Quick update

June is a crazy busy month. The last day of school was the 18th and we are settling in for the summer. My mom, dad and brother cam down on Father's Day and then Chris' mom and her boyfriend came down Monday and left this morning. Both visits were very enjoyable for everyone. It was great to spend some time with family, especially since we don't get to see them nearly enough. Now it's our turn to drive up to Jersey, and we're hoping to do that next week. We could all do with the change of scenery.

After our trip to Jersey, we're probably going to stick close to home for the rest of the summer. I'll be continuing with my iaido group, Addison and Sebastian will attend camp later in the summer, and we're planning to go on several family outings right here in Virginia. Of course, we'll be spending most of our time lounging around the community pool and generally relaxing. After all, isn't that what summer is all about?

Apparently, Samantha doesn't think do. She is starting Kendo the second week in July. If you aren't familiar with it, Kendo (literally, the way of the sword) is a Japanese sport akin to fencing. They wear protective gear and use bamboo swords to try to strike each other on specific parts of the body in order to score points. Samantha is VERY excited about this, and I think the intense training and discipline involved will do her good. You can learn more about Kendo at the following sites:

Northern Virginia Budokai

Kendo America

Yeah, we've both been bitten by the Japanese martial arts bug. In fact, we're both so fascinated with Japanese culture that we're starting to learn the language. It sure makes for understanding all the martial arts terminology easier!