Here's Harley testing for her red belt tonight. I only got to see part of her test since I had to control and feed other kids. But what I saw looked pretty darn good. It's been forever since she tested. She should be getting her black belt sometime in the next decade if she works at at, lol.
Harley's Birthday Socks are finally done. They were done toe up in a a garter rib pattern (1 rnd K2P2, 2 rnds K) with 2x2 ribbed cuffs and shart row garter stitch heels and toes. I just love the fact that some patterns are so ingrained that to me, they consist of one sentence and not pages of text or charts.
Here's a close up:
For Harley's 14th birthday, she chose one of the family favorite restaurants, Shanghai Garden. We always order Hand Shaved Noodles with chicken, Strawberry Beef (kid's favorite) and Pepper Salted Squid (my favorite).
Afterward, we crossed the street to spend some time at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Uwajimaya Village. I love that bookstore. Since Uwajimaya is celebrating their anniversary, they are having a 10% off sale. So I had to get a book. HAD TO. This book refused to let me go. I suppose to describe it, you would say it is Barbara G. Walker meets Cookie A. I can't wait to start playing with some stitch patterns.
So from us, Harley got a cute top that she wanted, a pair of socks, and a concert ticket to see Chiodos at the Showbox this weekend with a friend. I can't believe I am now the mother of a 14 year old. It scares me. I am getting old. I don't feel too much more than 14 myself.
The girls enjoying Ranier cherries from the Renton Farmers Market.
Harley's new haircut.
Chace being a goof with his new haircut.
Harley in the kitchen roundhouse kicking Chace:
The first tournament of the season was in Bellevue on Saturday. Harley got a silver medal! She usually drives us crazy by stressing us out the whole match by staying tied and then going into OT. This time when she did, she won with a head shot to her opponent.
Harley is in red, her back toward the camera. And yeah, that is her foot up at that girl's head.
Here she is being a goof for the photos. Those girls were a lot taller than her!
Harley gets her brown belt here. She has about 16 more months until she gets her black belt. Standing on the left is Instructor Geofrey, and on the right is Instructor/Coach Robert.
This is Harley (in red) fighting a girl named Jadae in a small tournament in Puyallup (about 20 min drive from us). She won bronze in sparring.
And here is Harley during the poomse part of the competition. She won silver!
I have a ton of pictures to post and no time to do it. I have some photos of Harley at tournaments. So far she has won a gold and a couple of bronzes. I think there is more, but they are all hanging at the dojang right now.
Harley had another belt test last Thursday. This picture is of her breaking her board at the test.
This one is Harley getting her high blue belt at Monday's class.
Harely tested for her blue belt the same day that Chace tested for his yellow. As always, she was amazing. Her form was great, and I noticed that during her bag technique she incorporated a lot of what she learned in sparring classes.
And her board break? She did an axe kick, but through two boards. Everyone was so proud!! (Harley asked my friend Rem to hold her board.)
It just kind of sucks that the lighting in the dojang is real bad. :-(
Harley had Renton Tae Kwon Do Athletics (RTA) practice again today. We went to the Lees Martial Arts in Puyallup and practiced with their team in their dojang. I took some pics with my camera phone.
Harley is getting good at sparring. Earlier in her sparring life she made comments like:
-Mom, I suck at sparring.
-I am strong and have good kicks, but I am too slow.
-I don't like sparring. I'm not good at it.
(Harley is the one in the blue helmet. Click on picture for larger view.)
Today after practice, tired, hot and sweaty Harley grinned at me and said. "Cool! That was so fun!" One of her really good friends that normally beats Harley's butt had to work extra hard to break even in one match, and Harley looked like she won the other.
Do I sound like a proud mom? :-D
I will get more of the other two kids soon.
Here's the Axe Kick
And here's Harley breaking a board:
Harley is now an Orange Belt!!! Woohoo!!!