Top 10 of 2010

We are down to (almost) the last day of the year.  It really seems that every year goes by faster than the last.  I didn't quite get around to Christmas cards (or photos or letters...) this year.  One of my friends did a top 10 list as her Christmas letter, and I am stealing the idea.  So here you go.

1. I got elected as PTA secretary.  Never mind that no one else was running (thus is was more of an appointment than an election.)



2. The kids started school at a brand new elementary school.  Ben is in full-day Kindergarten, so both kids are finally gone all day every day.



3. I learned how to fix a running toilet.  Somehow I managed to not learn this before, but the toilets in this house made it quite necessary.  We had a plumber fix all four of them, and all four of them still run regularly.  With Brad away as much as he is, it was time to take action.



4. We visited lots of family and friends in Pennsylvania over a 16-day visit.  Even so, we didn't quite see everyone...

5. 

We also visited Brad's sister and her family in California.  That was Ben's first visit to that state.



6. Coach Brad and Ben had a very successful first season of flag football, and were quite possibly the most improved team in the league.  Ben had 6 touchdowns over the season.

7. 

Our friends from England (Susanna's best friend from school and her family) came to visit in October.  It was great seeing them again and showing them how we live here.



8. We celebrated the one-year anniversary of having a pet crab.  (Sadly, the other two didn't quite make it.)

9. 

The kids both got awards at school, Ben for being a good friend and a good boy, and Susanna for honor roll.



10. We lived in one place for the entire year!  (Our first year in one place since 2007.)

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

Christmas vacation

Our Christmas break is flying by...  only one week left until everyone (but me) goes back to school or work.

We had a very nice, relaxing Christmas day.  Santa brought lots of fun toys for all the kids.  Ben's favorite was a field goal post, Susanna's favorite was origami books and paper, and Brad's favorite was Paper Jamz.  Santa actually brought the Paper Jamz guitars for the kids, but Brad really likes it and has been improving his skills with the help of YouTube.

We had ham for Christmas dinner and every meal since.   A neighbor had received a huge box of various meats, including a 13-pound ham which he didn't particularly want.  So he brought it over for us.  Once we got it thawed and cooked through, several hours later than planned, it was quite good.  Lots and lots and lots of good ham.  So much in fact that Ben has gained a few and will have to wrestle bigger boys in Friday's tournament.

Today we are finally having our annual Christmas toy sorting/purging.  We have gone through most of the toys in the house and designated quite a lot to trash or yard sale.  The rest have mostly been sorted into logical categories.  The most exciting part of today was finding a toy (a piece of a set) that had been missing since before we packed for England.  I can't believe it turned up and have no idea where it was hiding.

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and is enjoying some relaxing time off with family and friends!

Souffle

Brad is finally done working for the year and we celebrated today with lunch at a French restaurant in Dallas.

The restaurant specializes in souffles.  We had never heard of it until last week when Brad went there for a work lunch.  He was quite impressed and anxious to go back.

They have both sweet and savory souffles and we tried several.  Brad had one with spicy sausage, I had sun-dried tomato and pesto goat cheese, and the kids shared a ham and Gruyere.  I don't think the kids have ever been so thrilled with a restaurant meal.  For dessert we shared chocolate and pumpkin souffles.  They were all amazing.

I would have taken photos but I don't have a purse-sized camera.  I wonder if its too late to add that to my Christmas list...

Heatwave

Four days until Christmas and it is 80 degrees outside!

I decided that we needed to play outside for the afternoon and we ended up with 5 boys and 1 girl out front.  One of the boys had shorts on, they all took their shirts off, and they were all complaining about how hot and sweaty they were.  Not really sure what they were talking about - it was just perfect - hot but not too hot and a mild breeze.

I think they really just wanted to play video games, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to do that in January.  We really don't get many days like this here since its way too hot from about May to September, so we need to enjoy it while we can!

All I want for Christmas

Christmas is only 11 days away.  I am not ready.

I still need to make my Christmas list.  I will do that now!

1. A peephole for my front door.  Right now I have shutters I can peek through, but whoever is out there can peek right back.  If I had a peephole, I could look quietly and then pretend no one is home if I don't want to deal with whoever is out there.  I feel like I am becoming the mean mommy in the neighborhood because I am constantly telling children to go away.  If I had a peephole, I wouldn't have to tell them anything.  (I really hope Santa brings this because I'm pretty sure I will be needing it Christmas morning.)

2. Presentable, plain pajama bottoms.  Then all I would need to do to be bus-stop-ready is brush my hair and teeth and throw on my big coat.  That would save me lots of time in the early morning, especially on the mornings I have to make lunch.

3. Willpower.  The ability to stand around at a birthday party for a half-hour with a beautiful, delicious-looking cupcake in my hand, and not eat it.  Not that my kids would ever ask me to hold their cupcake.  But it would be nice to know that I could.

I want lots of other stuff too but I don't want to be unreasonable.  I'll save it for next year.

Results

Ben spent all day yesterday at his tournament (about 8:30 to 5) and had a great time.  He ended up getting 3rd place for his weight class in his division (K/Pre-K.)  He actually had 2nd place, but then the boy who was in 3rd "challenged" him for 2nd place.  Brad had never heard of this before and was caught totally off guard.  Ben thought he was finished for the morning and was not prepared when he was suddenly called back to the mat.  That match was very close - Ben lost by one point.

Brad also signed him up to wrestle in the next age group in the afternoon.  He lost his first match to an older boy and at that point, Brad decided it was time to go.

Ben is really improving at wrestling - he's only been at it for a month and a half but its all starting to click for him.  He pinned the boys in his first two matches.  We are so proud of our little wrestler!

And Ben's official weight was 55.7 pounds - no extreme measures required!

Making weight

Ben is competing in his second wrestling tournament on Saturday.  This one is put on by his wrestling club, which means that it is local, and will also be a big tournament.

Wrestlers are matched by age, experience, and weight.  The weight classes for Ben's age group go in 4-pound increments, and of course you are better off being at the top of one group rather than the bottom of the next.

Ben was weighed on Monday when he registered for the tournament and was just over 56 pounds, putting him in the 60-pound weight class.  Brad had him weighed again on Tuesday night, and he was just under 56, so they moved him down to the 56-pound weight class.  Now we have to keep him below 56 pounds until he is weighed again Friday night.  Once they write his official weight in permanent marker on his arm, he's free to head over to the buffet.

Some ways to keep their weight down are: watching what they eat (no big meals before weighing in), removing extra clothes (they weigh-in wearing only their singlet, which isn't much) and making them go to the bathroom.  Some ways you are not allowed to keep their weight down include: making them vomit, wrapping them in plastic, and making them run laps around the building.  Or, at least, don't let anyone catch you doing these things to your child.

I can't help but laugh (to myself, of course) when they say things like this.  But then I think, they are saying these things for a reason.  The same reason they tell you that you are not allowed to glue your child's flags to the flag belt before his football game.

Being in the lower weight class should help Ben's chances of winning a match, and that would make it a better experience for him.  But what he really needs is more practice and experience, and the best way to get that is by being in a tournament.  He is excited and I am sure he will have fun with it no matter what.