Nothin' but net!!!!!

The Flash had their first b-ball game today. They definitely have some skills they need to hone but they played with a lot of heart. If they kept score, which we didn't, the score would shown the Flash winning. Me being the excellent mother that I am completely forgot my camera so Logan did his defensive pose in the living room for me. The worst part of it is that I didn't have my camera to capture his first goal! Swish! Nothin' but net! Then he turned around and stole the ball the next play. He got called on it as he didn't wait for his guy to cross half court. We don't care the boy had a moment of aggressive play! We were going crazy for him. His friend Matthew was in the stands waiting for his game and screamed for him as well. He definitely had a great time on the court. Upward did a great job with the game. They had an announcer with background music that announced the players as they ran out to center court. Just like the pros. They also started the game with a prayer and we had a half time bible reading and reflection. Once I get more pictures I'll post them.

The Band

Logan has just informed me that he's in a band. Nolan's band. Logan's going to play the guitar. Nolan's going to play the guitar and sing. Sean has to ask his mom to buy his some drums. Once Sean has his drums they are going to have band practice. Logan's upstairs strummin' away on his guitar. And Jamey told me I was dumb when I told them they got guitars...I could be Sean's mom killing their dreams when I told him there was no way I was buying drums. Thank goodness we had the guitar!

Lucas' Christmas Program

When sitting in the audience of your sons Christmas Program with his class, most parents feel proud, awe, a sense of accomplishment for their child, happy... How did Steve and I feel you might ask...fear. Fear that he would jump/fall off the risers while goofin' around, fear that he would distract another kid and cause a huge scene, fear that they would have to stop the program and escort him out the gym. Please stop using your hands as binoculars. Did he just belch? Please don't stand on your drum? Please stop moving like a robot. Do not make bunny ears behind Jonah's head. Why did you just throw your jingle bells? Why are his eyes popping out of his head? Please come back to earth. What are you doing with your hands now? Serenity now! After what felt like an eternity and pulling a muscle in my neck from shaking my head no so often, the program came to an end. Praise the Lord! Ahhh....relief. That is what the parents of Lucas Hayden felt as soon as it was over. Did he sing? Kind of. Did he do the motions? Not often. But he didn't cause a big scene and ruin the program. No! That is a victory for that little man.

Congrats to Logan

Logan took a Star test today and made it into the AR (accelerated reading) program. It's a pretty big deal for him and he is totally Stoked!

Fayetteville Lights

Tonight we made our annual trek to Fayetteville to see the lights. For those of you that don't live in NWA, Fayetteville lights up their downtown square with millions of lights every year. We've made it part of our Christmas tradition to go down and eat pizza at Tiny Tim's and then walk around the square a couple of times. There are ponies, camels, and horse and carriage rides. Santa is there and he always has one of his reindeer along with him. It's a pretty incredible sight and for whatever reason the boys always behave relatively well. I mean they eat their dinner, sit at the table most of the time, minimize the whining, arguing & sassing and stay near us when we are walking around. It's a really enjoyable family activity. Now that is a Christmas miracle.

After seeing Santa and the lights and watching all of the Christmas shows on TV this weekend, I think they are starting to get very excited for the big day.

He knows!

Santa that is. He definitely knows who is naughty and who is nice courtesy of Lucas. Lucas took it upon himself to "write" naughty lists and tape them over the fireplace that Lucas predicts Santa will come down. That way, first thing, Santa will have an inventory of all the recent naughty activity by each kid. Per Lucas here is what they say:

Logan's list: He hit me and never shares his stuff and doesn't do what I say.

Lucas' list: Lots of goofin' and being ornery this year but more good than bad. Oh, and he spit in Logan's hair.

Kale's List: He bit me really hard on the arm and you can still see the mark.

Logan whacked Lucas when Lucas was trying to go up the stairs. He abruptly turned around and said, "That's it, I'm writing that on the list too!" Then Logan tore down his list and Lucas had to tape it back up. I'm sure that's on the list now as well!

Santa also knows what they each want for Christmas as well. They all sat on his lap today and whispered to him the surprise they would like under the tree this year. Kale was very nervous about it all day and kept asking if he could just watch instead of sitting on his lap. Lucas was a little afraid as well as he thought Santa was a giant...not sure where that came from! Turns out Santa isn't that bad. Once Kale was done he said, "Santa's awesome!"

Who's your daddy?

Young Steve compared to each of the boys at their current age. There is no question who Kale's daddy is!

St. Nicholas Showed up at our house!

On the eve of St. Nicholas' feast day, the boys left their shoes out for St. Nicholas to leave them a treat. You may be asking yourself, how on earth did Shannon know about this tradition. Well, I owe all the credit to the SVdP teachers that work deli gently to make sure all the K-1st graders come home on 12/5 anticipating St. Nicholas arrival. I happened to be up at the school yesterday and had advance notice that it was go time for St. Nicholas' trek and made a quick stop by the Wal-Mart. So before 7:00 am down the stairs hurried a sleepy Logan to check the shoes. Back up the stairs to wake Lucas up to tell him of their treats. Back down the stairs to show Lucas the shoes. Back up the stairs to take Kale his treats. So at 7:00 am all 3 of the B boys were awake which meant so were the parents who absolutely did not stay out way to late drinking beer at the neighbors Christmas party. God Bless St. Nicholas!They made sure to leave out a couple of extra pairs of shoes.

The History of St. Nicholas

Early in the Advent season celebrate a feast that has been popular for centuries in Christian countries, especially in Northern Europe. In our over-commercialized society, this holiday gives us a good "teaching moment" to remind children that Jolly Santa Claus, is, in fact, Saint Nicholas, a fourth century bishop of the city of Myra in what is now Turkey.

Saint Nicholas was renowned for his great kindness and his generous aid to those in distress. Among the kind and miraculous acts attributed to him are saving three young girls from prostitution by secretly providing them with dowries, raising three murdered boys from the dead, and saving sailors caught in stormy seas. For these reasons, he is considered the patron saint of children, unmarried girls, and sailors, among others.

Traditional celebrations of Saint Nicholas Day in Northern Europe included gifts left in children's shoes (the origin of our American Christmas stockings). Good children receive treats - candies, cookies, apples and nuts, while naughty children receive switches or lumps of coal. Sometimes coins were left in the shoes, reminiscent of the the life-saving doweries the saint provided. Today - especially in families of German extraction - children still put a shoe outside their bedroom doors on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, and expect to find candy and coins or small gifts in their shoe on December 6th.

First B-Ball Practice

We had our first B-Ball practice last night. It was for the wrong team but whatever. They switched us to a new team and forgot to call us. Nice. So we have our first basketball practice with our real team tomorrow night...at 7:00 pm. That's a late night for my little first grader. He is totally pumped about basketball and has a legit uniform, which you know he loves. It's the Upward league so the Baptist sprinkle a little learning about God into practice. We have bible cards assigned to each practice. It's an interesting twist to a practice. He scored 2 baskets which is a big surprise to me. I was afraid he wouldn't even try to shoot. I get to go to this practice so hopefully I can get some better pix.

Rhino Man

This is Rhino Man. It is important to know that he only answers to Rhino Man. He has a partner in crime. It is baby gorilla. Baby Gorilla does not take pictures per Rhino Man.

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