Tournament time!!

Saturday I was feeling better, which was a good thing, because we had a busy day!

First up was a pancake breakfast at the fire house. 

 But the main event of the day? The event we've been planning on for weeks? Pierce's first big Tae Kwon Do tournament.

 In my 37 years of life, I've been to many sporting events, but never any type of martial arts tournament. My only reference I had going into this was the karate kid, so I was totally looking for Mr. Miyagi.

Funny thing is, it was a lot like the movie! Kids from different dojo's everywhere, and even some in all black uniforms, so I came to the grown up conclusion that they were the bad guys.

Pierce went and got settled with some of his other friends.

 And for the next hour, we basically just watched other kids perform.

 And even some adults (that was kinda weird to Paul and I)

 I tried to get a cute pic of Hope and I, but she said her stomach hurt and wanted no part of that.

 Within a few minutes, she fell asleep on me. Not that I really minded THAT.

 Finally Pierce's age group got the announcement it was time for them! You see him in there?

 That's just a portion of his group! Lots o' kids!

 They did a little warm up, and then it was ON.

 First up he had to perform his form for these judges. It's really intimidating!

 At his rank, each form usually consists of 24-27 moves. You  memorize the form, then eventually get the UMPH behind the moves.

 When he finished, each judge gave a score on how well they thought he did. (I was in the stands sweating it for him!!)

 After scores, they told him to go gear up, it was time to spar!

 Pierce is on the right, and he was READY TO RUMBLE.

 He fought three seperate times

 And won 2 out of the 3 matches.

 After each child in his group had performed they tallyed up the scores and then handed out medals.

 Pierce was awarded second place in both form and sparring. WOO HOO!!!!        
                                           
Paul and I are very proud of our little man!!!

And by the way, I'm not sure, but I think I may have heard the voice of Mr. Miyagi floating through the gym that day...."Daniel Son"

Heeeeelp meeeee

I generally get sick about 2-3 times a year. Like for reals sicks, where I contemplate crying for my mom kind of sick, you know that kind?  And now I can say I've met quota #1 for 2012. Thursday afternoon I started to feel kind of bad, but chalked up to either a cold or allergies. However, by Thursday night I was chilled to the point of shaking, hot with a fever, and my head felt like it could possibly explode from pressure. I was for reals sick. 

I went to bed by 6:00 and temporarily forgot about my husband and children. I would drift in and out of sleep, and feel looney, which was all a result of a fever. I may or may not be a tad bit dramatic when I get sick. I chalk it up to my drama background. I could so be a soap star. Anyways, I would come out of my sleep and just yell...

"Heeeeeelp meeeee"

Crickets.

"Heeeeelp meeee"

Crickets.

"Heeeeeeelp meeeee"

Finally I got brilliant and just sent a text. 

Text message said...

"Heeeeeeelp meeeeeee"

That finally got the attention I was looking for. 

And after a long night of misery, I thought I would probably call the doctor to be seen. My dad was diagnosed with the flu, and I figured I had caught it from him, and wanted to stop it. I just wasn't sure what I would do with my kids, they were both out of school on Friday for teacher in service, I just figured I would have to probably drag them along with me. Ugh. 

Insert Brittany.

Brittany called to check on me, and then offered to take my kids so I could rest. HOW SWEET!!!! I took her up on her offer, but had no idea just how awesome my day would be. My doctor's office called me in some Tamiflu, and then I came back home and laid in my bed all.day.long. She literally kept my kids ALL DAY LONG. I would sleep and then wake up to see these sweet pictures on my phone...

Brittany said that they played outside the entire day. The boys got filthy from mud and had a great time, just being boys!

I knew that they were having a much better time with them, than they would have been at home with me.

Ane while the boys were being rowdy and dirty, Hope had some fun girl time with "Miss Brittany."

Brittany and Blake even took the kids out for dinner that night. SOOOO SWEET.

I am very thankful for a friend who would "heeeeelp meeeeee" when I was down and out! I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, and my kids had a BLAST.

And I'm happy to report I'm feeling much better today. :))))

Getting down with my little mathematician.

Something very wonderful has happened to Pierce. 

He has discovered a great love for Math. 

To the point of doing it all.the.time. 

At night when he should be getting into bed.

 In the morning, when it's time to leave for school.

 At the doctor's office while we wait to be seen.

 In his room, challenging his mom.

 And when he's playing games, even those need to be math related.

 This is very different for me, seeing as how horrible I am at math. But I love to see him take off with it,  his teacher has told me several times, he's great at it. I love to hear that!

The other night I was giving him a hard time though, just teasing him. I said, "come on, put that game down and dance with mom!" I cranked up the music and he eventually had to break it down with me. Math still in hand though...

 Never fear though,the music finally took over.

 And my mathematician finally got down.

A whirlwind of a weekend, in which I peed my pants.

When we moved here a year and half ago, I had visions of meeting new people. However, getting there is quite the process, isn't it? You have to get out there, and you have to try, they don't just come to you. It's work, in many ways. Being the new girl is weird. But take heart new girls! One day you are sitting on the floor with a group of women, laughing so hard you pee your pants. 

Friday night, Brittany and I headed up to Louisville to meet up with a group of women from our church, for a conference on Saturday. In this picture I really only knew two of the women (Brittany and LeAnne) but the others I had only seen on occasion, and some were totally new faces. 

After dinner and some light shopping Friday night, we went to a room and sat around and talked until 1 in the morning, and I laughed until I seriously cried, and um, peed my pants. So much fun! Brittany and I were roommates, and of course gabbed even more. I think we managed to go to sleep around 2, and then we were to be up and ready to leave by 7. 

We all headed for breakfast at Wild eggs. Or as we all referred to it, Boiled eggs, Cracked eggs, Poached eggs, Scrambled eggs, basically anything except the correct name. Whatever the name was, it was delicious.

 Then we went back for the conference, which was at Southern's campus. Topics ranged from Homeschooling to Budgeting and lots in between. I think it's awesome that we all had the opportunity to participate, and what's even more awesome? Just being around other women in your stage of life. I think it's so important for women to do things like that. We need each other.

And speaking of needing each other. When the church offered this conference up, Brittany had the genius idea to make a weekend of it, and meet up with my friends and family. She's brilliant like that.

So later on Saturday night, Tracey and Jami met up with us at The Melting Pot.

 Can I tell you how much I miss these girls? Uh.....lots.

 And Brittany is so sweet to want to get to know my friends. In her words "I want to get to know the people that you love."

 This picture is surreal to me! Never in a million years did I think there would be a new face in this group, but let me tell you, I love the new face.

 And I love that they act goofy together!

 HA!

It kinda felt like we had always known each other! It was a great night.

 Tracey was forced kind enough to keep Brittany and I on Saturday night, and then we all got up and went to Graceland on Sunday morning.

 It was nice to sit next to this girl again at church, and even break into the "left eye cry" again together.

 And Brittany was happy to get her hands on the adorable and hilarious, Maggie May.

 After church we met my mom and sister at Kansai. I miss my family a ton of course! I'm ready to come home for a week and spend more time with them. So brace yourselves fam, I'm coming and STAYING.

A definite whirlwind weekend! But a fabulous whirlwind indeed!