Basketball Star

Ethan decided to play "Jr. Jazz Basketball" this year instead of wrestling. (It almost made my dad cry, but wrestling is not the best sport for an autistic kid who doesn't like to be touched.) I didn't know what would happen. He likes to shoot baskets in the back yard, but other than some less than aggressive games on family night he hasn't really played. He didn't know the rules about traveling, and he didn't know that you could steal the ball or block the other team from shooting ("that is not nice manners Mom") but as he went to practices he got it figured out pretty well. And, it turns out he's a pretty good player. No, he wasn't the best on his team, but he did improve a lot during the season. He had a super good coach, and the other kids on his team were great sports. I wish I could show you some good shots of all throughout the season, but it turns out I'm one of "those" moms and I focus more on cheering than picture taking. I wouldn't say I'm competitive, just passionate:) Anyway, all of the pictures I took turned out really blurry because I was too excited to steady my camera. But the last game I did a little better job, so here are all the pictures I have: 

 I know this looks like Ethan pushed that kid out of the way, but really, he fell over all on his own, no one was even standing by him when it happened... loose shoelaces...

Number 10 on the black team was a super good player. Seriously the best in the league - by far. He was so fast, and he handled the ball really well. So he's in all of the pictures, not because he was assigned to Ethan, but because that little guy was EVERYWHERE! No matter who had the ball that kid was right in their face. It was really fun to watch him, but as a mom from the other team, he wasn't my favorite.:)

 I got too excited, so you can't really see this picture, but he totally made it!

 The coach was so good with the boys. He was patient and encouraging, and he cheered just as hard for the other team as he did for our team. He taught them good sportsmanship as well as how to play the game. Our friend Lance coached another team, and at first I was sad we didn't get him as a coach, but in the end I think we ended up with a perfect coach for Ethan. (although super good #10 was on Lance's team, so it would have been nice to be on that team too:)

In the end they got creamed this game - seriously, like 24 to 10, but after it was over the coach sat the kids down and told them how proud of them he was and pointed out the strengths of each player. I'm really lucky that Ethan has such positive male influences in his life. That's a huge blessing right now. It was a great season, and Ethan is already excited to play again next year.

Something that made me smile today.

I know, I've been a total slacker when it comes to blogging this year, but school has been kicking my butt this semester. My classes are super intense, and on a slow week I am putting 500 miles a week on my car just driving to and from school, and running basic errands. It is nuts, and I have no time at all. I have a lot of posts in the works, but for now I'm just checking in and sharing a couple of pictures I took while driving through Dove Creek, CO. I hope it makes your day. 

(Please note, this is NOT the town I live in. At all! It's  about a half hour away, across the state line. Please don't judge me.:)

ATM, Pinto Beans, and Gas, what more do you need?  I think this might be a good example of cause and effect: Beans = 24 hour gas...

Then, moving just a little farther down the street, I came upon this little gem:

Yes, this is a bar with a drive up window! Nothing like promoting drinking and driving! In case you didn't get your fill while you were inside the bar, you can drive through for another on the way out of the parking lot.

Anyway, these made me giggle, so I thought I would share. I'm sure it makes you want to jump in your car and come for a visit. Hope to see you soon! :)

The Birthday!

Ethan and Adia both have their birthday on the same day. This is great because I get it over with in one big swoop and don't have to worry about it for the rest of the year. When they were younger we would just have one big party with mostly family so it was super easy. For the past few years however, they are old enough that they need to be having a friend party, but because one is super girly and the other is not, and they have a three year age difference it isn't easy to have the parties together. That means a TON of work getting two separate parties with invitations and cake and goodie bags and activities and decorations... it's tough. But this year we took the easy route. Well, I guess I should say I did. For one, I enlisted the help of others this time where usually I do it all myself. And we also decided that there was a way we could swing one party that everyone could enjoy. First of all my mom made the treats for the parties at school. That took a load off all by itself. That meant 60 treats that I didn't have to make, plus the kids insisted on having doughnuts instead of something easy like cupcakes or fruit snacks. And they couldn't have easy, from the local bakery type doughnuts. They needed Grandma's Famous Homemade ones. So she and Kalista whipped those puppies out for me and even delivered them to our house the night before I needed them. It was such a lifesaver.

The next way I lucked out was a change in schedule. The kids were supposed to stay with their dad on Friday through Sunday, so the friend party was going to be postponed. But, at the last minute he changed weekends and that with our busy February schedule meant we either had to do it that weekend or hold off until March, which didn't sit well with the kids. So we decided to throw caution (and planning, organization and class) to the wind and plan an impromptu party. I sent out a super tacky facebook invite to all the moms of the La Sal kids (sometimes I love social media) inviting them to a sledding party on Saturday afternoon. Lucky for us we finally got a few inches of snow during the week, and also lucky for us, our grandpa has a backhoe. He scooped all the snow in the whole yard and made a big hill at the edge of the back yard. It was situated on the top of a hill that already exists and leads into the back pasture. We just opened the gate and there was a steep hill with a long run, perfect for record setting! We built a bonfire in case anyone got cold, served up hot cocoa, build-your-own smores, and doughnut holes (supposed to look like "snowballs" get it? Thanks again to Grandma and Kalista) 

My dad stood on top of the mound and shoved kids off the hill in either direction. (the side leading into the pasture was a little more advanced, and the other side was for younger kids or scared-y cats, or the ones who wanted to end up at the fire for a snack.

And the sledding began...

  (notice the faces:)

Looks fun, right! 

Good thing there are no bugs out this time of year!

Hee Hee. When my dad saw these pictures he was very pleased with himself for building the perfect "thrill hill" 

Then of course I got antsy and couldn't be left out of all the fun, so I grabbed a sled and a kid (so I didn't look like too much of a party crasher) and we hit the slopes. 

Then someone tattled on me and some of the other brave moms had to try it out too.

 And it was FUN!

And no one got injured (too much)

And I had to include this one because I think he's a cutie!

My kids made a haul in the present department. One thing about La Sal not having a store is most kids give money for presents. They did get a few toys and games but they also walked away with $35 a piece - not to shabby! Unfortunately I couldn't get everyone to stop sledding long enough to do the traditional opening of gifts, so most of the kids had gone home before we did that part.:(

Then the next day we had a family dinner with my parents, grandparents, Uncle, Aunt and Cousins. I love how lucky my kids are to have this opportunity to live near family who is so good to them. What a gift to be able to develop a relationship with your family like that. I was lucky to have that opportunity growing up and I'm glad my kids do too, for however short a time it may be. My grandma even found a card that said "to our great-grandson" How many of us get that opportunity? It was great. And now it's over, and that's even more great. 

Happy Birthday to my 10 and 7 year olds. (I know I say this every year, but I am SO not old enough to have a 10 year old!:)

A day trip.

A few weeks ago the kids had a day off of school, so we went to find an adventure. We stopped by and picked up my sister and niece along the way, grabbed some lunch at McDonald's and headed to the river. A few years ago they redid the bridge where the road crosses the river, and also made a really beautiful walking bridge there as well. Kalista likes to take pockets full of rocks up there and plop them into the river, so that was our first stop. 

This is the bridge that the highway crosses on.

I love how pretty and green the water was that day. The river is always changing, and I love that.

Kalista smiling as she gets another hand full of rocks to plop. See, she really does love it. 

I love this picture, she and my mom are best friends, and they are always together.

More plopping

My kids attempting to be cute, but really they were freezing so I never could get a good shot of them. The wind was really picking up and a storm looked like it was moving in, so we got in the car and went for a drive as we ate lunch. 

More examples of my drive by tourism. This is taken out of the car window as we drove up the river road. (I wasn't driving this time though:)

We ended up going to Fisher Tower. We got out and I thought we would hike around a little, but instead the kids got out, Kalista plopped a few more rocks into the stream that was running nearby, and they all piled back in the car to head home. Sometimes the kids just aren't as into the adventure as the moms are. But that's alright, it was a fun drive anyway, and a fun day spent with some of my very favorite people.