Jim brought Derek and his friend to a character and leadership conference this week. A bonus was that the conference was hosted by USAFA, therefore they’ve been able to spend time with Jake.

In addition to participating in some phenomenal sessions, Jake escorted the boys to some of his classes, brought them to his room,

and introduced them to lunch at Mitchell Hall.

Ruth had painted a picture for Jake and given it to him for Christmas. Jim’s heart was warmed to see that Jake had it proudly hanging at his desk.

Last night they had front row seats to the USAFA hockey game,

and today they’re skiing at Copper Mountain. A full, fun weekend!

Jake is learning about the many traditions at his school. One such tradition is celebrated by the seniors, called 100s Day. It not only marks 100 days until graduation, but also is the day they receive their post-graduation assignments.

How do the doolies (freshmen) fit in the picture? They are responsible for decorating the seniors’ rooms while the seniors are away for the weekend. And the more obnoxious the decorating, the better. Jake and his roommate decorated their squad commander’s room with a beach theme, pouring 300 pounds of sand into the room! Here’s a video of the squad comm walking in for the first time.

We are enjoying the unseasonably warm February weather. What a contrast to February 2011!

With some extra wood on hand, we decided to fire up the fire pit and roast some marshmallows. Everything is an athletic pursuit to some family members…

The sweet reward of toasted sugar.

Derek was loaded down with homework,

but he was able to take a break and join us at the fire pit.

This is definitely a favorite family tradition…and a bonus that we were able to enjoy it in February!

In a first for our family, someone is playing basketball.

Last Saturday was Derek’s and my first time watching Bubbie play, as it was the first Saturday with no wrestling. His brothers warmed him up before leaving for the game. Here’s what a footballer/wrestler looks like with a basketball:

Not only is this an initiation into basketball playing, but also coaching. Jim was invited by a friend of ours to help coach the team, and Jim readily accepted.

There were a few moments when I was reminded of Jeremy’s football training.

But it sure was fun to watch this kid hustle!

He walked off the court when the game was done with a red face and a big smile.

We went to Sectionals at Byron High School with high hopes that Derek might have a chance to advance to State next weekend. Because he had a bye the first round, he only had to win two matches in order to advance.

The place was packed!

Wrestlers from each school were announced as they marched into the gym.

We were so excited to have five wrestlers competing from WA!

Clearly, everyone is in the zone.

The National Anthem was sung.

The first round of wrestling finished, then the boys warmed up for the second round.

Derek wrestled his first match.

And pinned his guy!

First victory.

The team spent the night in Rockford, while Jim and I drove home with the kids. The next day, we were filled with anticipation, hoping and praying for one more victory for Big D. His first match was against the guy who placed first at State last year.

He tried with all his strength to prevail,

but his youth and minimal experience could not match his opponent.

Now the pressure was on. The next match would decide whether his wrestling season would continue or not. The momentum began going his way in the second period, but he ran out of time and was never able to come back. He was pinned in the third period. And that was the bitter end.

He approached the weekend with the primary goal of advancing to state, but his ultimate goal was to glorify God and make Him look great. We couldn’t ask for a better team and better coaches.

Have you ever seen such a handsome dinosaur?

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Although Jeremy has played several games of basketball this season, I have yet to see him play due to weekly conflicts with wrestling tournaments. Jim is coaching his team, and thus is the one to stick with him. This also means that we don’t have any pictures of Jeremy playing basketball, since coaching and photographing do not exactly go hand-in-hand. While Jim and Jeremy are playing ball at church, I cheer Derek on in his wrestling pursuits, armed with a camera. Alas, we must endure more wrestling pictures on this blog.

It was a big day for WA as they wrestled in the regionals tournament last Saturday. They are a small, young team, but surely overcame many obstacles and made a significant impact in the region.

The coach had t-shirts made for these last remaining weeks of the season. The theme was based on the twelve Israelites who spied out the land of Canaan. Of the twelve, only two were convinced that God would fulfill His promise to deliver His children into the land. They were undaunted by the giants in the land because they trusted God.

The boys were encouraged to be like “the few” who didn’t retreat out of fear.

Derek’s first opponent was the guy he lost to in sectionals last year. He was ready for him, anticipating the moves he knew this kid was strong in.

His bloody nose, though a significant nuisance, did afford him a coaching break.

He ended up winning the match, and due to an upset on the other mat, faced a kid he had already beaten a couple times this season.

After yet another bloody nose break, he ended up prevailing against his opponent.

He experienced his first tournament win!

Not only Derek, but four others experienced success that day and will compete in the sectionals tournament next weekend.

Here’s most of the team, with beaming smiles:

Ruth arranged the Bananagram tiles to make a message for me before we began school yesterday. I love having a daughter.

Jim and I drove out to Rockford for a wrestling tournament called the Midnight Rumble. Our three youngest kiddos were hesitant to be left alone for such a long time, so Mom and Dad graciously made their way out to the suburbs to hang out with them until bedtime.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the tournament moved along efficiently all night and actually ended an hour before midnight.

Derek faced a tough opponent for the second time this season.

He fought hard (bloody nose and all) but unfortunately fell to the guy.

He is slated to wrestle him yet again next Saturday. Hoping that the third time’s a charm…

That was Derek’s only loss of the night. Here are a few pics from another match:

He came in third place for his weight class:

It’s been great to watch the team bond together as the season goes on. Good coaching and good friends!

Molly is eight years old today. We took her to Petsmart several days ago so she could pick out a toy, and since she wanted them all, we chose for her.

Meanwhile, Ruth made friends with the guinea pigs.

It led us to reminisce about our guinea pig, Snowball. Sweet Snowball…

Molly is much loved in this family.

I don’t know who was more excited about her birthday presents: Molly, or her human siblings.

I have not been very good about taking pictures lately. When I do think of it, the pictures are hastily snapped on my phone and don’t exactly make for good blog material. It is everyday life, I suppose.

So perhaps a more appropriate title to this post would be A Field Trip, Wrestling Tournament, and Face Time.

We joined some friends last week at the Museum of Science and Industry. They may or may not have learned anything amid the fun.

My mom even joined us for part of the day. Here she is in the simulated tornado booth with the girls.

Derek wrestled in his conference tournament on Saturday. We spent 6.5 hours in a sweaty gym with occasional breaths of fresh air outside in the sunny, 60 degree weather. In addition to outdoor breaks, the kids passed the time with concession stand runs

and Ruth’s favorite movie, Chicken Run, on the computer.

As soon as Derek arrived at the school, he began to feel chills and feverish. He wrestled right through it, though, and placed third.

Jake was busy himself with a big ski weekend at Copper Mountain. I was just a wee bit jealous. He sent a picture of their group

and had the thoughtfulness to call a couple times and facetime.

I was imagining myself on top of the mountain, talking with him face to face, ready to speed down the slope… as I meandered my way through the aisles of the grocery store.

Ruth found a beetle on Molly’s bone the other day. Not sure how she would react to it, I was ready to tell her to just flick it outside; but she surprised me.

She gingerly picked the beetle off the bone and let it crawl around on her hand.

We decided to name it Bailey (Beetle Bailey), and she talked to it throughout the day. She continued to care for the insect by preparing a home for it:   a grass-lined jar complete with a pink felt roof. Bailey spent the night in Ruth’s room. But alas, when Ruth checked on it first thing in the morning, she found that Bailey had died.

Ruth came downstairs with tears flowing down her face. She had become quite attached to the little six-legged creature in a short amount of time. She has learned firsthand about the short life of insects.

Derek awoke bright and early at 3:00 Saturday morning to meet the wrestling team at school for the 2+ hour bus ride to Kewanee High School. I left a few hours later to cheer on the team.

The tournament was an all-day affair, which made the drive worth it. It’s great to see the team improve with every competition; some of the guys had their first varsity wins of the season this day.

Derek ended the day with two wins and two losses. A glimpse of the day:

He ended up in fourth place for his weight class, awarded with a medal and a bloody nose.

After school on Thursday, Ruth had a hankering to hold puppies, so she, Jeremy and I hopped in the car and headed to the puppy store.

Because we had limited time, I announced we could take out exactly two puppies. This led Ruth to convey once again her dream of working at the puppy store so she can hold all the puppies.

The first little guy we picked was a Newfoundland. He was cute, but preferred hanging out under my legs to playing with the kids.

The bulldog, on the other hand, stole our hearts.

He was working the room with his big paws and scrunchy face.

He loved to cuddle,

and look into our faces, as if asking to come home with us.

It was hard to say no.

Over the past nearly two years, Peter has saved up his Corner Mouse earnings, as well as birthday and Christmas gift money, to buy an electric drum kit.

He continued to work over Christmas break as Jim found various jobs for him to do in order to earn the last remaining money.

For instance, he prepared breakfast for 100 youth wrestlers from the city who were participating in a camp…

and he re-grouted our bathroom.

He had help with that last job.

By the end of break, he had enough to buy the drum kit. He spends much time playing on it. Derek often joins him when he gets home from school.

Sometimes they make up songs “on the fly”

and sometimes they’re feeling bad to the bone.

Just when we were really getting used to having the big guy around again, it was time for him to fly off. These goodbyes are never easy.

It helped knowing we had a great two weeks with him, and that he was heading back ready to tackle the next semester.

(and just in case of a free weekend or two, he brought his skis back too)

All the kids had two weeks of vacation from school, which meant we were all together as a family.

A complete seven.

Christmas Day fell right in the middle of those two weeks. As usual, we had the Johanik family over on Christmas Eve. I must have been too busy preparing the meal, because I surely missed some Kodak moments. Judi and Dave gave the Corner Mouse bakers personalized aprons.

We woke up Christmas morning and lit the final candle on our advent wreath. I love Christmas morning.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

All the kids bought gifts for all their siblings. This added up to quite a few gifts. Thankfully, Ruth included last names so there would be no confusion over which Jake the present was for!

Derek wearing maroon-colored Five Below headphones from Ruth:

Jeremy went the extra mile and bought a gift for Molly too.

Before heading over to my mom and dad’s, Jake fire-shined Jim’s shoes for him. Keeping his dad looking spiffy.

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids!

Ruth got a crimping iron and couldn’t wait to try it out.

The kids’ table:

We spent lots of time building Legos and playing games.

Jake and Sam bonded over snap circuits.

I’m thankful we had the ability to pause the regular routine and remember the precious Gift God has given us in Jesus Christ.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7)

There are pros and cons to having a mild winter. It is nice to leave the house without arming ourselves with hats, gloves and scarves. The downside is that the pond remains a slushy wet reservoir, rather than transforming into a solid ice rink.

However, there was one week when the temperature turned sub zero. It was enough to freeze the pond and lead Jim to zamboni the ice with the hose hooked up to the hot water heater. (I am leaving out the part of the story where a large crack formed with water coming up from it while Jim was on the ice)

For a few gloriously cold days, the kids skated their hearts out. It took a while for Ruth to get her ice legs.

And may I introduce finesse…

and his brother power…

Good buds.

A couple days later, these guys took to the ice.

They were joined by Ruth and her dog.

Her dog who has perfected the “hover-sit”.

It never fails. Whenever we gather in family room to watch a movie or play a game, Molly sticks her head into her toy bucket, pulls out a bone and traipses out to chew on it in our midst.

It’s her way of participating in the family activities.

tradition: a transmission of customs from generation to generation.

One such tradition began with just Jim and me watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy during Christmas break ten years ago. Over the years, it has grown to include one kid after another.

There are two prerequisites to being included in this tradition: one, you must have read the books; and two, mom and dad must agree that you’re emotionally mature enough to handle these intense movies.

Over the fall, Peter–knowing that Christmas break was right around the corner–was a reading machine and successfully read through two of the three books. He was thus invited to join the rest of us for the first two movies.