Winter Parade

So last weekend Beppe and Mason were able to march in the annual 'Santa Parade' downtown. While we were waiting for the parade to start Gage was being silly and dancing so Jeremy told him that if he would run into the middle of the road, which was closed, and yell 'Hey look at me I'm dancing!' then he would buy him some cotton candy. Well anyone who knows Gage knows that if there is candy involved is all over it!!

Beppe and Mason wore reindeer antlers and a red nose as they sang Christmas carols and marched in the parade.

13

Well it has finally happened! We now have an official teenager living in our home!! Chili is now 13! We are so very thankful to have him in our home. He is the best older brother that anyone could ever ask for. Chili has a very caring nature. In wrestling last week another parent pulled me aside to share with me how impressed he was with how patient and sweet Chili is as he helps and mentors the younger kids. Many of the younger wrestlers look up to him and want to be just like him. We have also noticed that he does everything he can to lead, guide, and direct his quorum at church. We are thankful to know that he is living up to his Priesthood duties. Chili is great leader wherever he goes. Even when he was younger he was always the one to gather all the kids a show them how to play this 'great new game' he had just invented. He is also very physically gifted. He taught himself how to ride a bicycle when he was only 2! Then moved on to a motorcycle at 3! He loves sports and competition of any kind and he is great at them. This was his first year in football and he was a starting quarterback for his team. His only downfall with sports is that he doesn't settle for 2nd best. I remember a few hard fought battles in wrestling where he had gone into a competition and came out sad because he only got 2nd place. I had to quickly remind him at one of the tournaments that yeah he got 2nd.... IN THE STATE!! I want to say again how thankful we are to have him in our home as a fabulous leader, brother, and son! Happy Birthday Baby!!

Happy Birthday Chili!!

Las Vegas

So last weekend my little sister, Sara, got married! She decided to forgo the usual pomp and circumstance and go to Vegas. I was all for this idea, that is until I actually went to Vegas. Don't get me wrong I think that Sara and Ray getting married is a great thing. Its just that I don't think I have ever been to a place where I had felt so uncomfortable. There is just really nothing for a poor, non-drinking, non-gambling, non-porn watching, Mormon couple to do in Las Vegas. We did get to see some family and enjoy people which was awesome. I got to see my little brother Wyatt and little sister Madison which was great, not to mention all of my parents, some grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins, lots of people. That was probably my favorite part jusst seeing all the family.

Before we went to Vegas we spent a couple of days with Jeremy's parents in Havasu. They spoiled us rotten! We stayed a their friends home and the fed us home cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner. mmmmmm I think that the best part was not having to think about what was to eat! Then his mom gave us massages, arranged for me to have a facial, and also something called a salt glow. Talk about relaxing!!!

For the most part it was a good trip, but I really seriously doubt that I will be asking to go back to vegas anytime soon!

Predator World Wrestling Tournament

This weekend we were fortunate enough to enjoy a national wrestling tournament in our own backyard. The Puyallup wrestling team hosted the Predator World Wrestling Tournament at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Chili, Giuseppe, and Mason each participated in the event. Chili wrestled at the weight of 109lbs in the 15 years and under division. Giuseppe wrestled at the weight of 77lbs in the 10 years and under division. Last but not least, Mason wrestled at the weight of 62lbs in the 8 years and under division.

Chili won his first match by pinning his opponent in the second round, followed by a loss by pin in his second match, to the 15 year old boy who would eventually win this division, and a loss, again by pin, in his third and final match of the day. Chili gave it all he had and did very well for his age, because he turns 13 before Jan. 1st eventhough he is still 12 he has to wrestle in a much harder age group.

Giuseppe lost his first match then made his way to his second match only to find that his opponent forfeited giving Giuseppe the win. In his third match he wrestled very well and with a good strong heart and pinned his opponent. In Giuseppe's fourth match he was pinned after he was ahead in points. His coach, Marty, gave him a talk about how "in wrestling nice guys finish last!" There is nothing worse than losing a match by pin when you were ahead in points.

Mason had a good draw in the first round and recieved a bye in the first round which automatically advances you to the second round where he won his first match by pin, his second match was close and went into overtime where he fought hard and won. Mason's Third match was more difficult and he lost by points. Mason had little time to recover from the loss, his first of the season, when he went into his fourth match where the score was tied up in the 3rd round and then he pinned his opponent.

With almost no time between rounds Mason was up again for his fifth match of the day where if he won he would be atleast 3rd place and if he lost 4th. Now for this match we got to the 3rd and final round with a score of 4-5 with Mason losing and 30 or so seconds left on the clock with Mason in control. The coaches, medical staff(who we are friends with), fans, his brothers, basically almost everyperson left in the arena at that point were yelling 3 simple words- "CUT HIM LOOSE" the way the match was at that moment the only way for Mason to score either turn him to his back and pin him, which wasn't likely at this point, or to let him go and give him 1 point and making it possible for either boy to score 2 more with a takedown. If Mason got the takedown he would tie and it would go into overtime. If the other boy scored it would be over. Now as we are all literally screaming and making the hand signal which resembles some sort of "scat" motion you would do to get rid of a foreign animal from your porch or something and Mason is seemingly oblivious to the fact that we are all talking to him!! With about 10 or so seconds left and after screaming for what felt like an eternity he finally gets it and lets the boy go giving him 1 point in hopes that he can get the takedown go into overtime. He seems to take his sweet time and then finally takes his shot and takes the boy down and we all look at the clock because they went out of bounds in the process of the take down so he gets the points with .8 seconds left on the clock! They restart in the middle and Mason holds on and keeps him from scoring. They go into overtime where Mason not only scores the takedown for the win but almost pins the boy in the process!!

Mason was now guaranteed 3rd place. Mason had one more match where if he won he goes home 2nd and if he lost 3rd. With about 8 minutes since the last match he was up again and he gave it all he had and simply lost. I think he was just tired at that point. We had been at the venue for about 12 hours and the last 4 of Mason's matches were within about an hour and half at the very end of the tournament.

We were very pleased to walk away from the tournament with all of our boys holding their heads up high. Chili and Giuseppe were very supportive of Mason until the very end eventhough they finished up their day several hours prior. Jeremy had to leave for about 2 hours in the middle of the tournament and both Chili and Beppe did all they could to make sure that Mason was ready both mentally and physically for his matches. Chili was so excited during one of the matches that he was spitting food everywhere while he cheered!! Giuseppe was excited to record the matches so that I could cheer him on too! I am thankful for their bond and the support they show eachother in their various activities.

Teenagers

Yesterday, on our way to preschool, Gage informs me that he does not like teenagers. I of course asked him why he felt this way to which he responded, "Chili is mean now that he is a teenager and I don't love him anymore!" We talked about how he of course still did actually love his brother and that maybe Chili wasn't being very nice to him lately and how we could possibly remedy the situation. Chili, who has notorioulsy been Gage's hero, was a bit heartbroken to find that he had in fact alienated his biggest fan. Chili helped Gage with chores and a few other small things and by bed time Chili was again restored to hero status in little Gage's eyes!

My Very First Post

So, I have been dragging my feet on getting this darn blog started but now here I go! Not sure quite why I chose now to start, quite honestly this is one of my busiest times of the year with the holidays and wrestling season! But no one has ever accused me of taking the 'easy route!' As a matter of fact I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I have no clue as to what that even is.

I am hoping that maybe I can keep in touch with people and also keep up with my family's memories. So lets start with yesterday...