Spring Break!

In the tornado machine at Exploration Place!

I had never been this excited for Spring Break....with me actually being school and now working at the school...I may have been running a little faster on the Friday before Spring Break than the boys! So, what did we do over Spring Break, you ask....well, for the most part we ReLaXeD!!! We spent the first few days hanging around the house playing games, baking an Italian Torte (yum-o!), building an awesome lego...pictures will follow!, watching movies....you know just your regular lounging! It was perfect! On Thursday we headed to Wichita and spent the day at Exploration Place! We had a blast! It was another rainy day, but we never knew inside! Thursday evening the boys headed down to Fredonia for a couple of days with Gma and PaPa Fox and Shawn and I enjoyed a couple of date nights!! Woo Hoo for everyone involved! Overall, I rate this a winner of a Spring Break....now only 35 more school days until SuMmEr VaCaTiOn....no, I'm not counting or anything!!!

Isn't this awesome?! The Robie House...pieces 2,267 for ages 16+!!! Gabe did most of the work...but he had two pretty fantastic assistants!!!

District Wrestling

Well, wrestling is over for the season! Gabe gave it his best...but he faced some tough competition! His first match was against a boy named Chevy...he pinned Gabe pretty quick and went on to win the District competition as well as Kids State...so we are not feeling to bad about that one! His second match was tough as well, but he was able to last 3 periods with him, coming up short in points. That young man ended up with 3rd. Gabe was a little disappointed, but he realizes these boys are not in their 2nd year...both of these little fellas have been at this since they were six..at least...that was the first records we found on them! So, this wasn't their first rodeo...it was a learning experience for Sir Gabe! For now we are enjoying having our evenings back...at least until baseball starts next month! AWESOME SEASON GABE!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

On To Districts!

Last weekend, Gabe competed in his first Sub-District wrestling meet! He won two and lost two...which landed him in 4th place, and heading for District wrestling this Saturday in Wellington! He had a full bracket...chocked full of talent! He wrestled very hard...and the time and new moves that Shawn and him have worked on the last few weeks was evident! This weekend will be even tougher...he has seen a few of the kids in his bracket....most of them have been at this since birth! HA! We are very proud of Gabe's season, for a kid with a year and a half of experience to wrestle one of the toughest weight and age groups and make it to Districts....I think it was a successful season, regardless of this weekend's outcome! Way to go Gabe...we are so proud of you!

Pinewood Derby!

Last Saturday, Shawn and Grady participated in the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby!! They had worked on their car and truck for a couple of months!! I think they turned out pretty fancy! Unfortunately they didn't win the Derby...but they had a lot of fun! Boy Scouts is starting to wind down for the year...they have a few more meetings and one camp out left! Grady has really enjoyed Scouts this year....it has been great for him and Shawn to hang out just the two of them!


And the race is on!

...and We just keep on adding 'em!

Meet Katie....could you have said no to a face like that??!!

Art Show!

Last week...yeah, I know...it's just been one of those weeks! So anywho, last week, Ewalt had their Annual Art Show! Both of the boys had a couple of pieces showcased! Thankfully they did not get my art genes...it appears they have taken after Shawn!

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!