Snack with Santa

Madelyn and I went to the local library for snack time with Santa today. In addition to getting to see Santa, the kids colored, made an ornament, had story time and then had a snack. When it was Madelyn's turn to sit on Santa's lap she hopped right up there and told Santa that she wanted a 4 wheeler and pixos for Christmas. Not sure if Santa will be able to get that 4 wheeler to her. I'll have to do some major convincing to Santa's financial advisor first.

Biggest Loser

For the past two years Ryan and his co-workers have competed in The Biggest Loser contest. Although I'm not an active competitor in the competition I did join Ryan along in this challenge last year and again this year. Ryan and I give up deep-fat fried foods, pop, cake, and cookies, for the length of the competition. Last year Ryan and his partner were The Biggest Losers. Ryan got way too skinny but with money as a motivation there was no stopping him. I lost 11 pounds last year but through the year found 4 of those. Today was the final weigh in for the competition. This year Ryan went from 185lbs to 171lbs. He looks great now (he always looks great though) and I can even see part of his six pack. He and his partner did not win this year but they were both among the top competitors. I, on the other hand, weigh exactly the same as I did when the competition started. I lost a couple pounds here and there but then would find it again. This morning with my first weigh in I actually weighed 1lb more than when we started, but I ran 2 miles and took a good poop and was back to my starting weight. I'm not sure what happened this time around because I still gave up all those foods I just must have been eating more of everything else.
Today I celebrated my lack of weight loss with some pop and brownies.. mmm...mmmm. However, Ryan is continuing the weight loss through wrestling season. I guess I will be enjoying the chips and salsa without him.

BAH HUMBUG

Today after Madelyn and I got home from church we decorated the tree and house. I really wasn't in the mood to decorate, even with the Christmas music blaring. It just seems like so much work when it is going to have to be taken down in less than a month. I'm also a bit particular about where ornaments go on my tree and when Madelyn helps they all go in the same area and I end up moving them. Call me a scrooge, but I really would like to resort to a table top tree that doesn't need decorating. However, since I have a five year old in the house I will do my best to put on a happy face, sing a Christmas tune and decorate until Madelyn is old enough not to care. As we were decorating inside Ryan was putting the lights on the outside of our house. His grumpiness about putting on the lights makes me look like a Christmas Saint.



Jen and Garrett came down today to pick up Matt. They were lucky enough to get to witness my grumpiness. But, they did put me in a much better mood. Matt showed off his airsoft gun to Ryan and as I stepped outside to take a few pictures Ryan unloaded the gun on me. I have several welts on my back, neck and arms from that. Jen, Matt and Ryan couldn't stop laughing. I had a few choice words to say about that. Needless to say I will not be playing airsoft with them any time soon. OUCH!!



Garrett and Madelyn played outside and were pretending to be poor folks. Then they decided they were going to rake leaves and throw them in Madelyn's playhouse.

Thanksgiving(s) and Black Friday

We spent Thanksgiving day at my parents' house. Mom made a delicious meal, the fellows washed dishes and then we all sat around and told vulgar stories and did some indian leg wrestling. My sister whooped me the first time but I made sure that didn't happen twice. The lil girls also leg wrestled, but the men and my mom wouldn't participate.





Thanksgiving evening I picked up my friend Kris and then we headed to Kelli's house in Topeka for a slumber party. The fabulous four (Kris, Kelli, Robin and me) exchanged gifts, watched a movie and drank beer. I crashed before the rest of the crew because if I lack too much sleep I'm a complete grump and I knew getting up at 4:00am made for a short night. Kris, Robin, and I shared a queen sized bed. Between Robin's snoring and her bum rubbing against me I did manage to get some sleep. The four of us were up at 4:00am and at Wal-Mart by 5:00am, but that wasn't early enough to get the trampoline and digital frame that I wanted. It was pure madness at the stores and a complete blast. After going to numerous stores we stopped for lunch and Margaritas at On The Border. The shopping afterwards was quite amusing, to say the least. After taking Kris home I arrived back in CG around 5:00pm. Madelyn crashed at 7:00pm and I quickly followed shortly after 8:00pm.



Today Madelyn and I (Ryan had wrestling practice) headed to Manhattan to Aunt Bun Bun and Uncle Travis' (my SIL and BIL) house for Thanksgiving dinner with the Muhlig family and our dear friends Jim and Roberta. Jen made an awesome dinner and was quite the hostess. The adults enjoyed the time visiting while the kids played. Madelyn, Matt and I headed to Augusta shortly after 2:00pm.






Matt is now playing airsoft at a local establishment and Madelyn, Ryan and I are relaxing at home. We had a wonderful long weekend hanging out with family and friends.

Gymnastics

Madelyn has taken gymnastics off and on since she was a year and a half. She started again this month at the ElDorado YMCA. In years past she didn't really seem to enjoy it, but this time around she seems to, for the time being that is. It may be because she is getting better at some of the techniques. Usually, if she doesn't do well at something she automatically wants to quit. Well I hate to break the news to her but she has my lack of coordination and anything remotely athletic will probably not come easy for her.
Here are a few pics from practice tonight. Sorry about the reflection. I don't know how to get around that when taking pictures through a window.
She insists on wearing pants with her leotard. Not sure what that is all about. Surely a five year old is not self conscious about showing skin already.

So It Begins....

AHS wrestling season officially started Monday. Ryan got home shortly after 6:00pm, exhausted from the work out. They had a large turnout with 52 boys showing up the first day. That is a first ever in the eleven years Ryan has coached at AHS. Pretty sure the numbers are already down by today. It seems that some of the boys won't be able to hang with the tough work outs. Since there are only eleven slots in Varsity and eleven in Junior Varsity it would be a good thing if some of them drop out. Ryan said some kids will come up with mystery illnesses, start jobs, or have phantom injuries within a week.
It seems that wrestling is in full force at our house too. However, it is a year round season here. Madelyn and Ryan wrestle regularly and although they often times try to tempt me to join the fun I know better. I'm not tough and I usually find something better to do....like clean the toilet. Ryan and Madelyn can be quite vicious in their matches. It usually ends up with Madelyn in tears, but she gets right back up for more. Silly girl.



Since when is biting legal in wrestling?

Here come the tears

Can you tell how sorry Ryan feels for Madelyn in this pic?

Busy Buffer Week

This is how our not so relaxing buffer week has gone:

Sunday - Ryan and Madelyn rake leaves a majority of the day, while I clean house, nap and then run 7 miles. It is a hard life I lead.


This is Belle and Chance's lame effort to help with raking leaves.


Monday - Madelyn had gymnastics at the Y in ElDorado
Tuesday - Family pics at Portrait Innovations, first ever for the Muhlig trio. Ryan and I haven't had "formal" pictures since our wedding. You'll have to wait until closer to Christmas to see them.
Wednesday - Ryan just left for deer hunting and I will be taking Madelyn to Awana and then going out for a few beers with friends. I love my Wednesday night Church at a sport's bar. LOL Madelyn lost her 2nd bottom tooth today. Mrs. Olson pulled this one out too. Thank goodness because the permanent tooth is already coming in behind it.
Thursday - I have boot camp
Friday- maybe no plans
Saturday - Ryan deer hunting.


I think I'm ready for wrestling to start up so we can rest.