Seasoned

This picture of Stewart shows how in shape he is. John says he looks like a TITAN, ready for combat. This is only his second season of wrestling--he started in his junior year and has done really well!

.UCBAC wrestling on Saturday. Stewart came in 3rd in his weight class; he is going to regionals next week. You can sort of see the shiner under his right eye and the scratches from wrestling earlier in the day.

John was at the library with an Eagle Scout friend working on Stewart's eagle project! He has next week to finish up, before his 18th birthday. You can see the stake president behind us. He was there to watch his nephew compete!
Best thrift store deal: I always look in the dishes, just in case they have a pizza stone. Years ago I bought the middle one at full price, mother-by-marriage lets me "borrow" hers because we use them so much and she doesn't (cookies, rolls, everything cooks better on stoneware!).

Brand new, waiting to be seasoned, broken-in, worn and loved.

Watching Our Children Grow Up!!!

As I was looking for quilt pictures for my "So You Think You Can Quilt" entry (see my sidebar link to Brown Paper Packages, if you want to join the fun!) I found some hidden gems. Roxie has lost her baby cheeks and will be taller than me someday soon. My babies are growing up quickly. Blink, and they will all be gone to college (if we survive 6th grade with Sam searching for something good to report about every day at school and dealing with bullies).

Another picture from Suzu's 2008 camera. She has gone to Hilton Head with a friend and her grandma for a couple of summers in a row. I love that we are finally seeing photos of the good times they had. I tweaked some of her photos, cropped like crazy, bleached out the colors the way the sun does on the hot summer sandy beach (thinking nice warm thoughts). They look more like college friends than teenagers.

Stewart is a powerhouse wrestler. Last night he warned John (the cook) as he sat down that he would only have one piece of the delicious-smelling chicken so he can make weight this morning for an away match. (It was really good chicken! John brine-ed it--soak meat covered in water + 1/4 cup salt overnight to force the cells to expand and make the meat moister and then cooked it in a yummy marinade. He generously says I am a good teacher.)

Week Day Date idea: go watch a wrestling match together. Fun cheering for Stewart. (He is the wrestler on the left above.) Photo credits: John. Crop & Color by Mom-Me! John reminds me that three !!! is not professional!

Home & Wrested

It was fun to spend time with family in Utah. We will see Emma in 12 days, after finals. Praying for her health and support during hard times.

John picked me up from the airport. Quick b-day dinner for Suzu (biscuits & gravy, as per her request) and then we went over to watch Stewart wrestle. 5 pins in a row, doing well!


We are still new at this, and by the end of the season, I hope to figure out how to take a good picture of this sport in action!
Excited parents cheering on the top row of the bleachers! Go STEW-MAN! He is so strong and disciplined! Amazing to watch my babies grow up into interesting people!