Veterans Day

Veterans Day, the day the Americans honour the men and woman that fought for the country.

We headed to Fairhaven to join in the honorary parade and ceremony.

 

In front of the Fairhaven High School
The little flags represent the Fairhaven soldiers that have died in the various wars, think there were 145 flags

Boys messing around before the parade

 

Burning the extra energy

Some pics from the parade:

Some of the veterans from the different wars

Definition of camouflage...Jaime was very excited!

 

The ceremony:

 

 

 

The canon was shot as part of the ceremony ..it was loud!

 

 

The children playing in the garden - just loved it! 
The little boy is in Jaime's class at school.

 

Karate week 2

This weeks Karate has had Jaime jumping literally.  He has been genuinely excited for every class, its so good to see it! 

 

 Tuesday class:

 

We have a kit, first lesson wearing it. 

The traditional karate uniform is called a "Gi", pronounced gee. The belt,"obi" is used to indicate rank.

Jaime has to learn all these Japanese terms for things, they get tested on it during the formal ceremony.  Its also one of the requirements in order to move up a level.

Learning some new moves

As part of the course, you get taught different moves and techniques.  Once you master them (or at least demonstrate hard work) you get a strip on your obi.  After 8 stripes and passing the test you move up a level and receive a new colour belt.

Receiving his first stripe, a black one

Sensei Dave congratulating Jaime.  He was so proud!

 

Friday's class:

 



 

The formal ceremony: to tie on the obi. 

Close your eyes and clear your mind.

They then run through the principles of karate, for the life of me I cannot remember them!  Its something like honesty, sincerity, responsibility.  This gets repeated every class and like I said before, it needs to be remembered in order for him to get his next belt ie go up a level.

And the class begins

checking their arms are on guard

Once again Jaime did a good job in class, he listened and tried his best to follow instructions.  The other boys are a bit more experienced and older but he still holds his own.  This is good to see. Once again Sensei Dave was impressed and awarded Jaime another stripe, this time a maroon one.

A very proud karate kid

And a tiny demo... the bow, ready stance and "kia"

 

Magic magic

Always entertaining us....

 

35 weeks

 

35 weeks...didnt think my belly could grow anymore.  Guess I was wrong!

 

Jardim no 2 EDOA

Baby Jardim No 2 expected date of arrival has been set, diaries out, and diarise: 

4 December 2012, 5:30 am US Eastern time.

This means that in exactly 1 month from today we will all meet our famous Jellybean!

 

34.5 weeks

I think with the end in sight, the emotional scale is reflecting that excitement has officially overtaken the anxiousness.   Also the pressure is now on, gotta get our acts into gear and actually start preparing for this new little life that is coming.   

 

For now we just celebrating our perfect little gift that already takes over our lives, in a good way of course! 

 

 

Let the count down begin...

Karate kid wannabe

Yip you read right, Karate.  I signed Jaime up for Karate.

 

I've researched this topic alot and have "umm'd" and "ahh'd" about it for months.  I reviewed the list of benefits, I drew up pro's & con's, looked up classes and well just been obsessed.

 

So the list of benefits include, and not limited to:

It builds self confidence, self esteem, self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy;

It combines physical and mental practices;

Its a structured training technique;

Increases body mass and density;

Improves flexibility

and, and, and...

 

 

Another big motivating factor has been our previous experiences of group/team activities.  The way he reacts every time he has to "perform" in a group, the crying and sulking just got to much so I figured an individual sport it should be, for now.  

 

 

 

The day after Halloween ...

Traditionally, the day after Halloween, is All Saints day, but to Jaime its All face rash day.  Jaime woke up with a big, red, puffy, itchy face!  Luckily it was just on his face, my poor boy, must of had a bad reaction from the face paint.

 

This morning before school

After naptime, the school called saying his eyes were a little more puffy than before, his red rash has turned a deep red and his face feels hot to the touch.  So off we go to the Paed.

 

Waiting for the paed

The Paed gave him a once over, checked his ears, eyes and throat.  She gave him the all clear and stated that it was a just a skin rash.  With a shot of Benadryl we left the paed with a "it should clear but lets see what happens in the morning"

After his bath, besides being extremely tired, the rash was already looking better.   So I think by tomorrow we will be in the clear. 

No face paint for a while though! Live and learn!