Karate Belt Graduation

Carly graduated out of her white belt tonight into her gold belt. Here are some pictures. We are so Proud of her!



Getting ready for class.



Working on Balance.



Journey moves.



Doing her moves to graduate.



Practicing her wrist escape.



Waiting to put her new belt on.



Taking her white belt off.



Paul is putting her new belt on.



CHEESE!



Her instructors. Not sure who the guy on the left is. Mr Denu owns this Karate America, Carly is standing in front of him. Mr O'Haver and then another student instructor, I'm not sure of her name.

Abby's 4!!!

Abby turned 4 today! We had tacos for supper, her choice. A delicious chocolate cake I picked up from Walmart last week and put in the freezer.



CHEESE!



The cake was chocolate, with buttercreme frosting, and marble chocolate shavings.....it was SO good!



MMMmmmmmm!!!

We bought her a new outfit with matching leggings, a new barbie, and new finger nail polish.

Fishing

Paul and I went fishing one day when the girls were at school. It's a private lake and nicely stocked. Paul built a home for the owner and now we can fish there whenever we like. It was very good eating!


12" Perch


10" bluegills

A Cappella

While at the Neuens Christmas party. Paul's brother Chris introduced us to this amazing A Cappella group. Here is a link to there website and one of their songs. It is amazing. They all met in college, went their separate ways, met up 10 years later, made a video and posted it on youtube and now have a record deal!

I highly recommend visiting the youtube video's below!

Straight No Chaser
http://www.sncmusic.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E-47VmFop#watch-main-area
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5XPQwel8uE&feature=channel

Photos

Yesterday we had the Neuens Christmas at Paul's brothers house in Omro. Before going I figured I would try to get some pictures of the girls since they were dressed nice and had their hair done. The results are below. I think the first or the second photo will be the one going on the wall. I want to get another photo with Troy the next time we have him.

Christmas 2009

We open Christmas gift on Christmas Eve and spend the day snacking. We save the big meal for Christmas Day.

We got one gift for the family this year, Nintendo Wii. The kids loved it and we have been playing it everyday.


Santa brought the girls some new fishing poles. They light up when being reeled.

Dad is even playing some Wii.

Our Christmas Eve spread.

Karate!

We started Carly in Karate this week. She seems to really enjoy it and I can already see some of the attitude they are taught coming through at home...this is a good thing! Tonight she was awarded her first belt, the white belt. She should graduate belt colors every two months. In order to move up to the next belt she must earn three black stripes and one red stripe on her current belt (it's colored electrical tape they put on their belts). In the white uniform, they earn White, Gold, and Orange. Once she completes these belts she gets a blue uniform and must go through the process of earning the Green, Purple, Purple Stripe, Blue, Blue Stripe, Red, Red Stripe, Brown and Brown Stripe. After she completes all these she gets the Red Uniform and starts on her levels of Black belt degrees. (I know, it seems like a lot!)


She is in front of the red uniform instructor getting her belt. The teachers wear black uniforms.