Wrestling "season" 2014-2015

I use the term "season" for the title loosely, as in our house, the season never really ends, only settles down for a bit. We weren't sure how the "season" would go this year as for most tournaments Carter would be the younger of the kids for the 3rd and 4th grade brackets or 9 and 10 year old brackets (being a 9 year old 3rd grader) Even though the kids have to weigh the same, wrestling a kid a year older does make a difference. I'd say finishing the year with a 40-3 record proved he can hang with the older kids! His only losses again this year were at National tournaments, losing twice to the #1 kid from California and another kid from Kansas. He was able to redeem his loss to the Kansas kid later on in the season, beating him to place at Flo Tulsa Nationals in Tulsa Oklahoma in January. 

So once you reach 3rd grade, you have to qualify for the state tournament, just like high schoolers. Up until this year, the state tournament is open to any one from K-2. The state has 8 districts, with our district being the biggest, hence more kids competing at the tournament. Carter's bracket had 24 kids in it, again a mix of 3rd and 4th graders. The top 4 finishers get to go onto the state tournament. Based on your finish at the districts, determines your seed for the state tournament. 

The championship match came down to Carter and his friend/wrestling partner Koufax. These boys wrestle each other in practice 2-3 times a week, sometimes Carter wins, sometimes Koufax wins. Carter came out ahead this time when it counted, winning 7-1.

The future of Waukee wrestling! Conner, Koufax, Noah, Thurman and Carter!

A week after districts, I got a call from the school nurse saying Carter got hurt at recess while playing basketball, his left thumb looks really bad and I need to take him into the urgent care clinic. Her words were, " I think it's broke" My heart sank.

Due to the swelling, they were unable initially to determine if it was broke, so -they put a soft cast on it for a week. A week later it was re-xrayed and confirmed it was broke. No activities for 6 weeks. The room was silent for about 30 seconds until Carter started crying, Jeremy hung his head and I sat in disbelief. It was so hard to see my non emotional son be so upset over this.

Now I realize, this is NOTHING compared to what some parents deal with everyday, trust me, I get it. I work with people who have sustained life alternating injuries/illnesses everyday. If this is the only injury we have in his athletic career, we'll consider ourselves lucky. This will heal, there will always be next year.

A few weeks ago I was cleaning up Carter's room and found this piece of paper. Now handwriting is not is strong suit, but it basically says, my goal is to be a state champion, he's going to get there by practicing, working hard and learning new moves, his parents, friends, family, team and coaches are going to help him get there, and he knows the goal is met when he is a state champion.

I asked Carter about this (I had never seen it before) and how he felt about it. He said, well, it'll still be good for next year! Yep! You are right buddy! There's always next year! 

Christmas 2014

What a blessed Christmas we had! Over the years our Christmas tradition hasn't detoured much. We do the same routine each year and I love it! I love being in our own home on Christmas eve and morning, spending time at church and our tradition surf and turf Christmas eve dinner. 

Getting Santa's cookies ready! 

All spiffed up to go to church on Christmas eve, eve! 

Prime rib, crab legs, and all the fixins! 

Birthday cake for baby Jesus! 

After dinner, we open presents from each other! We have stayed with the tradition of doing 3 gifts to represent the 3 gifts baby Jesus received ( as well as to keep our spending in check!) 

This year Case got a set of dress up superhero clothes, a tent, and a Nerf bow and arrow set. 

Claire got a Chatsters doll, a hair and body salon, and American girl doll accessories.

Carter got Pokemon cards, a PS3 game, and a Nintendo DS game

I got this awesome gift! The kids know me too well...I'm always cold and love the Cyclones! 

Sprinkling a little reindeer food and glitter for Santa to find his way! Then it was off to bed! 

Christmas morning arrived and I was quite impressed everyone slept until 7am! Santa kept his word and brought each kiddo a Hide A Way pet to add to the giant stuffed animal collection! He also left lots of goodies in our stockings! 

Late morning we headed to Jeremy's mom's for brunch and more gifts! Then it is off to Grandma and Grandpa Berry's for dinner and more gifts! 

Carter got this awesome dart board that has resulted in many heated battles of cricket and 501!

Case anxiously waiting for Grandma to open her gift! 

More American Girl doll clothes! 

And last but not least more giant animals to put who knows where! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! 

We always take annual Christmas photos at mom and dad's which I love looking at each year! 

My sister and I with our Grandma Mehlmann who was able to join us for the day!

Grandma and Grandpa Berry and the grand kids and Great Grandma and the kiddos! 

I was lucky enough to get the day after Christmas off so we were able to stay over at mom and dad's that night. Darcie and I were able to take the kids down to see the Christmas lights at Bairds which I am hoping will be another tradition we continue. I wish I had thought to take some pictures. It's been probably 20 years since I have seen these lights and it still amazes me! If you ever get to SW Iowa in December this is a MUST see! 

Catching up and gearing up!

Catching up seems to be an ongoing challenge these days. I wonder if I will ever be caught up? Not even sure what that really means! Anyway, Carter played flag football again this year through I9 sports with a couple of kids from his baseball team as well as some new teammates. Jeremy had so much fun coaching last year ( I am being serious!) that he opted to coach again with a little help from Coach King, Carter's baseball coach. They easily won their division, outscoring their opponents 185-42. They ended the season with a 7-1 record, losing their only game in the championship game of the 2 divisions. The Championship game is played in Ankeny on the old high school field with AstroTurf and all! Not sure what next year will bring as the the option is there to play tackle (he could have started that this year) with Carter expressing interest in trying this. I'm not so sure Jeremy and I are up for that? 

I realized I never posted the kids school pictures! I never take these too seriously since we always do family pictures but I think the turned out pretty good! 

So I truly win rotten mother of the year award! You'd never know it by the big smile on this girl's face! I got a call on a FRIDAY afternoon from the school nurse that Claire had come in from recess because she had fallen off the monkey bars. The nurse had her stay inside for the next recess and had given me some info on where I could take her over the weekend if she complained of any pain. I picked her up from school, she seemed fine and really wanted to go to her friend's birthday party at Backyard Adventures that night. I mean I am an OT right? I did my ROM checks, she was fine! I dropped her off and when I came back to pick her up, she was sitting by herself saying her wrist hurt. Aww..You'll be okay, let's go home and put some ice on it! SATURDAY she helped me scoop snow (Jeremy and Carter were gone for the weekend at a wrestling tournament in Oklahoma) but only complained slightly of her wrist hurting. Aww..You'll be okay, lets ice it. So SUNDAY Jeremy and Carter get home with Carter needing to go to the Dr to get a clearance note for his ringworm (gotta love dirty wrestling mats) so at the last minute I had her go along with the boys so the Dr could check out her arm. Yep, sure enough, 2 days later, only because of ringworm, did we realize, yes her wrist was truly broken!  MONDAY they put a pretty pink cast on it! Luckily she thinks this is pretty cool and loves all the extra attention she has gotten! Both her gymnastics coach and dance teacher have been kind enough to modify their programs for her so she can still participate in her activities. She goes in tomorrow to have it taken off after 4 weeks! It is getting pretty ripe so I'll be glad to have it gone! Yep, rotten mom of the year! 

Although I didn't take any pictures, we celebrated Thanksgiving this year by hosting the dinner at our house! This is the first time we have done this and I think we may have started a new tradition. I have to admit I cheated somewhat and ordered it all from Hyvee!!! It was the best Thanksgiving ever! No grocery shopping, no hours spent in the kitchen cooking, and no dishes to wash! We ordered a hot carved turkey dinner for 12 people with all the fixings for way less than you could have bought all the groceries for and it was YUMMY! Later that afternoon Jeremy and the kids and I along with my mom and sister checked out one of our favorite holiday pastimes, The Festival of Lights and Trees! This is a fundraiser for Blank Children's Hospital with some of the most gorgeous trees! There is always a scavenger hunt for kids to find certain things on the trees as well as a ton of kids activities. This is our traditional kick off to the Christmas season! 

Case's favorite treat, filled with Teddy Bears

Carter picked the "Elf" tree as his fav this year!

And of course, we are still mesmerized by Frozen! 

Santa was there thank goodness because this may be the only chance we have to see him! 

What has also become a Christmas tradition gearing up for the holidays is the annual ugly Christmas sweater party hosted by our friends the Sorensen's for neighbors in our old hood. These are some before pics with our friends the Buschers. The kids all get to have their own party filled with pizza and movies while the adults stagger across the street for some adult beverages and lots of laughs! It's so good to see all of our old neighbors! 

Last Friday I was able to spend the morning with Claire and her class at the Des Moines Playhouse to watch the production of the Gingerbread Man. I felt so thankful her teacher asked if I could join them! 

Friday night was also a big night for Case as Kids Company held their annual preschool Christmas program. I wasn't sure how he would do with this but he was a rock star and belted out the words to every song. So funny because all week I asked him what they were singing and he kept saying, " I don't know" He knew! Little smarty pants! 

And last but not least, we had a very special visitor in our neighborhood this past weekend! Santa came by on the Clive fire truck handing out candy canes and taking last minute requests! Thanks to our neighbor Sonya to alerting us he was coming! If it weren't for her we would have missed him the last 2 years! 

 I have to say I think I am ready for Christmas! House decorated ( we added another tree this year to make 6!) Christmas cards sent, presents all bought and mostly wrapped! AND.....Santa is bringing gifts this year that don't have to be put together at midnight on Christmas eve! Woo hoo! Maybe I am caught up? :)