, and wonderful to Hayden. Just the kind of teacher I wanted him to have. She made things fun but was darn sure the kids were learning what they needed to learn. She reminded me of my favorite teacher form school, although not as wacky :) I am very sorry she was lost in the district crisis and wish her all the best that the world can offer her right now.
Hayden and some of his friends from this year and last. :)

Hayden moves up in the world

PURPLE BELT!!!!!!!!

About a month before tournament Hayden completed the test for his purple belt. This time we had to go to another school and had to be evaluated by the owner Master Nelson and a panel of instructors and peers. He was very nervous about it but as he soon learned he had nothing to fear.




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He did great!! And was very very proud of himself :)

Snake Charmer

They had face painting at a birthday party we went to the Sat before Easter. Now mind you... my kid hates things on his face and has never let anyone paint his face. When he was a baseball player for Halloween years ago he wouldn't even let me put the antiglare marks on his face.
He jumps out at me with THIS on his face.

Indoor Soccer

I know I haven't posted much about indoor soccer this year. There were a lot of issues this winter with soccer, needless to say Tim and I were not happy with the Park District or the team Hayden was put on, but tried to make the best of it anyway.
He was on the White Tigers. He did seem to have fun and enjoy himself. Towards the end he finally got in there and started being more aggressive with the ball and almost scored a few goals, when the coach let him play. Opps I'm regressing again. :) His friend from class was on the team so that was nice.
This past Sat was the last game and afterwords they had a pizza party and all received trophys and certificates. Hayden was very proud and we were proud of him for trying his best and sticking it out!(yes I know the picture looks funny, its been edited)

Growing UP

Hayden had his very first sleep over at our house on Friday with his friend Cody. It went great as far as I can tell. We ordered pizza to make the children's taste buds happy and then later made popcorn and watched a cute movie, Aliens in the Attic.
Here's a pic of the two of them, plus one. :)
The boys and their amass of blankets and pillows to watch the movie.
They both were really good. We only had to mediate a few arguments but I don't think either of their mouths stopped moving all evening. After letting them stay up late and have lights on late they finally passed out around 1030pm. Not too bad. And I didn't have to drive anyone home at 3am like I thought I might. :) In the morning there were waffles and more playing and trashing of the room, and video games before we returned Cody to his parents. :)

Not just for children

We have found our "fatius dorkis" (aka: our cat) sleeping in the kids bean bag more than once.

1) That means he has out grown his small dog bed to sleep in
2) He's hot now that it's a balmy 45° outside
or 3) He's just sleeping there to taunt Jaxson...

maybe all three :)


and we were able to snap this picture the other night. Steel hanging with Hayden. This is VERY rare! Hayden isn't a real animal person and from the day Hayden was brought into this house Steel has not been his biggest fan. I guess both of them are coming around.

and onto Green

Hayden tested for his GREEN belt the first week in February. It's taken him 3 years and 4 months and it should take him the same to reach his BLACK belt. Can you imagine? My son a black belt before he's a teenager? wow.
This is once fierce dude.
Completing his first kata, Genesis.
Getting his belt. Look at that look on his face.... can you tell he's happy? I didn't think so. {{insert sarcasm here}}

I broke out the studio to try and get a portrait of him in his belt. I didn't have the lighting right but these came out all dramatic and moody, don't you think?
We are so proud of him for sticking with this. It's something he's really good at and enjoys.

Your ears would bleed too if you lived here

This is what we get to hear most nights is the shrill of little boys. I didn't think their voices could get that high but alas our children can. :)

again I apologize if I caused any pain but the title did warm you. LOL

Family Picture 2010

We had Family pictures taken at JC Penny for the last time this year. Now since I have the studio setup at home I don't think we will be going back. Nice!

Jaxson's 2 year photos. He looks so much like Hayden at this age but them so different. No fooling anyone that they aren't related.