Basketball

Jeff coaches basketball. We all know this. And, to be honest, it is sometimes difficult. Okay, I will be really honest and say that sometimes I really hate it. I resent the hours away from home from November to March (and all the other months). I resent the time rehashing the games and I resent the hours spent providing support to others. But, sometimes, I am supportive and proud and enjoy his dedication. I go to games and I keep dinner out for him and I try to make his schedule a bit easier during season. However, I am afraid that I spend more time being bitter and unsupportive and that makes me ashamed. Sometimes I wish he didn't coach but then I think about being responsible for taking away something that he truly LOVES and is passionate about. I know he would quit if I asked him to but when I search deep in my heart I know that is not the right answer. When it comes down to it I miss my husband. However, I know that he is doing more than coaching basketball - he is mentoring young men in the lessons of the game and in life. He is paying it forward because he had amazing mentors in his life who coached him in basketball (and in life). I am proud of that and hope that he gets the opportunity to play that role for his own kids and I hope that the countless kids who have played for him realize what a sacrifice he has made to be good for them. Good luck this year honey!

For those of you interested in following the team there is a facebook page for Crook County Boys Basketball. And, here is a link for his recent tournaments wins:

http://www.centraloregonian.com/PCOSports0.shtml

Sledding

Can he even see?

Sledding blind?

Looking good!

Oregon is a beautiful place full of lots of activities for us! Today we went sledding a little east of town to help a family friend celebrate his birthday. It is the 4th time so far this winter that we have been to this sledding hill. I think that I got a few great pictures of our little people, and not so little people, today. The weather was good - cold, but sunny.

Some Christmas Gifts

As I said before Cayden got a small dump truck full of legos this year. They included "The Burrow", "Hogwart's Express", "Hogwart's Castle", and the "Apple Tree House". He wanted me to post a picture of all of his creations which took him exactly 4 days to put together. "Hogwart's Castle" was the biggest with almost 2000 pieces. I got a picture of a couple of them before the battery in my phone needed charging. I will have to put some more on here later!

The Day after Christmas

We decided to brave the elements the day after Christmas and go up to Hoodoo for tubing. It was snowing like mad and the roads were awful. I didn't take many pictures because it was so cold and windy and snowy. However,

the kids (and Jeff) braved the chilly temps and went down the hill about a dozen times before taking a lunch

break. Our group included the Crofchecks and Smiths (and a few others). The roads home were worse than going up as it had snowed 4-6 inches while we were there! We made it home safe and I only got these two pictures.

More Christmas

As posted earlier Christmas Day was an exciting day from beginning to end. I recently had Cayden write his thank you notes and we got to re-visit how fortunate he was this holiday season. I received a new camera for Christmas (thanks Dad and Deb) and I am working on making sure that I know how to use it. I still am taking pictures with red-eye but maybe that is just the curse of the blue-eyed!

Calvin and Hobbes - one of Cayden's favorites!

Bryce "cheese"

Good lookin' kid

Dinosaurs from Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas!

I think that I really only need to put one picture on here that would describe Christmas at our house. We are so unbelievably fortunate and the kids are currently wading their way through all of their new stuff. Cayden got a boatload of legos (quite literally). He put together one yesterday and is working on another today. After that, he has two more legos to go! He also received the 4th Harry Potter book and will be starting on that shortly. I got an awesome new camera that takes great pictures and Jeff's biggy was a laptop. The first two things he loaded on there were itunes and a basketball stat. program. Go figure.... Bryce got dinosaurs and puzzles (and tons of other stuff). It is hard to describe in words how thankful and lucky we are.

Christmas Eve

In the years that we are in Oregon on Christmas Eve we are lucky to get an invite to the Smith's home. Aside from an amazing pot luck dinner (this year was an Italian theme and Jeff made his famous homemade pizza), the night is spent anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Yes, really, Santa Claus! He brings all the children pajamas and we have a fun filled evening eating and playing!

Bryce and his buddy Dan. He loves Dan!

Jeff got his turn on Santa's lap. He was trying to convince Bryce to do it. No luck.

Bryce took his gift and ran the other direction. I really wish that I could've captured the look on his face when Santa came in the house though. It was pure astonishment.

Finally at the age of 7 Cayden will sit on Santa's lap.

P.S. You will notice that Cayden and Bryce are wearing OSU shirts. They were a gift from our wonderful friend Corey who started college there in the fall. Cayden loves his shirt because he is a Beaver fan. However, Bryce, for some reason is a Duck fan (U of O) and was convinced that his shirt was a "ducky shirt". He went around all night saying, "go ducks go! Win, win, win". And, in a house with a bunch of OSU fans that did not go so well.