Merry Christmas 2009

This Christmas was a wonderful experience for our family. We had some wonderful opportunities to serve others and experience giving rather than recieving. Also, we were able to have Papa and Grama Spear come and spend it with us as well. Christmas morning was pretty unusual for us...we had to go wake up the kids at 6 am, since Meli was waiting all morning for them to wake up...haha....Here is the crew at the top of the stairs waiting for the go ahead to run down to see if Santa came!!

Macee got a new Bitty Baby!! She was soooo happy, since she lost hers that she got when she was 1! Jalan checking out his new puzzle.

Cutie Macee and her stuff...

Brooke all ready to open her gifts Disnee with her stocking.

The crew just getting started and checking out their stockings. Jalan and Britton got some cool sleds...too bad there arent any hills around here!

Britton with his favorite gift...His Arizona Cardinals jersey . This boy loves football!

The last of the kids presents was one for Disnee and Brooke....a really big box!!

Keep opening one more present after the other...open, unwrap, open, unwrap....over and over!

Finally to two small boxes with their names on each one...hmmmm

2 keys....wonder what this is for?????

Suprise!!!!!!! Go look out the window!

The spoiled brats got a new car to share! 2010 Honda Civic.

They ran out in the snowy yucky weather to take a closer look..and quick drive around the yard!

Jalan enjoying the morning with papa and grama spear

Britton and Macee coloring their new books

Jalan and his dad building his new kinex roller coaster

Our Christmas was such a memorable one for so many reasons. We are so thankful to be able to spend it as a family, and to remember the real reason for the season. How grateful our family is to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ this wonderful time of year. Merry Christmas to all of our loved ones near and far...and Happy New Year!!

Happy 6th Birthday Macee Girl!

Last Monday was Macee's 6th birthday! Wow its so sad how fast time flies by. I cannot believe our baby girl is 6. The time has flown by, thats for sure. We sure love this girl, and she is definitely the ruler of the roost around here. We had a fun day...on Sunday we celebrated. She got to eat cake and open her presents and spend time with the family. Monday was a crazy busy day....so we pretended it was her day on Sunday. She even started to say things like, "Mom, Britton isnt being nice to me and its my birthday!" So she was ok with the switch up! Here are 6 fun things we love about Macee.

1. Macee has a strong personality and loves things HER way, every time!!! Its a good quality, right?

2. Such a sweetie pie....loves to give loves and kisses

3. Goes to bed so good at night, as long as she gets a bedtime story

4. Cute as a button and lets mom do cute stuff to her hair everyday!

5. Is so polite and has great manners at school and church....getting so many compliments from her teachers

6. Loves to play with dolls and any kind of game anyone will play with her. Loves to be in the company of anyone...hates to be alone.

We love you so much Shoey, and are so grateful you blessed our family by joining us 6 years ago! I wont ever forget that night...She was stubborn even on the night of her birth...still is! Love you girl! Happy Birthday!!
Macee and her littlest pet shop she wanted so bad

Her presents and cards. Thanks to Grama Val and Papa Jack, Grama and Papa Spear, and Uncle Stewart and Aunt Janet, and Grampa King for remembering Macee!

Happy 11th birthday Jalan...a little late!

Well, Sunday was Jalan's 11th birthday!! WOW where does the time go? We cant believe next year he will be a deacon! We had a fun birthday weekend, with having the wrestling tournament on Sat, then we went out to eat at Red Robin for Jalan. We did some shopping, and then headed to the airport to pick up papa and grama Spear. On Sunday after church we got to spend time together, opening presents, wrapping Christmas presents, and playing games. We love this amazing boy. Here are 11 things we love about Jalan:

1. The most giving person around

2. Such a goofball sometimes, loves to be silly

3. Strong willed-a good quality for later in life!

4. Funny

5. Such a great artist, and very creative

6. So good at all sports he tries

7. Loveable and sweet

8. Turning into a Daddy's boy...loves to be around his dad

9. Still is Papa Spear's boy though!

10. Loves to play video games, and board games

11. The most thoughtful of all our kids...always thinking of ways to make others happy, and loves it!!

Happy Birthday Lou!! We love you!!

Ofallon Tournament Dec 12 2009

So this last Saturday, the boys went to the ofallon beginners tournament. This was much smaller, about half as many kids as the last tournament. It was kind of bad, since there were less boys, they had to wrestle kids a little bit bigger than they were. This kid had a 7 pound advantage over Britton, and was much taller. You can see they are the same height here, and look how bent over the boy is! Britton wasnt sure what to think.

This boy was kind of hard for him to handle, but he quickly found out Britton was too!! Britton doing the "barbed wire" to get him over to his back. Britton won by points, 8-4

Jalan's first round he had no problem with his boy. He had pinned this kid in the first period in the last tournament. They werent calling pins in the first round, and Jalan had him pinned in a few seconds. Since they didnt call it, he let him up, and did it again, and again and again.

and again..

This was the score at the end of the 3rd quarter....technical fall.

Britton had to wrestle a girl his second round. All the boys were giving him a hard time. We had watched her wrestle and knew she was tough! She was undefeated, like Britton. Britton took right to working her over.

She was a cute little girl with red hair and a ponytail! Britton beat her! She was pretty tough to beat, but he did beat her 11-6.

Jalan had to wrestle his teammate this round, Chip. They neither really knew what to do, it was serious, but kind of playing around. But, Jalan did beat him by points 7-4.

Britton's last round was a boy he pinned in the last tournament. He was pretty confident about it. He went in and kicked butt.

Britton worked this kid over and beat him. He wanted to get the cradle on him so bad, he spent the whole time trying to get him in it! He didnt get the pin, but beat him pretty bad. And the winner is...Britton!

Our little champ!! now his record is 6-0!! great job!

Jalan's last match was with this kid who was much bigger than he was. He was about 10 lbs heavier and about 6 inches taller. They usually try to keep the kids in a similar weight bracket, but there were only 2 boys in jalans range. So, rather than having the 2 boys just keep wrestling each other over and over, they added them to a bracket with boys much bigger than them. It was good experience for him to do this. Jalan did hold his own with this kid, and fought really hard! Jalan had him on his back some, and was pretty tough.

The boy did get the better of jalan, and ended up pinning him in the 3rd period. Jalan was just worn out physically and mentally after 3 long periods of fighting this boy! We were still really proud of him how hard he fought and how good he did do. 2nd place was a great job!! Better than the easy first place he could have gotten if they didnt switch it up.

Jalan doing the trademark wrestler pose with his second place medal!! Our awesome wrestling brothers! I LOVE this picture!

Our Champions

Wrestling 2009

Well, the boys had their first wrestling tournament this Saturday in Edwardsville. It was a long day! We had to meet at McDonalds in Centralia at 6:15 am so we could travel in together so they could weigh in as a team. Troy was making sure Jalan and Britton didnt eat until after weigh in, you know the drill! So we got there and it started around 10 am. This is what we found! A huge gym with 8 mats going at once. It was soooo packed and hot. macee loved this day lets just say for kicks and giggles. She (and Troy and I) was so cranky and fussy...it wasnt such a great time. But so this tournament, they divided up in age brackets..under 6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14. Then in each division, they divided up by weights, lowest together, etc. into a 4 man bracket. They announced there were 418 kids wrestling! We were totally shocked, did not expect that kind of showing. It was really fun and exciting for the boys, and especially Troy. Here is Troy waiting for Brittons first match to start...he looked like he was going to throw up! He went down there to film, and he said his hands were shaking so much, he hoped it would turn out...

So Britton had his first match...Britton was the lowest weight of all the 9-10 year olds, weighing at 50 lbs. The next lightest boy was 54 I think. So he looked sooo nervous, not sure at all what to expect. We worried about him, he seemed so shy and scared. Jalan was all calm and relaxed, but not Brit. As soon as he stepped on the mat, he was all business!! He got right in the match and looked so good! He was such a cutie.

He was alot better than this boy, and ended up pinning him! His first match, yeah way to go!!

And the winner is!!!

Unfortunately for Jalan, his first round was a bye. So he had to wait the whole round. I think it made his nerves worse. Jalan weighed in at 60 lbs.

Britton's second match would be his toughest match. This kid was pretty tough. Britton was so amazing though, and fought long and hard, not letting this kid get the better of him.

He did win the match by points. His score was 3-2. Troy and I were on the edge of our seats that for sure! But he was amazing.

Jalan's second round, was a really tough boy, that had pinned his first man in 17 seconds. He was a little worried, and we knew it would be his toughest match, especially since it was his first match to wrestle. He was getting upset at the first of the match, the boy kept slapping his head, and Jalan wasnt sure what to think. This was his first match, and his first experience of competetive wrestling! Jalan held his own on this boy. He got some great take downs, making his dad very proud of him!! This was a close match the whole way through. The guy in the red is one of their coaches.

At the end of regulation it was 5-5, so they had to go to overtime. Jalan got an awesome take down, and won 7-5!! Yeah!

Britton's third match was for first place. He knew this match would be easier than the last. His natural talent amazed Troy and I watching this little scrappy kid work. He was strong and for the most part knew what he was doing! Britton almost pinned the kid several times, and was almost to again, when the time ran out. He beat him 19-4 in the 3rd period. Wooohooo!!

Britton got his first place medal in his very first wrestling tournament! We were so proud of him! Great job Britton!!

Jalan's last match. He was pretty confident, and excited to get to wrestle again. this also was for first place. He walked all over this kid, and did his favorite move, the cradle and pinned him in the first period.

Our first place winner in his weight class in the 11-12 year old bracket(yes he is 10) Great job Jalan!! You are awesome, the natural talent is coming out!!

We were so proud of our boys for doing such a great job. Troy said he was impressed with the whole Centralia Rebel Riders team. He said they were all really good sports and patted their opponents and such. That was great to hear. It was a long day, and we are realizing this will be every saturday pretty much...so much for Christmas shopping! Next Saturday they have another tournament in ofallon. After that we get to go celebrate jalan's bday, which is sunday, and then go pick up papa and grama spear. They are coming for Christmas!