Basketball

Pre-Game

Going for the rebound.....mama is gonna teach her to box out. :)

When Bethany is on the bench, Mallory joins her for some Gatorade.

For the past couple of years, Bethany has been asking to play basketball, and this is the first year she has been old enough. There is a program here called Upward. The kindergarten students have their own division and there ended up being only two teams, so they play each other each week. She loves it - especially because she has been having special practice sessions with Daddy, and sometimes Mommy. She has come pretty far in a short time with dribbling, passing, and understanding the rules. Upper body strength is an area that needs some work so that she can shoot better, but she still tries. Unfortunately, the facility that operates this program is a church that is anti-Mormon and refuses to let anyone from our church coach. They say we're not Christian. We decided to let her play anyway, and hopefully our family can prove through our actions, attitude, and sportsmanship that we most definitely are Christian. We have decided that we are going to go to the local YMCA with several other parents and ask to restart the league that used to operate there. We'll even be in charge if no one else wants to be. Our main reason for this is not because of the prejudice we've experienced (along with a few other families from our ward), but because we strongly disagree with their basketball philosophy regarding young children and that this league is too expensive for many families ($55 per kid + $12 for game shorts). They assign members of their congregation to coach who don't understand basketball, in many cases, and then when the children show up on gameday they are thrown out there to just wing it....with no coaching of skills, fundamentals, or basketball rules. Their facilities are unavailable for practice to her age group. We feel like her age group needs mostly practices, rather than just games. So, maybe by next year we'll have another option available to the local kids.

More Yoga poses...

Cat Pose #1

Cat Pose #2

I don't remember this one....it was leading up to another pose.

Birthday Gift in Action

Down Dog Pose

Triangle Pose

Warrior Pose

Stork Pose

Mountain Pose


When we get yoga mats out, Mallory is a little perturbed that she doesn't have one. Her big sister told her she would share, but Mal's attention span lasts for about 2 poses and then she bumps into us while we do them. She thinks that is funny.

Cautiously Commenting.....

I know I've made clear to just about everyone I know that I don't mind winter.....that, in fact, I love all seasons and have enjoyed the snow. I've even been frustrated with the complaining of others because, after all, we do live in West Virginia - the mountains, actually- so ,of course, we'll have snow and cold temperatures. Lately, however, I've cautiously mentioned that I do look forward to spring. That's not complaining, right? I don't want to be a hypocrite, but I am so tired of cold and spring teasers. It gets warm for a few days, or the sun is beautiful and makes you think it's going to feel wonderful outside and then your nose burns from the cold when you step outside. Spring, spring....please come soon! March is here, and I'm ready!

This is what Mallory did during the party.....

Mallory had fun playing peek-a-boo with this gift bag. She enjoyed B's birthday very much because of all the fun grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who were there giving her attention, too. It's such a blessing to be within driving distance of so many family members.

Happy Birthday, Bethany KayAnn!

Isn't this pretty? My sister-in-law, Elizabeth, offered to make it for Bethany's birthday. It was so nice of her....and so great that they aren't in Arizona anymore so that we can see them on special occasions like birthdays, now. :)

No problem blowing the candles out this year! Bethany wanted six candles AND the number 6 candle on her cake.......hey, it's her cake, right?

The yoga mat is the only thing she asked for.....and my mom and dad got it for her. I guess she'll help me do my yoga more often due to her enthusiasm for it. :)

Above, Bethany is demonstrating a yoga move as requested by her guests.

Saturday was a wonderful day! I found myself wondering about it that night, and I think it's because not only was it Bethany's 6th birthday, but it was Saturday. We had the whole day to celebrate however we wanted to and Brad took the day off. Can't birthdays always be on Saturdays? I wish. My sister, Heather, visited and spent Friday night with us. It was so nice to have her here that morning....she fixed pancakes and played with the kids while I did the many things I'd procrastinated to get ready for birthday fun. (thanks, sis!) Bethany was so excited and a real sweetheart all day long. We went out to lunch at McDonalds with my whole family, minus my sister Shannon in Iowa :(, at Bethany's request. The WVU basketball game was on TV before and after lunch which most of the family was enjoying, and then party time was at 2:30. Bethany invited our family and a few grown-up friends, too. It was a full house! (We told her we'd try the school-friend party thing next year.) More than one person remarked at the difference between a little girl opening presents and a little boy....she took her time, for sure, and so delicately removed the wrapping paper! It looks like Christmas all over again in her room! She is a very loved little girl, and somewhat spoiled, too. ;)
It was just such a wonderful day.......family, celebrating my child, happiness, and fun!

Recent lunch trends....

For the last few weeks ,at least, my girls have been munching on very healthy - yet simple- lunches. It's actually amazing to me that this is what they want, but yeah! for them. I think they are definitely eating healthier than I am. Sometimes we substitute the PB sandwiches for saltine crackers with PB. (no jelly for these kids!) Today was a special occasion because I let them "picnic" on a blanket in Bethany's room while they watched Toy Story 2. Usually Mallory has a pile of grape tomatoes on her plate but I ran out. Those are apple chips, which I discovered that I love --but the girls -- not so much!

I almost took a picture of their dinner, to show the contrast, but decided not to. ....no need for evidence of their not-so-healthy dinner of chicken fries from BK. (with f.fries, apple fries, and chocolate milk)

Oh, and yes....this means Bethany had ANOTHER snowday!! UGH! I like being with the girls, and I love how they play together and occupy each other.....but, I'm concerned about how much school the kids are missing out on. What a winter!

A Terrifying Experience......

Today, my little Mallory was eating a chicken leg, which she loves to do, and she is not a delicate little eater. She rips into it like a burly man- she'll eat any part of it that hits her mouth. All of a sudden she starts coughing, so I look up at her and watch for her to stop coughing, but I see that she can't catch her breath and her eyes are watering. I stand up and run around the table as fast as my body has ever moved, I think, and stick my finger in her mouth to sweep it out. I was able to sweep out a big chunk of chicken from her mouth, but had to stick my finger further down her throat to get whatever was still choking her. I could feel what seemed to be a bone about an inch or so long, but I couldn't get it out. I knew it- and my finger - was hurting her, but I tried a few times to get it out and was feeling so helpless. I stopped and looked around me and said, "I can't get it out!" My mind was racing, trying to remember what to do next.....then she started crying. Oh, I have never been so relieved in my life to hear someone cry! I knew when I heard her cry that she must have swallowed whatever it was. I grabbed her and held her to me and started crying myself. It all happened so fast, but I don't think my heart settled for at least another 10-15 minutes, though she seemed fully recovered within the first 5 minutes. This was a first for me as a mother......very unpleasant. I do know, however, that she/we were blessed when she stopped choking....I was losing my cool and the Lord helped Mallory for me. Whew!

I'm actually proud of me.

So, you know it's gotten pretty pathetic when you are proud of yourself for accomplishing a short to-do list for two days in a row. But, I did it. It's been so long since I've felt very productive as a "homemaker", but hooray for me! I even cooked dinner last night - oh, yeah. I know, you're thinking "what? she doesn't normally cook dinner for her family?!" I must confess that I've been very bad about that the past couple of years. I'm working on it. And, I've even stuck to my daily cleaning schedule and still had time to play with my snowed-in kids, read, watch a little TV to relax, and went to bed before midnight (well, I'm a little late tonight). Dishes are not piled high due to my lack of a dishwasher (ugh!)...., and my house and laundry are clean. Yes!

I didn't forget my camera this time!

Mal spent most of her time throwing "snowballs" at everybody.

Do you think she stayed warm in this getup? Yep!

My rosy-cheeked baby!

She's a pro at this sledriding thing....always goes the farthest.

Grandpa Ralph pulls the girls on the sled until we get to our hill.