Breaking Boards

Madison did board breaking at the weekend. I got some action shots!

Merry Christmas!

We haven't had time to update the blog in the last few weeks so here's what's been happening with the Early family!
Scott, Trish, Jayden and Dylan came to visit in November. We had a really nice 'parent's night out' at Berns steakhouse and spent the next couple of days enjoying the new fire pit at the house. Other than Mike getting busted for buying me a fake Coach purse (I was so oblivious I actually sent it back to the manufacturer when it fell apart) we had a fantastic time. It was great to catch up and can't wait to get together again in NJ in the summer!


Maddy graduated to a purple belt in karate. She's been working so hard for this belt with her combinations and sparring. Great job Maddy! I was really proud of my tree this year. I decorated with musical instruments and the house looks great for the big day. Before setting off to NY, Jen, Rich and Mya came over to exchange gifts. The kids had a blast with Mya's new princess piano and Maddy's new 'furreal friend' cat.
The day before Christmas we went over to Matt and Liz's for an early Christmas dinner. Eileen and Nana were there and we all overate and snuggled on the couch watching Christmas TV. It was perfect!






Today (Christmas Eve) we went over to Orlando to see the ICE exhibition at Gaylord Palms. It was freezing inside (9 degrees) and we had some fake snow which made a nice change from the seventies and eighties that we have been having in Florida all month! Maddy had a tough time getting to sleep tonight after tracking Santa on the NORAD website (http://www.noradsanta.org/) and hearing sleigh bells...it's 11 o'clock now, the milk and chocolates are out....can't wait for the morning!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Action packed weekend

We were all very sad to see Gail leave on Friday and had a busy weekend planned to recover. On Saturday, Maddy had her Karate lesson in the morning, a Karate birthday party in the afternoon (complete with samurai sword to cut the cake!) and a Karate camp out in the evening. Michael and I went to see the Da Vinci code which was really amazing (ignore the reviews).






















On Sunday, we went to the pool with Jen, Rich and Mya...


On Monday morning when we woke up we had two hot air balloons over the house...

Maddy's Green Belt Graduation

On Saturday, Madison graduated to a Green Belt in Karate. She has been practicing really hard and is looking forward to starting sparring now. She was also 'Star Student' at school this week - Congratulations Maddy!

Uniform is cleaned and pressed and we're ready for the Graduation ceremony...


This is the hard part...I have to remember all of my combinations....


You have to look at your instructor when you bow to show respect...

Ms. Ariana has helped me learn my kicks and punches too...
This is my graduating class...


Daddy took me ice skating in the evening to celebrate!

Halloween weekend of fun!

Madison was awarded her gold belt for Karate this Saturday at a graduation ceremony at the school. The ceremony was amazing, all of the students (from 5 to adulthood) who were moving up a belt, graduated on the same day. We got to see some amazing moves, kicks and fighting - it was really awesome!

CONGRATULATIONS MADISON!!!

After the graduation, Maddy got into her Halloween costume to go to a birthday costume party for one of her friends. The party was great with a bouncy castle and inflatable slide. Then we went to the pumpkin patch for our new family Halloween tradition which goes like this.... First we buy the pumpkin...
Then Michael takes out the insides and makes a Pumpkin Pie and bakes the seeds... Madison and I make a Jack o' Lantern... then we all camp out in the family room with blankets and tell scary stories.
This year Maddy told the story of the Pumpkin Castle. Clare's story was about the albino ghost horse, "Moonshine". Michael had the two scariest stories, one about a child who lost his finger when he stuck it out of the window of the school bus and the other about the 'Man with the Golden Arm'. Michael's stories involved George Lucas-style special effects (not) like ketchup and a fishing line that made a ghost appear in the kitchen. Madison thought the ghost was hilarious and spent the rest of the story shouting 'it's just a stinkin' shirt!' It was a blast...and Michael's pie was edible this year too.
Halloween itself was fun too. Maddy loved trick or treating in the neighborhood and it was as busy as ever. Happy Halloween to all of our family and friends!!

Might for Right!

Madison received her second stripe on her white belt at karate today. She had to do a front punch, back punch, front kick, back kick and side kick to pass. Mr. Heimberger commended Madison for her focus and hard work. Well done Maddy!