Karate: Green belt

Owen continues to move through his karate belts and gain confidence and strength. He has a good attitude about going and it's great to see him interact with the other teens/adults there. The black belts are great at guiding him and he's even been put in a position to give feedback/guidance to others.Chris never takes it easy on Owen!

Karate: Red Belt

Owen keeps progressing quickly through the belts in karate!

 Way to go, Buddy!

Fun with Friends

Owen isn't ready for a belt test again, but his friends tested for a stripe on their green belts, then they got treated to Sonic shakes afterwards. Not a bad deal for Owen!

We met up with one of Owen's friends from school at the trampoline park. It's the same friend who got him a "bum" shirt for his birthday. They both quickly became sweaty bums and had a great time together!

The hurricane simulator helped them dry off their sweat!

We met a different friend from school at the cat cafe then got lunch together. One of the cats was a hugger, aka Owen's dream!! There were a few other cuddlers that he helped love on. 

A friend took Owen and his karate buddies to see the new Karate Kid movie. It was only appropriate to take a picture in saen chen together!

Karate: Blue Belt

Owen continues to enjoy karate. Now that he has a phone, there's a group chat they've named Karate Kids. It's a great group of kids that I'm excited to see him progress with. He and Landon can skip some belt colors since they're in the adult class only now but neither of them want to, so it seems like he just had a belt test as they work their way through all of the belts. 

Owen takes on Doug!! 

Karate: Purple belt

Owen is still enjoying karate. He attends the adult class two times a week and is moving quickly through the belts!

He's on the same track as his buddy Landon!

Karate: Orange belt

We continues to enjoy karate and has been attending the kids class once a week and adult class twice a week this fall. It's nice to see him interact with the adult black belts in class and they do various other skills when Doug isn't able to be there. One of the black belts named Dave taught them how to use bo staffs.  He did Kechiwa with the bo staff and you could tell it was working a different part of his brain! In the adult class they also took turns being in the middle of the circle for Kechiwa Bonkai. They took it easy on him. :) He took his orange belt test and passed! Here's his Konchu, Saen Chen, Saen Chen test, then receiving his orange belt! All 4 grandparents were there to watch!

Keep working hard, Buddy!

Time with Friends and Family

Willow was invited to a graduation party for one of her friends from Burton:

Nana and Grandpa took the kids to Massanutten and Sight and Sound to see Noah. They always have a great time and I'm happy to catch glimpses when Willow sends me pictures. 

While the kids were gone, I hung out with a friend who paddleboards regularly. We enjoyed a 2-mile paddle and I learned about my new favorite cheesesteak sub restaurant!

Willow met a couple friends to roller skate. She'd been with friends after the mission trip, so she met these girls just after that while her "skills" were still fresh. She hadn't ever been interested when friends would have parties there in elementary school. She did great getting off the wall!

While Willow was in the DR, we joined Hannah and Hunter at an ice skating rink. Owen had been on a PE field trip and fell in love with ice skating with a walker. They had a great time, then we went to a Kitty Cafe!

Owen met a friend to go ziplining and then out to lunch. 

While the kids are gone, Chris is all ears for whatever I want to do or talk about. HA!

We went peach picking at a festival about an hour away. It was literally in the middle of nowhere (GPS couldn't help us get back for a while. Gasp!). The peaches were AMAZING though! We'll be back...if we can find it! ;)

Willow hung out with a couple friends at Starbucks...like grown ladies! I'm not sure how I feel about her drinking coffee at 15!

The activity that brings Willow and Owen together the most: playing in the rain. And I'm so thankful for it!

The Youth Group kicked off their back to school time with a Slip and Slide. I loved catching Willow in a few of the pictures!

We went to a local minor league baseball team's game and had great seats!

Free ice cream for everyone in our section!! Winner winner!!

Willow said, "I would be okay dating a baseball player." Haha

Willow loves hanging out at Sheetz after Youth Group on Sunday nights!

Sleepover with a couple friends:

Checking on their baking project:

Owen's friend Rhys got baptized by his dad and invited us to join! Such a sweet moment to be part of!

The memory care facility where Gramps lives has lots of family events that we enjoy attending! 

Willow joined a couple friends from a rival team for a football game in THEIR student section. Gasp!!

Willow's performing arts group at practice!

Another great family event with Gramps!

Willow made homemade chicken fried rice for her Spanish class. It made soooooo much. She sent me this picture of her friends all eating it the next day in History class. 

Owen went on a trip to DC for a karate seminar. He had a great time hanging out with his karate buddy, Chris.