Winter Break 2012

Okay, it's officially winter break. I was kinda over school a month ago, but I'm so much more relaxed now. Something about the awesomeness of having nothing to do. Ahhhh. :)

Over the break, some friends of ours are coming in January. We've known them since we were little and they're two boys. One's Noah, he's my age, and one is Gabriel. He's almost Annabel's age. I'm really excited to see them.

Tennis is going well, we had a fun little tournament. I got a t shirt. :P My friend Kaleb was there because his mom is one of my coaches. Her name is Trish and the other coach is Barb. They're awesome.
I finally got a tennis racket too. It's awesome. It's orange. :P

In the mean time, I hope to do some fun stuff, we'll have Christmas, I'll play some tennis and do some skateboarding. And surfing, I finally got to try surfing! Most amazing invention ever. I can't wait to do it some more.

Surfing!! Falling and then... not falling. 

I actually didn't fall the first time I got up. Though in the first picture, I was about to crash. :P

Tennis Tournament :) 

Not really a tournament, just kids getting together to play.

In this picture I am serving. Or, uh, trying to serve. It needs practice. :)

 The kids

 Kaleb and Me

Skating :D

Sports... Trying Everything...

Well, in the last few months since I've posted, I've gone into 10th grade. And with 10th grade came new activities. Lots of stuff with friends (yay, being social) and lots of new sports.

Right now, I recently got back into Taekwondo after quite a long break. I also started tennis after my summer break and being inspired by Roger Federer winning Wimbledon. Man I love that guy. And, skateboarding. Ah, skateboarding. It's super fun, I'm not gonna lie. However, my parents find it a tad dangerous so they're not as thoroughly supportive as my other activities. That's okay, parents will be parents. I try to say you get hurt in all sports, but they're not convinced with the line of bruises down my leg, renewed each weekend when I go to the skatepark. Plus, scars on my arms and knees. Mom says I won't like those when I'm older. :P She cracks me up.
With skating, I'd also love to try surfing, but that's a little more expensive. Plus, you need at least one or two lessons (at least I do) and people to supervise you while you're in the water. But it looks so fun! I'm also attempting bodyboarding. All these sports involve using the waves as ramps. It's pretty awesome. And lastly, I'm trying dancing.

At this rate, I have sports at least 5 days a week, sometimes more than one on certain days. That's one way to burn my energy off...

I love trying new things. Try while you're young and able, I always say. Plus, I love being active and being outside.

Blue

After training hard, breaking boards, learning a little Korean, practicing punches and kicks, and going for about two and a half hours three times a week, I got my blue belt in Taekwondo. 

Taekwondo has helped me learn a lot of things and helped me get very strong mentally and physically. It's made me more brave and more confident. I don't know how my life would be without it, so thank you Mr. and Mrs. Donald for teaching Taekwondo to everyone and for bringing it into my family's lives.

corner view "my dream"

I guess for a 13-year-old, I have a lot of dreams. But my biggest ones right now are:

To become a grandmaster black belt in Taekwondo

 

 To become a professional musician

 

To be the best sister, daughter and friend I can be

And for everyone in the world to be happy and at peace.

Purple

On Saturday, Annabel, Shawn and I went to Taekwondo testing. Annabel and Shawn were testing for their orange belts and I was testing for purple. We all got our new belt colors and we're so happy about it! We have the nicest teachers and testing is so much fun but it's a lot of work. It usually takes three to four hours!

Shawn

Annabel

Me

Mr. Donald (He loves chocolate)

Mrs. Donald (She's technically a master)

Shawn getting his high orange belt

Annabel getting her high orange belt

Me getting my purple belt

Shawn breaking his board

Annabel slammin' her board

Me trying to break mine (It was a tough one)

My Purple belt! :)

Orange Belt

On Saturday September 26th I got my orange belt in Taekwondo! It's the third highest in rank! It was pretty hard. I had to do many forms and punches and kicks. And hardest of all, I had to break two wooden boards with my feet!

Taekwando Tournament

On May 9th, we left at 7:30 am to get to the other side of town by quarter to nine for the tournament. When we got there, we signed up and got tags. All three of us were so nervous. Then it was form time and the adult black belts went first. They were amazing. One of our teachers won the gold medal. We were all so proud of her. After that, Shawn went and won a first place! He did the best forms. Plus, I bet the judges loved his red hair!

Then Annabel and I did forms. I won second place and Annabel won fourth.

After that, it was sparring time. That's like fighting with pads. It's pretty scary and you never know who you'll be matched up against. Annabel went first and did very well. But, there was still another match to fight. Shawn went and also did well but was a bit upset he didn't win. But he still got to try again in another match!

Annabel went again and won the second match. She was so out of breath and there was still one more match for her to fight. Just when she was about to catch her breath, they put her in and boy was she tired. But you know what, she did awesome and won third place! That's amazing for her first tournament!

Then Shawn went again and won fourth!

I only had to fight once. I would win either first or second place because I only had to fight once. I was very scared because the girl I had to fight was so much bigger and stronger than I was. I did my best and took second. Maybe I'll win first next time.

Anyhow it was such a great experience and so much fun!

My Form

My Form Scores

Shawn's Form

Judges, listen!

My Sign up Card

My Sparring Partner

GO SHAWN!

Stay Away from Bookworm!

Shawnie the Winner!

First Place!

My Second Place Medal

Taekwondo

Annabel, Shawn and I have recently started Taekwondo at the M.T.C. (Maui Taekwondo Center.) It's a marshal art and first started being preformed over 2000 years ago. It was originally from Korea. We all love it so much and are happy to have joined the class. We know a couple of kids in the class but we're still the new kids. Sometimes we see Brendan (who's in the class before us) and Reka who's in our class. Both of them used to go to school with Annabel and me. Annabel, Shawn and I just earned our ten stripes for our white belts. This means next month we get to test for a yellow belt. The second highest in rank!

Taekwondo gets you strong physically and mentally, and coordinated. It's also lots of fun!