Nadia was so stressed coming into this tournament, but she did awesome. She took 1st place in kata.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4rGgTUj8-k

Sparring. 2nd place.

Nadia did a great job on her purple belt test. She had some good fights and Master Valdez had her and Chogul have a “Nadia face” contest.

Nadia face pose with Master Valdez.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4byyvvfCio

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuNTz7fLHoo

Photobombed after sparring.

First place in Kata and 2nd place is sparring! Great job Nadia!

Waiting for Nadia’s turn.

Nadia had her first tournament of the year on March 12, 2016. It was the Panther City tournament in Fort Worth and she was so excited that Papa and Grandma Brooke were in town and could come see her! She was psyched and ready to go! There were no other girls in her division (her buds Lyric and Maddie have already moved up to advanced), so it was her against 12 boys, but she showed no fear!

Playing with Grandma while waiting for Nadia’s turn.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEYWYKr1a_M

With Papa and Grandma after winning 1st in forms.

Nadia won her first fight in sparring and then lost her second fight against the kid who ended up winning 2nd place. She was so proud of her hard work! She is already working hard to prep for the Texas X in April where 1st prize winners get a sword!

At the end of January we got a sitter for the little sisters and took Nadia to her Taekwondo banquet. She was excited to be with her friends and see everyone get their awards. She got a 6th place medal for her points in the 2015 tournament cycle. She was excited to get anything because she only went to three in her first year.

After giving the medal to Nadia, Master Valdez told her to give the room the “Nadia Face.” There were over 200 people there and she went for it and it was so cute.

With her sweet friends Maddie and Emerson.

Nadia had her blue belt test and passed easily because she works so hard. I know I have said it before, but we are so impressed by her determination.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T51_rd66Jl0

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfSfDegIciU

The Excel group before the competition started.

Dani and Amelie keeping busy while waiting around for Nadia to compete.

This is Nadia and Lyric after they competed. Nadia was 3rd in Kata (forms) and 2nd in sparring. Lyric took 1st in both and Nadia was so excited for both of them. Look at that smile!

Later in the afternoon we headed for Texas Scottish Rite Hands Down Support group Christmas party. They had toys and snacks for all the kids and a local theater group did a holiday performance with singing and dancing. The girls got a big kick out of that. They played on the playground with some of the kids from the party afterwards.

Cute tree and photo we took for their cousin Gwen.

They humored me for this photo.

The girls had a lot of fun playing and wore themselves out. I am thankful for these big group events so that Amelie can see and play with kids like her.

Nadia tested for her High Green Belt on September 26, 2015. We are so proud of the hard work that she puts in every week for taekwondo. She wants to be the best and it is all her own motivation.

Nadia and Master Valdez

The Texas X tournament is the big tournament that Excel puts on twice a year. We missed the first one in 2015 because we were at Hand Camp with Amelie. But Nadia was excited and ready for her chance to compete in Master Valdez’s tournament.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9KdEoiEmBo

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMgyRGG0mvc

She took 1st place in Kata and 2nd in Sparring. She was so proud that she practically floated!

She wanted to pose with everything she has won so far.

It was also International Pirate Day so we put our costumes the the last Halloween to good use and got free donuts at Krispy Kreme.

Nadia competed in her first tournament on August 8th and she was both excited and nervous in equal quantities. She did a great job and won 2nd place for forms. She didn’t place in sparring, but she gave it her all. It was a great day for her and she is so excited for her next tournament.

All the people from Excel Academy.

Nadia and Lyric showing off their medals.