Wrestling....

This past weekend was the first weekend of the season that I got to see Brandon wrestle. They seriously have been traveling just about every weekend since the beginning of November. As a matter of fact, Jeff and Brandon are heading out in the morning with 15 other team mates to Salt Lake for a tournament. They will be gone till Sunday. That means shopping for Alyssa and I. :)
Locally, since the competition is not what it is when we travel, we wrestle Brandon up a weight class. Last weekend he wrestled at 55 pounds. He typically weighs about 45-46 pounds. He took 2nd, losing one match by just a point. The boys he went against were not only heavier but a lot taller then Brandon, but he proved once again that it's not the size that wins the match but the technique. I am certain he left those coaches speechless. I know he does me.


I love this picture! PIN!

He literally took this kid and flung him over his shoulder for the pin. So proud of him!

Christmas...

Christmas this year was great. Just like every other year, regardless of how well I mentally plan ahead the day sneaks up on me and I find myself a frazzled mess. This year was no different.

For the first time in 13 years I didn't get around to sending out Christmas cards. Talk about feeling inadequate.
I played the "I'll do it tomorrow" game for too long and before I knew it, Christmas was here.

The kids had a great Christmas. Santa came and brought everyone just what they had been wishing for. I tell you, that Santa guy is pretty amazing.
Gabriella was very excited for Christmas this year, I think it was the first year she really understood what was going on. She even sat on Santa's lap!

Alyssa got a new TV for her room, a camera and the bedding she has been asking for. As well as tons of new clothes and makeup.
Brandon got a new video camera (be watching for his videos) a remote control car, of course some video games, and legos.
Gabriella has been asking for a scooter and a "hellamet" and Santa brought that. She also got a new baby doll and zhu zhu pets.
The list is really endless.

It was a good Christmas. It came and went just as fast as the holiday season.

Long Overdue....

HECTIC...
That's the word I choose to sum up the last month. I've been horrible at keeping this blog updated. I want to do better, just for my own records and memories. Heck, without these updates I wouldn't remember what I did 5 minutes ago.

So, pull up a chair and grab a snack, this is gonna be a long one!

I'll start with our trip to Phoenix back in November. My BEST friend of all times was getting ready to have baby girl #2 aka Olivia. Alyssa and I, along with my mom and Gabriella took a weekend trip to reunite and throw her a shower. It was a great weekend. The shower was a success and seeing Jessica and Maddy was the icing on the cake. Olivia was born on November 28th and man alive is she the sweetest little thing!

Jeff and Brandon have been crazy busy with wrestling. I think they have been traveling every weekend since the first weekend in November. Brandon has been wrestling hard and doing well. The competition when he travels proves to me much tougher and that's what he needs and desires. I have yet to see him wrestle, unless you count the numerous times I have watched his videos. I'm looking forward to January 1st when I can finally see him live.
I don't have any pictures of him wrestling to post. I'll have to get on that....hint, hint. I want a new camera! :)

Alyssa danced in the Boulder City Ballet Company's production of The Nutcracker last weekend. She danced the roll of a Neapolitan Doll and looked fabulous! I love seeing her on the stage.
I do have pictures of that. I'll do a separate post of pictures. :)

Gabriella is potty trained!! Can I get an AMEN and thank you Jesus!! Actually, it was Jeff how pulled off this potty training success story. Thank goodness one of us can be consistent!

Alyssa has been kicking butt in school too. She's become very involved with the National Junior Honor Society and stays after school on the days she doesn't have dance working on things for the teachers and staff. She maintains her straight A's with accelerated classes, 7 dance classes a week and her insanely busy social life (aka as Joseph) She's the best!

I guess that's about it. Somewhere in all that was Thanksgiving...
I'll post pictures!

Gabriella...

Gabriella showing her true feeling on her visit to the doctors...


A little late, but better late than never. Gabriella went in for her 3 year well check last Monday. She was such a BIG girl and only cried a little when she got her flu shot.
She was 3 feet fall and 25 pounds. She's at the 15 percentile for her height and weight. A peanut, like her big brother. However, the doctor, who was once so concerned by her lack of weight gain that we had to go in for monthly weight checks...was pleased to see she was finally gaining. Ummm, yea...the kid eats EVERYTHING!

Girls weekend...

I just had to laugh. I sent Alyssa in for drinks while I waited in the car with Gabriella. This is what she came out with...64ozs of Slurpee...one for each of us...so big they wouldn't even fit into the cup holder.

I love my girls!!




While the boys were away, the girls and I had a great time hanging out and shopping.
We, or should I say Alyssa, discovered a new love for American Eagle clothing and Forever 21.
It was nice to just come and go as we wanted with no worries about the boys..
we're already looking forward to the next girls weekend!

Wrestling is in full swing....

You can tell by the look on their faces that they are exhausted. This is the end of day two...

Ahhh, yes. The Hooter girl was a hit...


Last weekend Jeff, Brandon and some other boys from the Team took off to a Colorado for a weekend of wrestling. They flew out on Friday morning, wrestled in two tournaments, one on Saturday and one on Sunday (a total of 24 hours of wrestling) and flew back home Monday afternoon.
Brandon had some large and tough brackets, but he wrestled well. On Saturday at the Monster Match he had 20 kids in his bracket and took 6th place. On Sunday, at Big Horn Nationals he took 5th. I can't remember how many kids were in that bracket.
As a whole, the entire team had a great weekend. I think it's safe to say Team GV has once again left their mark.

Next tournament is in Utah in two weeks!!

Daddys girl....

It can no longer be denied...Gabriella is officially a daddy's girl. Yesterday Gabriella went the entire day without seeing her daddy. When he got home at night she couldn't get enough hugs and cuddles from him. Seeing them together melts my heart. :)