Winter is Almost Over!

Before Florida, I believe the last post included the beginning of basketball and Owen's first wrestling meet.  Since then we have had several more activities to attend and a lot more to keep us busy.  Owen also had the Pinewood Derby, earned the citizenship award at school for the month of January, and Gracie participated in the all-school spelling bee.  The month has been packed with things to do.

These are a few pictures from basketball.  Gracie's first game was kind of messy, but the improvement in the second game was amazing.  During their practice that week, they practiced one play, which was a screen for the point guard, who would then dribble around and go in for a shot.  They did this every time during the second game, and it worked.  Gracie had the privilege of playing point guard during that game and scored quite a few points.  She had to miss the next game due to our Florida trip, but during practice this week, they worked on a different play, so we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Gracie in her second game at point guard.  I don't think she even knows what that means.

In-bounds pass

Owen's first game was kind of a mess of six-year-olds running around chasing the ball.  Sometimes someone would score.  Owen says he has fun and he doesn't ever stop moving.  He seems to play pretty good defense and it's definitely entertaining.

Owen getting paired up with the opposite team

Looking for the rebound

Another picture of Gracie in her first game

Gracie's first game

Owen and his friend Gibson playing ball

Owen wrestled at the Rookie State Meet in Sedalia.  It was an early morning and kind of a long day for him.  He wrestled 5 matches and seemed pretty tired by the end of the day.  He ended up placing fifth and I think it was a good experience for him.  Of course, there were tears (his, not mine) when he lost, but I hope he is learning each time he goes out there.  Watching wrestling as a mom is a little different than as a coach's wife.  I looked at my fitbit heart rate monitor at the end of one of Owen's matches and my pulse was over 90 bpm just sitting there.  I don't know why I get so anxious; he's six.  I loved watching the high school kids, though, too, but it was a different kind of nervous.  You always want your kids to do well, whether they're your own or not. I know how much work wrestlers and other athletes put in to try to be successful.  However, I recall feeling the same way when Gracie had her first softball game last year, too.  I was so nervous for her, and she probably didn't have a care in the world.  Ugh.  This is only the beginning.

I think there were only a couple things that bothered me about this meet.  I witnessed a dad yelling and swearing at his son for not making weight at 75 lbs.  AGAIN, 75 LBS.  He couldn't have been older than 8 or 9.  Gracie was sitting with me in the tunnel next to the bullpen with wide eyes watching the whole thing happen.  I really wanted to say something, and I'm almost certain that Nick would have, but was in shock at the moment and the dad was a lot bigger than me.  I don't think I could have taken him.  I could tell that Gracie was not comfortable so I talked to her about how we will always support her and Owen and adults should not say things like that to their kids.  It's disappointing when adults behave that way and set bad examples for youth.  I hope that Nick continues to coach and model for youth the behaviors that will help them become respectable young men and women.  I also hope that I can be that supportive parent always cheering my kids on and helping them get back up when they fail.

The other thing that bothered me was that there were trophies for sale.  I didn't know that you could buy a trophy and put your kid's name on it, even if they didn't win.  This seems counterproductive in teaching kids about how to handle losing. Trophies and medals should be earned, not bought. This is only my opinion, though.  I'm sure the company that sits there and sells them is only considering the profit they will make from the parents who don't know other ways to help their kids learn to stop crying after losing.  Maybe this seems harsh, but youth need to learn how to accept disappointment.  It won't be the last time, and they won't be rewarded for failing when they become adults.  I'd rather tell them to suck it up, learn from it, and do better next time.  Feeling disappointed and sad is ok; that means it's important to you.  But I want losing to create more drive to improve; not complacency in feeling that they'll be rewarded no matter what.   I could go on about this, but I don't want to take away from the fun Owen had, even though he lost.  He was a happy camper the whole way home...without a trophy.

Here's Owen, waiting for his match.

These were a few of the wrestlers from Columbia's Club

After Owen's first match.

River came to watch!

Dad and Owen waiting for the medals

Owen's first match

I think this was taken at wrestling practice when we were waiting for Owen.

Owen won his first match.  He went 3-2 on the day and placed fifth.   I think there were 13 in his bracket and it was a double elimination tournament.

Owen seemed happy with the results, even though losing is tough.  He said he wants to keep doing it.

Wrestling is almost over.  The younger kids are done, but Nick is still helping with the older kids' practices, so Owen goes in with him.  It think they will have their banquet in a few weeks, maybe.  It has been really good for both Nick and Owen to be involved again.  

School Activities

Gracie and Owen have had plenty going on at school, as well.  Gracie participated in the spelling bee at school, which we went to watch.  Owen was awarded the Citizenship Award for his class for the month of January.  They have had Valentine Parties, conferences were this week, family fun night is next week, and the Sock Hop is the week after.  They are both in the New Haven Elementary Choir, which meets after school once a week.  They will perform at the Multicultural Night in April.

Gracie at her spelling bee

Owen and Nick working on his pinewood derby car.  I wasn't feeling well the day of the derby, so Nick has all the pictures on his phone.  Owen made a superman car, and I think his was third place out of his tiger den.  Owen has had a lot of fun with scouts this year.  We have had a lot of Tiger Den meetings at our house and all of the boys in his den will get their tiger badge and advance to the next level.  They will all be recognized at the Blue and Gold Gala a week from today.  

Owen is making a flag for outside of his fort.  Whenever the weather is nice, he is outside playing.  Nick helped with the fort, but Owen was pretty excited to build it.

Owen was recognized at the Star Assembly for being a good citizen in his class.

We met with the builder almost a month ago out at our property.  We are pretty close to closing on the construction loan, but I thought we would be started by now.  I can't wait until there is a house out there!  We took Jack, and he found the pond, of course.  I think Nick is going to have to train him not to go in it all the time.  We are going to have a stinky dog!

River is 2!

We went to Annie and Chad's earlier this month to celebrate River's birthday.  I can't believe he is 2!  

Owen is helping him blow out his candle.

Waiting to eat his cake

Time to open presents

I think he's going for the dirt bike here.  But he could be moving in for a handful of frosting. 

 I can't remember.

More presents.

It was a beautiful day on River's birthday. We also wished my mom a happy birthday last week and she has been celebrating in Arizona since Sunday.  We have been really lucky with the weather this winter.  It has been so mild and warm for the most part.  I don't think we've had any rain so far this month, which might not be so great, but we've been enjoying it.  

This was last night. 

It was 70 degrees yesterday, and is supposed to be warm for the rest of the weekend and into next week.  Yesterday was the first day in over a week that the kids and I had a whole afternoon at home and had absolutely no activities to go to.  It was so nice!  Of course, Nick was working at the Missouri state wrestling meet, but we got to enjoy the warm afternoon, anyway.  I was finally able to put the house back in order, as well.  It's amazing how cluttered it can get in between activities; and how much you can get done in just one afternoon at home!  After helping me pick up everything, the kids took Dancer out for a little bit.  Gracie said that she wants to give her a bath, but I don't know how that's going to work.  I think Dancer might protest.

Love these two!

Gracie and Owen are home with me today and Nick is staying home with them on Monday because they don't have school.  Gracie has already started a list of things she wants to do on their day off.  Tomorrow they each have a basketball game, and I think Nick still has to work at the the State Wrestling Meet.  Next week should be busy again with all of their activities. 

I'm hoping we can start digging a hole for a basement in the next week or two.  It seems like it's taking the bank forever to get things going for the construction loan. I'll keep updating, and hopefully there will be more to report soon!