Weekly B-Ball Update

Sorry this is so late, I have been distracted by the events of the weekend and busy with a heavy week of school responsibilities. With games starting up again tonight, I figured I better give you last week's update!



Lindsay wasn't really interested in her game, but she managed to stay focused and play well for at least a few minutes. She caught a pass and dribbled down the court, she threw the ball in, and she almost got a rebound. She says she likes basketball better than soccer, but she REALLY wants to be a cheerleader.



Garrett had 2 losses (school 9-8, church 19-14) and one win(27-19). He definitely doesn't like to lose and his emotions aren't hidden at all afterwards, but he always goes into the next game with a winning attitude. His confidence is obviously different depending on which team he is playing for, but he is learning from all of them.



Kimberly's team won 37-35. It was an exciting game right up to the last seconds. They are proud of their winning record and they work hard every week. Since the powers that be decided that a tournament created the wrong atmosphere, it has been called off. They will just play regular games restarting the original schedule to determine who plays who. That means their next game will be against the only team they have lost to. It should be exciting.

Cynthia spent much of her time sitting next to me (and Austin of course!) on the floor. I take a couple of my school books and try to get a few things accomplished between games, but that doesn't always work out. I'd rather spend the time talking to my daughter, hearing about her struggles and her joys anyway.

This past week has held many disappointments, but that's another topic for another day. Right now, I am looking forward to watching my children play basketball.

Something to Think About

Before you point a finger at someone else, take a look. . .

You might be surprised by what you see, but God isn't.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !

Gimme a Kiss

I couldn't resist . . . . . . .

Yes. It is snowing again tonight. I tried to resist the urge to post anything about it, but I couldn't. I had to post just one picture of the snow in our front yard. . .

Apparently the squirrels braved the cold long enough to take twigs that have fallen off our tree and write a message to their long lost friend. It seems they miss their favorite nut!

Happy Birthday Lindsay !

Lindsay, it seems like only yesterday that I held you in my arms. Your sweet little smile captivated me for hours on end. You have grown up so quickly, but your smile still charms me. You can always make me laugh and your questions make me see the world in a whole new light. I am so proud of your reading and desire to learn more. I am impressed with your ability to memorize Bible verses and explain why it is important to know what the Bible says. You have been such a blessing to me!



I am excited to see what path your life takes, but I'm convinced that it will involve creativity, lots of clothes and even more shoes. You have a way of putting together outfits that no designer can equal. I love to hear you sing and watch you dance when you think no one is looking. Your imagination reminds me that there is more to this life than the things we can see and touch. And your simple statements often bring out profound truths.



Lindsay, you are my honey bun, my missy moo moo, my cuddle bug and my lovey dovey. You never fail to bring joy to my heart. I hope you never outgrow the hugs and kisses and snuggle time that I so enjoy. Keep questioning-who knows what you might discover.
I love you, Lindsay
HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY

SNOW DAY!

Well, the kids got their wish. . . SNOW DAY! I also got out of class today thanks to the professor (UofL was on a 2 hour delay, but she decided we should have an on-line class instead). The snow has stopped and as far as I can tell from my front and back porch the roads are mainly cleared off. It has been raining for a while now, but most of it is freezing so we have beautiful trees all around us. I love the way they look covered in ice, but I'm not nearly as impressed with the power lines that are sagging due to the excess weight!

Nothing to do, nowhere to go and nobody really cares as long as the power stays on to the TV!

Still Snowing

It's 8:30pm and we just came in to warm up. The snow hasn't slowed down at all and we have been out with the neighbor sledding down our driveway. The kids are anxiously awaiting the school cancellations. . . . . .

SNOW, Snow and More Snow

Here comes the snow! (4:30pm)

It's still coming down! (7pm)

Ride the Horse

I'm not sure what's funnier. . . Garrett's invisible horse or my witchy cackle!

Worn Out

Lindsay and Garrett didn't want to go to bed after the party Saturday night. They wanted to be in the middle of the older girls sleep-over, but the older girls weren't going to go for that, so we put in a movie and made popcorn. One minute Lindsay was whining about being "left out" and the next minute she was asleep on the couch. Even in her sleep she didn't want to share the popcorn!

Time To Be A Little Cheesy!

With Cynthia and Lindsay's birthday's being 6 days apart, we decided to have one big CHEESY party. Chuck E Cheese's was wild and crazy. The 24 kids at our party didn't seem to notice the chaotic atmosphere that brought out the A.D.D in most of the adults! We definitely won't be doing that again any time soon!

All Cracked Up

Kimberly cracked herself up at Chuck E's.

We should have cut her off from the mountain dew sooner!

Weekly B-Ball Update

Although Garrett's teams lost all three games (School game 24-10, Church games 15-10 and 19-18) they played well for the most part. Garrett continues to improve as he learns the skills of the game, but the losses don't get any easier.

Lindsay's team continues to show growth. They are learning how to play as a team and the fundamentals of each position. Lindsay took a shot again this week (Yeah!), but she has yet to get it in the basket. Her confidence is growing as her skills increase, so it won't be long and she'll be shooting three's!

Kimberly's team won 38-35. They now officially hold the best record in the league with only one loss. Their rival team (whom they beat last week) took a hard loss this week. They lost to a team who hadn't won a game yet this season. Cynthia's friend Payton made a huge shot at the end of the game to take the win and make her Dad (the coach) tear up. The tournament in a couple of weeks is going to be CRAZY!

Cynthia made a fashion statement this week at the gym. She went straight to the homecoming dance from the gym so she was dressed to the 9's, except for the fleece lined, beige crocks and gray sweatpants she wore with her purple dress. I wish I could show you a picture, but Robby had the camera, so you'll have to use your imagination!

Happy Birthday Cynthia!

Cynthia,
Although you think you're all grown up, you are still my little girl (and ALWAYS will be!). I remember the first time I saw your beautiful little wrinkled face. I was young and scared, but you filled a hole in my heart that I didn't even know existed. I have to admit, you have taught me just as much as I have taught you-if not more. Our relationship is very special to me.

I am so impressed with your growth, both as a young lady and in your walk with Christ. You are a great big sister and I truly appreciate the example you set for your siblings (most of the time ;). Your help around the house and your patience with your little sister means more to me than you realize. I am grateful for your willingness to pitch in, even when you don't see a personal benefit.

You have just the right combination of strength, determination, compassion, intelligence, creativity and weirdness to make you the girl everyone loves. I hope you never lose your beautiful smile and the sparkle in your eyes that has a way of brightening even the darkest days. There is no one else in the world like you. I know you will use the gifts God has given you to leave your mark on this world and make a difference in the lives of others.

Keep dreaming. Follow your heart. Put all your trust in Jesus. And never forget that you were created for a purpose.

Be patient. Growing up isn't really all it's cracked up to be.

Happy 15th Birthday, Cynthia! I love you!

Kimberly Plus Caffeine Equals . . . . . . . . .

BEWARE

If you eat half a pound of black licorice be prepared to see an interesting color change in your bowel movement. Who knew black licorice would turn your poop a fluorescent evergreen color?

Weekly B-Ball Update

Lindsay was so excited to play this week because it was the first game Robby has been able to be there for. Her excitement didn't last long though. First she decided that the pressure of playing for Dad was just too much and had to be convinced to participate. Then, a few minutes into the game, Robby decided to help Jon with the crowd at the concession stand. It took Lindsay about 30 seconds to notice that he wasn't watching. She came over to me with her hands on her hips and said "Where is Dad! I though he came to watch me play!" Garrett went and told Robby that he was in trouble so he quickly returned to courtside for the remainder of the game. He got back just in time to see Lindsay dribble all the way down the court and make an excellent pass. Garrett's school game wasn't a lot of fun to watch. They got beat 24-2 and had a player with some attitude issues for most of the game. His church team lost also (22-14), but their teamwork was impressive and the kids all played their hearts out. His older team pulled out a win in an emotional game. The 23-21 win was hard fought. Kimberly's team had a substitute coach and a huge game. The undefeated team they played is undefeated no more! Watching the game was as fun for me as winning was for Kimberly. I really enjoyed watching our friends (Jon and Greg-the coaches of the other team) squirm as the game progressed. We scored first and kept the lead until the last 4 or 5 minutes. At halftime with a score of 22-11 the trash talk from the other bench had been silenced. When they took the lead Kimberly made sure they didn't run with it by hitting a jumper to tie it up at 23. In the end the 27-25 win gave everyone something to talk about.