New Year!

So much has happened since I last posted!  We made it through the holiday season.  We did not make a trip up to central Iowa this year for Christmas, but Annie and Chad brought their family down here for New Years!  They came a day early due to weather, too.  So we were able to celebrate at midnight with them.  We spent part of the evening over at Talleys' again this year as well.  Just our families, though.  Gracie had a sleepover with one of her friends, too.  It was a busy evening.

Owen and River wrestling downstairs

Sug and Ruby seem to be worn out

Visiting the horses in the barn

Kaia is adorable.

More horse love.

Icicles from the freezing rain the day before

Winter wonderland

Owen wrestled at Blair Oaks on January 2.  Annie rode down to the Lake with Annie and we joined them later for dinner.  Spectators are still limited, although it does not appear that way in this picture.

Smiles after winning his matches.

He placed first at this meet.

Fun with the family

Both outside and inside.

We had more snow that evening.

Shenanigans with uncle Nick

I think Gracie might be too big

Thank goodness grandma and grandpa have a hot tub!

Gracie's hat

Axe Throwing!

We tried this for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday.  We had a lot of fun!  Como Axe Attack!

The kids were a little jealous that we had an adult night out.  They wanted to go too.

Here is the family picture!

Owen finally had a chance to shoot his new pellet gun.

He also received arrows for his bow for Christmas and has been spending time in the basement practicing with those.

Owen taking aim.

Nick showing him how it works.  I think he already knew.

Another snow day!

It seems we have had a lot so far this year.

Owen and Ruby playing outside.

Ruby and Owen again

Nick had to go buy a new toy to pull.

More competitions

Gracie has started her competitive basketball season with Phenom.  They are learning a lot I think (or hope).  There are 11 girls on her team now and I know it has been frustrating at times for her, but she seems to keep wanting to do it. 

They are missing one here.  And another has been added since this tournament.

Stretching out and warming up before the Linn tournament on January 23

More bball

This tournament was tough.  The team was 1-2 on the day.  There is another 7th grade Phenom team that they have played 3 times and lost to 3 times.  

Iowa!  We finally made it up again!

We got to celebrate River's birthday again with him.  We had really wanted to go skiing, but the weather certainly did not cooperate.  We convinced Annie to leave her kids with Gracie for a couple hours on Friday when we got there.  Adults went out again!

Happy Birthday River!

Snuggles with Kaia

Hickory Park!

It's a tradition!

Owen was about to try to sit on Cy's arm, but he is getting too big!

I will have to put all of these pictures together someday to show how he has grown!

We got a good one!

And then aske Gracie to join.  Kaia was done, though.

Instead of skiing we went to an ISU wrestling meet.  It was empty and not nearly as fun as I remember it being.  I blame COVID.  Annie decided that is was best to take Kaia home, but I think River enjoyed the outing.

Notice the empty seats.

And how far up we had to sit to make sure we were around no one else.

February 6 competitions

Back to basketball in Springfield

Gracie missed a tournament while we were in Iowa, but was back at it last weekend with her team. They lost a few close games, but at least they were close.  We're getting there.  Gracie got an elbow to the eye, also. 

Gracie running the offense.  She has expanded from just being a post player.

Blocking out one her her pretty good friends from Columbia on the other Phenom team.

Here's the eye right after the game.

It immediately swelled and has become more colorful since.

Wrestling!

Owen had a great weekend in Lebanon with CWC!  We were only about 45 minutes away from the place that this guy took another championship.  Missouri Nationals were held here and Owen entered a 16 man bracket with kids from multiple states entered.  I got to see 3 of the 4 matches he wrestled through Nick's messenger app.  One of them wouldn't connect.  I was so excited for him!

That's a big piece of metal

Owen on the podium

Champion!!

Someone from CWC got a pretty good pic of these two. 

And here's my accomplishment from last week.  Exactly one week ago when the temp was above fifty degrees.  I wish I would've had time for one more mile!

A lot has changed since then.  Like -50 degrees.  Ugh.  I want winter to be gone.

I will be treading on the mill for awhile.