Picture of the Week - 11/17/2022

 This week is so fun!  And so full of STUFF!  The kind of stuff that's leaving me mentally stressed and emotionally excited!

My parents are currently in the Caribbean somewhere.  Bob is in the frozen tundra (Fargo, ND) for work.  And my big boys are still at school.  This time next week - they will ALL be in my house.  I mean, if that's not enough to make a mama heart happy, I'm not sure what would do it.

In the meantime, I've got lists (to-dos and check varieties) and a spreadsheet of what needs to be done when.  (Turkey comes out today because it's an enormous beast.)  I haven't hosted Thanksgiving since before Spencer was born.  Feeling a little rusty - and also up for the challenge!  (So long as there's wine involved!)

In the middle of all the Thanksgiving prep - I'm also trying to get things ready for Spencer's first trip home since August and Quinn's return tomorrow as well.  I want to surround them with reasons to want to come home again - college parents out there, I know you get this...  I'm making Chicken n Dumplins for Quinn tomorrow.  I've got Chili fixins for Saturday.  Oh and the wrestling club's annual Thanksgiving Duals is on Tuesday.  I may be running all stuff that happens off the mats.  (Concessions, Hospitality, Volunteers, Signage, Decorations, etc.)  I love this tourney - it's my favorite of the year.  It's at our own high school.  It's very early in the season - so no stress or pressure.  It's MY official launch of the holiday season.  And I get to spend the whole day with my friends.  It's a really fun day.  (But it's also a lot of work!)  

It'll all get done.  Or it won't.  No one is going to die.  And all will be well.  

I'm grateful to get to live this crazy, chaotic life.  Wouldn't trade it for the world.  (Although I would prefer Bob be here instead of freezing in North Dakota.  And he needs a hat, right?!?!?)

Picture of the Week - 11/10/2022

 Whoops - almost let 2 full weeks slip away without a POTW email.  

It's a funny phase of life right now!  Things are kinda overwhelming and simultaneously sort of boring and routine.  I suppose that's life in a nutshell.

We are neck-deep in all things wrestling right now.  Bob and I are running both the high school and youth team booster clubs.  I love all of it.  I really do!  If I could figure out a way to monetize serving a wrestling booster club, I'd leave my job in a heartbeat.  But that doesn't mean things are drama-free all the time.  We have grown the program from about 30 kids 6 years ago to around 130 now.  This year we have onboarded probably 60 brand new wrestlers.  Maybe 50...  I'm not sure, but it's been a LOT.  And one of my favorite things is talking to these folks and helping them understand the sport and our program.  I love helping other people fall in love with this sport like we did.  95% of the folks I talk to and the things I do are super rewarding.  That other 5% literally makes me lose sleep - and some faith in humanity in general. 

I choose to focus on the good while I knock out all the things on the wrestling to-do list!  Gotta get things rolling so I can dive into the Thanksgiving prep to-do list.  Let's goooooo!

This weekend Zane is wrestling in a middle school dual after winning his first wrestle-off of the season.  Last weekend he won his first tournament.  I think this is going to be a fun season for him.  After this weekend I think we have around 7 straight weekends of wrestling stuff - including a trip to Gatlinburg and another trip to Virginia Beach - all before Christmas.  So fun - so crazy!

Sharing some pictures of Gable out practicing his new skills!  We put him in a board and train program a few weeks ago.  We missed him SO much while he was gone, but he came home with some better manners and is way nicer on a leash now!  One of the things that he learned was a "place" command where you put him on a place (any place) and he has to stay there until you release him.  This is really hard for him because he just wants to be with his people.  But he does it!  The first two pictures show him before he got tired.  The last picture is him with his "I'm over it" face.  It's exhausting for him - which always results in a nice, hard nap!  Win/win!

Have a great week everyone!