Hot Rod Champions!!!

On Saturday, Grady's team finished the season with 1st Place!!! Grady had an awesome game! He scored 3 points...one basket shot and one on a free throw! We were so proud of him! He has improved so much this season! He has become very aggressive on defense and dribbles and shoots with so much more accuracy! He is still pretty wishy-washy which sport he will choose next year...basketball or wrestling, but either way, he will do fantastic! WAY TO GO GRADY and THE HOT RODS!

A Rough Day Wrestling!

Well, wish I had better news to report from the mat...but it was another rough weekend! Gabe is keeping his head up, and him and Shawn are trying to figure out different approaches. The problem...not sure, but he is able to do very well in Novice tournaments, but in the Opens...has been struggling. He does not have anyone to give him a challenge in practice....he can beat everyone in his weight range in practice pretty easily, so at practice he has not been able to develop in the areas he has probably needed to. Shawn visited with another coach and have made a plan for summer practices with one of Gabe's arch nemesis'. He would give Gabe a good go....so, hopefully this will help out. Until then, they are going back to the basics....the way Shawn learned....we are so proud of Gabe...and he is trying so hard. There has been improvement, but room for more!! Thankfully, he is keeping his head up....I'm not sure how it would be if he was totally defeated!

Pancake Race!

On Tuesday Gabe's 5th grade raced St. James in their annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race!! Gabe jogged in in 10th place....why he was jogging, still not sure! Other people were hoofing it down Greyhound Drive....just imagine if he had been running?! The idea is to have your whole pancake by the end of the race....Gabe only had a smidge left....I really don't know what the point of this is...but it originates from a race between Liberal, Ks and a group of women in England....not sure the point, but I had a blast watching it! Wish I would have gotten to do something like that in school!

Long Time, No Blog!

WOW! Life is too crazy! Over the past couple of weeks Grady has had 2 basketball games, Gabe had a wrestling meet in Winfield, Honors band in Andover, Boy Scouts banquet, practices, 3 days off from school for the kiddos, class for me, work for Shawn....you know the regular goings on of the Fox Family! And somewhere in there we have found time to breathe, eat and sleep....barely!

Grady - His team is competing on Saturday at 11:00 for the Championship! His team has done very well. When asked a few weeks ago if our team was "stacked".... I had to give it a thought for a minute or two. You see, in the beginning of the season...without a doubt, yes, our team appeared to be stacked...we outscored everyone...but the other teams still scored quite a few. In the last few weeks, however, the younger, more inexperienced players have really come to play. No, they aren't the big point makers...but they are very good at defense. In the last few weeks, the other teams have not been scoring as much...sure it could be who we are playing, but as I've put the DVD's together of Grady's games...you can tell the big difference the little ones are playing on defense. I am very proud of the progress Grady has made during this season....I would consider him an ace at defense....he still has some work to do on offense...but that too is coming along nicely! WAY TO GO GRADY!!!! GOOD LUCK HOT RODS!!!

Gabe - He participated in Honors band a few weeks ago in Andover...he went at 8:00 in the morning, practiced all day and then put on a concert at 3:00 that afternoon. All I can say is WOW! I'm not going to say the next thing because my child was selected...keep that in mind! These kids were talented. They were given 5 songs on the Tuesday before the concert. They had 4 days to spend time on their own...not during band class, to practice these 5 songs. They then came together.....all 60 'ish of them....coming from different bands, different instructors, and put these together in 7 hours and performed an ABSOLUTELY AWESOME concert. I have heard high school bands that practice for months on a song that did not sound that good....I was part of one! Way to go Gabe!! We are so proud of your diligence in the trumpet....hard work does pay off!!!
Wrestling - He has participated in one tournament since Garden Plain. It was a toughie....he doubled out...a first for him. But along with challenges comes the opportunity for improvement! Shawn and Gabe have taken the defeats and learned from them. He is back on the mat again on Sunday at 9:00. This tournament was thrown together last minute as a benefit tournament for a family in Eureka. We are not sure how the competition will look for Gabe, but he is sure to meet up with the kid from Eureka that causes him fits....hopefully he can implement some of his new techniques!

Shawn - He is still working hard at Spirit! He also completed Bronze certification for coaching....he was able to take several techniques and ideas away from the training....he is hoping to get to play a more integral part in wrestling practice planning for next year......implementing some of the ideas! He is still diligently working on a woodworking piece for last Christmas!! It is coming along wonderfully....looking more complete every weekend!

Amanda - So what in the world have I been up to?! Well, school is going great. I am enjoying learning....I have always loved learning new things...so this has not come as a surprise! Another kind of big thing has happened though....this is how I'm going to find out who actually reads this thing!! I AM GOING BACK TO WORK!!! I know crazy! So, a few weeks ago, Mr. Clark, the boys' principal at Ewalt, called and offered me a part-time Special Education para position! I will work only afternoons (totally works out with my school schedule!), I am off when the boys are off (aside a day here and there for training), plus totally getting paid for what I do anyway! So, how in the world did this come about....I really don't know! I'm pretty sure it was God's way of slapping me in the head...you see, I have been freaking out about if I'm doing the right things...second guessing school, the path I'm on...you name it I've second guessed it. Well, the job is in exactly the field I am going in to....hmmm.....coincidence....I think not! I am thankful I serve a Lord that knows how to deal with me...some people get the subtle hints..others, like me, need walls put up here and there to get where we need to go. Thankful after a year and half of road blocks...I seem to be heading in the right direction...yes, slow to learn. Anywho, I am extremely nervous as I embark on my new adventure, but can't wait to get started!!! Wish me luck!

Hot Rod Win!

Last Saturday, Grady's team came away with another win! Grady had a lot of playing time....stealing the ball away a couple of times and dribbling and shooting a couple of times! He is really getting the hang of this basketball thing....and by chance I may finally be catching on as well! So far the Hot Rods are 5-0 for the season! Go Grady!

Basketball, Wrestling and Birthday!

This weekend was chocked full of excitement!!! First thing Saturday morning, Grady's team hit the hardwoods against Gid's team!!! It was a very exciting game..especially when the two cousins were defending each other! Grady continued his improvement on defense...he is really getting the hang of blocking and defending. He again received a foul...he loves this! He also got the ball...and knew what to do with it...he dribbled and shot! He missed, but the fact he tried was a huge improvement! His season is halfway through....it is amazing how much improvement we have seen! Way to Go Grady...we are so proud of you! GO HOT RODS!

Defending Gid!! The two playing against each other is just too cute!

Yep, you see it right...Gabe's first GOLD MEDAL AND BRACKET!!! We are so proud of him! It was not an easily achieved gold, but a much deserved one! His first match of the day was a loss....but thankfully the tournament was a round robin, so that didn't put him out of the running....he came out and looked like a completely different wrestler for match 2 and 3! His second match was a 10-0 win and the third was a pin in the 3rd period....the last match was the big one. He had to beat him with a pin to even have a chance for first....he did it and then thankfully beat his second guy 10-0. There were only 3 points separating 1st and 2nd! I don't think he will forget how he won his first gold....neither will we! Way To Go Gabe....WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

We finished off a very busy weekend with my birthday! We spent the day at Gabe's wrestling meet...but I love watching wrestling and I love watching my kids do sports and my husband coaching...so I really couldn't think of a better way to spend it! We did hit Texas Roadhouse on the way home for dinner and had tiramisu for dessert...homemade by Shawn! Yes, impressive! I was spoiled rotten on the gift front, telephone calls, emails, and cards.....I am so blessed to have each of you in my life! So here we go year 34.....I can't see what you have in store for me!!!!

6 Years...that's a wee bit of time, eh?

This week...as many of you know, I celebrate my 34th birthday..years have never bothered me, and I seriously doubt they ever will. I just don't care about numbers....probably why math has never been my thing?! But something that does bother me is time....in this case years and what has and will happen, in those years. You see, I had to renew my driver's license this year...I had completely forgotten they only do that every 6 years, and while I was standing there in the FOREVER AND A DAY line at the Driver's License Office, I got to thinking about all that had changed since the last time I had the pleasure of standing there. For one, Grady is potty-trained...at the time I was still making bottles, stomaching the smell of baby food and diapers, and lugging around a 20 pound 8 month old on my hip...it's probably a miracle he wasn't in my last picture! I now have two incredibly intelligent boys...one in the first grade and one in the fifth! Our family embarked on an incredible adventure of relocating to Washington for 3 years...where we saw more and did more than most people have the opportunity to do in a lifetime! I quit my job to stay home with my boys...a job that monetarily may not pay top dollar, but the benefits can't be beat! I lost that baby weight....YAY! I found the courage to start back to school! We moved to the country...or as country as I will get! But then, I started to think about the next time I will be standing in that line....and then I started to get teary eyed. You see, I will have a son that will be a junior in high school and one that will be in the 7th grade. There be fewer things they need me for...as I will have hopefully prepared them properly for the future. I will be turning 40...I will let you know if numbers still don't bother me! A 1.5# meatloaf will probably no longer feed my family....as well as many other meals of which there will never be any leftovers! I will hopefully have finished school....and may be starting a new career! We will hopefully have had many adventures as a family...going on enough trips and making enough memories for the boys to take with them when they have their own families!! So, what I'm saying is 6 years is a long time and so much happens.....and thanks to the LONG line at the Driver's License Office, you got to jump into my mind for a bit to see what I was thinking about! Thanks for listening to my rambling!

Weekend Sports Update!

Well, we survived another weekend! Gabe had a wrestling meet in Augusta and Grady had his basketball game here as well....I thought that would make things more simple....but, I was wrong! By having both boys in the same town...I just felt like I couldn't miss one...I ended up missing quite a bit trying to run around! Someday I will learn! Anywho, Gabe finished 3rd in his second open tournament. He won two and lost two....last year in this same tournament, he wrestled the novice tournament in Augusta and didn't win a match or a medal...so this year there was definite improvement..he wrestled the open tournament, won matches and a medal! Grady hit the hardwood again, and again his team came away with a pretty big win. This game was a lot closer than the last two, but the Hot Rods never fell behind. Grady had a pretty good first half...he played pretty aggressively...complete with stealing the ball once! He also got his first foul! I think he has the playing aggressively thing figured out! Grady has the early game next week....not sure what Gabe has going...we are looking for a novice tournament....he has novice championships coming up in a couple of weeks, and we think it would be good to see a little "easier" competition to build up confidence! We'll keep ya updated! Thanks everyone for coming out to watch our kiddos....we love the cheering section!

And She's Off!

Today was it....the first day of school! Well....I can tell you this..I made it through class one of two! I am only taking two classes...the first one Psychology and the second Information Processing Systems...so if this school thing doesn't pan out long term...I will at least be able to analyze each of your personalities and then put the information gained in spreadsheet form on the computer! In my psychology class, I was far away the oldest one there...at least the instructor was nice...he said there was no way that I had been out of school for 15 years....the girl next to me was a little surprised as well....so at least I don't look like the oldest one in there! The majority of my class are high schoolers doing the dual credit thing....so I don't think this will be a building relationships sort of venture! I did do fantastically on my first test....judging from the amount of my classmates that stood up and said, "I have reached number 9 and I am the leader of following directions".....I would say following directions may not be their strong suit. Being around the block a time or two has taught me to fully read all instructions before just diving into the task....it saved me answering 15 questions and standing up in front of class declaring my leadership abilities....at least I have learned something! So class one...a success! Keeping my fingers crossed class two goes as well!

**Also, please note my fantastic new messenger bag!! My guys have me looking very cool my first day of school!!

That's Why There Are Two of Us!!

Same story different day.....Shawn and one fella head one way, me and the other in the opposite direction!

Gabe and Shawn headed down to Eureka for Gabe's second wrestling meet of the season! He did very well...bringing home 2nd! His first 3 matches were fairly easy...all ending in pins, but the 4th was a real booger! Gabe did make it to the 2nd period and scored on the kid...which was something no one else was able to do...so at least that was a plus! He took the loss sort of hard....but nothing a little Arby's on the way home couldn't fix!

Grady and I stayed in Augusta to hit the hardwood again! His team came away with another win...16-2! Grady played a lot more aggressively this weekend....in practice they told him it was okay to steal the ball away...watch out world...Grady is now on a mission! If he had the chance to steal the ball on Saturday...he took full advantage! He is still working on what to do once he has the ball, but I'm sure that will all come in time! HA!

We have another full weekend, next weekend...but they are both in Augusta....might make things a little easier??!!