Here We GO!
I have tried to start and finish this way too many times over the past week and a half. It seems that there was a lull in our calendar and then all of a sudden there was so much going on again. I don't even know where to begin. Maybe it's best if I start with the most recent and work backward this time. That might help a little with my memory. The last three weekends have been wrestling... Platte City (4/20), Blue Springs (4/27), and then this past weekend was Missouri State Freestyle in Springfield. I was able to make it to all of them for at least part of the tournaments. I only missed one match at Blue Springs to take Gracie to softball. So here are a lot of pics from the past few weekends giving freestyle a try.
This past weekend was a qualifier for the Missouri National Dual team that will travel to Pennsylvania in June. Top 2 in each 14u bracket are able to go. Guess what?!?! Owen placed 2nd and will be joining that team. Pretty crazy and I'm so proud and excited for him to get this experience. He is going to have so much fun, as well as be challenged and hopefully learn a lot! What a day!
Earning some hardware at Freestyle State
The venue was the same as folkstyle state back in March, so it felt very familiar.
Getting ready to warm up
Same goofy kids
I don't think Bryce and Owen will ever get tired of picking on each other
Owen wrestled 3 matches and the only one he lost was in the final. He pinned the first two opponents and the final wasn't really close, but Owen took him into 2 periods. This has been an adjustment to freestyle. It's much quicker and the scoring is completely different from folkstyle. I have actually decided that I like this much better. It seems simpler after you understand what is going on. Anyhooo... At this tournament there were wrestlebacks for true 2nd because they were taking two from each weight class. By the way, Owen has gone up to 149 pounds; he's about 5 under that, but didn't want to go down to 136#. I don't blame him. Owen ended up not having to wrestle for true 2nd after losing in the championship match because he had already beat the third place wrestler. Thank goodness! It was a pretty fun day.
Owen pinning his first opponent
Semifinal win
Wrestling in the finals
More finals
Bryce and Owen were not in the same age group; Bryce had to move up because of his birthdate and he is almost a full year older than Owen. Bryce ended up taking third; he lost pretty quickly in his semifinal, but then came back and destroyed his opponent in the third place match. I kind of wanted both of them to win, but Owen was very satisfied that he finally placed higher than Bryce at a tournament. We'll see what this looks like next year, buddy, when you're the youngest in 16u. They both still had a great day and it was pretty fun to be with some of the older kids again who they both know. This tournament went all the way up to Juniors, which I believe is 18u...I'm not quite sure of the age divisions yet.
The previous weekend we were at Blue Springs, which Owen also placed 2nd. It was madison bracketed, so he only had three in his bracket, but it was great experience for him. He lost to a kid who won 14u state folkstyle at 130# and also won the 136# weight class yesterday at 14u. Grandma Deb got to go with us last weekend. I had to take Gracie over to Kansas after Owen's first match, but at least the two venues were only about 45 minutes away from each other. Sometimes things just work out.
Talking to his coach during the break.
Before a match at Platte City
After his 1st match
Congrats from Dad
Getting some tips from dad after a match
Back in Columbia... This past week has been a little crazy with Mizzou classes ending. Athletics had their alternative graduation ceremony last Wednesday (5/1), which is for the student athletes who cannot attend regular graduation due to competition (softball, baseball, and track). There were over 20 student-athletes with their families who attended (about 160 people) the ceremony. We also had our student-athlete Grad Sash Reception on Friday morning. This is when they receive their stole that has student-athlete on it. There are several components besides just competing that are required to earn this. I have been working with so many students who are graduating this year.
Emily O...I will miss her. She came as a 17 year old freshman in 2018. She hasn't really needed any help for the past few years, since she has been in her master's program, but she is just delightful when she stops by. So much personality and energy!
Ah, Maya. She joined Mizzou her freshman year in 2020; what a crazy year to start college. I will not forget her roaming around the halls of MATC, not knowing where to go. I found her and she just keeps coming back. She is actually starting a masters program at Mizzou in the fall and I hope she comes to visit, even though she won't be competing anymore.
My gymnasts.
These two have been regulars in my office for the past few years.
Syd is another one who will be missed.
Tennis
Four graduates this year.
Emelie is missing because she received her grad sash last year and is getting her grad certificate this year. So I have Gabi, Ro, and Mae.
Romary is amazing
She will be attending Wash U in St. Louis to get a doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy.
She has spent many days every week in my office and is constantly studying.
She doesn't need my help, but is always in our academic building.
We have fun! I love my job!
My tennis players took care of me on my birthday!
I have gone to several of their matches, which are outdoor. They tend to see me in my cheap, scratched sunglasses, and of course, make fun of me. Gabi picked these out for me and they chipped in for my birthday. I have never had a pair of sunglasses that I feel like I actually have to take care of until now. I feel very loved.
Finishing up Track Season
We had a couple track meets canceled due to weather, but Owen finished the season doing pretty well. He kept competing in the 100 hurdles, 400m and 4x400. He tried the 4x800 once and had a pretty good split for not knowing how to run an 800 and not having anyone to compete against, really. He finished his leg almost 100m ahead of the runner behind him. I think his split for that was around 2:35. Not bad for a first time.
Hurdles.
His form keeps improving. He was just fast enough to be in the last heat, which is typically the fastest heat. I don't remember the highest he placed, but he was pretty consistent with his time.
Mouth wide open
Running the 4x800
More 4x8
Track buddies
Getting ready to run their last 4x400 as 8th graders.
Javarion, Sean, Owen, and Cooper... Group of pretty good kids.
There is a noticeable difference in hair between a couple of the track meets. He decided the hair had to go. It was causing his forehead to not get enough sun. He walked up to the barber after school on a Wednesday between school and practice and had his hair cut in front of an audience of his friends.
Before
During
After... not sure why he looks so angry.
NHS Induction for Gracie
A week ago 4/28 Gracie was inducted into the Southern Boone National Honor Society. She was able to attend because the tournament in Columbia was canceled because of the weather. Again, some things just work out. Pretty proud of Gracie and her academic achievements!
Gracie with her certificate
Chase is in NHS too!
And Nova!
Proud parents
We did a family thing, too! Went to a Zac Brown Concert!
That day was a little crazy, but we made it work! Gracie ended up having practice in DeSoto, KS and Owen and I went to the tennis senior luncheon in Columbia. Then we all made it over to the other side of the state together in St. Louis by 8pm to watch Zac Brown perform! What a day, but so much fun!
Zac Brown Concert!
Here we are!
Tribute to Jimmy Buffett - "Knee Deep"
Everyone was exhausted by the time we drove home and we returned to Ashland around 12:30am I think. It was a fun trip and I'm glad we took our kids.
Girls Weekend!
We were able to sneak in a couple nights of girl time. Last year I crashed Annie and Anna's party, but this year I was included in the invite. We had a couple nights of not really crazy, but fun times. It's always a good time with these two! During the day Saturday, they went to the spa while I watched Owen wrestle. All good - we joined up again in the evening to continue celebrating the weekend.
Annie and Anna
besties since about 4 years old.
Sweet concoctions
A little bit of softball
Gracie has started her season with Aces and competed the 2nd weekend of April in a tournament in Overland Park, KS. We were supposed to have two more this past month, but one was canceled (Columbia) and we were never entered into the other one in KC. The team did ok and most of the games were pretty close. I think we were 2-4 for the weekend. It wasn't Gracie's best outing for hitting, but she was pretty solid defensively. I think she got to play in almost every game. It will click and I can't wait to watch her play again. She and Nick are headed to Omaha this weekend.
Baserunning from 1st.
Third base action
Catching
More catching - it looks like she might be smiling in this one.
conference on the mound
Hitting
More swings
We will have to figure out June and all the things involved between summer workouts for Owen, wrestling, softball, and school league stuff. Should be interesting. I would list all of it here, but I don't even know yet how we're going to manage all of it.
I mentioned before that I started this post several times and was never able to finish it. A week and a half ago we adjusted a lot of our plans when Gracie's tournament was canceled. We all got to go watch Owen wrestle and Gracie had practice instead of games. Gracie was able to watch Mizzou play softball and receive her certificate for NHS. I just want to share that these people mean the world to me and I am so very thankful for all the things I get to see them do and the time I get to spend with them. I find myself thinking more and more about the time that is passing so quickly and that being exhausted from all of our "things" is such a blessing. It will only be a few short years and we won't know what to do with ourselves without the constant hustle to get to the next place or do the next thing.
It's the same pic, but take note of the guy in the back, behind the scenes who carries us and makes things happen. My sanity when I feel like a crazy person. My solid rock when I feel like everything is constantly changing. We would not be able to do the things that we do if we didn't have Nick.
I started thinking about this on Saturday night and into Sunday when games were canceled and we had a little more time at home. Owen and I were hanging out at home and just sitting on the couch watching Instagram reels and laughing uncontrollably until we were both crying. I'll bet we did that for an hour. He knows my humor and shares that with me. Then, as we were kind of watching the Mizzou softball game on ESPN, he had me put one of his air pods in so we could both listen to music and sing together. I could do this for hours and not get tired of it. He can laugh at himself as his voice cracks with the changes that are happening and yet he continues to sound amazing. This kid, who carries himself so well, just keeps grinding with the things he wants to accomplish. It is so fun to watch and such an honor to be his mom.
Owen pre-hair cut. He has my 🩷 with or without hair.
And then there is this girl...She drives us to and from Kansas City, Columbia, Jeff City, Osage Beach, and a lot of places in between; and in a few short months will be able to to that without anyone else in the car with her. I don't think she knows how much I love that time with her in the car or the nights that she decides at 10pm that she wants to talk and just have fun doing anything she can to procrastinate going to bed, even though she knows she loves her sleep. We spend a lot of time with each other on the road and there will be many more hours in the car before she really doesn't need me anymore. I also think about the next couple years and anticipate them being quite the roller coaster as she continues to work toward her goals. She lights up my life and makes me smile.
We will have a lot more things happening in the next month, well, really the next 3 months. Softball this weekend, Mizzou graduation this weekend, 8th grade promotion in a couple weeks, end of the school year. More softball, cougars basketball, wrestling, more softball, and more wrestling. We will divide and conquer the month of June and lots of prayers will be accepted so I don't have a meltdown. Places we will be visiting:
Owen: Mulvane, KS
Oaks, PA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Aurora, CO
Muscatine, IA (bible camp)
Gracie: Omaha, NE
Branson, MO
De Soto, KS
Dallas, TX
Kansas City, MO
Knoxville, TN (camp)
Windsor, CO
Aurora, CO
Westfield, IN
Writing this out is pretty much confirmation that we are crazy. Cheers!
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