Super Sports Saturday

Today was a very busy day for us toady. We started the day at 9:00 this morning with Maddux testing for his blue stripe belt. It is amazing to watch him in class and see how much better he has gotten. While he is the youngest one in his level is has actually picked things up a lot quicker and is progressing through the ranks a little quicker then the other kids. Today he rocked his testing and now has a blue stripe belt and gets to move up in rank. He still has a way to catch up to his cousin, Michael, but is well on his way. I think his karate has really helped build his self-confidence while teaching him some self defense. I still remember the first time he tested for advancement and wouldn't go on the floor. He just sat right next to me and cried the whole time. The teacher finally got him out there but he wouldn't do anything unless she was by his side. Now he just runs out there and doesn't care who is watching. Next month he has a tournament where he will perform a series of steps and moves and be judged by his teachers. The last time he did this he scored the highest in his class and did a great job. He is practicing for that day and very excited.
Here is a picture of him in his uniform with his new belt. Notice the "Iceman" Chuck Liddell mohawk that he is sporting. It is funny because he actually doesn't have it very often but it seems that in every karate picture that I have of him, he has a mohawk.
While Maddux was doing his karate Brooklyn had her third soccer game. She seems to be getting better every week and has become the "defensive stopper" of her team. This is partly because that is the position that the coach plays her at every time. It bugs Jennie that he won't switch things up. She has played some goalie and a lot of defense. Even though her teams stinks and hasn't won a game she is getting very good at tracking the others girls down and taking the ball from them. She likes it and seems to be having fun so I guess that is all that matters. I still don't think he team has scored a goal yet this year. That should be a pretty good indication that maybe he needs to switch things up. Funny story from her game today. She lost one of her top front teeth a week or so ago and her other tooth has been ready to fall out any day now. She keeps playing with it and I have even offered to take it out for her but she would have none of that. Well she gets home from her game today and I notice that it is gone. I ask her where her tooth is and she has no idea. Turns out that she must have lost it running up and down the field today and didn't even notice. She is hoping that the Tooth Fairy will take a note in place of the tooth. I think she will work something out. She is now down 4 teeth and may have to be a jack-o-lantern for Halloween.
Next was Maddux's game. It is amazing how fast the day goes by when you are running from one thing to the next. Maddux is on a really good team and they haven't lost yet this year. They don't technically keep score but they score way more goals than the other team. Maddux told us that he was going to score 5 today. He only got 2 but I think he was tired from waking up early and going to karate. He seemed to spend a lot of time on the ground.
He was however up to his usual defensive plays and taking the ball away from the other kids. There were three instances where the other team had a break away and Maddux came in at the last minute and took the ball away from them. In this picture he is getting ready to take the ball away from these two girls. It was actually the second time he got this girl and on this time he actually kicked the ball away but got some of her leg and took her down as well. I felt kind of bad, and I think Maddux did as well, because she ran off the field crying. On another play he made a little boy cry because the kid was getting ready to score and Maddux took the ball from him as well. He didn't knock this boy down but I think the boy was frustrated that Maddux kept taking the ball from him and he couldn't take it anymore.
This last picture is what Brooklyn and Nolan did during Maddux's game. They found a little hill that they could roll down. Nothing big but good enough to keep them occupied. We finished the day by going to one of Brooklyn's friends house (Meghan) for a birthday party and some kickball. There were probably 20 kids there so it was good for them to play and get worn out...I don't think that was too hard for our kids. They should all sleep very good tonight.

One last update on the swimming lessons. What a difference a couple of days and a sister make. Even though they are not in the same class Maddux had no problem jumping right in. I knew if Brooklyn was there he wouldn't have any issues. He learned how to do some strokes and even swam a little on his own. Watch out Michael Phelps.