Murphy Open Jan 9, 2010

So this weekend we headed back to Murphysboro for an open tournament this week. All of the previous wrestling tournys so far have been beginners tournaments. That means first year kids only, or rookies. The other kids, or veterans, started having their open tournaments now. So this was our first one, and we were not sure what to expect. Of course, Jalan being injured had to miss the wrestling. Britton's first match was a little guy about his size. We were happy about that finally! It wasnt much of a match at all....

Britton pinned him in the cradle in the first period..one down, two to go!! The second round, Britton wrestled a kid from Indiana. Coach said he was bigger than the kid Britton had to wrestle from his own team in the 3rd round, who was 16 lbs heavier than Britton! But....this kid didnt know how to wrestle for squat....

Britton had him on his back the whole match, but because of the size difference, he couldnt pin him...but still won the match, I think 7-0.

Last round Britton had to wrestle a kid from his own team. This kid was 16 pounds heavier than Britton! Can you tell he looks like a giant next to him? Britton has wrestled him many times in practice..and so he knew what to expect. Britton walked all over this kid!! This is a crappy picture of Britton getting the kid in the double chicken wing!! We were so excited! Troy had been teaching the boys that move, and kept hoping they would try it. The kid started crying out, he didnt know what hit him! Then the ref stopped the match calling it potentially dangerous. We were cheering him on, great move Britton!!

Britton couldnt pin him, since he was so big..but kicked his hiney. Here is our champion...his record is now 11-1. Great job Britton!! (Boy was Jalan bummed when Britton got his trophy!! Wished he had his cast off!)

Fractured Metatarsal!

Well, so on Monday night, Jalan and Britton were at wrestling practice, when Jalan was wrestling a boy and during a take down, the boy landed his knee on Jalan's foot. Jalan was in extreme pain and the coach told him he probably sprained his foot or something. He came home and we didnt see any swelling, redness or bruising or anything. We figured it was just fine, and just sore. So in the morning, Jalan still couldnt put any pressure on the foot. He was hopping around the house, and I kept telling him to just limp on the heel or something, he looked like a dork! I figured he was milking it!! So I sent him to school hopping, and made a dr appointment for him. The dr said it might be fractured, and sent us for x-rays. The dr told us, "We have a fracture on the 3rd metatarsal bone!" We were pretty suprised! So they sent us over to the medical supply to get a walking boot and crutches. The bad news, no wrestling for 2 weeks! We have to go back and have it checked out in 2 weeks to see from there. Jalan has enjoyed the attention and "fun-ness" of the injury so far, but it wont last! Today we had a bad snow storm, and no school...guess who had to stay inside while the kids were using their new snow sleds?? Poor Jalan!

Happy New Year

I actually love New Year's...not because I ever stay up late and party....I'm way too old and lazy for that. But I love the opportunity to start a new year, with new goals and ideas to leave the year behind and look forward to the future. However, I am not too excited about our daughter turning 16 this year!! I hope Troy can handle it!!! This last year has been a wonderful year, with so many great experiences and things our family were able to do and accomplish. I am thankful to be able to end this year happy and healthy with my family. We have been so blessed. As I have thought about my goals for the new year, I'm looking forward to working on areas that I need to improve. Wish us luck with a 16 year old daughter and a 15 year old daughter learning to drive...heaven help us!! Hope all of you have a healthy and happy new year!!

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!

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