Green Belt

Jordan tested for Low Green belt yesterday. He was so close to getting his High Green belt that his instructor told him when he finishes learning his last form she will "tip" him. Usually you would have to test again to get the High Green belt so he is really lucky to be able to get it without testing again.

Testing is a long process. He has to do many forms, demonstrate self-defense techniques, break boards, and answer test questions. He had to break four boards yesterday with different kicks. Here he is doing a flying side kick. It is such a cool kick.

Rare post from Rich

Aloha everyone. Just thought I'd share a few youtube gems with all yall.

The 70's were a time of great music, and music videos. Enjoy

One for the cheerleaders in all of us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA5GkLM5C7M

One for the Guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEV6K4bZX-o&feature=related

Treat your mother right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdtEgfyoTxA

Mom's Apple Pie

We had a holiday recipe exchange night for Enrichment on Thursday. When I was thinking about what dish I could make that reminded me of the holidays, my first thought was pistachio pudding dessert. After much debate I decided to make the classic apple pie and save the pistachio dessert for another night. My mom shared this recipe with me after I had a family of my own. I usually just make it during the holidays but I should really try to make it more often because it is one of our families favorites.

Apple Pie

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

sliced apples (use about 4 apples)

Mix

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 Tbsp. butter

Mix until crumbly

Add apple mixture to pie crust. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Bake for 40-50 min at 350.

I recently learned this tip:

Lightly beat 1 egg white, then brush it over the inside of uncooked pie shell before adding fruit mixture. Will keep crust from getting soggy.

Halloween Day

We had a fun Halloween Day dressing up and walking around the neighborhood.

Dylan liked to call himself a doctor and show people the Dr. James printed on his shirt, but he did not like wearing the face mask I got for him from my Dentist. He wore it for the pictures and then never wore it again. Oh well.

This is Jordan's costume he wore on Halloween night. He just put together a few things he found in our Halloween costume bin. He was a cool vampire, basketball player (with size 19 shoes courtesy of Reuben) with skeleton gloves. He wore the sunglasses all night while trick-or-treating. The things you will do for a cool costume.

Brendan is our knight in shining armor. Because I already had to get costumes for Historical Halloween I did not want to buy new costumes for Halloween night. Jordan was a knight a few years ago so I already had this costume and was glad Brendan chose to wear it.

After trick-or-treating around our circle Jordan and Brendan ran into some friends from school. Dylan had plenty of candy so I walked him home and Jordan and Brendan continued to another circle with their friends. Richard stayed home while we were trick-or-treating and we had so many trick-or-treaters at our house that Richard, after giving away all the candy that I had bought, had to give away all the candy the boys had gotten from trunk-or-treating at the church. When Dyan and I had gotten home there was almost nothing left of our candy so we dipped into Dylan's stash as we had more trick-or-treaters. Dylan loved giving the candy out and decided to just sit there on the stairs waiting to give out more candy (one of the nice things about living in Hawaii, it is warm enough to sit outside). As he sat there he would yell out Happy Halloween to people walking by.