You Don't See That Every Day

Saturday was the Big Day. Our Upward basketball players had their first games of the season. It was So. Much. Fun! Little K is on the 1st-2nd grade team, and we can see the difference already between last year and this year. Her dribbling skills have improved; she can actually get the ball up to the basket and even sometimes into the basket; and she seems to understand the difference between offense and defense this year. Like all my other kids, her defense is definitely a strong point. My kids seem to know how to stay on their player and make them uncomfortable. Which is the only time I can encourage this. Beyond that though, she loves to practice; she loves her team; she loves her coaches; and I think, she loves the game of basketball. She hasn't diagrammed any plays on the white board for us at home, yet, but we are just beginning. Her older sister has come out of retirement and re-entered the basketball arena after a hiatus of a few years. It took her a few practices to...

A new year according to the calendar. Seems a lot like the old year. We spent this last holiday in a similar spot as we have in the past - sick on the couch. Three of us succumbed to whatever gross bug wheedled its way into our home. Thankfully no signs of the other 4 getting it. But all my fun planned for NYE were whisked away. We were going to have friends over and play games and eat amazing snacks. Instead we ended up playing Pictionary with the girls - they had not played this (!) and enjoyed it; the 7 yr old wants to play it all the time now. We didn't actually use the board game style, just 'freelance' taking turns and guessing at each others Christmas themed drawings. We then got out Trivial Pursuit for Kids - bringing out all the old goodies - and the girls liked that one too. Once again, the 7 yr old asks to play it all the time now. I didn't last until midnight. I think I might have made it until 1030, since I remember my son getting home from work. But...