JanuANY

We only took advantage of JanuANY at Subway today--the very last day of January! Sad. Can't believe we didn't go more often. But, with all the money we spent at Christmas we didn't really go anywhere this month! ha ha.

Anyway, I finally got some pictures up here.  January, January. I hate this month above all others. I dread it coming.... it drags on for what feels like infinity.....Collin is gone to tournaments every weekend and has matches almost every week....and it always just seems so long and depressing. I think after the holidays it's kind of depressing getting back into real life anyways. Add cold weather, and in our case here in Boise, a 3-week long inversion that literally kept the sun from shining for 3 weeks, it was not my favorite month. Again. But we did survive!

Collin was really gone a lot this month. December and January are the worst as far as wrestling goes. December isn't so bad though because of Christmas break, at least he is out of school for part of the month. He had a tournament every single weekend. 2 were in Nampa, which essentially meant he at least came home by 11:00 on Friday night and left at 7:00 the next morning. Then one was in Utah and one was in Burley. He was gone for 2 or 3 days each time, and for Utah got back at 6:00am Sunday! Those are just the weekends, his week nights all consist of practice or dual meets, and beyond those there's one thing that really drives me crazy--the never-ending texting, emailing, calling, organizing he has to do. You would think after a 12 hour workday Coach could come home and relax--but there's always more to be done. The next tournament to write the itinerary for and solidify arrangements for. I guess a few of these weekends he had 2 or 3 different teams at different tournaments, having to coordinate rides and hotels and such for each team. I think it's crazy. I wish the parents would give his family time some respect. Calling to complain about something at 10:00pm is not what I consider courteous. But he has let it into his life and is stuck with things like this right now. But this being our 9th year of this, nothing new. I really just think it adds to the dragging feeling of January, the fact that I'm pretty much on my own! Although, it's good and bad that this year has been more taxing than usual on Collin. I think he is just tired of the politics. I know, you wouldn't think wrestling has politics. It's so straightforward and fair. You wrestle off for your varsity spot. You either win or you don't. And you would also think the leading team in the district and state would be a close-knit, working-together type of group. Well it's total opposite. Yes, Collin is enjoying success and I know he's happy about that, but he's also learned a lot about what kind of sacrifices some families make to get that success and what it sometimes does to their values and integrity, and sense of being part of a team. I say this is good and bad because in some ways, I know we both feel he is getting ready to move on, to finally take a break from this craziness and try his hand at administration, and help us get ahead financially. Bad because well, he is still a wrestler at heart and a caring coach and I know that even with all the extra crap, it is important to him to lead the boys in a positive way and teach them life lessons and be a good example to them. But enough about that!

Each year that Ashlyn gets older though we have had more fun while Collin's away! There was a week where we were both sick and I think we left the house like twice. Talk about stir crazy. That is not how I like to roll. I need to get out  sometimes! But thanks to Playdoh, paints, crayons, glue and marshmallows, and being able to watch Frozen online, we survived. We have definitely spent a lot of quality time together lately! I actually rounded up some pictures from this month, although since not a lot happened that was picture-worthy there's not a lot to see!

We lucked out and I didn't have mutual on Senior Night. So we came and cheered! CHS has been undefeated in their dual meets this year. Yeah!

Keepin' it real at a tournament in Nampa--duck face forever.

This is to document the thousands of times I day I wiped noses..both hers and mine. Luckily we just had colds but they were big ones! 

Ashlyn finally tried her hand at painting! I bought her a Frozen painting book. She sat and did this for hours, multiple times. So fun! 

And her favorite part....painting every. single. character's face BLACK! why?!? 

One awesome tower made while I cooked my steel cut oats! (I just finally got into these--I have had them for the past 7 days! sooooo good!)

Actually eating dinner, you never know when that will happen.

Trying on Mommy's scarves.... it's best to wear more than one at once apparently

Trying out Lucy's spot in the sun to see if it's really that great! (this was just yesterday--the first time we saw the sun in weeks!!! It was the best!)

We went to a BSU Gymnastics meet and Buster Bronco ended up sitting by us for a while. It took Ashlyn a few minutes to warm up but then she just gave him like 50 high fives and was really sad to see him go. (she kept wailing "Brooooncoo! Come baaaack!")

She has recently become enamored with hair bows. FINALLY! Only took ya 3 years, kid! I am glad she is making sure Daddy's hair is fixed up nice too.

Nothing is greater than the love a dog has for the peanut butter jar! ha ha ha

And as for this last picture.... it is Collin while he was sick! I'm sure he'd love if he knew I shared this with you. Anyway, he got some sort of 24 hour stomach bug --you guessed it--on his ONE day off from school, Martin Luther King Jr. day. Sad, sad. He is not one to be very whiny or grumpy when he's sick.... unless it's stomach sick! Then you better forget even trying to talk to him! He puts on a hood and tries to disappear from the world! I don't blame him, it really does suck! But sadly this was a day my dad was visiting, he didn't get to chat with Collin much! On the other hand, thankfully it was a day my dad was visiting because someone had to take care of Ashlyn while I was teaching for 4 hours that evening. And who better than her beloved Grandpa. Ashlyn is so lucky to have such fabulous grandparents, and it's so fun that my dad has had more business over here lately so we can see him more. Anyways, Collin was of course fine the next day, just in time for school. Poor guy.  Good thing he had plenty of Big Bang Theory to watch while he was curled in a sick little ball. (thanks, Lindy! :)

And is there anything else I should mention? Can't think of it. Like I said Collin's team is really doing well. He is on track to hopefully win state. Post Falls sounds like they will give them a good run for it, like usual. But we'll hope CHS comes out on top! State is in Nampa this year which I am ecstatic about! That means no more wrestling trips, at least until gosh-forsaken, cursed freestyle season is upon us. But we'll deal with that later!

 Other fun things are in the plans for the next few months, and for that I'm very grateful. Yes, we're still hoping to adopt and no, nothing has happened. That's just to let you know since that is the #1 question I get asked by pretty much everyone these days. Gotta love that! Good thing we're so blessed beyond all reason though.