State Wrestling Tournament

We are so excited to watch Evan's teammates participate at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament at the Pepsi Center!  These young men have fought hard all season and it has paid off.  As of today, we have two boys wrestling for first place and three others in the running for third place!  That is pretty darn impressive!

These young men are competitors and they don't back down.  Evan's bruised face and body are just examples of a daily practice. 

This season has inspired Evan and we are all on board!  Evan, you the MAN!  We can't wait to see what's next! 

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Love is in the air...and I guess that means, let's eat dessert!!  Miss Blake sent Evan an ice cream cake for the big day and we sent her a cheesecake, her favorite!  Everyone enjoyed their sweet treats!

 Here's a glimpse into my princess's world.  The boys of Kappa Sig showed up at the sorority house and serenaded them with "Hey there, Miss Zeta"  (ilo. "Hey there, Delilah").  They showed up with candy, flowers, and ... puppies!   What?!   Livin' the Dream...that's all I can say!  xo

Snow day in Oklahoma

...and this explains why she went to school in Oklahoma.  She never did like the snowy season in Colorado, especially when she had to go out and drive in it.  Not at OSU, the city shuts down with the slightest flurry of the foreign white stuff.  She is a happy camper!

Picture of the day! Whoot! Whoot!

Crazy mama needs her picture of the day from my girl.  Miss Blake accomodates me for the most part.  Here are some recent pictures. It is easy to see why these bring me so much joy!  xo

Life in the Sorority House

Miss Blake lived in the sorority house first semester.  She and roommate, Melanie, enjoyed their time and space on the third floor.  Beginning of second semester, they had to move to another floor into a room with four girls.  It is certainly cramped quarters but my girl is thriving as always. 

Christmas in Salida!

Everyone is growing up much too fast!  We always enjoy hanging out with the boys! 

Christmas fun!

Miss Blake is so darn silly! She keeps me giggling with her crazy ways! I love having her home to entertain me.

Evan got a letter jacket for Christmas.  This handsome fellow has grown taller than his daddy as you can see.  Clay found his letter jacket from long ago and heck....it still fit! 

New furnature!

Mama got a new couch....and Moose loves it.  grrrrr.  

Evan's new truck!

Dang!  Fifteen years old with a truck of his own....Evan's not spoiled!  Wink! 

Evan makes us so proud everyday.  He is a great student, a dedicated athlete, and just an all around great person.  We were excited to have the opportunity to get him his own truck.  Now get to work, young Evan, gasoline is expensive!! 

Whooping Cough

Clay got whooping cough in late November.  Still to this day, late February, he struggles with it.  He was quarantined to our home for seven days and we were all put on a round of antibiotics.  Evan and I had have recent tetanus shots which included the pertussis vaccine so we were spared.  Clay was not!
This sickness was horrible.  Clay would cough until he passed out.  He broke several ribs with the violent coughing fits.  And there was NOTHING we could do about it.  The doctor said the cough could last ten weeks or so and it has.  We are looking forward to a healthy spring season. 

Home for Christmas!!

Yea for Christmas break!  Everyone was all together again!  I got a "smart phone" for my gift and my silly kiddos blessed me with their sibling antics!  I am blessed!

...and so it begins!

Wrestling season began soon after football. Evan started the season at 225 lbs. After the first week of wrestling practice, he was down to 211 lbs. He wrestled this year at the 220 lb. weight...finishing the season weighing in around 195. This is the situation...senior boys weighing in at 220 lbs. are usually solid muscle. My little boy had his work cut out for him to begin with. Fossil Ridge's coaches and the upperclass boys who were Evan's teammates were amazing. Evan was immersed with a brotherhood of support, advice, and continued "ass kickings" that was just what this young boy becoming a man needed. Wrestling is hard on a mama, but Evan's first year in high school wrestling was priceless. I could not be more proud! Evan will receive an athletic varsity letter this year. As a freshman, he will wear it proudly. He earned it with hard work, perseverance and the heart of a champion!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We spent our Thanksgiving at home this year, just the four of us. (and Moose, the under-table-dwelling-left-over-picker-upper!) Clay is still recovering from Whooping Cough and travel was not an option! Other than him not feeling 100%, I certainly enjoyed my family so much. I am truly blessed!

Freshman Football 2012

What a great season!! We ended with a win against Hinkley. Evan was pulled aside by one of the referrees during the game. The referree said, "I bet those varsity coaches are drooling over you! I have seen you make some really great blocks out there!" Then after the game, the coach came to Evan and said the referree made the same effort to tell the coach about him too! We are really proud!! Evan puts in a lot of dedication, hard work, and perseverence! Sad to end the season but excited for next year! #67! Go Cats!

Halloween Fun

The girl loves Harry Potter! Super fun photo! You go girl! xo

Happy Birthday Young Man!

What's a little humiliation to go along with a 15th birthday? I wish I had to video to share. Evan can certainly shake his tail feathers! xo

OSU Homecoming

OSU Homecoming is this weekend. As I had mentioned before, they are known for their Homecoming Experience. Part of Miss Blake's commitment to her sorority includes "pomping". This is gluing millions of tissue paper squares into millions of chicken wire squares to create the "Homecoming Experience" that people come from all over to view and take part in. Here are some pictures of the Zeta display. Note, the display is 15 to 20 feet tall and are wide enough to cover the view of the house behind it. Miss Blake has been pomping for over two months with a 16 hour-a-week commitment. She has spent the last 48 hours, without sleep, pomping! The results are amazing! Yes, the entire display is tissue paper!!!

Driver's Permit

It's official! Evan is behind the wheel! We got to the DMV 30 minutes before opening only to wait in line...sheesh! He passed the exam, the eye exam and the crazy amount of paperwork and humiliation from Mom and Dad taking pictures! We have had a few close calls but are chalking those experiences up to "opportunities to learn". So proud of you, young man! xo

Hello Fall!

Our back yard is so amazing this time of year! The fall color is super vibrant this season. We had an agressive wind storm the other day that blew a lot of the color away. It was the forest behind the house that received the brunt of the storm. Timberrrrrr! Blow away wind!

Orange Power!

Even the knomes wear orange in Stillwater! xo