Back to sports

Spring has arrived, and it is time to get back into sports mode. Actually, Susanna hasn't had much break since she did basketball all winter. But that didn't go so well, and now its over and maybe we can just forget about that.

Susanna and Ben are both back with their teams from last autumn. Susanna was happy to get back to soccer after the long break. Though her team struggled last season, they did improve a bit by the end, and hopes were high for a good start this year. Let's just say there is still plenty of room for improvement. But its a nice team, nice girls and nice parents, so that's a plus. One game down, seven to go. Hopefully things will get better.

Ben's teeball team has 8 returning players and 6 who are new. I think all or most of the new families requested placement on Brad's team - he is getting quite the reputation as teeball coach in this town! Fourteen boys make a rather large baseball team, and Brad wasn't quite sure where to put them all, but it worked out in the end and they had a great game today. (They still don't keep score, but most certainly would have won if they did.)

Its all good fun, if not slightly frustrating, and the kids are having a great time, which is the important thing. And I might as well enjoy it while it lasts - soon enough, the long, un-structured days of summer will be here and maybe I will actually miss the sports.

Toothless in Texas (and Girl Scout cookies)

Today was the last day of our visit with Brad's sister and her family. We all went to Susanna's school to have lunch with her in the cafeteria. As we were getting signed in (and the receptionist was trying to decide whether or not it was safe to allow Uncle Andy to enter the building), Susanna appeared out of nowhere with a bloody mouth, minus one tooth.

[would insert photo here but will spare you the messy details]

As it turns out, she had come from the nurse's office, and the nurse had actually pulled her tooth because it was bleeding. Fortunately it stopped and she was able to eat the chicken sandwich we had brought for her.

This is the third time she's lost a tooth - the last one came out one year and two days ago - I expect she'll lose quite a few before another year passes.

We also got her Girl Scout cookies tonight. She sold 95 boxes, and now we have to distribute them and collect the money. That will keep us busy this weekend!

Birthday buddies

Happy Birthday to Susanna and my dad!

Susanna was born on my dad's 71st birthday. Today she is 7 and he is 78.

The photo here was taken three years ago when Susanna was turning 4. I can't believe how little she looks!

Snow day

We are having a snow day today. That's right, a snow day, in Texas.

Apparently this is the most snow Texas has seen in 111 years or something. Maybe that is when they started keeping track. At any rate, its pretty impressive.

And the best part is, I am home alone! Lucky me! But I have done my share - I recently had 5 four- and five-year-olds running through here with wet clothes and shoes. They have since moved on to another house. Susanna packed a bag and headed next door - not sure when I'll see her again...

Maybe I should go clean something, since Brad's entire family is arriving tomorrow for a visit. And I need to order a cake for Susanna's party on Sunday, or I'll have to make one myself.

Hope everyone has a nice Valentine's weekend!

Toys

I live in a house that is full of nice toys, and sometimes my children actually play with them. But you should see the way they fight over this piece of junk! I saw it in the car and meant to toss it, but didn't. Wish I had. They did take a break from fighting over this last night when they came across a sticky eye ball from the dentist and we didn't know for sure who it belonged to...

Hula hoop

I'm not sure how she learned, but Susanna is great at hula hooping! This morning, inspired by an old episode of Full House (current favorite here), Brad counted her hoops and she got as high as 349 in one go. She already holds the hula hooping record on the Wii, but I think she's even better in real life. And in this house she has no competition whatsoever!

She can sing, walk, and even jump, all while making the hoop go round and round! Yay Susanna!

Short hair

Brad took Susanna for a haircut at one of those little girly salons. She decided to go crazy with a short hair cut! I love pulling her hair back in ponytails but I do think that short hair really suits her. Of course I haven't been able to style it like this myself, but it looks cute no matter what!