YMCA Basketball

For the month of January I was able to help out with youth (ages 5-7) basketball. The kiddos are super fun and excited about learning to play. Ok, for the most part all of them are super fun and excited.
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Me: To child on first day of practice - "So and so, I'm so glad that you decided to play basketball, you are doing an awesome job with your dribbling!"

So and So Child: "Ya, the only reason I'm here is because my mom thinks I need to be more involved. I don't even like basketball."
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Envision: There are two teams of 10, which equals 20 kids (ages 5-7 :)), two coaches, only 10 playing at a time and ten sitting on the sidelines at a time. We are playing a 'game' which really means that we are running the kids back and forth up the court and reminding them to DRIBBLE!

Me: I'm attempting to put everyone back in their 'positions' after coming down the court from previously being on offense. I'm trying to explain to 5 kids (ages 5-7 :)) that they are no longer trying to shoot the ball but rather get the ball back - hence, they are on defense. I'm also trying to get the other teams players lined up to be on offense because the other coach is on the other end of the court explaining how to pass the ball in and get it down the court.

So and So Child: (This is a different 'so and so child' from the previous 'so and so child' in the last story) "Coach"

Me: "Yes, 'so and so' - no... you're on defense - oh, pay atttention when they're passing."

So and So Child: "The other kids won't let me hold the mascot (which is a stuffed animal that was suppose to bring team spirit but has rather become a pain in my butt.)

Me: "Hey, guys (yelling to side-line as I'm attempting to keep from getting hit in the head by a 'shot' ball) you need to take turns holding the stuffed animal - pleae let 'so and so' have a turn.

Minutes have passed...

So and So Child: "Coach"

Me: "Yes?" - "No, you can't run outta bounds with the ball, Remember you always have to dribble, Oh, we need to stand up so we can be ready for the ball."

So and So Child: Holding two fingers up his nose holes... "Someone over there is farting and it stinks real bad - I can hardly breathe."
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I love basketball but more than that I love that we, as insane adults, are trying to teach 5 YEAR OLDS how to play basketball when they are much more interested in sitting on the floor, throwing the mascot and farting in public. :)

Lessons Directly From The Man

We've been trying to help Asher use his words. Every time he points at something we say... "Use your words, do you want your blankie/sippy cup/toy?"

So, today in church... words came spilling out of the mouth of our babe. It was point and in our most loud church voice possible - 'Neee, Nuh, Uh, Uh, Uh".

I love how God brings lessons full circle. We've wanted him to speak... just didn't say 'when' or 'how loud' those words should come. Now its learning onto learning a quiet voice... ha!

Dang Squirrels

I hear it has been a hard winter for the squirrels.

They've been stockpiling nuts.

Three of my neighbors have gone missing.

Drain Already...

A few weeks back the kitchen sink wouldn't drain. I would drain one side and it would fill up the other - it was awesome. I always feel blessed that such instances occur when D is home; otherwise, I would find myself doing dishes in the bathroom sink or eating off paper plates.

So, D calls his dad, gets a game plan and decides that we need to tear apart the whole drainage system. This is not exactly an easy project, since we've had to do it one other time, we were not looking forward to doing so at 7 o'clock at night!

Wait. Hold the Boat. Uncle Airwick to the rescue!

He, Uncle Airwick, suggests we just take a plunger to the sink and our drainage problems would be solved - at least for the evening. After a very short discussion - it was decided that if it worked it would be a much easier solution!

I was selected to be the lucky plunger of the sink. Being vertically challenged - I grab a stool or a chair or something very sturdy to stand on because I'm going to give that sink heck! Damon takes his position under the sink, to be honest - I'm not exactly sure why? But none-the-less this story would not be half as funny if he had not been laying under the sink observing the process.

We fill the sink up with water and I take position.

Me: "Are you ready?"
Damon: "Yep, give it a try."

I really put my body into it, I mean - I used my knees and a small jump to get that plunger to do it's job.... and "Whooosh!" the plunger came down and all the water came out the other drain! It went straight up, hit the ceiling and came down on Damon who had his mouth open (I think to remind me to put something in the other drain prior to plunging :)) and we were soaked. Probably not the most brilliant move on my part but seriously has to be one of the most funny things I have accidentally done to Damon in a long time!

The sink, it drained... just need a little help and muscle from the lady in the house.

Mommy's Helper

When in the laundry room I always talk through the process of putting the clothes in the washer, into the dryer, shutting the door/lid, adding detergent, etc... Today I was pulling clothes out of the dryer and folding - I looked down to find Ash putting daddy's dirty socks and boxers into the dryer. Very helpful. Not having to wash them first saved me a whole lot of time and energy - why didn't I think of that!? :)
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Ash also likes to help out in the wood room. Note to readers: baby is always being watched closely when allowed to fill the stove. HA! Okay, anyways... Ash likes to help 'fill the furnace'. When you go into the wood room to grab a piece he always has to grab one too. We walk over to the stove, of which he realizes is a big 'NO', and he hands you the pieces he's managed to carry over.
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And lastly, how does one effectively pick up all the toys when a 1 year old is helping. You don't.

The End.

Just In Case...

I love kiddos. I really do. I love their innocents. This was a conversation I had last night at Basketball with a 5 year old.

Said 5 year old takes a digger on the gym floor and instantly becomes dramatic about the situation.

Me: "Hey, good digger! Are you okay buddy?"
5 Year Old: "I don't know... I already scrapped my knee once this week."
Me: "Oh man, it looks like you got it in the same spot again!"
5 Year Old: "Ya, it pretty much hurts."
Me: "Do you think you can stand up and walk on it?"
5 Year Old: *Slowly climbing to his feet* "I think so, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a band-aid ... just in case it starts to bleed."

And even though I knew that it by no means was his knee going to start bleeding - we went and got a band-aid and said 5 year old was as good as new! As an adult I sometimes wish situations were that easy... that we could simply apply a band-aid and everything would be as good as new! :)

Out with the Old -

In with the New!

I love new beginnings. Maybe that's why I enjoy the start of each day, Mondays (if I'm not heading out the door to work) and the beginning of a new year. It brings hope. It brings hope that you can make a different choice or a choose a different path with a fresh start.

Thoughts from 2010:

love knows no bounds. babies grow fast. family is forever. true friends are always there. things that are important aren't things. jobs are not a dime a dozen but opportunities to change are. our dog eats way to many birds in our yard. when the going gets tough - we get innovative. wood heat is awesome. sleep is optional. teething sucks. photography is more than a job - it's a passion. living apart is rough. listening is important. communication is key. being together after being apart has its challenges. when every thing falls apart - faith and a lot of chocolate are a great team. babies don't mind where or who they throw up on. loading your drawers has true meaning now. christmas isn't about how many presents but the love. forgive and forget takes time. being true to you is priority. parenting is a joy. sometimes changing your path is the key to self-love. honesty is the best policy. music is important. daycare = opportunities and flu bugs. flu bugs don't care if they are recycled for weeks in a household. big pumpkins are fun. electronics are better than toys. 'dada' is our super hero. emergency room visits happen. multiple times. let people know how you feel. and lastly.... take each day to be thankful and know that if you're not so much liking today - a brighter tomorrow is only a few hours away.

Here's to a new year filled with new lessons to be learned! May your new year give you the opportunity to learn from your yesterdays and make you better for your tomorrows!