Basketball season

Well, I’m super late on this seeing that basketball season has been done for about a month now. I could make a hundred excuses why I’m so late. I work two jobs, have three kids, blah blah blah but then you hear it from me nearly every month because that’s about how often I write posts anymore. I’ll save my my-life-is- so-hectic soliloquy for another day.

My husband, Justin, has a slight obsession with basketball, but when you grow up in a state that lives and breathes it, it’s just in your blood. Plus, the fact that he’s 6’4” had coaches hunting him down to play.

This is the second year that Nolan’s played. While he may not be the most coordinated on the team, I gotta say that he shown a lot of growth. He was one of the youngest on the team, which made him look short….something I not used to. He’s usually one of the tallest. 

I’m not proud to admit that my most competitive side comes out at my kids’ games. I mean I’m not one of those yelling-at-the-refs type of parent but I do tell my kids to hustle. Nolan was a great hustler. In fact, I think that sometimes he was more concerned with racing the other kids to the other end of the court than he was in making a basket or anything else. But hey, at least my kid was running, right?

Basketball is a hard sport especially for young ones. I didn’t start playing until I was in middle school and even then it was difficult for me. Ok, I tried out for the team and didn't even know what a lay up was. Yikes.

But do you see my boy having fun with that big ol' grin? Makes those weekly practices worth it after a long day.

Probably the cutest part of the whole season was Campbell wanting to go to every single practice to watch his bubba and wearing Nolan’s jersey from last to every game. He said that he was tricking everyone that he was on the team. He wants to play so badly but we’re going to wait a little longer since it takes so much coordination for him. Landry was the sweetest little cheerleader at every game and it actually really kept her interest, amazingly enough!

We’re so proud of Nolan for this season and how hard he worked.  

Soccer mom x 2

We've been fighting it for about 3 years now. Nolan started playing soccer and we'd tote Campbell along to the games and chase him all over the field as we "watched" Nolan play. Campbell wanted to play so badly and we just kept promising him that when he turned 4 he could play.

Wellll.....he's 4.

Dang, that was a quick 4 years. And now that toddler that I used to chase at games is in uniform and holy cuteness he looks adorable in it.

 

We had a feeling this little guy would be our athlete but we didn't expect him to be the first one to score this season and within 30 seconds of the game starting. He scored two goals in his first game and last week he scored six. This boy was on fire and playing some good defense too! 

 

He is living and breathing soccer now. He completely copies what his coach says (who is so wonderful and patient) when he plays soccer at home and can't wait for practice and games.

 

Nolan is playing soccer again as well. Yes, two boys in soccer.  And no, I don't know what I was thinking. Nolan was on the same team with the same kids for years and we were undefeated. Well this year it seems like everyone disbursed and so it's all new team members. I think Nolan and one other teammate are the only ones that have ever played soccer. So I think we're going for the "Bad News Bears" record this year. It's all for fun, right?

Justin somehow got roped into being the coach. You know, because we don't have enough to do.  He feels bad when the team loses that he's somehow a bad coach. But I just remind him that Nolan will have no recollection of his wins/losses, only that his daddy was the coach. Nolan doesn't seem to mind the losing record. He's having fun. 

I've got my trusty crew on the sideline helping watch the games. 

 

After Campbell's game we went on and on about how proud we were of him and he said, "Let's talk about it some more." So as insane as I think I might be trying to work full time, get two kids to soccer practice and having games all day on Saturdays, I know that it's the right thing. It's getting them active, building their confidence and giving us more time together to spend as a family. 

Soccer mom

Here we go again. Here I find myself watching a sport that I absolutely despise watching but it's my kid who's begging to play it again and again. So that makes me the biggest soccer fan sitting in the freezing cold shivering and shuttling him to practice and squeezing in games in between grocery stores, laundry and the million other things I need to accomplish on my weekend.

 

To my surprise Nolan scored his first goal of the season at the first game of the season! Usually we have to wait until the last game of the season before we see that kind of action. 

To see how happy it makes him and the confidence that beams from him makes every shivering-I-have-so-many-other-things-I-need-to-be-doing moment worth it.

And the sideline entertainment ain't too shabby either.



Score has never been kept in any of his games, but Nolan's definitely learned math, that's for sure. He was confident to report that his team won. And in case I was wondering he's scored six goals in his lifetime. Good to know my 5 year old is already keeping his own stats.



So until I convince this guy that basketball is really where it's at, I'll be a soccer mom for yet another season.

Alumni basketball game

My husband's been all over the map throughout his life. One of the signs that you're a PK (preacher's kid) is that you've had at least 3-4 big moves in your life. Justin grew up in Kentucky, moved to Austin, then Shreveport before moving back to Kentucky for college. After college, he lived in Memphis for a few years and then, of course, he moved back to Texas where he met little ol' me.

Justin is friendly and outgoing to say the least and with living in four states, it's no shocker that when the man joined Facebook, he had 500 friends within a day. That's why I love him. He's the perfect husband to take to any new event because I never have to worry. He makes friends within minutes and requires no "babysitting", it's awesome.

But I'm really getting off topic here. All that to say, he spent a majority of his high school years in Shreveport and went to a private Catholic school. No we're not Catholic, it was just one of the schools free of metal detectors at the time. It's a small school but Justin loved it. He got an invitation earlier this year to participate in an alumni basketball game to benefit the school. He played in high school and the chance to play again with his buddies was too good to pass up.

So he packed up his letter jacket (no really, he did), dusted off his high-tops and we made a family trip to Shreveport with my mother-in-law in tow. She was such a trooper and she said it brought back so many memories to see Justin playing in the same gym nearly 20 years ago. Yep, he's that old.

Yes, that is Snoopy. Their mascot is Snoopy. It's the only school in the United States given permission by Charles Schulz to be used as their mascot. Just another random bit of useless knowledge to keep in your pocket.

  
There were no serious injuries, probably a lot of ice packing and pulled muscles discovered the following day. I think most injuries were only to egos with the realization of ones' true age.

One of the players, Billy Thomas, played college ball for Kansas and even played in the NBA.

 

After the game there were proud mamas and sons to give "good job" hugs. 

I can't believe that I've never seen Justin play basketball in the 12 years we've been together.
But for an old guy, he could really hold his own.

Hey Batter!

Soccer is officially over. For someone who really would rather watch paint dry than watch a soccer game, I can say that it definitely grew on me. But then again it was my little guy out there playing, and I can pretty much watch him do anything.
Now we're starting t-ball because you know taking a break and having a breather from the rat race of practice and games is so overrated! Actually, I really wanted to find something to keep us busy during the summer and t-ball season goes through the end of June. There are definitely practices when I'm sweating through my shirt where I'm second-guessing my decision.

If you are ever feeling down and need a good laugh, go to a t-ball game. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Once again, I can't help but think that boys are the cutest things ever when they're dressed up like grown-ups. So seeing them all dressed up like they're major league baseball players was beyond adorable. One of my favorite moments was watching them look like little bobble heads with their batting helmets on. When the batter would hit it, the entire team (infield and all) would run to the outfield to get the ball. We're still trying to teach "play your position" but he's catching on so quickly. Just look at this action!

Since Nolan's baseball obsession started last summer with the movie Everyone's Hero (he even had a baseball birthday party), t-ball has come very quickly for him. He can knock the stuffin' out of that ball and has a really good arm. He even knocked one so far that I just know was going to be a homerun, but a dad on the other team stopped it with his foot. No, I'm not bitter about that at all. We're still working on catching. He even got the first out of the game and gets a lot of action since he's playing first base. I was so proud of him and screaming my embarrassing "I don't care what you think of me, I'm proud of my baby" scream.

One of the dads came up to me and said, "Are you Nolan's mom? Because I really couldn't tell." I love someone with as much sarcasm as me. Was it that obvious?

 maybe he's just a little nervous...

Coach Eric giving him the talk to get his chicken arms out

Proof that he's got his eyes on the ball...good job Nolan!

running to third

gotta give Mommy five for doing such a great job

our first baseman

Meanwhile, Campbell was the bat boy. I think he thinks that means taking all the bats off the fence.

And the trophy goes to...

Saturday was our supposed to be our last soccer game, end-of-the-year soccer party, and our first t-ball game. How in the world were going to do it all, I have no idea. And thank goodness for the rain on Friday because it was all canceled. So we were able to make it to the soccer party. Each kid got their trophy and Nolan was appropriately named, "Most Improved." I would say that he definitely earned that title! Those three goals he made were the biggest confidence booster for him and he talked about it all week. He was so excited about that trophy and we are so proud of him and how he came out of his shell at the end of the season!

Our coach's wife makes cakes (good to know for future parties) and made an adorable soccer cake for the kids each with their own little star. We took our cake "to go" but I think we ate half of it in the restaurant because it was so good.

We took a group shot and it was too cute how proud they are were of their trophies. In the car, Nolan said, "It has a star, because I'm a rock star." Let's not get ahead of ourselves, David Beckham.

But my favorite of the day wasn't the trophy or that he thought he was a rock star. When we got home and as I tucked him into bed for his nap, he asked me, "Mommy, how old am I now?" That crazy rock star thought it was his birthday party! You know it's a little confusing. There were lots of people,  presents (trophy), and there was cake...everything you need for a birthday party, right? I'm proud of him that he was happy enough just getting a trophy...good to know before I spend a ridiculous amount on his party.

Professional sports here we come...

We've been thinking about getting Nolan involved with sports this year. I played sports growing up and so did Justin so we definitely want to get him into something but we're just trying to decide which one would be the best. BUT let me say that I really don't like watching soccer. Anything with a score less of 5 most of the time bores me to tears but Justin firmly believes it's a right of passage for any boy. He loves all those other sports too though. I'm sure I'll give in but I was trying to convince Nolan to pick t-ball or basketball. I asked Nolan at dinner tonight about our options:

Me: Nolan, do you want to play soccer or do you want to play BASEBALL! or BASKETBALL! (really trying to emphasize the sports I prefer)

Nolan: I want to be an ice cream man

Good to know he thinks eating ice cream is a sport. No doubt he's my kid.