Basketball- Sydney

Basketball season has come to an end!  I have to say, we all really enjoyed basketball season this year.  The program was run really well, the girls grew exponentially with their skills, and we all got to make some really nice friends.  I'm sad that it had to come to an end (and I reeeeeally miss the indoor games and practices as I'm now sitting out in the cold/rain at soccer...)

Anyways, this blog post is about Sydney.  Sydney had only played one season before this one, and during that season (3rd grade), she didn't get a ton of playing time... she was put on a team that had, for the most part, been together for a couple of years and had some really strong players.  Luckily, she learned some basic skills that she could bring with her to her 4th grade team.  I say "luckily" because holy cow- some of these 4th graders are ballers!  I guess if they've played since the age of 4/5, and they're now 9/10, they've had some decent experience.  Sydney's two closest friends are the two best players in the 4th grade, which is both good and bad... good, in that they play together all the time and they can teach her, but bad in that she can get a little frustrated that she's not at their level.

They had two 4th grade girls' teams at her school, and the two "best" players were split up.  One team had about 5-6 players that had been together before, while Sydney's team had maybe 3 that had been together before.  So their team was relatively new to each other.  (Oh, and to give a perspective... up until this year, there had been one team at the school for this particular grade, and they were 40-0 since Kindergarten- league championship games included!)

Their first game... they lost by TWO!  The three girls who had never lost before (who were on the previous team) were heartbroken.  I am pretty sure in this game, Finley (the point guard and really strong player) scored all but maybe two points.

After that game, the girls went on a roll and won several in a row.  They were finding their groove and improving each game!  Finley was still the high point scorer, but other girls were contributing at this point, including Sydney!  Everything was improving- their shots, their dribbling skills, rebounding, their passing... it was super fun to watch.

Izzy & fam came to watch a game!

A big win!

At the end of the regular season, they had won all but one other game.  The other game they lost was against a team that was really strong.  They beat us something like 34-16! (which, in elementary school basketball, if you can score 30+ points, you're doing pretty well).  Sydney's team's final record was 8-2, enough to score second place in their division (behind the team mentioned above).

Playoffs arrive... Sydney had to face a team they didn't play in the regular season.  (There are probably around 30 different teams in 4th grade alone and 4 divisions).  We have become friends with the assistant coach and one of the girls on the opposing team through Sydney's new soccer team.  We had heard they were a strong team, but we ended up beating them 20-6!  It was a really great game.

Sydney and her soccer buddy, Addison.

Next round of the playoffs... guess who we had to face?  Yep, the team that beat us 34-16.  NOOO!  Stephen was in California, so he had asked me to "Facebook Live" the game.  (I totally had to ask people how to even do that ;)  It was SUCH an exciting game.  We actually led or were tied the whole game, until... 9 DANG SECONDS left, they made a basket and went up by 2.  We couldn't retaliate.  The final score was 21-19.  It was heartbreaking!  It was great that it was such a close game that could've gone either way, but it meant the season was now over for them.  Oh, the tears!  (This team went on to win the championship this year- it was well deserved on their part, and I'm super glad our team came as far as they did to almost beat them!)

Sydney has discovered a love for basketball.  She plays basketball outside everyday (well, when it's not monsooning) and has gained some great skills.  Super proud of her!  Can't wait until next year.

International Women's Day

It turns out yesterday was International Women's Day.  And Parker decided to support it at school yesterday!  It was so impactful that even his Assistant Principal had to call me...

I was at lunch with my friend Ashley when my phone rang- it was Parker's teacher calling from her cell number.  I thought- here goes... (The nurse had called earlier that morning that Taylor had a stomach thing and she came home... I was thinking we were all about to get hit with the stomach bug).  After hearing what I heard, the stomach bug was probably the better sounding option.

Apparently, Parker and another boy were supposed to be doing a reading activity on the computer.  Instead, they decided to go to google and type in... get this... "boobies".  (I would have LOVED to see their attempt at spelling that).  Well, the school's firewall blocked any potential images or websites from pulling up, but a little girl sitting by them overheard them and told the teacher.  (Go, girl!)  Parker and the boy had to then go to the AP's office.

I was MORTIFIED!  In all my years of schooling (Stephen's as well), we each only had one detention and never once had to step a foot in the principal's office.  Parker is six and has already made it there. 😳. His teacher was like- I was so surprised about both boys, but especially Parker.  (She said the other boy had older siblings, like teenager-age, so she wasn't as surprised with him).  She said the AP was going to call me after the boys ate lunch.

Of course, when I relay the story to Ashley, she is cracking up and FULL of jokes. ;) 

I get the call from the AP on my way home.  It was short and sweet, and Parker was in the office with him and in tears.  He said he isn't going to punish him, but that they want to make it clear that it doesn't need to happen again.

I texted with his teacher later, and she told me that during her planning, she and the AP were cracking up about it.  They just wanted to scare the boys so they know it's not appropriate to do again.  That was good to know, because when I told Sydney, she was all worried that the K-Bash kids are well thought-of and good kids, and "now Parker has RUINED that". ;). 

Happy International Women's Day, indeed!

He LOOKS sweet... :)

Wrapping up February

As long a month as January seemed, February seemed to FLY!  This month included basketball, soccer, Valentine's Day, February break, Girl Scouts, and more.

Sydney + Izzy:

Izzy came to watch Sydney play a basketball game, then Sydney went home with them to have a sleepover.

Building a tent in her backyard.

Pre-Superbowling it with cupcakes.  She's a hot mess, hair and all!

Kennesaw State basketball game:

We went to the KSU women's basketball game with our friends Christi, Ty and their kiddos.  

Sydney made it on the big screen!

Walking around during halftime with roses, to honor those with breast cancer.

Meeting the team afterwards.

Taylor's signed shirt!

Madeline's 16th bday!

We all met up for dinner to celebrate my niece turning 16! (when the heck did that happen?)

Here's the mature 16 year-old herself! ;)

DeeDad and Parker, doing some male bonding

All she wanted was a huge teddy bear!  She was so excited :)

(Here's the teddy bear with P before we left)

Stars & Strikes Night:

Parker's KG teacher planned a little Stars & Strikes night for their class.  It was fun!

Outings:

Taylor and her troop worked on an "Inventor" badge here.

Dinner out with friends.  Lili, Sydney, and Finley.

Taylor and Hensley.

Ashley and I went on a hike, and then sat on a bench and talked for a couple of hours.  It was overcast so I was wondering why my face was on fire when I got home.  Holy cow!  This hurt for 2 days! (My friends were calling me "Phantom" (of the Opera) because, literally, this was just on half my face ;)

Neighborhood kids on the playground.

Around the house:

We are slowly hanging things on the wall.  This was my new find for the dining room.

Ninjas.

Parker read this whole book by himself!

Watch out.  Be scared.

These kids woke each other up and stayed up "all night long".  They were like this until about noon.  Do I have teenage kids or something??

Front tooth #1

Same shirt, a week later... front tooth #2!

Sydney got glasses!

Taylor: In-house Field Trip (involving hands-on Science activities):

Valentine's Day

I wasn't going to do a full post on Valentine's Day, but I realized I had a few pics from it!  We don't normally do much for Valentine's Day (Stephen and myself), but I always try to get the kiddos a little something.  Any excuse to celebrate my little loves!  ;P  The girls also made boxes for their classes to hold their valentines from school... and of course came home with a TON of sugary treats.

Taylor's box (No, no stitches this year!)

Parker's bag from school.  Heart melt!  Can I freeze him at this age, please?

Sydney's box

Coming down to check out their little Valentine's loot

Cards from Grandmom and Deedad