December Choir Concerts

 Somehow I missed posting about Sarah's choir concerts.  She had a school one and an SCC concert.  One was better than the other, but we've enjoyed the long term sub in school choir. Sarah sang in a small group in the school concert.  It was lovely!  

December Wrestling Update

 So I am "blogging" a lot right now--just for the Shoreline Area News.  

Here's the one about the match v. Edmonds Woodway.  

and the one about the Double Dual against Lake Stevens and Marysville (they combine their two schools into one team). 

I am really enjoying going to practice when I can, organizing Derek's wrestling life, and learning more about how to actually wrestle.  You know, like I've been watching it for 20 years.  I did a little coaching for Rhinos, but I'm learning so much.  I love that atmosphere of growth! 

Libby had a really rough tournament this last weekend at Gut Check.  It was brutal to see 3 of her teammates place when Libby ran into some State Champs from Oregon and WA in her bracket before she could get to the placing rounds.  Not placing at State last year has made seating much tougher for her.  (Also I think the OR girl came in unseated, which messed with the bracket).  So Libby lost to the girl who took 3rd and 1st in the tournament.  I got a few more gray hairs sitting in the corner.  It is stressful to lead a team through this kind of tournament.  Thankfully Brady could be there even though Derek couldn't.

Sarah hasn't won a match yet, but it's coming.  I can tell. (She didn't get to wrestle at Gut Check due to Driver's Ed.  Two of the other wrestlers are in her class, so they zoomed from the hall on both days.  I was too worried to risk it.  If you end up missing 3 days, you have to repay for the class.  I'm not messing around when $600 is on the line!) 

But I am enjoying being with the girls and leading out in a meaningful way for our kids.  I love that I can help Derek.  I hate that he can't get the time off he needs.  Defund the Police movement has had a real and meaningful negative impact on police families.  Anyway, one month until the post season.  Go Stormrays!

The Wrestling White Elephant Party.  A long standing tradition.  A couple of interesting items--a tire!  Like a real new tire.  Who knew?  It got traded too!  Some feminine hygiene products.  Haha.  Gotta love that. 

Libby with a win at Lake Stevens

The Group at Gut Check

All the Gut Check Wrestlers this year. 

Libby happened to put a sweet pinning move in right next to our chairs while we were coaching. 

The placers :)

Merry Christmas 2023

 My brother Dave said it best when he said Christmas last year was like a one star Christmas (with all the weather disruptions, etc.)  This year was much closer to a 5 star!  

The celebrations were different as we adjust to new family dynamics/traditions.  But it was so much fun.

We hosted the traditional Caroling Party on Monday the 18th.  When you host, you get to decide who to carol to.  Libby and Ben both added friends to the list of people we sang to, and we hit some great Norton family friends from the area.  It was a small crowd, but we had a great time.  (Every year I say--I hate caroling--but once we are out there--I kind of love it.) 

Then a week of matches and other wrestling events (white elephant!)--I'll write a separate post for them.

I was worried because school didn't get out until Dec. 22nd for us.  As in, we finished school at 3:35 pm on Friday Dec. 22nd.  I was worried about getting it all done (actually, if I'm honest, when am I not worried about this?  Even when I have lots of time.)  But I did.  

Also the kids got to skip school on Dec. 22nd so they could fit in the Uncle Clark Day. I'm going to be really glad to have all the time after Christmas (especially with all the tournaments) but yeah.  Not my favorite schedule.

Presents were done being wrapped on Friday, so we had lots of time on Saturday for fun prep and then our new pre-Christmas eve party for those who can't come on Christmas eve! 

Uncle Clark Day...all these kids are so big now! How can this be? They had a great time at the German Market.  I was tempted to go down to it--next year if they do it again and we get out earlier, I will! 

Andrew got to go along this year--Mistletoe! 

For the pre-Christmas Eve party we made English muffin pizzas (a Norton family fav) and then made gingerbread houses.  We worked in teams and each had a movie card to base our house on.  Some groups ignored their cards and did what they wanted.  Which I respect.  Hey--it was just as inspiration, right? 

Home Alone group 2

Elf Group

White Christmas! 

The two winning groups. 

There is a tiny fondant Grinch in there.  So cute. 

Then it was Pajama TIME!  Grammy's pjs were a hit this year.  She got all the right things. 

Then Christmas Eve.  It was a Sunday.  Our church Christmas program was FOR SURE the worst I have ever experienced.  We went over by 1/2 an hour.  People sang (many long verses of different songs) who should not have been singing.  But we made it through.  Then we had a quiet celebration with mostly our nuclear family, Grammy and Grandpa and a few friends.  It was truly calm and bright.  No nativity costumes (maybe only Christmas of my life except for my mission?) 

Dave was our pianist. 

Then Christmas morning.  Where I warned them that Christmas was going to be "intense." Haha.  

2 new tents and a giant floaty for our summer camping adventures.  I almost didn't have Santa blow up the huge floaty, but I'm glad that he (aka I) did.  It was awesome.  A perfect place to chill and unwrap! The only reason this Christmas got 4 instead of 5 stars is that I accidentally bought Reese's nutcrackers instead of Reese's trees. Not at all the same.  It also would have been good if Libby's big gift (letterman's jacket) had arrived.  And if I didn't have a nasty cold.  Ugh.  But Ben's Xbox was a huge hit.  Sarah is happy with her writer's workshop. And Libby got pics of her letterman's jacket because it's on its way from the DR.  So, overall a win! 

Off to Maren's for waffles and more gift opening.  It was a great morning. 

The Brandalls liked their Scripture Explorer shirts that I made. 

We got a fun game from Dave

The Christmas Crew

So thankful for my Randall and Norton families!  

Watch Out! Sarah's Got her Permit!

 I took a whole day off on Monday to get a cortisone shot.  And work on Christmas stuff.  This year our district is going to school right up until the 22nd.  Yikes.  Horrible.  I also took off a few hours early on Wednesday so I could take Sarah to get her permit.  She starts drivers ed on Saturday.  She's doing 2 hours a day over the entire break except for Christmas and New Years.  It'll be good to get it over with, but it's going to be a lot of homework every day and a 2 hour zoom.  And she's doing a couple of drives too.  I don't think it's going to be a super restful break.

I forgot to get a pic at the DOL... but she's excited.

She even drove a bit on some back streets today!  Let's go!

My New Role...Coach Trish...

I'm behind again on blogging this wrestling season, as the team went down a coach--and Mrs. Norton has stepped in.  Sort of.  Yeah.  It's weird.  I've been teaching yoga on Fridays for a couple of seasons (since my last hip surgery I can do that again.) But now I'm actually stepping into the corner to coach in matches.  For the girls.  I'm also still wearing all the other hats.  And trying to get ready for Christmas.  So yeah, it's been chaotic to say the least.  

I'm taking a sick day tomorrow to get a cortisone shot and try to catch my breath after a couple of intense weeks with the beginning of the season.  I coached some intense matches at our opening Jamboree.  (Thankfully Brady, one of the other coaches was there for most of them).  Then we hit the Chief Sealth tournament that was just me, Brady and 11 girls.  So we were sitting around for large chunks of the day, then running from mat to mat to make sure every girl had at least one coach.  

I ran the clock for their match this week.  Then yesterday the boys didn't have any competition, so Derek went with Brady to the tournament so I could do choir with Sarah.  

Libby has had 2 second place finishes in the tournaments (losing both finals matches to the same freshman whose dad owns a wrestling club.  Yeah, we don't want to stay in her weight class.) 

Sarah missed both Tuesday's match and yesterday for choir.  But now she'll be all in for wrestling. 

Anyway, Derek and I are learning to work together in this new way.  I'm writing lots of articles for our local news blog.  And it's all going to be okay.  For sure. Haha.

Libby did text that she missed me yesterday.  I'll take it! 

I don't often see the resemblance in these two, but in the pic above and below...yeah, I do! 

The awesome audience for choir yesterday

Meanwhile, in Lake Stevens...

Libby's favorite new wardrobe piece--and honestly her dad's fav too. 

Libby is doing some awesome publicity! 

Also, she's still into doing photoshoots...but with a candle.  Yikes. 

Last week at Chief Sealth.  It was so long we all thought we might die.  This pic was with our 3rd place plaque at like 10:30 pm...ouch.  I was so tired all week. 

Libby was so proud of how Sarah wrestled.  I was too! Sarah also bled all over.  And I had to clean it up!  Now that's me...haha.  Coach has to clean up the nose bleed! 

Libby won one and then lost to the girl she beat for the regional title at the Jackson Jamboree.  Doing some good learning. 

Hold on friends.  We're going to make it! 

My articles so far on Shoreline Area News:

https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2023/12/shorewood-boys-wrestling-win-against.html

https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2023/12/shorewood-wrestling-week-2-recap.html

https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2023/12/shorewood-girls-wrestling-opens-season.html