Wrestling Update

Just a quick note on Jake's wrestling. He is doing so awesome. We went to a dual this past Saturday and he got to wrestle 7 times (in about 5 hours). He was tired at the end, but kept going. He got 2 Techs (won by more then 15), 2 Pins, 1 Win and 2 loses.

He has his big JV Tournament this weekend. It is for 1st and 2nd year wrestlers. His coach says he is tough and has great natural instincts. I'm of course a very proud mom.

Happy New Year

Just a quick note to say Happy New Year. We are all back at school and work. The Steve and Kyler were back to their routine on Monday. Jake and MaKenna started school again on Tuesday. I worked some over the vacation and worked from home on Monday.

The 2 week vacation was nice and at the same time long. We really just took it easy and enjoyed being at home. We kept it pretty low key for Christmas this year too. We really cut back on the number of gifts the kids got. They are kids - they don't need much! Jake got the honor of reading the Christmas Story. We used the Children Readers version. He liked that.

I needed to feel like I got something accomplished over the break, so on Monday - in between meetings we rearranged MaKenna's room. It was nothing like we did growing up, but maybe close. We swapped her bunk bed and dresser around, gave her new comforter sets, and stickers on the door. It was actually a pretty big ordeal. Jake's and Kyler's room is next (but they get paint).

December

WOW – I know I always say how time goes by fast, but it did it again to me. It’s already December. I need to be better about this blog – I always feel like I’m playing catch up. I’m not sure if anyone reads it, but here it goes…

The weather has definitely got us believe it is December. Saturday was in the 60’s so it didn’t seem like almost Christmas. Sunday we got snow, and then today I drove to work with the car saying -18 degrees. Way too cold. Weather.com is saying -5 degrees right now and its 11am. That is just “COLD”.

Our Thanksgiving was nice. We had our neighbors – Debbie and Shane over for dinner. The kids really enjoyed the long weekend off of school. Kyler got to go with me this year for the traditional Black Friday shopping trip. He did a good job, but wanted to keep everything I looked at. He kept saying “…but I love it…”. He eventually traded 1 thing in his hand for a piece of gum that he “loved”.

Jake is doing great at wrestling. I took him to Golden this weekend. He got 1 win and 1 pin. He wrestled hard and really does have the basics of wrestling down solid. MaKenna is patiently waiting for wrestling to be over so she can start gymnastics. I told her once Jake was done with Monday night activities, she could do something. She is a really big help to daddy while I’m gone with Jake. Kyler loves to play with MaKenna and tells me that MaKenna is his friend. She is loving it – he will do anything she tells him to do. He hasn’t learned that he shouldn’t always listen to his big sister.

We hope to get our Christmas tree tonight. Things have been so hectic the last couple weeks with just one thing after another. The main problem was – our washer stopped and leaked water all over the floor in the laundry room. So, needless to say, I got my Christmas present early – a new washer and dryer. I’m so ready for a relaxing Christmas vacation. The kids will be off for 2 weeks and HP has decided to close as well. So if I don’t get called into work – I’ll have 2 weeks off (meaning I will do email from home and not have to go to work in the way to cold weather). Maybe I’ll get my Christmas / New Year cards sent…

I’m sure I won’t get around to updating this before Christmas so… We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Wrestling

Jake started wrestling this year. He is really loving it. He's been practicing for a few weeks, and had his 1st "real live" wrestling match on Saturday.

Here in Colorado, they don't seem to have many of the all day long wrestling tournaments. They have meets with 4-5 mat clubs. The clubs all rotate so that each mat clubs competes in a dual with the other clubs. It worked out really well. Jake wrestling 4 times and we were done and headed home after 4 hours (5 hours if you count weigh in).

It sure didn't take long for all the excitement and memories to come back. I loved watching Daniel wrestle - now I get to watch my son wrestle. I was down on the mat - just like always. The only missing was Daddy yelling "tear 'em" like he did before each of Daniel's matches. Jake knows how to do a take down - but then isn't to sure what to do next, so he lets them up... and then takes them down again.

Jake won twice and lost twice. He was smiling the whole time and enjoying it - so I think it was pretty successful. As long as he keeps having a good time and learns something then we're good.

October

October flew by fast. I only write on this while at work - so you can probably tell I've been pretty busy at work. Honestly, I have tried - but never got to it.

The kids finished their 1st quarter of school and got great report cards. "Jake is pleasant and a joy to have in class." I knew Jake's would be good. I was a little nervous about MaKenna's - but had to laugh when I read: "MaKenna is doing better at following directions with out negotiating." Since then I have paid more attention to what she does when she is asked to do something. O My Goodness - she negotiates on everything! Even the simplest thing has to be done with some challenge and resistance - her way!

October was beautiful month. We had mostly nice warm days and cool nights. Halloween this year wasn't cold and snowy - the 1st time since we've lived in Colorado. We took the kids to HP and they got way more candy then they ever needed in about 40 minutes. Kyler asked "can i have this one" for each piece of candy he picked up. Jake and MaKenna would take a piece, say thank you and move on. They got tired of waiting for Kyler.

Kyler was Farmer Jones, MaKenna was a Ballerina, and Jake was a Baseball player. (Since Jake has lost both his front teeth - he should have been a hockey player.)

School Pictures

Back to school always leads to fun things. One of those things is School Pictures. Here they are:

JAKE - 7 Years old


MaKenna - 5 Years old


Kyler - 2 1/2 Years old

Fall is in the air

What a great week. I love this time of year. It is perfect for jeans and sweatshirts in the mornings and evenings and shorts and t-shirts in the afternoons.

I can't believe we're into September already. This kids are doing great at school and we seem to have a routine down. I get to volunteer in Jake's computer class every other Wednesday and in MaKenna's classroom every other Thursday morning.

The kids went to their 1st 4-H meeting Monday night. They are both too young to show an animal, but there are other activities and project for them to do. They will be "Cloverbuds" this year. Next year - since Jake will be 8 years old, he will be able to show an animal. I was thinking a pig (Bacon) or a cow (Hamburgers). We'll see what he wants to do.