The test was on a Friday evening. The first ever test that I had seen on a date and time other than Saturday afternoon!!! It was at 5:30 (hello people - that's dinner time!!!) and lasted about an hour for them - longer for the higher ranks, older kids & adults!Because I am a green belt, I wasn't ready to test with them since I still have more to learn at this level so I now test less often. Good for me - and as I thought bad for them. But they were happy as can be - ran into the test and didn't mind so much that mommy wasn't in there with them.
I guess it was more like any other class with more people? Me on the other hand...I sat out in the car stuffing little animals (parents are not allowed to stay in the building during the test) - keeping a close eye on the door, just in case one of them called me in because they were sad, hurt, or needed help in the bathroom??? I don't know - I was being protective & neurotic! 
But to my absolute surprise - The 1 hour went by quickly - and neither of them needed me for anything. As soon as Travis arrived from work, we went inside and waited by the door to get a good spot for picture taking! Yes - again I was being neurotic! Travis would much rather stand all the way in the back and I would much rather be able to take a picture of my daughter's faces (or at least the sides of their faces) rather than the backs of someone elses head.
So we secured our spot right next to the girls - and man it got crowded!
At the very end of the test - they stand in front position and talk for a minute about how well everyone did. Then they sit meditation style (criss cross applesauce with eyes closed) and "think about how they did on their test, think about anything they feel they need to work on, etc".
While the testers do this, they place the new belt in front of them. If you don't pass - you will open your eyes to see nothing there (still haven't seen that happen yet). When all the belts are placed they are asked to open their eyes and then put their new belts on and their old belts around their necks and receive their certificate. I think this is the most excited, I've ever seen the girls after a test. Maybe because I wasn't there? Maybe because they know they are that much closer to getting a new black gi...Maybe because they knew they were going home and would sleep well...I don't know - but they still are loving their blue belt!!!
After the test - Elliot was so exhausted, she almost began to cry when she found out we were going home. We have always celebrated a test with a night out for dinner. Luckily, mommy had plan B in place and luckily Cousin Qwin & Carter mailed halloween Wendy's Frosty coupons to the girls and I stuck them in the car. So Elliot was rather happy and Mia too - that we were swinging by Wendy's on the way home for a celebration treat!!! Whew! Crisis averted. As quickly as the test went by, so did the evening. The girls slept really well and woke in the morning having forgotten they were now blue belts. To them it was just another class. I'm not sure we will test together again, if we do, it could be a while! But it was fun while it lasted. - k
