Character Building

Zack's basketball team had a tournament yesterday.  

The events of the day were so unusual that I never experienced anything even similar in all my years of attending basketball games, much less on the same day.

By the time we got home last night I was so frustrated, and quite frankly stunned, that I wasn't even going to blog about it.

But I have changed my mind.  I won't get into specifics here except to say that the boys played three great basketball games and should be very proud of their effort and their sportsmanship.  

They won the first two games easily and the third game they came up against some refs who really had it in for them. I don't normally say that. I am usually the one who defends the refs because, while they all make a bad call now and then, they are usually pretty fair.  And it usually doesn't affect the outcome of a game one way or another.

Last night was the first time ever I have really believed the refs were obviously against them.  By the beginning of the fourth period, every one of their players (who got extended playing time) were at risk for fouling out and it was surreal to watch as the boys could not even play defense for fear of picking up their fifth foul.  All they could do is stand there and watch the other team drive to the basket and hope they would miss.  

Sadly, I am not exaggerating.

I don't necessarily think losing is bad.  And bad calls by refs are going to happen.  I believe it all plays a part in building your character.  But this was tough.  There is so much more these boys endured from the refs that I am not putting on here -  and it was hard to watch.

Tough day.

This picture unfortunately is very blurry but I love it.  Three who love basketball waiting impatiently to get back in the game (Zack id in the middle).

Lord, Save My Sanity Please

I think I explained in an earlier post that I like to make things as easy on me as possible when teaching and one of the ways to do that is to make sure that all students are listening to the directions.

Another way I do this is to type out all the directions for the older students to follow explaining explicitly what they are to do.

Despite this...I STILL get questions and it boggles my mind!

Example...
4th grade this morning
When they came in, these were the directions by their computers

Typing Master
Lesson 5.7
Lesson 5.8
Lesson 6.1

2 Minute Typing test Tale of Peter Rabbit
View and print results
Find your old test...put your new test on top of the old one...staple together
Compare Net words per minute for candy
Put in the 4th grade box
Free time

Most of that you probably didn't understand but they do...because we have been doing this all year so they know the Typing Master drill by now.

Listed below are the questions I got asked today:

- Are we supposed to do Lesson 6.1?
- Do we put the new test on the top or the bottom?
- Are we supposed to look at the net speed or the gross speed
- What should we do when we are finished
- Where should I put this? (finished test)

Not to mention I found someones test in the 4th grade box not stapled and one test that didn't make it into the box at all!

Hospital Visit

A Sunday visit to the hospital.

Jon's girlfriend has been hospitalized with severe kidney issues.  She remains un-diagnosed but is well enough to be released today. 

One More Reason

Next year we will be in Florida. And this is not even the worst.  Tomorrow we get to look forward to -40 to -50.

Oshkosh, WI, US

Now -9°F Windchill: -30°F Fair

Wind: 14 mph W Humidity: 52% Visibility: 0.1 mi Pressure: 30.12 in rising Sunrise: 7:16 am Sunset: 4:56 pm

I mean  who seriously prefers this kind of winter

to this kind of winter

Tournament Day

I knew it was going to be great day when I found out I could sleep in. Because Zack's team was ranked the #1 seed in the tournament which earned them a first round bye.

The first game wasn't until 11:20 - and it was never even a close game.  

Zack played the entire first quarter and a portion of the third quarter.  He had 8 points.  Coach mostly played those who usually don't get much playing time.  

Boys had their eye on the 1st place trophy after the win

The win meant they didn't play again until the championship game at 7:30.  And it was no surprise who they ended up playing.

They played amazing in the first half (Zack's team is home)

Unfortunately, some great 3 point shooting in the second half meant that the lead was cut to two by the middle of the 4th quarter.

This is the point when I had to excuse myself and use the bathroom.  My coping skill when things get too nerve wracking for me.  

By the time I returned things were looking much better and unfortunately I missed a clutch basket by Zack.

Final score:

Win by 9

Great win. Zack had 11 points and 9 rebounds, a block, two steals, and several assists.  This was by far his best game this year.

First place trophy, some incredible boys, and two amazing coaches

Some goofiness to remind everyone they are still in Middle School

I won't tell you whose idea the goofiness was.  Okay...his name starts with a Z and ends with a k

The girls also played in the tourney and took third place

he Sure Knows How to Get His Point Across

Last night he wanted to snuggle on the couch while I was cleaning the kitchen.

First he walks over to the stairs and looks downstairs:

 Then he looks toward me as if saying, "let's go mama...I need some attention."

Can you say spoiled? 

The Big One Five

I am in complete denial.  No way possible that my baby is fifteen today.   

I cannot even describe in words all that he has meant to me - and to our whole family.  He was sent by God during a very precarious time in my life...his arrival was a figurative slap in the face for me to wake up and enjoy the blessings in my life. 

Not that I didn't enjoy my other two blessings (sons) but certain other people in my life I think I took for granted/pushed away.

Zack...words that come to mind when I think of you are
- love
- big heart
- kind
- funny
- determined
- and, at the moment, always hungry!

We went to his favorite restaurant for dinner...Buffalo Wild Wings.

And now, the big goofball cannot wait for this day to be over because he has a basketball tournament tomorrow.  He lives to play!