Wrestling

Connor loves to wrestle.  He listens for the garage to open every evening and before Jason has the back door closed Connor is on the wrestling mat (AKA family room rug with extra padding underneath) calling out "it's go time dad!"  The boys wrestle every single night.  They wrestle the minute Jason gets home from work and they wrestle just before they go to bed.  Before I was pregnant Connor was doing single leg take downs and fireman's carry wrestling moves on me almost on a daily basis too.  Being that I'm pregnant I get to watch from the side lines now.

So, it wasn't much of a surprise when we asked him if he wanted to join the school wrestling team... he immediately said YES.  I had no idea there would be so many kids on the wrestling team!  We went to the first practice before we signed him up because we were concerned there might not be any kids his age or size to even wrestle with... wow, were we wrong! 

Mat Maulers Wrestling Club

Practice is for 2 hours (6:00-8:00pm) every Tuesday and Thursday at the High School wrestling room.  They start with some warm up exercises, pledge of allegiance to the flag, followed by a motivational speech from the main coach and then the kids break into 3 groups based on age/size and practice wrestling moves.  They end with another motivational speech, which always talks about good morals.  The wrestling room gets extremely hot by the end of practices!  The walls are lined with parents watching, which most of the dad's are involved in helping coach the kids.  I wasn't sure how Connor would do with 2 hour practices, which are non-stop.  But he did awesome!  He loved every minute and worked hard at getting the moves down.  Half of his baseball team are also on the wrestling team and a few boys from his kindergarten class.  He immediately paired up with James Oliver from his class and the two were great wrestling buddies.

 warm ups

 Connor doing a take down move on James with Jason helping to coach

 Jason coaching Noah, a boy from Connor's baseball team.  Joe, James dad coaching Connor and James.

 My little Mat Mauler!

28 weeks pregnant

 I found the fetal heart rate monitor when I was organizing things for the babies room.  Connor had fun listening to his little brother.

 photo bomb by Jason

 somehow I'm still able to squeeze into my XS WSU nursing scrubs, but not for long.  At this point I've gained 20 pounds in my pregnancy.  This kiddo is extremely active, way more than Connor was.

26 weeks pregnant

I'm huge!  The doctor thinks this little guy is going to be small like Connor was, but I'm having my doubts since I'm way bigger with this pregnancy than I was with Connor!  My belly button has already popped out, which creeps me out and looks silly poking through my shirt so I keep it covered with 2 band aids (which flattens it out).  Jason and Connor laugh that X marks the spot.  If you look close you can see my rib cage and my huge basket ball belly jets straight out from there.

Christmas with John

Christmas with my brother and his family

 Since Madi is graduating this year we decided it would fun to get them family themed Christmas gifts.  We bought them a 10-in-one game box and a $50 gift card to Bumpers Family Fun Center.  Plus a few gifts for Ryan.

 Connor loves the super soft Incredible Hulk blanket

 Kevin came over to watch the football division play off game, where the Sea Hawks beat the 49er's for a spot in the Super Bowl.  Jason is wrestling with Connor while Kevin is attempting to transform Connor's transformer.

 Ryan came for a sleep over, which turned out to be perfect timing because John got really sick that night.  First up the boys played a game of Angry Birds.

 dinner was Spider hot dogs (spaghetti noodles threaded through hot dog bites) and mac-n-cheese.  Ryan loved the Spider hot dogs!

 the boys made some jello gigglers

 and had a fun bath together

 Before bedtime it was wrestle time with Jason.  Connor and Ryan tag team wrestled Jason.

 Usually we pull out Connor's crib mattress, which is under Connor's bed like a trundle and Ryan sleeps on that.  This time I put the side rail on Connor's full size bed and the boys slept in the same bed together.  I wasn't sure how this would work with two boys who like to move around in their sleep, but it turned out to be perfect.  I don't think either of them moved all night long.

 The next morning they colored pictures while I made breakfast

 the boys requested Micky Mouse pancakes for breakfast and Ryan really wanted more Spider hot dogs... I substituted sausage for hot dog and made him Spider sausage bites. 

 During breakfast we annoyed Jason by playing the "What does a Fox say" song on the TV.  After playing this several times and laughing Ryan requested his favorite singer Katy Perry... so we rocked out to some Katy song's.  I sure love hanging out and laughing with these adorable boys.  It's so great that they are best friends And cousins!  We love when Ryan comes over and our house is filled with little boys laughing, smiling and playing.  I hope Connor and his little brother get along as well as Connor and Ryan do.

Christmas with Kortus's

New Years Eve we spent relaxing at home and playing Connor's new Headbands game.

 That Saturday we went up to Grandma and Grandpa Kortus's house for Christmas with them.  Connor liked Polly's Christmas outfit.

 more wrestling with dad

 cuddle time with Grandpa and Polly

 opening Christmas presents

 Connor and Grandpa put the Ninja Turtle puzzle they got him for Christmas together

 Grandma played a game of Candy Land with Connor

 and of course no visit to Grandma's would be complete without some snuggle time with Spaz

 Jason took a quick snooze on the couch with Connor's new light up unicorn stuffed pillow

Grandpa with his silly long braided beard