From the Stands

Imagine you are eight years old again, with knobby knees and elbows and dealing with life head on.  Imagine yourself on the ball court, using all your concentration on keeping a good control of the ball while dribbling down the court, not to mention looking up once in awhile to view your path.

 

We watched Connor play basketball on Saturday and it was so much fun watching the boys play.  They are really understanding the complex concepts of basketball.  In fact, I was told by Connor that I don't know much about basketball because I haven't played for such a long time and he knows more because he is playing . . .  it all happened because of a discussion on "jumpball."

 With that conversation, I guess you can say that Connor has great confidence in himself!

Yet, there are a lot of things for him to learn.

There's a lot for all the boys to learn.  Like look up and find an open player to pass to, rebound, get your hands up, keep an eye on the ball and your man, and don't take the outside shots, etc.

Funny how we parents are up in the stands shouting, pass it to so-n-so, he's open.  Parents are standing up and pointing to the open guy in the lane with such vigor.  I had to chuckle because we see SO much more than what they see on the court!

They think simple concepts, using their new skills, do their one play they know either on the right or the left side.  They know to shoot the ball when they are in the lane (which was a concept that Connor learned because he used to dribble in the lane).  Once in awhile you find a kid that really "gets" it and make a mental note to seek him out when the boys are in High School because he's going to be a star.... but on average they are all learning.

I think we can be in the same situation as the kids when we are fully in our game of life.  Using our new skills, placing comfort in our old habits.  Having a hard time looking for that open man (or opportunity, a change, a challenge) because we are concentrating too hard. AND the rest of the world and God above is pointing out to us how to play, vigorously from the stands. 
We only to need to look up for guidance . . .



Status Quo

Status Quo is our life right now; nothing broken to fix and nothing too exciting, and so we embrace this time.

Our days are filled with routine: getting ready for school, getting ready for pre-school, getting ready for work, doing housework, being with each other at the end of the day and repeat.

Mix in a few practices and ballgames here, dance class there, a dash of wolf scouts, and a pinch of religious education and that is the recipe of our life right now.

We have been playing more games lately . . . got some new ones for Christmas and so we join around the table or floor and play.  It seems that TICTACTOE is a popular mobile game:  Olivia loves to make her own rendition of the game because x's and o'x get so boring!

We've been enjoying watching Olivia read and write.  It's amazing how they progress from letter recognition, to letter sounds, to basic phonetics, using pictures and hints, and POOF!  They are reading and writing. . . She likes to write about what she loves: pups, cats, BFFs, "Py Ple" (people), Mom, Dad, Connor, & "ivryfg" (everything).  She produces artwork like a factory; each a fresh new piece.

 Connor has really been intrigued by wars lately.  I was hesitant and thought I should be concerned about this at first but I think hope it is innocent.  He's always been into something and he loves the facts.  It started out with dinosaurs, moved on to insects and snakes, then Star Wars to total Harry Potter fascination, and now it's wars.  I have learned so much about WWII through Connor.  (actually, I have learned so much about whatever he's into). 

His last library visit, he checked out WWI books.  I told him that maybe he should study and research about the different wars, see why they started, how they ended, examine what life was like . . . now it's his quest.  He's a good historian, gets this from both sides of the family it sounds like . . .

Hoping the corner of my basement will become a graveyard for artillery some day when he moves on to other curiosities and fascinations. . . Meanwhile, my analysis of Connor's war fascination will waver, wonder, and wager the positives and negatives (because that's what Moms do, we make sure it's the best for our kiddos).

 January is a month for birthdays:  Grandpa Mehmen, lots of friends, Grandma Roberts hit a milestone age of 60 and uncle Brent is hitting his milestone age of 40, today!  So we wish everyone a Happy Birthday and many blessings this year!

Winter is finally among us!  Makes us want to hunker down and get long winter's sleep.  Hopefully, the urge to purge will be among me because I have a list of closets to tackle and clean, along with some other winter projects.  Of which one is almost finished!  I'm a bit embarrassed to say but I finally am working on Olivia's first year digital baby book!

Now, excuse me as we get back to our status quo!

Stay warm and healthy, everyone!

Heat Wave

65 degrees in January means we will milk the weather for all it's worth!

Play on the playground, in only our sweatshirts?  Don't mind if we do!

We also made snowmen, but we did it by chalking them on our sidewalk, like their swimwear?

So glad Paul and I are traveling to warmer climate next month, we've just got to get away from this horrible winter weather !! [wink, wink]

[I've been taking pictures with my I-phone lately and that is why I document them through Instagram.  I like the filters and I like looking at other people's photos.  It is amazing how they take their pics solely from their I-phone, there are some awesome pics.] 





Instragram Moments

Left: Evan loving a Chocolate Shake at Maidrite (after we watched Chipwrecked).  Middle:  We detected a daffodil bloom in G&G Roberts' flowerbed.  Right:  Jackie as a farm girl in training.



Left:  This is what Olivia and I have been reading, she sounds out many of the words and is really starting to read!  Middle:  The start of our science project...Will the flowers turn colors?  Right:  We spent all day sorting Legos; we're pretty sure we have gazillion!

That's a Wrap!

Well, out with the year 2011 and in with a new 2012!  Can't believe this year has blown by us, but glad to get a fresh start of the new year!  I'm all for renewing, rebooting, refreshing, refilling, reviewing, uh, I think you get it . . .

So glad to have a year filled with friends & family and many experiences that I can laugh at, love, live through, and learn from.

Three words that will be top priority of 2012: 

Health, Strength, & Balance!

We did a little something out of the ordinary for Noon Year's Eve Day:

We swam and played in the water!

And rang in the noon!

Paul worked until the evening and I worked at night and clocked out exactly at 1159!

From our house to yours; Happy New Year!

Christmas at the Farm

Christmas at the farm is always an adventure; with seeing the family, cousins reuniting, and Paul getting a deer we had some stories to tell!  It went WAY too fast and can't wait to reunite with the whole family again! 

Olivia loved playing with Jackie!  They played and crafted until their hearts desired . . .

Almost have them all around the table, Emma was helping Gwen eat upstairs.

Aunt Paula was the brave adult that came down and ate with this crowd!

They look too mischevious to me!

Jackie took a real liking to Jake, she wanted to be wherever he was, so cute!

As I was making my rounds of family pictures; these guys snuggled up for a blended family pic!

Too funny, guys!

The three amigos, these guys had a blast playing with one another!

Didn't even know they were around!

Since it was unusually nice outside, they had fun playing on the cart and running around the farm.

 The original family

(with the exception of Austin, gotta love that kid!)

 The grandkids!

To our very generous host and hostess; Mom & Dad!

Thanks for a great Christmas, love you!