Had a Merry Christmas

Well, Christmas is over and hopefully I didn't throw any of the presents out with the wrapping paper. I tried to keep everything together, even making the kids get their laundry baskets to collect their booty.

Austin received RockBand 2, which he has been having a ball on. The rest of us have tried it and found that our musical talents need some work. Emily received a karaoke machine and has found it to be fun. It needs some updated songs, though. She doesn't know many that came with it. Ryan received lots of Star Wars toys and a new sled. Haven't tried out the sled, yet. The snow has been melting too fast. They also received the basics of Christmas: clothes, underwear, tinker toys, and candy. Also, snow boots and pants (to go with the sled) and Em received Bella and Edward Barbie dolls. Posters, games, movies and gift cards round out the Christmas booty. We all overate and have been enjoying the down time.

Austin will be going snowboarding for the first time this week. I'm a little nervous because I'm not going to be there. He is going with his uncle, Sean, to Park City. I have to realize that he is growing up and doesn't need his mommy everywhere he goes. Yet, I will be praying for a safe return, nonetheless.

We are going to be celebrating Austin's 13th birthday on January 2. It just happens to be my Dad's birthday, my niece's birthday and my sister's wedding anniversary. Busy day for all involved.

Band Concert

Just got home from the Juab High and Junior High band concert. Austin is in the Jr. High beginning band playing the drums. I guess he played during the songs; he was in the back playing the bass drum and I couldn't see him.

Anyway, he also plays with the JHS drumline. My little brother Sean is band president and drumline director. They played balloons. It was quite funny. They all did a good job and the beginning band sounded really good.

Austin has been helping out the drumline at the basketball games, too, playing the cymbals. He hasn't figured out the self-discipline part of it and tends to get distracted. Sean gets on his case.

The bands sound really good and the orchestra did really well for their first year. The new band director is doing a really good job and seems to have the kids motivated and enjoying themselves.

Ryan and wrestling

Ryan came home from school last week with a note. He said, "Mom, I want to do this. I'll fill it out." Wait, what? What are you filling out? I took the note from him and it was sign-ups for Little League Wrestling.

Wrestling? Since when was this ever a sport that we follow in our house? We are all about soccer, football, and baseball. I've been to wrestling tournaments. They pop shoulders and elbows out of the sockets. They get cracked ribs, pulled muscles, broken appendages. This was so not my thing.

But, I can't keep him from trying something new and he might turn out to be really good at it. (Not a lot of confidence in my kids, huh?) Well, he's had two practices so far and Heath reports that he spends a lot of time talking with the other kids then actually wrestling, but he is learning some moves. He's shown me moves like Barb Wire, Cowboy something-or-other, Cross Face, and other moves I can't name.

He seems to be enjoying himself which is what it all comes down to anyway. I'm still not too sure, but I'll try to be supportive.