The Ups and Downs of Wrestling Season

 This has been a rollercoaster of a season.  Ben's stitches meant that he was out for a couple of weeks.  He got a chin cup headgear and has been back at it, but has taken a bunch of forfeits.  

Since I last blogged we had 2 big girls tournaments, Girls Gut Check and Kelso and a big boys tournament called Gut Check (The boys also had NW Duals, where Ben didn't wrestle due to the stitches).  We also had the Woodinville Girls Wrecking Ball Tournament. (You can see why I haven't had time to blog obviously.) 

Summary.  For Sarah, Gut Check was barfing in a trash can during both her matches and a medical forfeit.  Ugh.  Trying to figure out what's happening here.  We've made two med adjustments.  Kelso was better.  She went 2 and 2--and ALMOST had that 3rd win.  Very happy she made it to day 2. 

Then this week the barfing started again.  She only wrestled one match at our dual on Wed due to barfing (and didn't win).  But she got a good win on Monday (37 second pin) (and took a forfeit.) 

Yesterday in Woodinville, we tried out dramamine and she was able to wrestle--sort of.  She still felt nausea and was slow/tired.  (They only have "less drowsy" dramamine.) I can't even.  So we're working on connecting with her doctor again ASAP and seeing what else we can do.  We are battling opponents on and off the mat! 

For Ben: He went 2 and 2 at Gut Check (super proud of that!), took a forfeit for Edmonds Woodway match and for the Shorecrest match.  He then also won an exhibition against a Shorecrest 113.

We have 3 weeks left until districts.  I am exhausted.  Deeply.  But, also excited to try to wrap this season up strong.  With less vomiting.  Ugh.  

We had a great turnout for the SW v. SC match.  It was a "Blackout" night--where you wear black.  People really got into it!  I've put a lot of energy into making matches fun this year as a way to *hopefully* get more girls to turn out next year.  We'll see. 

Kelso weigh in on day 1. Before we knew that one of these kids was going to fail skin checks.  We haven't successfully had the whole team wrestle at a single event yet. 

Kelso in in a SUPER hot cafeteria. 

This match was SO close.  She almost had it. 

Rhinos at Kelso.  3 of them won championships.  Maybe next year?  Haha.  Look at those huge brackets.  We were super proud of Finley, the first ever SW Kelso champ. 

Ben getting a FF at Edway

Love this pic of Ben pinning the SC kid.  

Winning the SPARTAN CUP! 

Sarah with a Woodinville win! 

I think also at Woodinville

And a bloody nose too! 

Libby also got to take a FF for her team this week, and wrestle in a tough tournament where she went 1-2.  Then she coached her littles at a club tournament today.  

Happy New Year!

 Okay world.  I screwed up the chocolate fountain...again.  For real.  You'd think I would remember not to add cream.  But I forget every time.  Next year I'm just buying the chocolate fountain stuff in a carton.  Over it.  

But we had a fun night at Maren's.  I made homemade pizzas.  I ruined the aforementioned many pounds of chocolate.  We played different games, I enjoyed learning a new game with Alayne and Brett that included bandits on trains.  I was just getting the hang of it when we rang in the new year (it was closer to 10 pm this year...wow we pushed it.) 

 

Here's to 2026...maybe a year with less stress?  Haha. 

Before it went crazy foamy. 

Christmas Eve--had us in stitches

 Literally. But let me start with the amazingly fun games and activities before dinner.  I had a roll the snowman/gingerbread man/gingerbread house/Christmas tree activity that people seemed to really enjoy.  Except for one person who wrote that they were drawing under duress (haha).  

I also had a ping pong ball game where you had to bounce it into a muffin tin to win presents (which were all cheese and crackers for the appetizers...)I know. Cheesy :)

We did musical candy canes (music plays--when it stops you grab a candy cane...the one without a cane is out.). It was really hilarious.  I kept having to replace the candy canes as the grabbing got violent.   Libby, of course, won. 

The ring toss was played--but not as much as in years past.  

Then we had dinner.  All went well.  It was a yummy soup potluck.  The Winco rolls were ON POINT.  Salad and veggies were great.  Christmas juice was extra yummy because I remembered limes. 

We sat in a circle and played Twas the night Right before Christmas.  I updated the text this year with even more Lefts and Rights.  Unfortunately, there were a balanced amount so that you kind of kept passing the same gift back and forth.  I'll need to update again next year. I had enough gifts that everyone got to play.  (Movie theater candy boxes.)

Then we sang some songs and Derek read Luke 2.  No nativity this year--with no littles it didn't seem worth it to haul out the costumes.  

Then on to donuts and hot cocoa.  People were laughing and chatting when I heard a huge thud. 

I rushed to the dining room and saw Ben twitching a bit on the floor.  I almost fainted myself.  Thankfully it wasn't a seizure.  Libby had apparently been choking him out (as one does, I guess in this wrestling family). Ben apparently said, "I refuse to tap out."  Then went limp.  So Libby let go of him.  But unfortunately he actually had passed out.  So he pitched forward right into the wall.  I saw him twitching just as he was coming to.  It could actually have been a lot worse I guess.  He has a major black eye and his chin had a huge gash.  

As luck (or spiritual promptings?) would have it, I had invited Connor and Chunie to dinner.  Chunie, if you recall, was the one that stitched up Sarah's eyebrow in Oct.  Now, Connor (who is a facial plastic surgery resident) got the chance to stitch up a Norton with Chunie on the assist.  Seriously.  I was so thankful they were there.

And I was also a hot mess.  Derek's response, "Libby, when you choke someone out you have to let them down toward you."  My (internal response) "Never, never, never, even pretend to choke someone out. AHHHHHH!"  

Anyway, while Ben iced, people continued to chat and munch while the doctors went home for supplies.  (That they now keep on hand due to us...although apparently one of the things they needed was a wrapped gift under their tree, so they had to do an early Christmas real quick.) 

Most of the guests left before the actual stitching.  We all cleaned up while the docs worked on Ben.  Libby was super helpful, feeling pretty bad about the whole thing.  

Then Grammy was like--Pajamas?  And they were like YES!  (Including Ben).

After Grammy got pics with them in the traditional pjs, the kids went up to watch a movie while Santa did his magic (since Derek had to work on Christmas day.)   I sat down and cried.  Oh boy.  I hate to see one of my kids injured.  Especially when Ben was supposed to be our 113 pounder at a 2 day tournament in OR in 4 days from the injury.  Big team consequences.  

Then I rallied and we set up the scavenger hunt. 

I told the kids they had to walk it!  No running!  (And they did.) 

They were super happy with their gifts.  They each got 2 pair of shoes and lots of new socks.  

They enjoyed their stockings. Then we all crashed out at like 11 pm.  Which is SO past my bedtime.  

So--merry Christmas?  I mean, yes.  But man, does it really blow that Ben can't wrestle for a couple of weeks.  99% of the night was amazing (including that we didn't have to go to the ER.). But negativity bias is real. What will we remember?  It'll always be the Christmas of the stitches.  

Holy cow.  First time I've seen that pic.  Gross. 

This year's pjs. 

The pic to show there is no ill will. 

I was most excited about the mater crocs.  And I think he was too.  He mentioned them off-hand...and didn't think I'd be able to find them. 

Libby really needed new air forces, as her old ones were a few years old.  Gross. 

Sarah was convinced she was only getting one pair.  So happy I found another great pair for her! Docs and Alegrias. 

Another fav gift.  Haha. 

Christmas Break Fun...so far

 When I knew Libby was coming home for the holidays, I realized I wanted some kind of a tradition to welcome my kids home for the Christmas vacation.  She requested cinnamon rolls.  I decided I'd do what I'd been wanting to do for a few years--get a new sunroom tree, and we'd decorate it together with all the fun family ornaments.  So on that first Sunday--we executed the plan.  The cinnamon rolls weren't perfect.  But the afternoon was delightful.

Love seeing all the kids together.

Then the kids went caroling with the youth while I worked on the Christmas gift scavenger hunt (written by AI, but still a lot of work for me to figure out all the gifts...and I still needed one more gift for Sarah...luckily the store was open on Tuesday and I was able to execute operation "I wish shoe a Merry Christmas"...despite all injuries...

Monday we had practice, ate Spiros (we are working down Libby's list of restaurants), and went to Zootopia 2.  It was great.  

Tuesday was Clark Day!  They had a great time downtown.  I finished shopping and wrapping.  Then I could spend all of Christmas eve setting up the tables, chairs and games.  (I got way too into games this year, but it was fun!) 

Anyway, Christmas Eve morning I picked up rolls and donuts and dropped of seminary gifts.  The kids went to Din Tai Fung for lunch (yes, another Libby pick).  But they were home in time to help for a bit before they went with dad on his annual shopping trip.  I got everything ready as the guests finally arrived.  But Christmas eve gets its very own post...due to--you guessed it.  Injuries. Ugh. 

Derek took a pic of all the kids with the tree, but his pics aren't syncing to google.  So here's the best I've got. 

We didn't have any 106 pounders in our tournament, so these guys took the medals...I did take one back for the white elephant exchange with the team.