Hunter's basketball season

We didn't take very many pics of Hunter playing this year - but we had a great time watching him on the court.  There was a big change this year - he's officially on a full court and all the rules of basketball apply (there were only some rules up until now).  Hunter played hard in every game - he worked hard to rebound, be in open positions to shoot, and overall, was a great team player.  He did get some great shots (and points!) - but I wasn't counting.  There were also a couple players on his team that definitely have "stardom" in their future - but, I loved the fact that the boys included everyone and they all helped to have an UNDEFEATED season.  In the very last game (which I missed), their team was behind and the opposing team seemed like giants.  You can see the height difference below - 

Hunter's team rallied and came back in the final quarter to win.  Coach Brett was awesome with these boys and it was a fantastic season!  Double the pay for the coach!  (ha, ha, it's volunteer - but he definitely deserves the raise!)  

Secret identity

I have a secret life.  My life is generally filled with everything about my kids - raising kids, chasing kids, driving kids, changing kids clothing, washing kids and their clothing, and just lots of KIDS everything.  They consume me and my time.  So, when I got to attend a conference for all the music educators in the state for 2 days - suddenly I was a band director again.  I was thinking about rehearsals, about music, about discipline - funny - it's still about kids, I know.  BUT, there was also the catching up with colleagues I hadn't seen in a LOONG time and also just having adult conversations for 2 days straight was a strain on my brain, in a good way.  I get excited about the prospect of working again - I really loved teaching and I intend to do it again.  But, I also know it isn't that time/season just yet.  I'm just preparing myself so I will have the endorsements when needed.

Then came another conference - this time all clarinet.  2 days being a clarinet geek was great fun.  Talk clarinet, play clarinet, think clarinet - enough information to make my head spin.  Sometimes I think I'm doing a good job with my part-time job teaching clarinet, then there are days when I just don't know enough.  I wish I knew more and I wish I could sit and practice my instrument as I know I should.  I feel like a slacker because I can't even come close to those amazing people who attended the conference and they live that clarinet world all day, everyday.  I have amazing students - so many of them just blow me away (literally!) with their talents.  They aren't just clarinetists, they are honor students, bikers, soccer players, and they are super busy doing all the amazing things they do.  I'm grateful to be a part of this chapter in their lives.  And I find myself wishing I knew more about this or that - simply because there is still so much for me to figure out for myself.  Conferences are great - I learn a ton, and I also realize how much I don't know.  I just can't let that get me down.

So, a secret identity.  I guess it seems like a secret because my children and my husband aren't a part of it.  All the colleagues, associates, and people I talked to during those conferences were great fun to visit with.  I saw friends I went to college with, had discussions with amazing professors and professionals, and I felt like I was pretending to be a colleague.  For now, I'm a mom pretending to have a secret identity or a place in the world of music.  Perhaps those worlds will collide someday...  I'll keep wishing.  

Scratch your heart out... with love

I asked my boys if we could make valentine's day cards this year and we searched the internet for ideas.  Priority #1 - EASY to make, priority #2 - fun to give.  Hunter came up with his own idea.  He wanted to make a scratch-off card by melting crayon on the cards.  Sounded complicated - but I did find an "easier" alternative and it was a HUGE hit.  We "laminated" (clear tape) the heart on his cards, then used acrylic paint to cover the heart.  He had written a message saying "Go ask Hunter for _ candies!"  He did a bunch of 2's, 3's, and a few 4's - and had his bag of candy to give it everyone.  He even had a system to mark if they gotten their candy by tearing the corner of their card - what a planner.  

  

For Cole, Danny, and Skyler I did these picture ones and I thought they were adorable.  It wasn't really a card that they got to make - it ended up back on me - but they were easy so I enjoyed doing it...  even though I put it off till the night before as usual.  

Cole made a Valentine's game for his teacher - super sweet boy!

On Valentine's day I stopped at the local bakery after my gym time and got some doughnuts for the boys.  They loved them!

Then for dinner - Shayne and I had a romantic (ha, ha) dinner with the crew.  The boys helped set the table with the valentine's day decor (dollar store from last year), candles, sparkling cider, and we had the most scrumptious crepes with whipped cream and berries.  Of course, some were complaining as I was setting the table - but everyone figured out it was like eating dessert and no complaints while we ate.  

To top it off, Shayne brought home candied apples for everyone.  I got one too - and it was SOOOOOOO yummy.  We all slowly ate our apples over the next few days. 

 I love my boys - all 5 of them.  It was fun to shower them with a little extra love this Valentine's day!

Danny playing basketball...

Check out the pic of him "defending" the basket...  lol.

Like an onion...

this week's favs

Skyler: Abc's, blankie, and snow

Danny: playing "Love Somebody" on the piano, yogurt with granola, and cat in the hat books

Cole: newest invention idea is a freezing gun with liquid nitrogen, there's another blue gooey invention in my fridge, Big Nate books, and of course, he'd prefer x-box over homework anytime

Hunter: basketball, loves school/his teacher, wants to snowboard every weekend, just finished his 39 Clues book series (11 books) and is hoping to get the 3rd book of Michael Vey as fast as possible.

Sweet prayers

A couple weekends ago, Cole had a NASTY ear infection.  Well, both ears were a mess.  He kept coming into my room throughout the night complaining about his poor ears - but why do these things always happen at night and on weekends?!?  I took him to insta-care on Saturday afternoon and sure enough, the ears were very infected and the Dr. prescribed antibiotics for him.  We waltzed over to Walmart - but unfortunately, the pharmacy was closed for lunch.  We had to linger for a while until we could get the medicine.  Hunter and I spent the time buying supplies for his science fair project and Cole laid in a grocery cart, moaning and crying out load.  It was a little dramatic, honestly - an 8 year old crying aloud and just miserable as could be.  I finally turned around and said to him, "please stop the complaining.  Who are you even talking to because I'm talking with this person about cutting material?!"  and another woman behind us quickly said, "he's saying a prayer."  I stop what I was doing and sure enough, Cole was sitting there, arms folded and saying his prayer out loud to help his ears feel better.  Sweet Cole.  He did this again a little later - and once again, I was so impressed by Cole's faith in prayers.  I'm so grateful that he is quick to think of prayer when he is distressed. As a parent, I constantly worry if I'm doing all that I know I should do, want to do, and hope to do.  It's rather daunting at times. I'm so grateful to know my children know there is a Heavenly Father who is mindful of their needs.  And I'm grateful for children who teach me to be more prayerful myself.

"wock you"

My kids have all been great sleepers, fortunately!  But, none of them would sleep in our arms.  They were very well trained to go to bed and go to sleep!  The rocking chair really was just for feedings and for long, sick and sleepless nights.  Well, thank goodness that Skyler has decided to change things up lately.  Before going to bed, he'll say "wock you" and I'll answer, do you want me to rock you?  "yes!"  We'll sit in the antique rocking chair and read a story, sing a few songs, he might even lay his head on my shoulder - it doesn't last long - but it gets me a little "wock you" time that melts my heart.  He'll even say "bed" after our few minutes together.  And when it comes to the music, he's rather opinionated and will constantly say "a diff'n one" (a different one) and I'll start a song and he'll say "no, a diff'n one" again, and again - until I get it right.  This week's favorite tunes include "elefun song" (the Elephant song, willabee, wallabee, wee - an elephant sat on me) and Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam.  I wuv you Skye.