Gotta love the singlet!

Weighing in at 56.1 pounds, Ryyyyyykeeeeeerrrrrrr Wyyyyymaaaaaan!

 

Warming up with his teammates

Watching big bro

Watching the bouts

I only got warm up pictures because I had to take video for Seth during his actually bouts.

 

Passing the time

Waiting for his next bout.  I'm sure his coach is impressed with his dancing.  At least is wasn't stiff when he got in the ring.

Still dancing

I actually stopped taking pics an took a video because he danced so long.

 

 

Somewhere there was a mix up because the youngest kids are supposed to wrestle first.  All the other Pee Wee's had picked up their prizes were gone for hours and poor Ryker had to sit and wait by practically alone in the gym!  He was in the very last match.  It was a little ridiculous, but we made it and hopefully it doesn't happen again.  We weighed in at 7am, started warming up at 9:15, bouts started at 10, and we were finally done at about 3pm.  It was a bit of a long day.  He was complaining a little until he got one bout in and then he was excited and didn't mind the wait.

Waiting with Coach for his last bout.

He won his first one 8 to 6, then got pinned early in the next one, but they let them keep wrestling to use the time up.  He didn't even know he got pinned.  When I told him, he was mad and was going to work extra hard to win the next one.  He didn't.  It was a great match and both kids fought well but he got pinned right at the end.  There was only him and one other kid of his size so they had to wrestle each other 3 times.  After Ryker won the first one, the other kid's Dad had him in the warm up room working on moves to counter stuff Ryker specifically does.  The kid was way more ready for him the 2nd time around.  Ryker had 2 good take downs in the first bout, but the kid was ready for him shooting at him in the second and third.  I was proud of him.  He's only had 4 or 5 practices and he used a lot of moves he learned.  It was fun to watch. 

After he was done, he didn't want to get his medal because he wanted gold.  I tried to talk him into getting it and then he told me he didn't want to wait in line.  I sent him home with Grandpa and waited in line.  When I picked him up and gave it to him, he wasn't impressed.  He loves medals and trophies, but I guess he's at the age where he knows the difference between winning and losing.  I'm glad that he doesn't take losing lightly, but he was a little hard himself for his first time at a meet.  He'll know what to expect for next time and he's excited to go to practice and get better.

I wanted to get a picture of him with his first medal, but he wanted to pose with this brussel sprout gun/sword/tree instead.  He requested brussel sprout when we stopped at the store and was pumped when he saw this thing!

"Face me so I can see your medal."

"Now show me your sprouts." 

You decide which one he is happier about.

Baby on the way!

If you haven't heard, I'm going to be an aunt.  Yes, I could have phrased that differently saying that Kara was going to have a baby, but this is my blog, so it's about me and I am going to be an aunt!   

What does that mean for me?  We'll it has already greatly affected me.  For instance, this summer while we were in Montana, I went out with my friends all the time while Kara sat home with my kids.  After all, pregnant ladies need their rest so they might as well be sleeping beside my two munchkins, right?!  Yep, the tides have turned people and I'm enjoying every minute of it and will continue to reap the benefits for years to come! 

All kidding aside the kids are super excited for this baby to come out and so am I.  I can't think of two more awesome parents.  Ryker actually told me the other day that the baby is going to have a lot of fun with Uncle Brian.  Kya is mostly concerned about the baby slobbering on her because it is probably going to want to snuggle with her.  She has plans to get it a soft blanket when it is born.  Hopefully she's planning on giving it one of the forty blankets she a drags all over our house everyday so I have one less to pick up.

Anyway, I am pretty excited myself for this baby to come out and pretty excited to see my sister as a mom.  I can't wait to sit back and laugh as she yells at her kids to quit fighting while we're talking on the phone.  I mean, I never do that, but I'm sure it happens to other people.

We're having a baby shower at the Wibaux Fairgrounds Community Building on Friday, November 29th and 2:00 for anyone that would like to celebrate the upcoming arrival of the new baby.  We're not sending invitations so consider this (and probably an ad in the WPG) it!  Everyone is welcome.

Futbol

Arms out with your foot on the ball makes you invisible from whatever crazy creature Coach David is pretending to be.

Mara and Kya have become quite the friends.

Playing games 

Pirate game

Pretty proud of her new Lenny the Lion uni!

Swim Update

Kya is now old enough to be in swimming lessons (yes I lied about her age to get her started almost a year early) and she has already advanced to one level behind Ryker.  Here she is coming out of the slide that her big brother still won't do on his own.  She went again and again.  She has no fear!  Ryker has been down it once on his own and once with a teacher.  He doesn't like that it is dark and he goes too fast.  It is funny to see Kya put her hand on his back, look him right in the eye and tell him that he doesn't have to be scared, she'll wait for him at the bottom if he wants to go.  Haha!  I'm not making fun or Ryker because it is good that he is cautious and maybe it is just the age because only one kid in his class wanted to go down, but Kya is a dare devil!  Sometimes she's a little too crazy for her own safety.

That's my girl!

Ryker waiting his turn to swim the length of the pool.

I'm amazed at what a good swimmer he's starting to become.  He can even "sort of" to the American Crawl and Breaststroke.

Kya jumps off the side and swims back to the edge with minimal assistance if any.

Kya can dive down and get rings from the bottom of the pool now too.  She's pretty proud of her newly acquired skill and would do it all day long if they'd let her.

Blanchard Halloween Party

Izzy showing her cake walk winnings.  Grandma Marj would be proud!

Waiting for the number to be called....please, please, please let it be me.

Halloween crafts

Alexis and Abby

Picking up the piñata loot

More cake walking

Fishing

 

This is from Halloween night. 

There was more, but I already separated all Kya's chocolate because she doesn't like it and couldn't tell what it was before she opened it. 

The next day, Ryker gladly gave up his candy for $5.  Kya didn't want to, but once Ryker had his money and was headed to the Dollar Store for toys, she begged me to buy her candy.  I hope it is always this easy, but my guess is that it is going to cost me a lot more in the years to come once they get some bargaining skills.