Hoop Dreams

This is a picture of my entryway:

I'm sure you noticed the basketball goal hanging from the door.  My son is constantly in motion.  Even when he is watching tv he has his basketball out running back and forth across the living room shooting hoops.  He wants to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder someday. (See this post about that!)
Now I would love to hang some pretty pictures in my entry or maybe put a little table with flowers and baskets but that would mess up his "court"!  And honestly, everytime I look at that goal I smile.  It reminds me that my kids are only with me for a little while, and that little while seems to be going faster and faster, so I'm going to enjoy every second.  Someday we will take the goal down and I'll have my entry table but I guarantee it won't be near as fun as shootin' hoops!

Stuck at home.....

Today was the fourth snow day of the week for us.  A day or two is not that unusual around here but four certainly is.  Not only that but it started snowing AGAIN today.  I love snow, it's beautiful and peaceful but I hate driving on roads that have not been plowed.  That is exactly why the kids have not had school - neighborhood streets are horrible. 

That being said, we've had a lot of time to work on homework and other stuff.  Don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of movies and video games too but watching them work always makes me smile!

Notice the tongue - it always comes out when he's concentrating - I love it! 

Good thing he wears a mouth guard in football!

She had a couple projects due this week so lucky her she gets more time to finish.

She's loving it, let me tell you! ;)

Something tells me they enjoyed this more...

Yep, definitely!

Snowmageddon 2011!!

Here are a few pics of what's going on around here today....love it!  Getting ready to put some chili in the crockpot and watch a movie while snuggling with the kiddos.  Hubby got to stay home from work - woo hoo!!  And maybe some sledding later if this wind will die down.  I'm sure by Friday it will be around 70 degrees...gotta love Oklahoma! :)

Happy Snow Day!!

Living on in my memory

Fourteen years ago today my grandfather died.  Gramps as I called him.  After he died, I wrote pages and pages of all the memories I had of him, so intent on not forgetting one thing that I loved about him.  The way he hugged me so tightly I thought my ribs would break.  Or how he would always brag about how he could get more tan than me in the summer.  How he would dance around the kitchen and sing 'Hello Dolly' or let us fix his hair like Vanilla Ice.  I can still remember how his booming voice sounded when cheering for me at ball games.
I read these pages every year on the anniversary of his death and suddenly it's like he's right there.  The little things I might not have thought about in a while come back and I grieve all over again for losing one of the most amazing men I've ever known.  But I hold his memory in my heart and I always will. 
He was such an important part of my life, I only wish my kids could have known him.  I know they would have loved him as much as I do. 
I found out I was pregnant with my daughter a couple weeks after his funeral.  It was strange in some ways to say goodbye to one life and hello to another.  I will never understand why he had to leave this life before I felt like it was his time but I know I will see him again. 
That will be the most heavenly part of heaven for me.  Seeing those I love again and wrapping my arms around them and never having to say goodbye again.   At times like this I feel so homesick for eternity.
So today I will read my memories, I will laugh and cry and remember.  And I will be thankful that I was able to know a man as amazing and Daniel J. Afeld.  I love you gramps!!

Why can't they just STOP growing?!?

My friend Melissa, who is a budding photographer, offered to take some pictures of my fam for Christmas.  Well who am I not to help a friend who is trying to hone her craft? ;)  As I looked at the CD she gave me of all the pics it occurred to me....my kids just keep looking older!!  I know this is a no-brainer but I don't like it one bit.  I see them everyday and sometimes I don't realize just how much they have changed until I look at old photos.  No more round cheeks and pudgy fingers.  But they still have those freckles thank goodness!  I know someday soon I will look back on this year's pictures and think how little they looked.  But for now I would just like to pretend that they will be this cute and cuddly forever! 

From the mouths of babes....or nine year old boys

Before I went to run errands this afternoon I sat my son down and gave him some blank thank you cards and a list.  I told him to fill out the thank you cards to his friends for his birthday presents.  I found them on the kitchen table a minute ago and had to share, as I thought they were hilarious.  And fyi, I will be using his exact spelling...hehe

Ezra, Thank you for the bowtie money (Ezra's mom had oragamied the money into a bowtie) I wore it to church Sunday.  From Colby

Levi, thank you so much for the USCopoly. From Colby PS - Levi switched around spells evil

Nate, thank you so much for my birthday gift card and the car. I drove it to school. From Colby

Austin, thank you so much for my gift card there is so much I want. From Colby

Ryland, the orangangtang, Thank you so much for my money I got $80 in all.  From Colby

Adam, Thank you for thoes delicies Nerds and money I got $80.  From Colby

P & E (that would be his uncle Paul and aunt Emily), Thank you so much for my bday money. I got $80 in all. Love Colby

I think it's funny he said Love only on his uncle's.   Boys! :)

Bowling anyone?

So my baby boy turned nine!!  (Insert tears here)  I cannot believe he is almost double digits.  I need a baby in my life quick.... I don't want to HAVE a baby, I just want to love, cuddle and squeeze a baby then send it on home with its mama!  But I digress....
What do you do with a group of hilarious, fun albeit occasionally rambunctious nine year old boys?  Well you go bowling of course!  I came in last - LAST place to children.  I really need to work on my game. 
Happy Birthday Colby, I love you sweetie!!  ( And don't forget you promised to stay nine forever )

 His friends got to sign the bowling pin for him to take home...too cool!

Thank you Target for pulling off what I couldn't!  hehe

Not sure where this ball is going to end up

Don't mess with mama when she is bowling!

They knew how to keep score better than me, so I let them

 Present time....

 Who knew car shaped colgne would be such a hit?

 Dad is proud

 That's a bow tie made out of money by the way

Good times with good friends!

The Thunder Rolls....

So if you've been reading my blog for a while you know about my son's bedroom from this post.  Obviously we are Thunder fans around here.  I have to say when the rumblings first began in OKC about having our own NBA team, I thought it would be cool but it is so much cooler than I expected!!  Part of that coolness comes from the team themselves.  An awesome, humble group of guys who not only play great together but are actually people I don't mind my son looking up to.
They have set a fantastic example of hard work, dedication and never underestimating yourself, even when you are young. (We have the youngest team in the NBA)  So when I found out about the Thunder Bus that goes around to area schools and gives out books, I had to find out how my son's teacher could sign up.  She set up the meeting and the Thunder Bus rolled into our neighborhood!!

The kids were so excited!  The lady who drives the bus came in to talk to the kids about the players and how several of them are finishing their college degrees right now.  She asked them if they thought being an athlete meant you didn't have to learn how to read well, then explained that no matter how good you are, reading is super important and the Thunder agrees.  They let each child go on the bus and have a book of their choice along with the team yearbook and bookmark.  What a great day!  Here are some pics of the event....Go THUNDER!!

Oh and lets not forget the boys favorite page in the yearbook....

The Thunder Girls, lol!  I tried to convince Colby's friends that I was one of the pictures but they didn't believe me.....I don't understand it!

OMG I have a teenager living in my house!!

My beautiful daughter turned 13...."finally!" as she would say and "already?"  as I would say.  Since her birthday was toward the end of volleyball season and her and her friends can't get enough, that's exactly what we did.  A volleyball party.  Now, my husband and I both played volleyball and several of our friends and my family love to play as well so it was a really fun party for all.  Here are a few goofy pictures of the evening!

This might seem like a silly pic but these are their volleyball socks for the year (knee high) and I thought it was a super cute picture Syd took of hers

Here's what happens when you try to take a group shot!

That's a little better!

 Can't have enough candy and cupcakes!!

The many faces of the girls....and we can't forget the "annoying" little brothers! Happy Birthday Syd!!