The Home Wrestling Tournament

The boys warming up.

A big smile at the end :)

Last evening was the wrestling tournament here at home. It definately didn't go the way we would have liked for it to go, but you do your best and that's all you can do. IC had 3 matches in a bracket of 4 boys. He was unable to pin anyone and was pinned all 3 times. The last match he wrestled his heart out, but it wasn't quite enough. He did great, in my opinion, despite getting 4th and still got a medal.

The part that JJ and I have a problem with is the lack of support our coaches give the kids. You rarely hear them yelling during the tournament (at least for the younger kids, I'm not sure about the older ones). If it wasn't for JJ and I, IC would have had no one yelling in support or trying to help him out. And believe me, it was hard to yell over the 2 coaches helping the other boy out at the last match-they were really there supporting him-makes me wonder why our coaches can't be that way.

I was REALLY ticked when the one coach who was watching IC's mat, walked away when IC got on the mat! There wasn't one coach watching him the last time he wrestled. While I realize we had a lot of kids there and not everyone can be watched all the time-it still basically sucked. The worst part is that even though there are surrounding matches in the area, most of our coaches don't really go. JJ said at the last practice that one coach might go to that one, and other to another one, but there wasn't any going to several. Um, what's the point of coaching if you never go to any matches? Just asking.

And no, I'm not wanting to be one of THOSE parents who chews out the coach, teacher, etc every time her kid doesn't get the break or whatever that he deserves, but I do think it would be nice if these coaches would step up a bit.

Anyway, I am still proud of IC for trying his hardest. There were a few tears at the end of the last 2 matches-that was the first time I'd ever seen him cry after a match. I hope we'll have better luck next time.

Work AND A Little Bit of Play

It's been a little busy around here this week.

Wednesday and Thursday (today), I worked at the elementary school in Success 1 and 2. I'm liking it, but it sure makes it impossible to get things done at home. :)

IC didn't want to stay for Creations yesterday and since it was a small class anyway, we skipped home. The kids enjoyed the day and I got the girls' stuff ready for daycare for today and stuff ready for work.

At 6, I went to town to do a little scrapbooking. I haven't scrapped forever and it felt good to be out again, but it wasn't quite the same-a different place, definately not as homey, but it worked anyway.

I need to swing back into scrapbooking-it's been way too long.

It's BAACCKK!

Winter has returned, with a sudden veganence.

And I do mean sudden.

We are talking 52 degree weather yesterday . . .

And 20 degree weather today with a BLIZZARD.

Yep, a whole white-out, gusts of 30 mph winds, several inches on the ground, everything.

Yuck.

It started snowing around noon and it hasn't quit yet and it's 5:15 pm.

I was so nervous driving home from school and the grocery store that I made the kids be as quiet as possible while I drove. I slid several times in town and I wasn't going even close to the speed limit.

Time to pull the snowpants and boots back out of the closet to be reused.

If I haven't mentioned yet,

Yuck.

Ready for Kindergarten!

Yesterday, after school, I took Miss A to the immunization clinic for Kindergarten shots. She did great-barely crying at all! I was so nervous about it all day, since IC's had not gone well 2 years ago.

She was such a trooper, though, and afterward, she was stoked because she gets to go to Kindergarten now! She's not been too excited in the past, but she was after that. First, she kept saying she gets to go next week, but after telling her several times, she's got it down that she gets to go in the fall. She talked about it most of the evening, though.

The rest of the required stuff is easy now-the dr. exam, dentist appointment, and eye dr. appointment will all be a piece of cake. I didn't realize until later on how tense I was during the day, since I totally relaxed after shots. I am so glad I only have 1 more child to put through that!

Tuesday

I'm home today, which is good, considering I got called to work yesterday and then was asked to work Wed and Thursday of this week AND Monday, Thursday and Friday of next week! All at the elementary school, by the way, I wouldn't consider working that much at the high school. I did say I'd work for one gal at the high school for a week in March, but that's it.



Anyway, I will work all the days except next Friday-that day JJ and I are supposed to go to Omaha in the evening and I'm considering having the kids stay overnight at mom's so that it's not quite as late of night for them, but we'll see.



So, today, I am doing several things this morning, running errands after I drop Miss A off at school, and then hopefully, JJ is taking IC to wrestling and wrestling pictures tonight. Luckily, Mom can come watch the girls tomorrow, so they only have to go to daycare one day this week and next week.

I was informed that Anna's preschool will be making up 4 days. FOUR DAYS of school! Even IC doesn't have to make any snow days up! The kids will go 2 Fridays in March and 2 Fridays in April to make up time. I hope we don't have any more snow days this year.

Saturday's Clean-up

Today, was cleaning day. I got the house and the store room cleaned and laundry washed. That part was good. The bad part was the misbehaving children I had all day, the fact that the temperature outside is not near as warm or nice as it was this past week and it just wasn't the greatest of days.

But, we survived. Since the kids were naughty, I'm thinking to sticking to no-TV tonight. It might be time for a family game night tonight.

We'll have to see.

Chuck E Cheese

After pictures, we headed to Chuck E Cheese. It was fun for awhile, and then, it wasn't. But the kids had a good time, and afterward, I got to go next door to JoAnn Fabrics for some supplies, so it turned out all good in the end.

Family Pictures

Friday morning we headed to Lincoln to take family pictures since IC didn't have school because of a teacher workday. This was the first time since having kids that someone didn't have a fuss fit during pictures. Now afterward, while we were waiting to see the pictures, that's a whole different story, as there were fights over the legos at the lego table. Ugh. But, the pics turned out very nice, anyway.

Proud Panther Night

Thursday night was Proud Panther Night where we went to visit IC's class room to see some things he'd been working on, have hot dogs for supper, and then watch a demonstration by the Edgar Explorit Center that came to visit. After their demo, there were several stations set up for the kids to play/explore in. We went to this place last summer, so we were familiar with the activities. The kids had a good time. Miss A and E bunny got to have a hair-raising experience with the static electricity machine, and IC loved the building robotics.

My Appointment With E bunny

Yesterday, I turned down working at the high school. After dropping Miss A off at school, I took E bunny to Cumberland's Mini Park and spent an hour with E. It was our appointment to have some fun. And she did have fun :) It was such a nice day. Every nice day this week has been windy-which is rather normal for our state, but it was still a good day.

A Gorgeous and Busy Week

It is an absolutely gorgeous week this week. Temps in the 50-60's-awesome! I am so ready for spring.

I know it won't last-it's February-in Nebraska! It's a temporary joy, I know, but I am determined to enjoy it while we can.

The kids had such a goo time on Sunday outside-playing with the cats and doing numerous outdoor things.

JJ and I were able to get the girls' bookshelf/Barbie house done. It has a few flaws, but it works just fine, regardless.

Last night there was dance and a scout meeting. Tonight is wrestling practice and a stop at the school's book fair on the way out after practice (IC is SO just dying to go-even though he gets books from the book orders every time. I think he's got an eye on something in peticular.)

Tomorrow doesn't slow down with Creations and choir practice (the ONLY time I'm going to get to be by myself all week, I think).

Thursday, our nephew wrestles in Omaha for State Wrestling, but we have proud panther night that night, so we'll miss it.

Friday, he wrestles again, but we have family pictures in Lincoln that I'd really not like to miss-they were supposed to be done at Christmas, but somehow, they just didn't. I'm afraid if we don't go Friday, they won't get done at all.

Saturday, we'll be home-all day-YES!!! I am looking forward to that day. Although I have been home the past 2 days during part of the day, I'm not getting anything accomplished and believe me, there seems to be an awful lot of things to do around here. Many things need to be done before E's birthday party-they just need to be done.

So, now, it time to get things ready for tonight and make supper before we head to practice. Oh, and get the kids out of the mud! It's still frightfully muddy around here-blech, you really didn't want to see some of the kids' play clothes from the past 2 days! I'm fairly certain some are permantly stained. Ah well.

A New Milestone Made

It's another milestone today for E bunny-she sang in the cherub choir at church today. Actually, all 3 of my children sang today in church. The girls were in cherub choir and IC was in Kinderchoir.

I have to say that the girls did a whole lot better than IC-he likes to sing, but he tends to not do well in front of people anymore. I am not sure if it's just not cool to sing in front of people or what, but he doesn't try nor does he do the actions. Maybe next year when he's in the older kids' choir, hopefully, he'll start singing nicely again.

E bunny, on the other hand, did great! (especially for not being quite 3 yet!) She did as many actions as she could and sang the words she knew. Miss A is an old hand at it and does very well with singing and actions.

It was fun to watch.

Busy Week

It's been a BUSY week-no wonder I'm so tired today and can't get anything done!

Monday, JJ and I took off for Lincoln for taxes and running to several places to get things. Mom watched the kids and we were able to get home in time for me to take Miss A to dance. IC stayed home w/Daddy, but I had to drag E along. She and I went to get gas and groceries while Miss A had practice and it was COLD!

Tuesday, I was home to work on the mountain of laundry that had gathered in the baskets before it was time to take IC to wrestling practice. He got a new singlet, as the team ordered them this year.

Wednesday, I was called in to work at the middle school, which kinda messed up my plans, but I went anyway and the girls went to Rainbow to daycare. After school was Creations and then, it was time to be home.

Thursday, I was scheduled to work at Success 2 at the elementary school. I like working there. It was a big learning curve to get the hang of, but I enjoyed it. After that, it was hurry home, after picking E up from my MIL's, to make cheezy hash browns for the Blue and Gold Banquet held at the UCC church. The Tigers FINALLY received their Bobcat badges, even though they earned them several months ago.

Friday, mom came to watch the girls while I helped run the Valentine's party in Isaac's class. That was fun. We had a Love Bug craft, a game of passing the present around, and throwing chocolate hearts into a box (bean bag type game). After that, was snack and opening Valentine's. It was a good time at the party.

Today, this morning, we had dance pictures for Miss A at the photography place in town. The girls were adorable in their outfits. E got a little cranky-I think she wanted to have her picture taken, too!

This afternoon, we were home and it's so nice this weekend, with temps in the 40s and 50s, so the kids played outside quite a bit yesterday and today. Of course, there's a LOT of mud now, with still some snow piles, but they still had fun. JJ and I were able to construct one of 2 bookshelves that we need to put together. He had gotten the wood for me this morning, while we were at pictures, so that was all ready this afternoon. Of course, I designed the shelves, but the wood is REALLY hard to drive screws, so he had to help me. The first bookshelf is for the office, for a bunch of stuff for my scrapping. Yes, I have THAT much stuff I need more than one bookshelf to hold it all.

The 2nd bookshelf we hope to finish tomorrow afternoon. It is a shorter bookshelf that we will use as a Barbie house for now, and it can be used for storing things later, when Barbie is too babyish. And yes, I designed that one, also.

Today, my younger nephew qualified for state in wrestling. I hope we are able to go see him next week.

Tomorrow, the kids sing in church, and hopefully, E will also be up there. She started going to S.S. a couple of weeks ago, even though she's technically a month too young, but it's working and she LOVES to sing, so we'll see if she gets up there tomorrow.

There's a TON of things to get done around here-somehow I have to find the time to get them done. We are only a month away from E's birthday and this month is ridiculously busy for some reason. Never a dull moment around the farm!

Sesame Street!

At the conclusion of our big weekend, we went to Sesame Street Live! on Sunday. After S.S., we went home to pick up JJ and head to Lincoln. We ate at Valentino's for dinner before the show.

I have to admit, the show was fun. And the kids' thought so too. It was a little nostalgic for me-the last time we went to Sesame Street, IC was 2 and Miss A was due in a couple of weeks.

Those were the days.

We were thinking that this would probably be the last time we'd be taking everyone, since we figured IC would be getting too big for it.

You'd never guess what IC said to me after the show. "Hey mom, can we come again next year, that was so fun!"

Really? That was the last thing I expected IC to say.

The girls loved the show, though E got a little wiggly by the end. She hung in there, though, and didn't whine much.

Miss A, who never was one to watch Sesame Street on TV, LOVED the show and was thrilled the whole time. I hope it made up for the 2 boring times the girls had the 2 days before.

All in all, the weather held until we were almost home, adding the icing to a great afternoon with the kids.

First Wrestling Meet

This morning was IC's first wrestling meet of the year-in Dorchester. We had to get going pretty early this morning, and then we forgot the wrestling shoes and had to turn around, so we were much later than planned. Since I had pre-registered and called ahead that we'd be late, we were still able to wrestle.

IC did great-wrestling 3 times. He pinned the first 2 opponents and was pinned by the third. He won 2nd place in his bracket-a good job for the first time he wrestled for real places instead of getting a participating medal regardless of how he did.

We were lucky that my SIL and her husband were there, too, so they got to see him wrestle and spend a little time with some very bored little sisters.

It started raining on the way home, and we are hoping the weather won't be crummy for tomorrow's activities. So, I get things ready today, and hope we can go after S. S. to Lincoln, AGAIN.

A Night With the Stars

In the penalty box-a good place for the kids!

Getting autographs.

Checking out the hockey net.

Friday night was our night to go to Lincoln to see the Lincoln Stars play hockey (against Sioux Falls). We were ahead by 1 for awhile, then they scored, so it ended up in overtime, where we scored the final point to win.

It was ok-the kids had never gone and JJ and I had gone once before the kids were born. The girls got bored the last period and IC started to get that way after awhile, too.

But since it was boy scout night, the boys (and their families) got to go out on the ice to meet the players and get autographs (and play on the ice). The kids really enjoyed that part.

IC had picked out a hockey stick to be signed and he and JJ picked pick hockey pucks for the girls. He was pretty nervous about going out there, not knowing what to expect, but after we explained to IC what to do, he did great.

It was late when we got home, 11:30, but definately pretty good experience.