This time last year I was blogging about my littles becoming ninjas for the first time. Thanks to some very good friends we discovered a karate school in our area (the same good friends who recommended the kids’ new school actually) and signed the kids up for a week of lessons. I don’t think I fully intended to have karate lessons become a major part of our lives that day but a year later and one of my littles is now officially on the Black Belt Team, on his way to potentially earning his black belt in 2017.
It’s kind of unreal to me that we’ve now been taking MM to karate lessons for a YEAR. BB lasted six months and that impressed me, but MM really loves it and gets so much out of his lessons. His focus and determination have increased by leaps and bounds along with his energy level and overall athletic abilities. My timid, squiggly little boy is getting stronger every day and his horse stance dominates in the karate classroom (a weird thing to be proud of, perhaps?).
Joining the black belt team was no small decision as it costs a little more money and includes a few extra classes – meaning our afternoons somehow just got busier (hold me). It seems like the theme of 2014 is “Stretching our Schedules to Impossible Limits” but somehow we’re managing to make it work.
Luckily my little kindergarten girl has no extracurricular activities at the moment and honestly doesn’t seem to care. 2013 BB was all about doing whatever big brother was doing. 2014 BB is all about doing whatever she wants to do and that’s usually wearing her jellies, rocking a cute dress and asking me to read her a book or writing her name 3,000 times just because she can.
What were you and your family up to a year ago today?
I’m linking up with Mama Kat’s Pretty Much World Famous Writer’s Workshop. All the cool kids are doing it.
Mommablogsalot 
8 responses to “tbt: ninjas then and now”
Love that ninja photo! Amazing how much they grow in just a year!
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I can tell that there is certainly a change in demeanor just by the pictures, more confidence and strength. /wish that I could be like the cool kids.
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Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in?
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That’s neat that he found something he loves! And also neat that you let your daughter do her own thing and don’t pressure her to be in extracurricular activities. 🙂
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How cute! They both look more confident this year than last – finding out who they are and what they like is a self-esteem booster! Last fall I was recouping from a fracture in my back, so I’m way better off this year than last, thankfully!
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I tried karate with two of my kids, but it didn’t fly. It was disappointing, because I know it’s been wonderful for so many of my friend’s kids. Last year at this time, we were doing the same things – all fall related:)>
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Love it! Your boy looks so like he knows what he’s doing! Cute outfit on your girl, too.
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How fun that he has something like that that he loves.
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