Leveled up!!!!!!

I was surprised when I when to Hapkido last night, that I was one of three students that received a white belt with a black stripe in it.  Master Aaron presented me with it.  

 

 I have been at Hapkido for less than two months and have been working hard to learn their techniques.  Grand Master Kim has told me that my 4 years of karate has helped.  The black stripe was not earned through a belt test, but by the black belts that run the class.  The black stripe represents that I am a focused student.

 It was nice that my Dad came to the class and  tied my new belt on.  I look good with a black stripe!

  

 Hitting the focus pad with Grand Master Kim.

It was a good class, but I have to wait a whole week to go back because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Yesterday, I also tried some Lamb Briani at Lana & Sabrina's house.  My Mom was surprised to see me Indian food and took this picture below.  I picked out the lamb, but ate all the rice.

Pioneer Farm-Eatonville, WA

 I am lucky to still join the Bridge School on field trips, since we don't get out much at KMVA.  On Monday, I went to Pioneer Farm just outside of Eatonville and really close to Mt. Rainier National Park.

Pioneer Farm was like a glimpse into what life was like in Washington State in the 1880's.

Kim, was out hostess and brought us all into the largest log cabin.

There, she demonstrated a lot of chores that children did back then: carding wool, grinding cornmeal, coffee, & wheat.  Kneading dough, washing clothes, cleaning carpets, making buttermilk, shaving, and using a kerosene lamp curling iron.  There were also a few toys.  Kim then let us go to do "chores".

 I chose to cut cabbage....

 Play with toys...

 grind coffee (Kim helped)

make corn meal  and....

clean the carpet.  After all the indoor stuff-Tyler took us out to the barn, blacksmith & wood shop!!!!

Tyler did a demonstration in the blacksmith shop.  We could do everything that he showed us.  Pioneer Village was the land of "YES".

 We were allowed to peat all the animals in the barn (cow, sheep, goat, rabbit, pig, chickens, horse).  I liked petting the pig.

Tyler showed me how to milk the cow.

Afterwards, I went to the wood shop area and tried scraping bark from logs. 

Moves some things in the woodshop...

 When that was over, we got to go on a wagon ride.  It was short, but a lot of fun.

We then went in the one room school house and learned some of their rules in the 1880's.  We then got to tour the last two cabins and then ate lunch.  Oh-all the bathrooms where out houses.

This place was one of the best field trips ever.  Mom asked me what was my favorite thing to do, and I could not pick.  I was nice to miss a regular day of school.  I am looking forward to the next one.

Halloween 2016

After two years of being Slender Man, I decided to change my costume.  I wanted to be Ash Ketchum from the Pokemon XY cartoon.  Ash is a Pokemon trainer, and he and his Pikachu travel all over to care and catch other Pokemon.

 This is what Ash looks like in the cartoon.....

 and this is me.  I got my hair chalked black.  It will eventually wash out.

Dad got in on the picture taking too.

I was invited to Sylas and Tazmin's Halloween Party on Saturday.  They both looked super creepy.

At the party, I met another Ash and his Pikachu.  His Pikachu was a lot larger than mine!  Elliot was dressed as another Pokemon.

 We were able to wear costumes to school.  I got (left to right) Andy, Elliot, Evelyn, myself, Seth and a 3rd grade wizard to take a picture.

 And Sabrina.  I'm handing out candy tonight.  Because of my food allergies, I cannot eat most candy.  That's ok though.  I've never had a big sweet tooth.

More New Things

 The night of the big storm (old typhoon on the pacific), Dad and I played chess.  Fortunately the storm stayed 20 miles off the coast and did not do as much damage as expected.  We kept our power!  Chess is new for me, but I really like it.  I tell Dad to go hard on me.  Tonight I won!

On Friday I tried the Improvisation class with the Hi-Liners in Burien.  You have to be ten to be in the class.  But because I am mature for my age, I was let in at 9.  I am the smallest person there (striped shirt). Andy (best friend is in the red shirt). I was scared at first because there are 13 & 14 year olds.  Some of these kids have taken this class for years.  They are sharp and quick with what they say.  Mom says I will get there with practice.  I now do this class every week.

On Thursday, Mom came in and taught us how to paper mache a balloon.  I am working with Andy, Seth, & Evelyn.  All good school friends.

 A couple weeks ago, Dad and I went to the indoor go kart place.  I was a little scared to drive.

There I am behind Dad.

I was the slowest driver on the track, and only crashed a couple of times, but it was fun.  I am looking forward to doing it again.

4th Grade School Picture

This year's photo turned out way better than 3rd Grade.  Mom volunteered and made sure that the elementary students had good hair, straight necklaces and shirts, and coats off.  Compare to last year.....

Finding a new martial art

September was a hard month for me.  I got a really bad cold, and then in turned into strep throat.  I ended up missing 4 days of school.  My dojo closed down in Kent suddenly, leaving me to find a new martial art to learn.  With the help of my parents, and my friend Sabrina, we were able to visit and try several other dojos and their style of martial arts.  We tried another Goju school, but it was a little too far away in West Seattle.  We tried taekwondoe, and hapkido.  Fortunately, we found a school, that I and my parents both REALLY liked.  

 I chose Kwon Moo Hapkido, located in Burien  It's a very practical art: punching, kicking, getting  out of arm grabs, rolling, and sparring.  No forms.

 I had to go back to white belt, but Master Kim says that with my experience, that I should be able to advance up soon.  We also wear Judo gi's, they are more durable than the traditional gi's.

 Grand Master Kim (8th level black belt) spent a lot of time with  me, teaching me to breack out of wrist grabs.  I like him, he is very friendly.

 I leave class tired and happy.  Also there was time for me to practice my shoulder rolling.  I am really glad we found this place.

Working with Grand Master Kim