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Awesome Basketball Update

February 23, 2009 By Laura 2 Comments

Just a few updates on the end of {A}’s basketball season:

Saturday night our family got all settled in front of the tv to watch the clip of {A}’s basketball game on the local station on local sports. When the guy got to the Girls Youth Basketball, he started with saying “The Sun scored a basket with 5 seconds to go. It came from {A} (first and last name) to win the game. It appears I cut my highlights off too early! I got the last 2 minutes of the game, minus the 5 seconds.” 🙄 (Just a friendly dope-slap for that. lol) He chuckled, knowing that was a little silly. And then he rolled the footage of what he did get of their game. Oh well, it was fun to hear her name.

BIG NEWS!:

On another VERY EXCITING NOTE, we got word last night, that {A} has been chosen this year to play at the ALL STARS GAME!!

Every year at the end of the season, the best players are chosen from each team, to play at 2 teams at this special game, called the All Stars. It’s an exciting year end event, for not only the players, but the coaches, and parents! It was evident at the beginning of the year, that {A} had really come into her own on the court. She had grown SO much in height in the past year, many didn’t even recognize her at first. The reactions to seeing her have been hilarious, as people just stare in shock. But what’s more, all of the skills she has gathered over the past few years, have just gelled. Every year, she has grown in being more aggressive on the court. Being a compassionate kid, Year 1 she really struggled with taking the ball away from her friends on opposing teams. lol. She was careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. But every year she grew in her game, and ability to separate ‘business’ from personal life. lol. She is really a tiger out there now. She will fight anyone for that ball, friend or not, and she won’t give it up. She fights for it right to the ground! And beware anyone in her path when she is dribbling across the court to that basket.

Anyway….we are just excited for her, to see that all of her hard work has paid off like this. She truly, truly loves this game of basketball. It’s one of the most important interests in her life. She has had such a great year, both on the court, and with all of her girlfriends on her team (who just love to touch and play with her hair….goodness…lol). To be chosen to go to the All Stars is just icing on already wonderful cake!! We are so happy for her!

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Can we get an "Amen!" (and a lozenger, please?)

February 21, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

We just got home from {A’s} last basketball game of the season, before play-offs start next weekend. And it was a HOT one. Neck-in-neck the whole game, always 1 to 3 points ahead, then behind, then ahead. It was CrAzY I tell you. Especially for first thing in the dang morning. My heart was pumping, my coffee was sloshing all over, and I was, as usual, screaming my head off!! I am not one of those quiet, graceful mothers on the sideline, who claps politely, no matter which team scores. I mean, I admire them. But I’m just naturally…..competitive. : )

So we were down to the wire, in the last half of the game. There was 6:29 minutes left to the game, and it was 8 to 9. We were down by one point. I can’t even tell you how many times the other team missed a shot, and in the rebound, {A} knocked the ball out of their possession (and out of bounds) with her long monkey arms. All season we laughed about seeing her arms reach up out of the crowd of girls, and either catch the ball out of mid-air, or knock it out from someone else’s hands on the other team, about to catch it. It’s funny because those long, long arms just always seemed to ascend, out of the sea of arms, like a saving grace. We can almost count on it. Anyway, then the other team scored, and made it 8-11. So with 6:28 left in the game, we had to make 2 baskets to win. My heart was racing, and we were feeling a little….hopeless. By then, both teams were playing harder than ever. But {A} wasn’t even out on the court at this point. ( I did happen to notice a tv camera guy come in and set up. Oh man.) With about 4 minutes left to the game, they did a line change. So now, {A} and her accomplice, #2, were back out there. STILL – it was a tall order. Still down by 3 points. Even one basket wouldn’t save us.

As time counted down, #2 brought the ball in past half court, and long shot passed to {A}, who was by the net, with her arms up, just waiting. {A} shot, and it bounced off the rim, but she caught her own rebound. By this time, the other team was all over her, and all she could do was pass back to #2. By this time, I am really screaming my head off to #2 ( I was using her name) “It needs to GO IN!! GET IT IN!!!!”.……as she received the ball, shot, and scored!! Making us one point behind, with just over a minute left on the clock. I am screaming in my now raspy voice “THANK YOU!!!” I am on my feet and all in a tither. So now we were down to press time.

#2 looks at the clock. We can see she is determined to get that ball back. (She’s a tough and hard player who doesn’t mess around. ) So the other team brings the ball up, our team steals it, and the other team knocked it out of bounds. 38 seconds left to the game! We regain possession, and pass in. I think our girls kept making shots in this time, and missing, and the other team kept knocking it out. The clock is starting and stopping now, with the ref’s whistle blowing, calling fouls, ball out of bounds over and over….it was crazy. As all of this is going on, I wondered if this situation, that had my adrenaline pumping over time, was worthy of prayer?? I just REALLY, wanted our girls to win the LAST game of the season. And we were so close!! To lose by one point, NOW? It was such a tight game, all the way through, and I just wanted my girl to be happy they won today, ending this season of regular games. So I did start praying….hard!! I just said, “Father…PLEASE. I just want them to win this one. I want {A} to go out with a big smile, knowing her team came through, and won this last-big-game. “…and reluctantly added, “If it is Your will….”. I knew it was kind of a petty prayer. But then, isn’t ‘no prayer too small?’ Aren’t we to bring all of our wants and needs to God? Because I know He’ll let me know if I was being ridiculous. lol. I was feeling just a little…..desperate. I think we ALL were. It was almost more than we could take!

It seemed to go on forever, back and forth, and yet the seconds were ticking away on the clock. At 6 seconds, #2 passes the ball in from under the other team’s basket (where we need our ball to go!!). {A} receives the pass (OMG!!! It is all up to her!!!)……, and I am screaming to her “5 SECONDS {A}!! PUT IT UP!! PUT IT UP!”.…..4 seconds….she’s open, but they are swarming in fast upon her………

She quickly turns to the net and puts up her shot, and as it is flying throw the air, we ALL KNEW….This is it…if it doesn’t go in, it’s over.

IT WENT RIGHT IN!

SHE DID IT!!!

The buzzer sounded, and the crowd erupted. I don’t even know WHAT I was screaming then!! Daddy-Boy was whistling, I was screaming words of joy of some kind, {A}’s team was all over her!! I flew down those bleachers and ran across the court to give her a HUGE HUG!!! I was SO HAPPY for her!! It was THE WINNING SHOT!! With 4 seconds left, everyone thought it was a game, until that unexpected shot. It was JUST….. UN-BELIEVABLE!!!

We are all just on cloud 9 this morning. But more than the amazing shot that won us the game with virtually NO TIME LEFT, I am AMAZED that my little, seemingly insignificant (to others….perhaps to YOU) prayer, was important enough to be heard and answered with a YES. I keep hearing the scripture in my head:

“Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you”
(Luke 11:9)

All I asked was for the girls to win this game, and make them go out happy. But He gave us MORE than that. He put the ball in {A}’s hand, and gave her the winning shot.

Some may think it was a coincidence. Why would He answer such a silly prayer, that isn’t REALLY that important, in the grand scheme of things? It was just a little joy I wanted…..maybe too badly. I don’t know why He would take time to hear me, over a basketball game. But I feel that He did. He MORE than answered my prayer. Maybe simply, because I asked, in that hyped up moment of desperation. Maybe because I thought to turn to Him. Maybe, because He just wanted to remind me, that He is ALWAYS there, for anything. He’ll make the decisions about how He answers our prayers.

“So, THANK YOU Lord! I acknowledge that you not only heard my little prayer for our girls basketball team, but you answered with an abounding YES. I am grateful. We are ALL grateful. We praise You. And frankly, I am personally feeling just a tad spoiled by You, My Heavenly Father, this morning. As always. Your blessings are bountiful; big and small. My throat is all torn up and raw, but really, I’m GOOD! I am humbled, and happy. AMEN.”

And oh yeah…..film at 7:30 p.m., tonight. Local Channel 13. ; )

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Our Valentine’s Day – Ideas

February 16, 2009 By Laura 8 Comments

I hope everyone isn’t over the whole Valentine’s thing by now. You know…sick of photos and Valentine talk. After all, it was over 2 days ago!! We’re just trying to catch up here!! And please forgive me too, but I took a load of photos, and I have a hard time deciding which ones to share. But also, it’s for the sake pf preserving our kids’ childhood memories, here on the blog.

You’ll get a lot of good Valentine’s Day ideas for your kids in this post, for next year and on, though!

As you all know by now, we really TRY to follow the liturgical year. However, Valentine’s Day has been removed from the Catholic Liturgical calendar I believe. Still, as homeschoolers, we also try to study the history of every holiday or liturgical celebration. But I have to say………….we find Valentine’s Day, and St. Valentine, complicated, confusing and head-spinning. Anyone else?? I have read 3 or more differing stories of how (St.) Valentine’s Day came about. What’s more, there are more than one ‘Valentine’. Indeed, this day we call Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery and legend. They aren’t even sure who the REAL Valentine is, from what we have found. It seems there are 3 martyrs, all who did indeed die ‘for love’. But for the LOVE OF CHRIST, not the romantic kind of love we tend to color Valentine’s Day with.

Now, if any of that sounds confusing, it’s because I was just as confused, typing it. Still….we CELEBRATED LOVE in our own simple way.

The kids always wake up in the morning, to a little-something for them, on the table.

I couldn’t choose just ONE moment, that put a smile on my face, so I made them into one. : ) It’s just FUN watching them open and look at their stuff. It takes so little to get them ALL excited.

Like a handful of straws, not for drinking, but building. More on that later.

Animal crackers, and Cherry Chapsticks.

Valentines of course, and Puppet Kits, to do later on today.

But first, we had {A’s} morning basketball game to get to!

Have I mentioned I am not properly equipped to photograph basketball games? I rarely even bother bringing my gear, getting this kind of quality of shots. But I also have to avoid flash, because I don’t want to disrupt the focus of the girls. Anyway, here’s the best of what I got Saturday morning.

She’s always put in for the tip-off, to start the game, because she’s the tallest. (She’s the one with the ridiculously long braid. #8 : )

It took her no time to put her team on the scoreboard – it was also the first HOOP of the game!

She managed to draw a COUPLE of fouls in the game, so this is one of the times she got a couple of free-throws.

SCORE!

We just love to watch her play.

More free-throws. She’s good at drawing the foul.

There’s only 1 more game before the play-offs. We all cry a little, when another basketball season is over until November. We’re so sad!

Later after lunch, the kids put together their puppets. I found a kit of 4 animal puppets put out by Martha Stewart at Wal*Mart. Each animal is so easy to make > No scissors or glue needed! Just follow the directions, peel off the paper tabs, and stick!

Yes, even {A} made one. I know, she’s too old for puppets. But she does love crafting with the kids.

I asked all of the kids to lay down on our kitchen floor, so I could get this ‘puppet portrait’. I knew it would be cute, and I didn’t even step on them taking the shot!

Later that evening, we had a fancy, soft-music, table-clothed, candle-lit dinner, WITH our little valentines.

Making such a dinner took longer than we thought. They were knew recipes to us. So by the time we sat down, we were STARVING, and I never took photos of our entrees. But, we had: Lemon Pepper Chicken Sandwiches (with colby-jack cheese and thick-cut bacon) on Kaiser Rolls.

We had fun saying “Pass the Grey Poupon, please!”

We also had French Onion Soup, that was better than any we have ever had in a restaurant. It takes quite awhile to make it, but boy was it good!! The Gruyere Cheese is key!

And dessert, of course. A heart-shaped chocolate cake, with a very light whipped strawberry frosting made from scratch. Also delicious!

The next day the kids got to being creative with their abundance of straws:

And {A} baked us another treat.

It was really nice to have Valentine’s Day fall on a Saturday.

But we’re just going to carry on, celebrating love for the rest of the year.

Hope yours was wonderful too!!

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A Little Love Around the Homestead – Valentine’s Day Decor and Activity

February 13, 2009 By Laura 7 Comments

Not much to say tonight. But then, LOVE needs few words, right?
We just wanted to share with you some of our Valentine’s Day decor and activity.

Can you see me?

Triplets working on valentine cards for family, after their school work today.

Using rubber stamps and stickers is a really fun, easy and mess-free way for kids to make really cute cards.
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Is there any love for us, greater than our King’s?

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We have some very simple family Valentine’s Day plans for tomorrow.

Now doubt I’ll have my camera out to play, along the way.

Wishing you all a Happy St. Valentine’s Day full of LOVE and lots of XOXOXO‘s !!

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Mini-Masterpiece Magnets Made by Kids – Gift Ideas from Kids

February 12, 2009 By Laura 8 Comments

If you need gifts from your little kids, that they made, for loved ones, these Mini-Masterpiece Magnets are perfect!
It’s basically finger-painting fun, made into little framed pieces of colorful art, to use on refrigerators. Your recipients will love them, and your kids will be so proud they made them, themselves!
We’re teaching you how to make them!

First, just let your kids finger-paint with vibrant colors, on large quality, acid-free art paper.

We call them “Mini-Masterpiece Magnets.”

It was abstract fine art, done our way! And each one SIGNED by for the artists, no less!!
They all had a hand, in making each one. 😉

These are a fantastic gift idea from kids, that they can make themselves with love, for Christmas gifts and other occasions, for family and loved ones!
They are so fun for the kids to make themselves, and they will make them proud to have their masterpieces on display on anyone’s refrigerator!

Here’s how we made them:

We took those full sheet finger paintings, mounted them on magnetic material, cut them into 3″ x 3″ squares, and then ‘framed’ them with some black vinyl.
It’s that simple!

Then we made up sets of three, put them in those nifty clear bags I love, with a ribbon and a tag that said ‘Mini-Masterpiece Magnet Set’. : )

We thought they were so colorful and fun, and honestly, it was my favorite hand-made craft gift we made to give as Christmas gifts. We can only hope others could appreciate all of the colors and happy-emotion of these paintings, to adorn their refrigerators, perhaps to hold up a masterpiece of their own child’s, or a shopping list!

We made A LOT of them, and really…….they were truly hand picked into sets, for each recipient. They may look all the same to some, but it was a painstaking task for us silly ones, choosing which ones we wanted to give to who, and which we just had to keep!

Here’s a closer look at a few of these priceless paintings:

Big Mess. Crazy Colors. Loud Laughs. Huge Fun. = ART MADE WITH LOVE

Save this idea for a rainy day craft, or as a Christmas gift idea from your own little Picasso-People.
Our kids had a blast making them, and as an update (2016), they have been loved and enjoyed for many years by all who received this gift from the kids. They’ve been on our own refrigerator for all these years, holding up other pieces of their art, and bringing us smiles from the memories we made, making them.

Thanks for coming by for some more inspiration and ideas!

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BIG NEWS!:

We call them “Mini-Masterpiece Magnets.”

Here’s how we made them:

Big Mess. Crazy Colors. Loud Laughs. Huge Fun. = ART MADE WITH LOVE

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