And The Winner Is..............

Friday and Saturday I went to a tournament that Kendall and Jason were wrestling at. It was a 17 team tournament. It was team competitions - with 2 pools of teams. Each team had 7 matches within their pool. The top 3 in each pool went against each other for the top 1-6 placing. (Out team didn't do too good -too many kids gone so we had forfeits) However - they also kept track of how each individual did in each weight to have a individual competition for the top kids . Kendall won all his matches - and so was up for 1st place. He went up against a kid who had only lost 2 matches this year. He has been in the final match at a few other tournaments the last few years and ended up taking second those times. He was determined not to have that happen again - and it didn't! It was a very exciting match with Kendall winning 12-8. He was so happy when he won - worn out but happy! My stomach did somersaults watching him. I was as glad as he was when it was over and he had won! Way to go Kendall.

This is a picture of quite a few of the players watching one of the team championship matches.

Jason was really focusing on this team competition.
Kendall watching one of his teammates go for 1st place.
Kendall and two of his other teammates that also took 1st place.

Kendall in the championship round.

Here's Jason cheering for Kendall just as he won!

It was a long couple of days. The first day started at noon and they had 5 matches. Whew - that is tiring just thinking about it. Jason won his first match (with a pin) but in his second match started feeling dehydrated and cramping up. (He hadn't eaten that day to make weight. Crazy wrestlers!). He got that taken care of but his coaches kept him out the rest of the day. Saturday he wrestled one match and won. Saturday started at 6:15 to meet the bus - and Kendall got back at 8:30 that night. Like I said - two long days but it was great to see Kendall do so well - and Jason too! Just about a month left of wrestling!

Happy Sweet 16 to Jason!

Happy 16th Birthday Jason! It is so hard to believe that he is actually 16 today!

Jason is such a good kid. He is a teenager - and has his moments - but he is a good kid through and through! This last year I have seen such growth - physically, emotionally and spiritually in Jason. First of all - he had this huge growth spurt. I would see him go walking by me in the house and I would think it was Matt. I would always look twice because it seemed he grew taller every day. Along with that growth came some real physical strength too. If you saw him wrestle you would see what I mean! Jason has not only physical strength - but such will power he astounds me. He decides he really wants something - he goes after it and usually gets it! He works so hard in his sports - I don't know if anyone is a more dedicated or harder worker. Since his last birthday he took second in city wrestling, starter on the freshman baseball team, starter on the JV football team (sophomore)-offense/defense/special teams - and was called up to be on varsity, and is now on the varsity wrestling team. Wow! I have watched him grow this year spiritually too, and it is so noticeable in his demeanor and attitude.

I am so very proud of Jason - for his accomplishments, but more importantly in his development into such an outstanding young man!

Happy Birthday Jason! I love you.

Enjoy these pictures of Jason throughout this last year!

Here he is with his driver's permit - looking forward to getting his license soon!

In last year's city wrestling tournament.
He is on the HS men's choir - and getting ready to try-out for the district honor choir.
Varsity football - #44 (the white legs tell it all!)
Last spring - receiving the freshman outstanding male athlete award!
(look at the first picture again - see how he has matured!)

Loves riding that dirtbike!

He just had to roll down the hill at the Manti Temple.

At General Conference last April.

Wow again! What an amazing year he has had. What an amazing kid he is!

Blogging Time?

Are you ready for me to blog about....

Christmas?

Wrestling?

New Years?

Quick trip to St. George?

All of the above?

So am I!

and I will

when I have time

and awake enough!

Right now

this one is taking all my time and wiping me out!!!

4 am wake-up

until 9 am naptime

(my naptime too!)

or

only napping

all

night

long

going to bed

at

6 am!

Little Stinker!

He climbs out of his bed

Anytime

He wants!

Today

I am taking

a break!

He has a babysitter.

I am off to this:

An all afternoon/evening wrestling tournament

with Kendall and Jason wrestling varsity.

It goes all day tomorrow too!

Good luck to them

and hope for me to get

a good night's sleep

TONIGHT!

Hopefully - if all goes well

the blogging will begin

this

weekend!

It's In the Mail - for some!

From our house - to yours, Merry Christmas!
Now - some of you will be getting this card in the mail, but then again, some of you won't!
So here it is for all! (thanks Jo for the family picture and thanks to Cheryl for the card design!)
Here is another family picture - it didn't make it into the card!

It's Official!

It official - Matt and Xyonane (Jo) are engaged! Matt popped the question (officially) last night.

They haven't picked a date yet - we'll let you know about that later. Jo needs to talk to her dad in El Salvador and find out when he is able to come up - along with her older siblings.

We are so excited to be welcoming her in the family.

Here they are after letting us know. Don't they both look happy!

The ring:

Matt went to take Jo to the place where they had their first date to pop the question, but it was closed for a private party. So he took her to the Temple lights, where they walked around, then to Tempe Town Lake. They were sitting, just talking, when he said "Can I ask you a question?" - then he got down on the one knee and popped the big question. Her response "Are you serious?" She hadn't expected the ring quite yet. Then her response was "YES!" - and we are glad it was! (I'm sure Matt was too).

This is a picture of them that was taken after we had our family picture taken for our Christmas card - which will be in the mail shortly to you lucky few!
Congrats Matt and Jo! We are very excited to be welcoming you into the family.

You'll never guess...............

what Jason, Dani and Carson and I saw

.

.

.

while we were driving down the street.

.

.

.

guessed yet?

.

.

and I didn't have my camera - forgetting that my phone has one

.

but I probably wouldn't have wanted to take a picture

.

.

it wasn't a pretty sight - but I thought it was funny

(Jason and Dani didn't though)

.

.

so - who guessed

.

.

a naked lady - I mean totally naked. About 50 years of age,

a little bigger than me.

which is why

you proably know

it wasn't a pretty sight!

.

.

.

Poor policeman who came up behind her on his motorcycle.

She didn't even acknowledge he was there - just kept on walking,

and walking and walking - not even turning her head to look at him or at

all the traffic going by.

Then- just as we got by - a police car - with 2 policeman in it was getting

ready to stop.

Now - watching them try and get her in the car might have been worth

a picture

Poor policeman.

I told Jason - what a nice Merry Christmas sight.

He said - please no more Christmas present sights like that again.

My first real streaker - well - not really streaker -

she was just walking sighting.

How about any of you?

Any of you had such a sighting before?

Another Winner!

I received a phone call from Kristi today from her school. (I don't like getting calls from my kids during school - usually because something is wrong or they forgot something I need to bring to them. I hate that!). However - this was a good phone call. Kristi called to tell me she won 2nd place in a writing contest from last spring. It was sponsored by the Arizona Republic and Tilly's (store). She received a $150 gift card to the store too! Congratulations Kristi. That is so neat. I am very proud of you. Her name was even in the Arizona Republic newspaper. If you would like to read her essay - it is online at this link (just scroll down to the end of the page to find the contest winners)

http://www.nieonline.com/azcentral/index.cfm

(One of these days I'll figure out how to just say "Go here" and it will take you to the link)

Now - she is anxious to spend her money. Imagine that.