5th grade basketball

A couple of months ago Madeleine asked me if I would like to coach a 5th/6th grade girl's basketball team.  "Mr. Hill says that he only wants parents who won't yell and know something about basketball.  So I thought maybe you and Dad could do it."  Well, I am glad she doesn't think of us as yellers, that's a plus!
  I was really excited when she told us the details. Only 5 weeks long. Games on Wednesday nights and one practice a week. Very manageable.  I have only coached soccer and have wanted to be involved more in other sports. The same evening we arrived home from Hawaii was our first game. We had one hour to get in and get gone to the game.
  We met the girls briefly and the game began. The games are make up of 8 five minute "quarters".  They play 4 against 4.  Our team boasted 7 players, so with the shift changes there needed to be one girl that would "double."  We really didn't know our team or their strengths and weaknesses so we did not know who should be playing together etc. That first game was a tough loss.  But, we could tell immediately that they were a great group of girls.
  I brought the kids to the after school practices.  Luke would stay in the stroller being fed food and stayed quite content with all their was to see. Austin and Livi played around. Usually on the little bum scooters found in the gym closet. They had a blast.  The next 4 games we won!  We went into last nights tournament in first place!  Unfortunately some of our best players were really nervous last night and although we had recently beaten this team, we went out tentatively and got behind.  We came back by half time to within a couple points but then towards the end of the game lost it.  We weren't playing good defense and could not seem to get the ball in the basket.  I felt bad because they could play so much better and what a disappointment for them. There were a couple girls in particular that seemed quite down about it.  It wasn't so much that we lost as it was frustrating to not finish with your best playing...nerves will do that.
  Madeleine improved so much over the past few weeks. She has a very consistent and accurate shot. She is really catching on to the game. She has been playing basketball with friends and the family which is so great to see.
  I am so glad she asked us to coach. It was great to do it with Eric. I think we make a good team.

More of us bite the dust

Another one bites the dust....

Well, Justin started throwing up last night.  At about 1am my stomach became really irritated and I spent the next 3 hours in our bathroom. So miserable.  I have been in bed with stomach pains all day.

Madeleine has joined the group of sickies. She went in to town with Eric and he managed to get to the side of the road for her to throw up. 

It is just a matter of time I think before the last two get it....sorry Eric and Olivia.

Sickness and apple juice

Doesn't apple juice come from apples...well, Olivia was determined to find out! 

We've been dealing with a stomach sickness the past two days.  Austin woke up Thursday night around 2am and threw up.  This was followed by his usual wailing and crying like he is going to die.  There is seriously no difference in his screams when he falls on his head or bumps his elbow.  You hear the scream and think he must be dying.
   Justin woke us up telling us that Austin needed us.  The usual bed stripping, laundry and setting up a spot on our floor ensued, and so did his languishing. About every 15min. for the next 2.5-3hours his stomach would cramp up and he would cry and scream in agony.  My neighbors kids had had this the week before and she had explained this very incremental cramping and so I was prepared for a long night. 
   Keeping good spirits we worked through it.  A few choice exchanges with Austin:
Me, "Austin, is there anything I can do?"  Austin, "Kill me, that is the only thing you can do."
Me, "I am so sorry about this."  Austin, "I want to die."
Me, "Life is tough."  Austin, "Life is hard for living."
As disturbing as these remarks may seem please keep in mind that Austin is our dramatic one and each comment was purposefully extreme so as to not undermine the pain or discomfort he was in.  Eric and I had to hide our smiles as he would come out with these outlandish remarks.  He did live...and is doing much better. 
   I went visiting teaching this morning and when I came back Eric had changed his clothes and so had Luke.
   Luke had thrown up all over Eric.  So, it looks like we are in this for a bit.  I hope it doesn't go through all of us!

3rd time is a charm

 I remembered at 6:30pm that it was Movie Night  tonight at the city hall theatre. We called and invited friends and arranged to leave at 7:45.  

  Justin had invited our neighbor's daughter, Lucy, and had asked if he could pay for her. So sweet. We talked about what it meant to be a gentlemen and he was so excited to be one.

  We arrived and got to the doors when we read the sign "Last minute cancellation to the town Movie Night due to the play."  We were so bummed.  Well, upon returning and figuring out alternatives to the night's plans I found this: (pictured below) 

 I had only a few minutes to put her down before I had left with the kids but I thought my bribes would win her obedience.  I promised her two treats the following day if she would go to sleep.  Eric was in the new room with Luke when I showed him this picture.

We are working this week on Livi not sucking her thumb.   We've been taping her thumbs and we took away her blanket. The first night was soooooo rough!  She was up constantly crying out for her blankie and ripping the tape off of her thumbs.  Every time she rolled over and would normally such her thumb she'd cry.  
   Since then every night has improved and it has been going really well, until tonight....Above you can see Livi the second time she came down hiding under the chair, tape off, sucking her thumb!
  She said before she went to bed, "This is going to be a long day."  I laughed as it was the end of the day....maybe she meant to say night and she was just hinting at things to come.
  

Surfing in Lahaina

We read about a surf school up in Lahaina (Goofy Foot School), more expensive than some  of the others but great reviews.  Eric took Grandpa and Justin up and dropped them off before he started his conference at 7am.  It was a beautiful morning and Justin had a private lesson that went so well.
 Grandma, the kids and I arrived to late to see him in person but they had taken photos which I am so glad for. He caught on quickly and loved it.  Glad we did it. Austin would like to try next year.