Aikido
February 13, 2009
The boys started aikido a couple of weeks ago. They are really enjoying it, and they are doing really well. I’m impressed with how far they’ve come in only a few lessons. Also, two of their friends are joining them on Wednesdays.
We have a couple of good stories from aikido. One day, the instructor was having problems getting the kids to pay attention. He finally got all of them to look at him. Then he said, “The teacher is in the front. There is no teacher in the back.” So Andrew had to turn around and check to make sure there was no teacher in the back.
Another day, one of the other instructors was working with the four new kids (ours and their friends) how to do backwards rolls. He started with Owen, but then he spent too long with child #2. Owen proceeded to do forward rolls while the teacher was facing the other way.
The boys are changing quickly. We’ve heard that the last part of the 3 to 4 transition can be a little wild, but that things should settle down at 4. Both boys have a lot of energy. Last week, the boys went to an hour of aikido, we had lunch, and then the boys played hard outside for four more hours.
New words: “golf field”, gi (aikido uniform)
The boys have gotten much stronger. They can now pick up a full gallon of milk without problems. Andrew was picking up bags of dirt the last time we went to Al’s. The last time we went to the park, Andrew managed to hold himself up on his arms (rather than hanging down from his arms, which he could already do).
Pictures
Owen on the mat at aikido, in his gi
Owen painting with a quill at preschool
Owen sitting on a fountain
Boys rolling at aikido
Boys playing in the snow
Boys with umbrellas at the Oregon Garden
Andrew wearing his gi at aikido
Andrew sitting in a playhouse with paper
Andrew lifting bags of dirt
