My Perpetual Birdie Flipper

This weekend Alex's Diamonds team wasn't playing. But this team was... And she likes to pick up with them. She had a great time with them and played in two games on Saturday morning, getting this beautiful hit that resulted in a triple. A stand up triple.

After the game she and Ashlyn laid around in the parking lot listening to their Ipods and texting their friends.

In the second game there was a walk. An attempted steal. And an ugly slide. A very ugly slide. The ugliest of slides.

After the game, after the coach had talked to them, she came to me with tears in her eyes and said she couldn't move her finger. Sure enough, she couldn't. What is it about her that makes her wait til after the game to tell me. Or after school. Or after batting practice. Apparently no one but me can be told that there are injuries needing attention.

After the game we made our way to the hospital - which wasn't easy. We were following the hospital signs that took us directly through a Memorial Day car show\parade. (Good thing she wasn't having a heart attack with all the detours we had to take). Then, we sat in the waiting room eating candy, sharing with a little girl who had hit her head, watching a drug seeker trying to get a new prescription, a heroine addict, and an old man and lady who couldn't hear it thunder. Literally. Apparently she had busted her ear drum and she couldn't hear ANYTHING but then neither could her husband. Alex's friend Ashlyn and her mom went with us to the emergency room. While the girls were being humored by watching this gentleman and his wife "whisper" to each other loud enough for everyone in the parade to hear, and we were lecturing them about the hazards of illegal drug use, the hard of hearing older gentleman took his leg off. Both girls almost fell out of their seat! I'm not sayin there is anything wrong with taking your leg off in public but I am sayin that it could traumatize unsuspecting teenage girls.

Finally we saw the doctor who diagnosed an avulsion fracture of her finger and we left at the same time the busted eardrum lady did. She was leaving against medical advice because her husband couldn't wait in the waiting room that long because "he had lost his leg." We could hear that much through the door of our exam room. Alex and I decided that's why you probably shouldn't take them off in public...

You can't make this stuff up.

Anyway, no, the tape isn't too tight her finger is just that much bigger at the knuckle. And now when she drinks something or holds something with that hand, her middle finger is sticking straight up.

Everything looks better with pretty, newly painted pink fingernails... Even when you are being flipped a birdie!

Blast from the Past

(Picture from January of 1999)



This week, while cleaning out some cabinets, I ran across the journals I kept when the kids were younger. I thought it would be fun to remember/share these tidbits periodically. Unfortunately, I can't find all of them. I wrote in them sporadically at best, and if I had it to do over I would make myself sit down and write something every day - if only a sentence. I really, really wish I had.

This one is from January, 1999 (Ant almost 4, and Al almost 2).

"Alex has learned how to pull Anthony's chain. She takes things from him and runs to me crying like he's hurting her - and he usually gets in trouble. Now that we're figuring this out, hopefully he won't get bullied by his younger sister quite so much. We have spent so much time teaching him to be "easy with the baby" he just lets her take his toys and, if after a cursory attempt to get it back fails, he just moves on to something else. We have told him it's okay to NOT let her take his toys from him. And he's learning. Boy, is he learning."

So, at almost 4 years old is when we gave him permission to fight back - and they're still fighting.

8th Grade Recognition

Al's 8th grade recognition was last night at her middle school. She was so excited! She thought it was going to be so fun and she would get recognized, and all eyes would be on her, and probably a ray of sunshine would burst through the ceiling and just radiate around her. She was so disappointed! We were herded onto the gym floor with all the other 8th grade athletes and their names and activities were read through a very staticy, gym distorted sound system. Because it was in alphabetic order, we were the first ones. Al soon became bored and about halfway through the line of 8th graders, she said, "This isn't as fun as I thought it would be. Can I leave?" She wanted to leave halfway through it - just walk off the gym floor and leave her daddy and I standing there alone.

Since volleyball season doesn't start for a few more weeks we only have softball pictures so far. And volleyball pictures are sooooo hard to get. It's hard to get good pictures in a gym.

Alex had a rough start to the season this year. In a scrimmage game before the season started, she pulled her quadriceps muscle. She had to play one game with it pulled, limping on and off the mound, and not being able to run. We/she went to physical therapy the next day and before school every morning that week for electrostimulation and stretching/strengthening exercises. It took a few games to get back to normal but once it was better she was on a roll.

They ended up winning the end of the season tournament, playing the same very strong team three times and winning two of those three times.

What an honor it was for her to get to play with this team. They played the season like it's supposed to be played. They improved every time they went on the field with their best games being in the tournament. They won the final tournament game 2-1 and had to play every batter like it was the game winning batter. I have never been more proud of a group of girls who individually did their best, which made their team the best. They never took for granted that they were going to win any game. They knew to win they would have to play hard - they truly earned every win they got.

Alex got the game ball, which is on the shelf in her room. She has many trophies and medals from softball but that game ball means a lot to her - she knows it represents a lot of hard work and one of her better games on the mound.

What do you do after winning the championship?

The worm! On home plate.

FHJRS - Cleveland

Alex had her first volleyball tournament this past weekend. They did a whole lot better than I thought they would do with a 3rd place finish out of 5 teams. But, they did beat two teams and came VERY close to beating the other two teams. I think further into the season we will see a huge difference. They still looked a little unsure of themselves and this is the first time many of them have ever been on a volleyball team - I am expecting great things from them...

Volleyball is no longer played the way we played it - or maybe we just played it wrong. You have certain players who play particular positions, with a first hitter, second hitter, and third hitter. There is now a Libero. And they serve overhanded. I am learning this game slowly but surely. In the picture above, all three front row girls started out in the middle (it all has to do with the rotation), then they go to their "position" after the ball is served. (Al is the 3rd one from the net).

They also now wear very tiny spandex shorts. Not sure why they were those...

In this picture, Alex is starting out behind the girl on the back row (another rotation issue). As soon as the ball is served she goes to the net to get in position to set the ball to the third hitter. At times it looks like she is running from the ball but it's not "her hit". She has to get in position because the girl who has first hit is supposed to hit it to her so she can set it. I think. I'm still learning.

Also during the day, they have to referee games. I guess that's how you host a tournament and make lots of money off of it, you let the girls and coaches do the reffing, then you don't have to pay for refs out of your profit. I love the way they are looking at Alex in this picture (really they are looking at the ball) but it almost makes you think she should get a good head start and RUN!

Before each game they did this little chant. We could hear them doing something but they were off in the corner so we couldn't see them. When I went over there they were doing this... They were doing their "thing". Some of them (Alex) looked quite self conscious doing this but hopefully they will get over that, too.

One More Christmas Post

THIS is the most important thing about Christmas. Luke 2.

I mentioned earlier that food was the most important thing about Christmas. Well, obviously it's not the MOST important thing, (although it does have a very special place in my heart.) Our family recognizes that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. We say Merry CHRISTmas, not Happy Holidays, and we think if reading the Bible at public CHRISTmas functions offends you then take down your CHRISTmas tree and return all of your CHRISTmas gifts. It is a CHRISTian holiday and you may actually be exposed to some CHRISTian beliefs. ---Okay, I will step down from my soapbox.

On Christmas Day, for our last family gathering, we go to my mom's to have lunch with my parents, my brother, and his family.

Amongst their assortment of gifts the boys got these manuals to study before getting their learner's permit. They were a little bit surprised by this one cause it really looked like they were getting coloring books. Maybe we can get these manuals in coloring book format - they may get more out of that!

Papaw got the girls a necklace.


And the boys got yet another gun. My mom says she has bought guns for Christmas FOREVER! I don't think the end is in sight either...

This is Holly's last Christmas as a high school student - a lot will change for her in the next year.

Instead of exchanging gifts, we play the dirty Santa game. The very first gift opened was the lump of coal that Anthony brought back from his mission trip to Kentucky. He had been planning this one for six months.

I think when you get older your arms must get shorter...

We had a great Christmas this year and hope all of you did as well.

Forms of Torture - Christmas Style

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Tony's family - usually at our house but this year we went to Tony's brother's house since we weren't sure if ours would be put back together. Since this is always our first stop of the Christmas season, the kids are VERY excited. This is what they have been waiting for! The very first thing they want to know is, "Can we open presents first?" Every year the answer is no. After dinner. Don't they know what Christmas is all about? The food? I think the waiting should be getting easier for them since they are getting older but it sure isn't. This year, though, I think we perfected the torture. And I am not talking about this tickle torture.

Or the forced hugs. (Brennan always gives Alex a little therapy 'cause Alex is a personal space kinda girl.) This really is a form of torture to her but this is not what I am talking about either.

The ultimate form of torture for a 14 and 12 year old on Christmas Eve, at the first gathering of the season would be... Watching old movies. Not old movies like Gone With the Wind or It's a Wonderful Life but old movies, like reel to reel, home videos with no sound old movies. Old movies that they will appreciate one day but not at 14 and 12. On Christmas Eve. When there are gifts to be opened.

I took some pictures of the screen just to see if they would turn out and they did surprisingly well.



There was a box with several movies in it. After we had watched two or three of them, Alex came around the corner to ask me if we were gonna watch ALL of those movies.

She finally gave up...

They did finally get to open their presents much to their relief. They look so forward to the
time when they can open their gifts and then it is over so QUICKLY! They waited ALL DAY for those few moments of joy.

Kind of like a junkie, that fix didn't last long and they were begging on the way home to "open just one tonight. PLEASE?"

Memories of Ole Tearoom

We had a very busy weekend on this last weekend before Christmas. For lunch on Saturday, we went to this beautiful tea room. It is a tradition that we go every year at Christmas so that we can enjoy the beautiful decorations and delicious food. Most of all, though, we enjoy the friends we go with.

We have had a lot of rain and snow recently so this little brook was flowing quite noisily.

This is one of the owners of the tea room along with her granddaughter, Lendi, who was our server.

They have remodeled their old home place into this tea room that holds about 18 people. It is decorated beautifully on the inside as well.

These are three of my beautiful and sweet cousins that I unfortunately don't get to spend enough time with.

Kelli and her mother, Glenda.

I tried my hand at culturing Alex as well. (This feat is not to be taken lightly and also not to be undertaken and completed in a single weekend). Does her signature give you any indication of my progress? I'll keep trying. I will not fail. One day, she will be able to sit through lunch without needing french fries or ketchup...

Ohhh, this luncheon was filled with my favorite people. This is my Aunt Lib, I have written about her before. This picture was taken after she told Kelli she was gonna "kick her butt."

I do love this lady...

Team Synergy

Team Synergy Tournament 2

Team Synergy had their second tournament this weekend. There were a few more teams in this tournament and it was a bit more competitive. There were two close games, almost identical situations, that the girls were able to fight through and win. They once again were top seed in their bracket and breezed through the first tournament game. They played four games on Saturday and won them all. It was a VERY cold and windy Saturday. During the last game, I noticed that Alex was standing with her hand in her pocket and didn't appear to be "ready" at all. Then, when I looked around I noticed all the girls were standing with their hand in their pocket. Why? They had Hot Hands in their pockets (hand warmers that hunters use) and kept their hand in their pocket until the last minute.

Sunday afternoon, though, was a much prettier day. The wind was still a little cool but the difference a little sunshine makes is amazing.

A personal accomplishment for Alex on Sunday was that she didn't strike out all day. She was able to hit the ball on all the pitchers she faced on Sunday. They weren't always the best hits but that is definitely an improvement.

She pitched one game on Saturday and one game on Sunday, both were wins. Her team is a great defensive team, which makes the pitchers job much easier.

They lost their first game on Sunday and a couple of the girls just knew it was because they were laying out of church and hadn't done a devotion that morning. So, out came the Bibles - in the dugout. Ain't that the coolest thing. They had a little meeting in the dugout - no adults involved. What good girls we have!

Our second game on Sunday proved to be a very intense game. These moms started out on the back row wrapped up in blankets - now look at 'em.

After seven games in two days, Team Synergy had another second place finish. Who won first place? The SAME TEAM that won first place in our first tournament. One day, we will get 'em!

The girls got SEAA State 2nd place trophies.

This is a hard working team that never gives up.

And they have lots of fun, too.