The June Marathon Begins

I cannot believe we are here. June is here.  It is all starting, and so far has been manageable.  A lot of planning, waiting, and organizing is about to take shape in driving, flying, and sleeping in hotels/vrbos/ airbnbs.  First, a day of hiking over Memorial Day weekend...  We spent a couple hours on the trails and wading through water, followed by a picnic lunch at Three Creeks.  We have been there before, and it seemed like there was a bit more water this time.

I didn't partake in the "wading/swimming"

Others seemed to be ok with it, though. No thanks.

Deb and I found a trail parallel to the creek to walk on, but everything was pretty muddy because of the amount of rain we've had recently.

They seem happy though.

Owen was very reluctant to participate in the hike, but didn't have much choice.  As in the past, it takes about a half hour of hiking together for them to enjoy the the forced fun.  Gracie gave in a little earlier than Owen this time.

Ahh....

Gracie and her friend/previous teammate Kenzie at a Mizzou softball game.

Kenzie will be coming to Mizzou next year after a year of playing softball at Culver-Stockton.

And it begins

Owen had his first of three June wrestling tournaments last weekend.  He and Nick headed out to Mulvane, KS, just south of Wichita Saturday with another wrestling family, Newhams.  The tournament was huge and a little disorganized to say the least.  It was very unclear when Owen would be wrestling until they got there and we thought that 14u was on both days, but it ended up being just Saturday and did not start until after 3:30pm.  What a long day.  So they got there, weighed in, and started wrestling.

Bryce and Owen passing time in the car.

Thanks to Cheslea for illustrating their comfort with each other.

Owen was 1-2 and did not place at this one.  There were kids wrestling from all over the country.

His first opponent was from South Carolina.

The boys on the floor

Gracie and I went to the lake for the afternoon and evening.  We took Ruby with us so there was no need to hurry back home.  

We watched from my parents' living room.

There was soooo much time in between matches.  It was crazy.  They had 18 mats in use, both boys and girls going on from 14u-juniors. 

Despite the outcome of this one, I hope it was a good experience and preparation for the next two tournaments this month.  I'm sure there will be some talent both in PA and IA for kids nationals.  He leaves for Pennsylvania on Sunday with the Missouri team for National Duals and will be gone for a week with that team.  They get on a bus and drive straight through.  Greco begins on Wednesday 6/12 and Freestyle begins on Friday 6/14.

After the conclusion of 14u on Saturday, Nick and Owen stayed and watched 16u/juniors the next day.  It was good for them and Bryce ended up placing 2nd.  They started the 2nd day at 9am and it didn't finish until at least 3pm, with a 5.5 hour drive home.  We passed each other somewhere around KC while I was taking Gracie to drop her off for the week of softball things with Aces.

Gracie fixed Grandpa Tom's chair.

Well...he told her how and used a lot of big words that I'm sure she didn't understand.

He just needed someone with better vision to get down in there and do what was needed.

The head rest motor works again.

Right back to it.

Working out Monday evening in the basement.

I think they have fun

I actually love seeing this and watching.  It takes me back to when Nick was coaching high school wrestling at Ballard, watching him work with all of those kids and pushing them to their limits.  I would sometimes bring Gracie and Owen to the wrestling/weight room with me while I worked out and they would sit and watch their dad coach all the high school kids.  It's a little surreal to think that Owen is that kid now, and Nick is in a position to to help him become the best high school wrestler he can be for the next four years. What a privilege to be able to do this with your own kid, and I get a front row seat. :)

Meanwhile, Gracie has started her June marathon.  I mentioned the passing in KC...  While Owen and Nick were heading back from Kansas, I drove Gracie over to Kali's again and she is there until Thursday for workouts every day and then they leave for a tournament in TX.  I think Kali has 8 teammates staying at her house this week and next week.  Then, after TX, back to KC for more workouts before their next tournament in KC.  We are going to try to get her home next Wednesday for a day to play in league with her school softball team prior to the Team 1 KC tournament beginning.  She will finally get to come home after the tournament is done on June 16.  Then a week and half later, we will head west to Colorado together.

She will be spending a lot of time with these girls all month.

Roster pic

Gracie with Kali

The mid-mo girls

Hannah, Gracie, Maddie, Madigan

The two catchers on the 16u team

Hannah and Gracie

Gracie sent me a pic after their speed and agility workout.

They have four days in a row of hard workouts.  I hope she is getting something out of it.

She said that she has never sweat so much in her life.

I miss her, but realize that she is getting better and having a lot of fun doing it.  Owen will be the same next week when he is with his 14u team in Pennsylvania.  I'm just hoping that we have done a good enough job so far as parents that they will both make good choices and be the best versions of themselves every day.

Life goes on...  Owen has started summer weight training, open mats for wrestling with Southern Boone, and football fieldwork.  Nick will start league games and practices with the high school softball team this week; their first games are tonight in Jeff City vs Cap City.  They will be missing a few key players, so we will see how it goes. After high school softball practice on Thursday afternoon, I think the plan is for Nick to drive to Texas to see Gracie play on Friday morning.

One day at a time... we're just soaking it all in.