Karate Kid

Our daughter is off this whole week at a church camp and we hope she's having a great time. We don't have any way to contact her to just say "hi" but we've sent her letters, packages and emails that are all funneled to her cabin. However, with her being gone, that means Jake is here by himself looking for things to do.

So, on Monday, I took him over to the local Karate for Kids gym and signed him up for 6 weeks of lessons. He is so thrilled to be doing this and it's been so cool to watch him go. His instructor is very good with all the kids and really connects with them on kinda their level.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Jacob listened to the instructors and how he seemed to be able to catch on to what they were saying. I was a little nervous that in the midst of it all, my son would suddenly blurt out how he wanted to be the new Power Ranger and learn how to beat up the bad guys.

Thankfully, that revelation never took place although after practice, I did hear a few other boys whisper something similar to this to their mothers. Guess I'm not the only one.

Today, the instructor took a huge water cannon and shot it at the kids' feet, making them jump off the ground and practicing their form. I don't know who had more fun...the kids being able to jump and avoid getting wet or the teacher being able to douse the kids.

We also learned that about 3 of Jake's good buddies are also taking karate this summer, 2 of which are going to this very gym. I imagine they'll all be strutting the hallways of first grade this fall with a new found "confidence" about them.

Watch out Mr. Miagi.

In all seriousness, Jennifer's dad, Fred, would've absolutely loved to have seen Jake in a karate gi, bowing and grunting as he taught Jennifer to do all those years ago back on the farm.

We miss you, Fred.