Birthdays, Basketball, Dance, & Snow

Sometimes I run out of ideas on how to title these blog posts, because in a way our years seem to repeat with similar events.  When I think, "How is it already the end of March? Where did the first 3 months of 2014 go?" These are the words that came to mind for a quick . . . no, probably long recap:  Birthdays, Basketball, Dance, & Snow. Birthdays: Ethan and Alaina celebrated their birthday parties together this year!  With Ethan turning 10 and Alaina turning 3, I never really thought we'd be able to have a party together easily, since they are 7 years apart and boy and girl.  But we found the perfect place for a combined party.  An indoor roller skating rink that also has an indoor playground for the younger kids.  Alaina invited some of her little dance friends too, but she also is good friends with all the neighborhood friends who are closer to Ethan in age.  She's kind of the neighborhood little sis'.  I think they both had a fun time roller skating and playing with their friends.

Basketball: Both boys played Upward basketball again this year, 2nd year for both of them.  Last year they were on the same team, which was nice, but this year Ethan was on older team, 4th - 6th graders, and Caleb on a 1st - 3rd grade team.  Ethan's team was the "Heat" and they won every game this season!  He learned so much, played the full court, and had great coaches and teammates.     The church they played at did the older teams a little more competitive and kept score, chose MVPs for each game, and even had a tournament game at the end for the older teams.  Ethan's team won the tournament too!  

Caleb's team were the "Cavaliers" and he had great coaches and teammates as well this year.  He also learned a lot and enjoyed himself!  It's so interesting because both boys play soccer and basketball in their own similar styles.  Ethan definitely enjoys more offensive positions in both sports, and Caleb definitely enjoys more defensive positions in both sports.  Of course they are both learning both, but it is just interesting.  You see their unique, individual personalities coming out.  :-)  Caleb's team finished 2nd overall for all the younger aged teams.  

We are so thankful to have had another great, skill enriched, integrity enriched experience through Upward.  I really love that it is offered so much in our area.  Upward's headquarters are located in our city, and they have started implementing Upward Stars teams, where you have to try out to make the team, more competitive, kind of like other travel sports teams.  I know both Ethan and Caleb would probably do well in soccer and basketball, but we haven't decided yet if we will go that route.  It seems like it is just as expensive as other travel leagues in our area and requires just as much time and commitment.  Even if they absolutely LOVE the sport, I'm not sure we can commit financially or time-wise to something like that.  They may just have to continue perfecting their skills through Upward and AYSO and other local sports camps etc. in our area until they get old enough for the middle and high school teams, should they so choose to continue in a sport.  We love watching them and supporting them in what they love, but our family also really, really enjoys down time and unscheduled time.  For this reason we chose once again not to play Spring soccer, and we haven't regretted it one bit.  We've had a family game night at least once a week, been playing outside more, going to the park, riding bikes and scooter, etc. . . . all the things we enjoy having time to do together.  Good old fashion fun, I suppose.  :-) Dance: Alaina has still been enjoying her ballet-tumble class.  They have had a few parent observation days to get them used to performing in front of others.  It is quite cute . . . all little 2 and 3 year olds.  She has such a great, caring, and fun teacher.  Her teacher said she was doing really well and wanted to try her in an older class to see how she would do with older kids.  So, we went to one class with probably 4 year olds and she did well, her teacher said.  So, not sure exactly what placement she'll be in for next year but we are excited that she'll be doing another year of dance!  And this year she will have an end of year "parent observation day", not really a recital, but family and friends can come to watch them onstage.  So, we're looking forward to that.  Next year she would be in the actual recital.  I took ballet from kindergarten to fourth grade and have fond memories of it.:-) 

Well, my laptop battery is about to die, as it's taken me several hours to get this post done . . . in between typing I've been cleaning up vomit, washing everything I can think of in the house, lysoling, getting gatorade, taking to the bathroom, because little girl caught the stomach bug that Caleb had last week, and Ethan had yesterday.  :-(  Here's hoping Scott and I can stay well and not catch this.  Poor sweetie . . . 

Taking care of sick kids is really exhausting too!   Snow:  I didn't get to it today, but we had a good snow, the kids had fun, I realized how exhausting even 2 days of snow is with young kids, and I'm glad we're into Spring time now!  :-)  There are some pics on my instagram on the side of our snow fun.