Wrestling Awards Banquet

Michael had his award banquet on Monday for wrestling. Its been difficult for him now that the season is over. I want so much for him to find something he can put his time and energy into that he likes to do. He has had an amazing run and loved it so very much. He finally passed down his lime green shorts to Austin, who is an amazing wrestler and will wear them with pride. He won the award for most pins in a season, the team voted him most motivational, he won for most outstanding wrestler and he got a medal for first place at regionals. With so much praise you would think he would be proud of himself. He plans on taking the ACT so we will see what happens then. Thanks for reading xoxo

Pink Bubbles

The girls got to play with some pink colored bubbles. I think they look like a scene from a horror movie. Good thing they were outside and its washable. They sure had fun! thanks for reading xoxo

Yellow Belt Test

Alex has really been enjoying his time at karate class. He attends four nights a week and can't wait to get there. He loves being early but is still too shy to practice alone or ask someone other then me to practice with him. He makes friends and participates openly. He has even taken a young lad under his wing and has helped him with the technique. Its good for him as its building his confidence. He still has trouble with the kiyah and doesn't seem to want to say yes ma'am or yes sir when required. We try to explain that karate is a respect sport and you have to show it and know it but he doesn't get it. Last Saturday he had his first belt test. He is to advance to yellow. He has had two stripes for some time now but was not able to test in February because of a scheduling conflict and because he wasn't really ready anyway. So I made ninja men cookies for everyone testing and we arrived on time. During the test he wasn't kiyahing like he should and had to repeat some moves and at one point he didn't say yes sir to the master when he was supposed to. So Master John had asked him to show the respect and say yes sir when Alex shook his head no I thought his test was over, it should have been. But instead Master John asked him again "even if your belt depends on it" Alex still didn't say it. So Master John had the others run laps and had a private conversation with Alex. Once that was over and the test continued I could tell Alex was a little upset but honestly he needs to learn to respect those who should be respected. When the test concluded I was surprised he passed him but it is what it is and I am sure he understands. After all Alex has come out of his shell a little and even though he didn't give the yes sir at the time he did end up saying it later on. Master John has a level of patients for kids that is remarkable and I appreciate that. So now Alex is a yellow belt and will learn all new karate moves. I am proud of Alex and love that he has found something that not only he loves to do but he is good at it. We just have to find that thing that will help him understand the importance of respect not just to the instructors but to everyone as well. thanks for reading xoxo

Gator at State

Michael has had the most amazing season. I am glad he found something he really loves and worked hard enough to accomplish his goal. At the beginning of the season I asked him what his goal was and he said to get on the podium at State. Sauk Prairie had three wrestlers make it to State this year Michael, Mikey Miller, and Jared Schaaf. Thursday-first day of State was amazing. The boys had the fire truck escort out of town but this year they got to actually ride in them. Michael was so excited that he got to push the button and make the horn blow. They had to get there early because of weigh ins so they left town before we did. We had signs and wrestling gear on as well as the confidence that our boys would make us proud. The Kohl stadium was the venue again this year and we had awesome seats. Close to the action and we didn't have to move seats too many times to catch all of Michaels matches. He wrestled like a warrior. He never missed a beat. He pinned his opponents like it was nothing and managed to tie the 40 year old record for most pins in a season at 27. We were so happy and thrilled because at the end of the first night he was in the semi finals, which Sauk Prairie hadn't had a semi finalist in 5 years. He was guaranteed 6th place which is getting on the podium and getting a medal at State. Something that is not easy to do and something to be very proud of. Friday came quick and once again we were up early and out on time with a bit of a rush. Michael had another match but not until that evening but we needed to be there for Mikey and Jared's matches. Both boys lost that day but they gave it their all, leaving it all on the mat. We are proud of them. Michael also lost his match that night leaving me in tears but knowing he did his best was all I could ask for. I think I was sad for him because I know how bad he wanted to wrestle for first. Despite my efforts to not cry I couldn't help it all the way home, I am glad I sat way in the back where Michael didn't see it. I feel bad that I cried over it but I knew how bad he wanted it and I was frankly a little pissed that the coaches had him take bottom position when I knew he would have done better at top. I know why it happened and I understand the strategy I just wanted it so badly for him. It was the competitive side of me showing its nastiness. The last day, Saturday, back at the Kohl center we were ready for action. I felt much better and was thankful Michael gave me a few minutes to talk with him about the loss. He was actually ok with it and that eased my broken heart and I was never more proud of him because he may have lost the battle but he did not loose the war. State is a very emotional time for a wrestler because its more personal, more physical, and the highest level of achievement in the regular wrestling season. It was time for him to continue and Michael had two matches to go. Both times he lost. It was harder for me to be sad over those losses then it was the first one because I knew he was going to be on the podium either way and because he told me he was going to be alright. I know he was upset and disappointed in himself. He got a bad ref for one of the matches and got the short end of the stick on a couple of calls. He never got pinned only lost by points. He went out there, gave it his all, and left his mark on the Sauk Prairie Wrestling team. There are going to be big shoes to fill next year for them. He not only got 6th at State, tied the record for most pins in a season, but also went undefeated at every dual meet this season. I was at every tournament, every dual meet, and got to be there as his number one fan at State. I am beyond the moon proud of him and there are no words to describe this unbelievable feeling. He is nothing but amazing, nothing but the best, and nothing short of a true champion! thanks for reading xoxo

Vegas or bust

Things have finally started to calm down a bit and I can catch up on all that has been happening. Lets go back to February 19th. Kato and I left for Vegas that day, it was also my birthday, I don't recommend traveling on your birthday unless its a very short trip. Our flight was really long because they sent us to Detroit then to Vegas, we live in Wisconsin. Anyway, once we got to our hotel, checked in, went to the room, freshened up, it was 8:30pm and we were hungry! The hotel was gorgeous and fancy. We had a view of the city, a phone by the toilet, and plenty of room to stretch out. There were many restaurants to choose from so we picked the one that had no openings, of course. Our second choice was nice, an Italian menu and yummy wine. Kato mentioned it was my birthday and the waiter brought me a free dessert with a candle to blow out, it was the only form of birthday celebration I got this year. I guess I am ok with that because there is nothing I can do about it now but it would have been nice to have something from my husband. I guess some guys are just like that, if you don't put it in writing or yell something really loud they don't do anything, despite the fact that you do something for them. I did say something to him later that night and his thoughts were that we had a fancy hotel and a trip to Vegas which should have been good enough. Only a girl would understand what that felt like. I would have given up the hotel and the trip (which was for his work anyway) for a card and a gift from him that was personal. Ok enough about it. I did get some cards in the mail with some extra spending money so I was determined to spend every last cent on myself. I accomplished that goal rather quickly and found some jeans, a purse, earrings, a bracelet, and a couple of t-shirts. I walked the Vegas strip one day which totaled 7 1/2 miles, ate at the fancy restaurant we didn't get into the first night, dinner at the Hard Rock one night, and went to a IWCE thing which was boring to me but part of Katos work. I didn't miss the kids as much as I thought I would until the day we were leaving. I thought about them alot and how much I really needed to get away but also how much I missed out while I was gone. I couldn't wait to see them but knew it would be brief because once we get home we had wrestling for the rest of the week. We arrived home really late, my stomach hurt from not eating, traveling, and from lack of hydration so once I downed some Gatorade I was too tired for much else and went to bed. I had to get up early that day (it was already after midnight) for Alex's parent teacher conference. Vegas was great but it was so nice to be home. thanks for reading xoxo