Karate Belt Promotion!

Last Saturday Little One and I had our belt promotion "tests."  Mine was in the morning and hers was in the afternoon.  I gave her my G10 and let her take a few pictures.  I was actually thinking of just one with my new belt but she took a few.

 First off was the end of summer party the night before at a local park.  Little One wanted to go and we had fun. :)

This is my friend, Liz, and me.

Yep.  I look just as stupid as I feel doing chicken kicks.

I was impressed with this picture she took.  Good eye, Little One.  Good eye. :)

Group Picture!  Victor, Jade and Te are the best teachers ever!

Later that afternoon we went back for Little One's turn.  She did awesome and I was very proud of her.

Stretching out before

She had a thing going with her lips

The two red heads.  Aren't they cute?

They did 50 push-ups and a LOT of sit-ups and jumping jacks!

She acts as though a headlock is a normal thing....

She even got to demonstrate a kicking combo to everyone!

This is her chicken kick.  Isn't it cute? :)

Splits kick!

This is one of her teachers, Te.

Some of her other teachers.  Poor Tanner was tired by then.

The kids were supposed to do this to their family in appreciation.

I had to do this too.  It was a bit odd, I must say.  Let some of the knowledge of the new belt seep into your brain....

Tanner helping Little One tie on her new belt

They had to stay like this for a whole minute.  No easy task.

Nice group picture

Silly group picture

Her silly face. ;)

Te and Little One

SO close to getting in the banana splits club!

Yea!  Yellow belts together!!

Lewiston

After Seattle we headed to Lewiston, ID to visit with my Grandma.  It was really nice.  The first stop on the way was to one of my favorite places.  I'm strange and kinda like cemeteries.  This is one that I have some family buried at.  Some that I've heard about my whole life as well as at least one I knew.  I'm sure it's beautiful in early spring when things are green but it seems I'm always there mid-late summer when it's more like this.  It's still beautiful though, with those amber waves of grain.

I never knew Dora Alice, but I've always loved her name and wanted to use it someday.

This is my great grandpa

Next, we went into town and spent a couple of days with my Grandma.  It was so fun to watch the girls with her.  They both had fun picking things from the garden with her.  Figs, I believe, were their favorite thing to pick with her.  Little One, especially, seemed to have a special connection with her and followed her around everywhere.

Mom and Gram looking at cook books. :)

Little One and Mom helping to water

While we were there we got to go see Aunt Nessie.  She is my Great-Grandma's sister.  She is special to me because as long as she is alive (which I'm afraid won't be for much longer) we have 5 generations of "Louise's."  Her middle name is Louise, as is my Grandma's, my Mom's, mine, and Little One's.  This is all for HER mother's name, which is in the next picture.  Pretty cool!

This is my Great-Great-Grandmother's signature on the step at Aunt Nessie's house.

Just a few doors down is more family and the girls had fun playing with a new kitty.

Ira, Gram and Little One right before heading home