Wrestling

We have been wrestling with Bo for three years to get him into a sport.  At 3 it was hours of screaming fits at swim lessons.  At 4 he thought he wanted to play soccer but wouldn't go out onto the field.  We made the commitment so we went to every practice and game and just sat there.  Brutal.  At 5 he dabbled in wrestling for the first time but was too shy to wrestle anyone other than Daddy.  So now at 6, almost 7, we didn't give him a choice.  Or Sam.  They were going to wrestle.  No ifs, ands, or buts. 

 

Don't get me wrong, if they honestly don't like it, we won't force them to continue, but we WILL force them to give it a shot.  And not just one day or two days, but an entire season.  They wrestle at home constantly so we know its in their blood. 

 

The biggest problem was breaking the cycle of sports anxiety and of doing something new.  We bought them new wrestling shoes (even Max), some shiny new shorts and talked it up for weeks.  Daddy made it a point to roll around the living room floor with them in the evenings, teaching them moves and getting them familiar with the lingo.  Plus to top it all off, Daddy told them they would be in the same group and that he was going to be one of their coaches.  Score!

 

Things were looking up.  They were getting excited.  

 

And then the first day of practice rolled around and the screaming fits of hysteria started.  Sam was a slobbering disaster.  Bo was just mean.  I kept trying to reassure them but everything I said seemed to make things worse until it finally dawned on me that Sam thought he was going to have to wrestle another kid for real that night.  I felt horrible.  Hell, I would be freaked out too if I thought I was going to be thrown into a match blind.  No way!  Where's the door and don't bother coming after me. 

 

I went on to explain to him that they were just going to play games the first night and learn how wrestling is fun.  Light switch.  Tears stopped.  Frown was quickly replaced with a smile and a gazillion questions.  He was on board.

 

Bo, on the other hand, was still being mean.  Screaming at me turrets style.

Mommy is mean!

Mommy is stupid! 

I hate wrestling!

Wrestling is stupid!

I don't want to goooooooo!!!!!

 

Sorry dude, you are going.  You are not going to change my mind. 

 

He eventually gave in and embraced it.  Both boys were finally excited and ready to go.  I was ready for a nap. 

  

We are now on week 2 and they are doing great.  Here are a few pics from tonight.

 

 Max checking Sam's shoes

Watching Daddy mop the mats before practice

 

Waiting for practice to start

 

  Watching & learning
 

 

 

Wrestling stance

Bo's double leg takedown

Max watching the half nelson

Homemade Playdough

I have made playdough a few times with the kids in the past and it always seems to be a little off (too dry, too moist, to crumbly, too messy) so this time I tried a new recipe and it worked great.  It was super easy and relatively not messy.  Sam did all the scooping, dumping and stirring so that alone caused a bit of a flour blizzard but all in all it was mess free.  I cooked it.  Sam & Max dumped their food coloring in and then I did the initial kneading (which I highly recommend because my hands are slightly smurfish now).  I doubled the recipe and then split it onto 2 plastic plates after cooking so each boy could make their own color.  I also added some vanilla flavoring during the cooking process to make it smell good and not leave a yucky smell on your hands after playing with it.  I'm glad I did.

 

 

 


Play Dough Recipe:

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoon cream of tartar (find it in the spice section)
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food coloring

Mix first 4 ingredients in a pan. Add water and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 – 5 minutes. Dough will become difficult to stir and form a “clump”. Remove from stove and knead for 5 minutes–add food coloring during kneading process. Play dough will keep for a long time stored in a covered plastic container or plastic sandwich bag.

Snow Tunnel

Wes and Sam made the coolest snow tunnel in the snow burm across the street.  They dug and dug until they finally had "their headquarters."  The boys have played in it almost every day since.

 

Making A List & Checking It Twice

Quite Possibly The Cutest Boys Ever!

 

 

Finally Putting Ornaments Up

Between traveling and busy every day life we did not put ornaments on the tree until a week before Christmas.  Sad, I know.  The tree had been up with lights on it but no decorations.  The boys were so antsy and excited once we finally did it and I love that they did them all.  Needless to say there are no ornaments on the top third of the tree but it is extra cute that way. 

 

TX5 - San Antonio Zoo

 

OMG!  Let's just say, the boys LOVED the zoo.  They ran with excitement from animal to animal for 4 hours.  What an amazing day.