Silver linings...a Dodgeball Story

Next to football, there isn't anything my boys love more than Dodgeball.  It's a shame they couldn't play it on a professional level, or at least coach it professionally! ;)  Our church puts on a very successful Dodgeball tournament every year, and it starts to be a topic of conversation for both of my boys and their friends in about September.  Matthew's team had come in 2nd place in the 7th and 8th grade division for the past two years (they started a year early in 6th grade), and THIS was going to be the year that they would bring home the gold medal.  Their dream team was set.  They were ready to play...until one week ago.

Matthew is in the select choir for the middle school, and one of the requirements is to try out for region choir.  He spent the entire Saturday two weeks ago auditioning.  His plan was to tank the audition to ensure that he would not be selected for the all region choir, which conflicted with the dodgeball tournament.  

He didn't try hard enough.

Matthew was selected as one of the bases in the all region choir!  Normally, this would be an honor, since he was in the top 25 of 120 boys trying out, but he was devastated about the tournament.  I even felt sorry for him!  All his friends went on and played while Matthew was here...

 Bryon felt so sorry for him, that he decided to let Matthew play on his adult team.  Matthew wasn't thrilled with the idea and told him no, thinking there was no way he could compete.  Well, we raced back to Waco after the concert just as the adult division was starting.  Matthew reluctantly agreed to play at the last minute.  They won their first three sets easily, and then it was time to play the Tuscan Raiders, which is a team of our friends, who have won the tournament more times than any other team.  The Raiders won the first match.  During the second match, the Raiders were down to three players, and our team was down to just Matthew.  One by one, the Raiders tried to peg Matthew with the ball, and one by one, Matthew caught every one of them!  Matthew single handedly brought down the great Tuscan Raiders!  It was an epic performance.  He also was instrumental in beating them the third match, thereby eliminating the Tuscan Raiders from the tournament.  So, even though Matthew was still bitter about not competing with his team, he has a dodgeball story for the ages!

While I was watching the All Region choir concert, Bryon was texting me the blow by blow of the junior high dodgeball tourney.  Even though Matthew couldn't compete, Thomas and his best buds were in it to win it.  It turns out, my little Thomas is quite the dodgeballer!  Several times, he was the last one standing and at one point, got out three players in a row.  My favorite story Bryon told was when Thomas caught a ball (eliminating an opponent) and walked up the the half court line, beat his chest and roared.  Another opponent decided to throw a ball at him at that point, since it would be difficult to catch so close.  He caught that one too!  Then he threw the ball down and roared again!  I think the thing Thomas was most thrilled about was beating Matthew's team once and catching balls that Matthew's friends threw at him.  Instant street cred for the little brother!

 So proud of these boys, and thankful for their friendships, and our wonderful church!

Fiesta Bowl! Our Arizona Adventure

The benefit of winning the Big 12 conference in football was an opportunity to play in a BCS bowl game.  It was the first time Baylor had ever played in one, and I'm sure wild horses could not have kept us away.  A few days after Christmas, we packed up the car and drove 16 hours to Phoenix, AZ. I hadn't been there in ages, and it was nice to enjoy a few days of sunny 75 degree weather, after such a cold start to winter at home.

I have traveled to 46 states, and seen so many national landmarks, but I had never seen the Grand Canyon.  Despite the fact that it was an additional 4 hour drive away, we seized our opportunity!  I loved how one side of the road was covered in pine trees and snow, and the other side was desert!  After being starved of beauty during our drive through west TX and New Mexico, I drank it all in.

We also enjoyed getting to see our favorite Baylor players getting ready for the game.  This is sweet Levi Norwood, who has come to Thomas' football games and encouraged Matthew in his football pursuits.  He also played Midway Middle School football! ;)

Our star wide receiver, Tevin Reece.

The day of the game was beautiful!  We headed over to the stadium and enjoyed the Tostidos Fiesta Bowl tailgate party.  The entire day was so much fun, so many fans showed up for the game.  Unfortunately, the team decided not to show up!  What a horrible game we played! Ugh!  Regardless of the performance, we had a great family getaway.  We hated that our miracle season ended so badly, but as they say....there's always next year!

Christmas

This Christmas was one of my favorites in recent memory.  I always think about Christmas as before break and after break.  Before break was as crazy as ever.  Sometimes, I wonder why every organization feels the need to have a Christmas concert, play, party, open house, recital, etc.  It really fills up every evening!  Not to mention, I had a ton to do as 4th grade coordinator.  The teachers in 4th grade really rely on my to do  lots of the planning for any party or field trip.  The last week of school, we went to the Perot museum in Dallas, had our 4th grade musical, and 4th grade Christmas party! Phew!  After that, Mary Beth's ballet open house, piano recital for Thomas and MB, Matthew's choir concert, and work Christmas parties, I was definitely happy to reach the "after break Christmas"!

Michael and his family came in on the 22nd.  This would have been my grandmother's 91st birthday, and we celebrated by making her famous spaghetti, cole slaw, and corn bread.  We also went to Cracker Barrel, Homestead Heritage, Lauren's house for the 23rd, and our house for Christmas Eve.  I made eggplant parmesan, and used my grandmother's silver, and my great grandmother's red depression ware.  I love traditions and using dinnerware passed down through the ages.

Christmas morning was as fun as always!  Matthew got the shot gun he has been wanting forever.  I asked him how he was going to shoot a deer with it.  He looked at me like I was crazy, and told me it was a bird shot gun.  There is a difference?  Yes, our oldest child is quite the outdoor sportsman!

Thomas received a golf stroller cart that makes it easier to walk a golf course instead of carrying his heavy bag on his back or using a golf cart.  It has been used many times since Christmas!  He also received a ton of books that he has been wanting.

As per tradition, Mary Beth received an American Girl Doll,  along with Holiday Barbie, and an orbees foot spa.

Thomas and Deedah on their mutual birthday.  One is 12, the other is 65.

 Mary Beth and me on our traditional girls' baking night.

 Gigi night!

 Christmas Eve

 Cracker Barrel for Christmas Eve brunch.

Lydia is going through a huge "Bibi" phase right now!  How awesome is that??  Normally, all the kids in the family adore Bryon, so it's my turn.  I love that little girl!

 After opening Santa gifts, we all headed over to Mom and Dad's for presents, Christmas brunch, and a delicious meal of beef tenderloin, twice baked potatoes, and green bean casserole.  Yummy!  My mother never ceases to amaze me how she can do so much for us at Christmas while working a full-time job.  She's Wonder Woman!

 And that's our Christmas 2013 in a nutshell!

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

I volunteer at the elementary school library every Monday afternoon.  A few weeks before Christmas, I was working, and several of Mary Beth's friends came in at different times to tell me that Mary Beth had gotten the part of "grandma" (of Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer fame) in the Very Silly Christmas Singalong 4th grade musical!  I could tell by their wide eyes and tone that this was a big deal!  Given Mary Beth's theatrical nature, she was thrilled with the part!  She got the whole audience laughing with her Grandma antics.  Back in 1999, my grandmother had breast cancer and needed a wig.  That wig has been useful on more than one occasion!  Thomas used it for Mad Scientist Night to be Einstein a few years back!  Again, it was one more "last" at our elementary school.  All three kids have had big parts in their elementary musicals over the years.  One of the perks of having three extroverted kids!