Happy

Easter!

Funny Fingerpainting

So, we have this tradition...

if you have read for a year or longer, you are probably familiar with our unique family Saint Patrick's Day celebration - fingerpainting with green whipped cream, smearing it on our faces, and eating it!

"Why?" you may ask. I don't know. It sounded like fun once and went from there :).

This year, we decided to do it on a day when Brooklin was with us.

Kelsey was the role model for spreading it on your face.

It was pretty funny - Brooklin got into it, telling me, "I love finger painting!"

 until I told her it was really whipped cram and, "this one special time," she could eat it. My girls' favorite part! I don't think Brooklin believed me! Or else she thought I was very, very strange. Maybe both :). She looked suspiciously at me, looked very suspiciously

at Keegan and Kelsey, who were happily licking away,

 took a tiny, tentative lick of one lip and decided she was all done! Hahaha.

A very cute blast from the past - aren't they adorable?!?

2008

Basketball Keegan Quote

As I have mentioned, Keegan loved basketball this year. As much as she enjoyed it, though, the physical games were hard for her (and me!) Instead of feeling like a hard-fought game, to her, roughness just felt like meanness. It was especially difficult when she would try to block a shot, get plowed over (sometimes knocked to the floor,) then get called for a foul. I tried to explain that those calls always favor the offense and that you rarely see a charging call unless it's blatant. She was having none of it. I mentioned the same point when we went to see the Lady Vols play.
Tonight [Monday,] we were watching the women's NCAA tournament. An offensive player going for the basket slammed into a defender who crashed to the floor, then was then called for a foul. I looked at Keegan to make sure she noticed. Before I said a word, she looked at me and said, "Sometimes the defense just needs a little pity!"
Smile. Said like a true defensive player!

Keegan Quote

Keegan, after Bill had caught her in a game, then was saying how sorry he was, "I will not accept false sympathy from you!"

Snow! Snow? Snow!

We did not get as much snow this year as I would have hoped. Actually, not one big snow at all :(.
We made up for it a little bit with this artificial snow.

It's pretty cool! It actually feels cold and you can mold it and shape it, just like regular snow.
It's also perfect for hiding Squinkies :).

Plus, Brooklin is just cute.

Kelsey, too!

Keegan Quote

"Mommy, I have a rather random question."

Wordless Wednesday - Kelsey, Keegan, and Nina

 

Christmas Surprise. In spring :).

Way back in December, when I was posting our 25 days of Christmas activities, I mentioned that we had made some gifts that I didn't want to show yet.

 Well, now that it's March, I suppose it's safe :).

We saw some items like this at a craft fair and loved them. So, we had to try to make some ourselves as Christmas gifts.

 

Ta-da!

Snowman candle holders! We loved them!

(And hope the people that we gave them to did, too!)

Girls just wanna' have fun

 Well, I already posted these on Facebook, but I was forced to post them both places just because they're so stinking cute. The pictures AND the kids.

Keegan and Kelsey have made friends with some great girls (I know, I know, I've never mentioned that before. Sorry for the omission. ;)) One recent day we met for lunch and took over an indoor playground. What a group!

Like mothers, like daughters. This totally cracked me up - the girls had the moms' cell phones, all taking each others' pictures. Kelsey, Anna, and Haley - so cute and funny!

Love this pic! It is from when the girls were posing themselves and taking pictures. I snuck in and took one, too.
Keegan, Kelsey, and Anna, a super star basketball player and very sweet friend!

Last, but not least, the ubiquitous silly shot
Ten great girls with one little brother :)

Kelsey Quote

"What is a blitz?"
"A sudden, unexpected attack"
"Wow. You were just like a dictionary."

Movie Extras

In recent news... Kelsey spent most of a Saturday being an extra in a film youth group. Caitlyn, Keegan, and even Bill joined in for a few hours, after they finished a church activity. It just so happened that a girl with long brown hair had been in the scene and had to leave, so Keegan took her place, sitting only a couple of seats away from the main characters. It also just so happened that they needed adults to be working in an office, and there was the perfect spot for Bill. We are unsure at this point if the film will be picked up for distribution, but if you see "Fat Boys" anywhere, be sure to keep an eye out for these folks!

Keegan Quote

Keegan, getting up from the couch, picking up her socks she had set there, "Hey! How did I end up with three socks when I only took off two?"

A Different Kind of Basketball

Yep, he made this shot.

 Oh, yes, we did! For Christmas, Keegan and Kelsey received tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters. Last night we went to the show.



Yep, two basketballs :)

I loved their shoes :).

This guy, "Tiny," was very tall - 7'8" according to the program. At one point, he was holding the rim while his feet were on the floor. That's tall.

Dancing the YMCA

 The girls had a ball. They loved the show. They loved meeting players and getting autographs after the show ended.

Yes, Keegan is taller than Too Tall :).

 

Below - Meeting Special K, who emceed.

On the left, Keegan asked how he kept his mic from falling off while he was playing. He was showing her where it was attached (in two places,) but also told he that sometimes it falls off anyway :).

Home with autographed souvenirs.
Woo, hoo! A great night of fun!

 

 

Eeeeeeek!

Caitlyn got her learner's permit!

- Yes, she is 16, not 15.

- Yes, she is extremely careful and responsible.

- Yes, she is a good driver, but

-NO! None of that makes it easier for her mom to accept. That's my baby!

Wrapping up b-ball

Kelsey and Keegan both really got into basketball this year!

 

 Kelsey, who joined in mid-season last year, and Keegan, who had never played before, both learned so much, had so much fun, and made genuine contributions to their teams.

 

They were happy hanging out at the gym as long as possible, playing their games, running the score boards, keeping stats, and shooting with their friends between games.



All of the players were introduced at an end of the season ceremony.

 Elena, Kelsey, Olivia, and Torie

 

An amusing story about Caitlyn...

Keegan and Kelsey loved keeping the stats and running the scoreboard. Caitlyn found it stressful and only went to help out because i asked her to if Kelsey or Keegan was alone at the table.

This happened enough, however, that I guess she got a reputation for liking to run the boards. So the program director started requesting she run the scoreboards whenever they needed someone.

Being the nice girl that she is, she wanted to help, even though she was privately horrified.

So, during the last few weeks of games and tournaments, when Caitlyn wasn't at ballet, you could find her serving as an official score/stat keeper. A definite stretch for her :). 
 

Both Kelsey and Keegan were strong defenders, breaking up passes, stealing the ball, and occosionally blocking shots.

Keegan getting her hand on a shot!

A great season for both of my sweet girls.

We're already looking forward to next year!