The End of Wrestling Season

Ethan had his final wrestling meet last night.  He had a pin (WOO HOO!) in his first, hard fought, match.  His second match went into the second period, and while he looked good, he was pretty exhausted, and got pinned early in the second.  He has made great improvements over the season, and we are way proud! 

This was taken JUST before the ref slammed his palm on the mat to announce the pin!  Way to GO Ethan!

Sandy

Catch-up Part II

So I guess I don’t know exactly what the point of this Project 365 is supposed to be.  For someone like me, who takes lots of pictures, without prompting and encouragement, perhaps the challenge should be to LIMIT myself to only one photo a day.  Hmm.  But that isn’t how I chose to interpret it.  Because I CAN’T. 

I can’t decide which of the next two pictures should be my picture for January 15. Therefore, I’m going to share TWO for that day.  Because I CAN! 

Rachel begged Caleb to play Just Dance II with her on the wii.  They did GREAT and it was fun to watch them enjoy a few minutes together!

And this was also taken on Jan. 15.  Cameron wanted to learn how to make beer, so Ron obliged.  They brewed it a couple of weeks ago, and the 15th was bottling day.  Ron tried to act disappointed that he didn’t save any water back to get the siphon started…but really?  I don’t think he minds having to get it started this way!  It looks to me like one great, big, giant straw!

January 16th was a crazy day for this mom!  Ethan had a wrestling meet here in town, and his first match was  #53!  After sitting at the meet for almost an hour and 45 minutes, it was finally his turn!  Then he had a little break until match #80somthing.  Fortunately he was finished by about 6:30 so I could run him home and then drive to watch Rachel’s UIC Honor Band Festival. Where she was chosen to be FIRST CHAIR for her section of clarinets!  It was a tremendous concert, with hugely talented young people from our area!  I really enjoyed it!  Great job, Rachel!  We’re proud of you!

And we have a PIN!

Woo HOO!  The BIG news of the day is that Ethan got his first pin in wrestling!  He has worked hard all season, and tonight he just looked GREAT!  He was very intent and methodical, and we could see him thinking through each step of what he was doing.  What a FUN match to watch!

So, even though I’m going out of date order a little bit, here is my Project 365 photo for Jan. 10.

And then, ‘cause I’m the mom, I’m going to share a couple of other pictures from the meet.  I’m so proud of this kid!

Great job tonight, Ethan!!!

Now, to back up and share the project 365 pictures from the past couple of days…

Mexican Train dominoes is always a fun game to play with Grandma!  We played for a couple of hours on Sunday.

And on Monday evening, Caleb spent a couple of hours talking with Grandma Koch about his trip to South Korea.  They looked at pictures and he told stories about his time there.

Cross Country Season

Wow…Rachel’s cross country season is OVER, and Cameron most likely has just one more cross country race in his high school career. I SO love watching my kids run!  They’ve really made me proud this year (well, every year, of course)!

RACHEL

don’t know HOW she can smile after running like that!

see Ronnie and Ethan there cheering her on?

GREAT JOB RACHEL!!

CAMERON

 

Yes.  I know.  He needs a haircut!

sprinting to the finish…

I’m PROUD of you guys!

Baseball Season

The day after the last track meet was Ethan’s first baseball game.   He is having fun, but it will be more fun when they get their first win!  They are trying hard not to get discouraged.  I am seeing great improvements each game they play!

smack that ball!!

A hit and run to first!

Listen to that first base coach!

safe at second!

heading to third!

rounding third and…

heading towards home…

almost there…

SAFE at HOME!  Woo HOO and Way to GO Ethan!

left field

and shortstop!

Track 2010

Cameron and Rachel are both in track this year.  Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of Rachel yet.  She often runs the last race of the evening, and by then it is too dark to get a good picture.  We have (I think) 2 more meets for me to try.  I’ll update if I get a good couple.  She  had to run the 2 mile in one meet and was NOT happy.  After that she’s been running the last leg of the 4 x 400.  I’m proud of her for sticking with it, although I’m thinking I had better get some good pics this year, ‘cause I don’t think she’ll do this again :-)

Cameron has been running a variety of races.  His favorite is the mile, where his best time so far this year is 5:00:17.  Pretty darned fast, I think!  He’s also run the 4 x 800, which isn’t his favorite, but he does it anyway.  He’s got a week or two left, but I think I’ve got my good pictures of him.  We’ll see if you agree.

 

Words of encouragement and advice for next time from Coach Frisch

Cameron doesn’t understand why I enjoy watching him run, but I really do.  Track is probably my least favorite activity that my kids do, but if he runs the mile and then gets to go home…I’m ok with that :-)

Great job this year, Cameron and Rachel!  I’m proud of you!!

The End of the Season

For most of the sports my kids participate in, I enjoy watching them, but I’m usually glad when the season ends.  But I am always sad when Cross Country season ends.  I just love watching those kids run!  Here are a few pictures from the district meet last night.  Both Cameron and Rachel set personal best times last night!  Way to GO!

 

LOOK at her expression….that water was COLD!!

Look at that pack of COUGARS!!! Luke and Josh and Cameron…go get ‘em guys!

Cameron didn’t mind the water!!

What a great season it was!  It was really fun for me to watch Cameron and Rachel improve their performance, and have fun with their friends.  Can’t wait til next Cross Country season starts! 

Homecoming Activities

It is homecoming week here in our little corner of the world.  Today, the elementary and middle school kids traveled to the high school for a pep assembly, skits and crowning of the king and queen.  Oh, and we can’t forget the parade!

Trouble at its best!  Josh, Justin, Tony and Cameron

Bridget, Rachel and Karli

Rachel is just under the stop sign.  Cameron, of course, was on the opposite side and I couldn’t get a picture of him.  I’m counting on my friend Julie or my friend Christi to get me a picture of him!

At 4:30 the Cross Country team met at the middle school.  The MS Principal, Mrs. Glenn handed off the game football, and the XC team will run the ball all the way to the football field, which is about 13 miles away!  Cameron SAYS he’s running the whole way.  We’ll see.  They also have XC Parent’s night tonight (yeah…I get to hold onto their hot, sweaty smelly bodies and walk across the football field with them…ewwww….) and then they perform their full contest program for marching band at half time.  THEN…they come home and get a few hours sleep and catch a 6 am bus for Dubuque where they have State Marching Band Contest tomorrow.  Whew…what a weekend!

 

They decorate the school bus with their names.  The bus follows the XC runners to help keep them safe.

The team gets lectured by Mrs. Wright about how to run safely!

yeah…that’s my daughter with the blue, green and gold XC uniform with PURPLE leggings…

SFXC 2009

The handoff of the game ball!

And they are off! (Cameron is wearing the white shorts)

Running along the highway…trying to stay safe!  Watch out for the semi trucks!

See ya later!