Thursday, January 29, 2015
Skate Night
On Tuesday night Carter's school had Skate Night at the Brentwood Skate Center. Even though we weren't sure if anyone we knew would be there, Carter decided he really wanted to go. I was able to leave Rylan at home with Brian and took Grayson along with us.
We got to the skate center as soon as it opened because we had to leave a little early for basketball practice. Getting there early also ensured us that Carter would get one of the beginner walkers (as well as slower roller skates).
I ended up putting Grayson in the Baby Bjorn and walking with Carter the whole time (luckily he's not too cool for his mom yet!!!). And thank goodness it had been awhile since I'd fed Grayson and he didn't leave any slippery puddles on the floor (at least none that I knew of!).
I felt like I'd walked a mile or two by the time we were done that night. Carter usually went around at a nice steady pace but every once in awhile he decided to get speedy!
Eventually a couple of kids from Carter's class showed up. Ian didn't have a walker so Carter was nice enough to share his.
They were very cute skating together and luckily never hooked skates!
It was fun getting to spend some time with Carter without Rylan. Rylan and I have Mondays and Fridays without Carter so we get a little bonding time then. We both enjoyed our workout! Carter was so tired since he didn't take a break for the hour and 15 minutes we were there. Luckily some snacks in the car gave him enough energy to do basketball practice!
We got to the skate center as soon as it opened because we had to leave a little early for basketball practice. Getting there early also ensured us that Carter would get one of the beginner walkers (as well as slower roller skates).
I ended up putting Grayson in the Baby Bjorn and walking with Carter the whole time (luckily he's not too cool for his mom yet!!!). And thank goodness it had been awhile since I'd fed Grayson and he didn't leave any slippery puddles on the floor (at least none that I knew of!).
I felt like I'd walked a mile or two by the time we were done that night. Carter usually went around at a nice steady pace but every once in awhile he decided to get speedy!
Eventually a couple of kids from Carter's class showed up. Ian didn't have a walker so Carter was nice enough to share his.
They were very cute skating together and luckily never hooked skates!
It was fun getting to spend some time with Carter without Rylan. Rylan and I have Mondays and Fridays without Carter so we get a little bonding time then. We both enjoyed our workout! Carter was so tired since he didn't take a break for the hour and 15 minutes we were there. Luckily some snacks in the car gave him enough energy to do basketball practice!
Sunday, January 25, 2015
5 Points
Carter scored his first points in a basketball game yesterday! Woohoo!!!!! Yesterday was his team's fifth game of the season and their best one yet. They finally played a team that was closer to their ability and experience level. They only lost 24 to 21.
It's hard to admit, but Carter is the worst player on the team. There are only 6 kids on the team and none have played before so no one on the team is great. Carter's main hold back is he's timid or scared of the ball. He's not overly aggressive on defense either. He basically understands the game, but he lacks experience and so he doesn't react very quickly in the game. But he's improving and still never complains about playing. He actually says he likes it.
Carter took a shot in the first quarter and got fouled. He'd probably only taken a couple of shots total in the first four games so it was impressive that he felt confident enough to shoot (he usually panics and tries to pass the ball).
I think both Brian and I 100% believed he was going to airball both shots (that's what he does in practice). BUT HE MADE BOTH SHOTS!!!
Carter was the only one to score any points for his team in the first quarter. We were crazy proud of him.
Carter got fouled in the second quarter too and made the second shot. He was up to 3 points for the game!
And then in the third quarter, one of Carter's shots went in! Yay! He had a total of 5 points for the game.
In addition to his improved offense, Carter had some great defense. He rebounded a couple of times, stole the ball once, and caused a few jump balls. Go, Carter!
After the first game and realizing that it was going to be a rough season for our team, Brian bought bracelets for the kids as rewards. He planned to use them like baseball coaches use game balls. A player can earn the bracelet by hustling which means defense gets rewarded.
Brian had the bracelets made so they say "2014-15 EWA Tigers" and "MVP" on the opposite side. (EWA is the league the kids play in - East Williamson Athletics.)
Brian has been bringing 2 bracelets to each game. This week the two players that earned them were Cade and Carter. They are our 2 weakest players and both had great games. We were so proud of these boys and the entire team!
We also got our basketball photos this weekend.
Brian also got a nice plaque for coaching!
It's hard to admit, but Carter is the worst player on the team. There are only 6 kids on the team and none have played before so no one on the team is great. Carter's main hold back is he's timid or scared of the ball. He's not overly aggressive on defense either. He basically understands the game, but he lacks experience and so he doesn't react very quickly in the game. But he's improving and still never complains about playing. He actually says he likes it.
Carter took a shot in the first quarter and got fouled. He'd probably only taken a couple of shots total in the first four games so it was impressive that he felt confident enough to shoot (he usually panics and tries to pass the ball).
I think both Brian and I 100% believed he was going to airball both shots (that's what he does in practice). BUT HE MADE BOTH SHOTS!!!
Carter was the only one to score any points for his team in the first quarter. We were crazy proud of him.
Carter got fouled in the second quarter too and made the second shot. He was up to 3 points for the game!
And then in the third quarter, one of Carter's shots went in! Yay! He had a total of 5 points for the game.
In addition to his improved offense, Carter had some great defense. He rebounded a couple of times, stole the ball once, and caused a few jump balls. Go, Carter!
After the first game and realizing that it was going to be a rough season for our team, Brian bought bracelets for the kids as rewards. He planned to use them like baseball coaches use game balls. A player can earn the bracelet by hustling which means defense gets rewarded.
Brian had the bracelets made so they say "2014-15 EWA Tigers" and "MVP" on the opposite side. (EWA is the league the kids play in - East Williamson Athletics.)
Brian has been bringing 2 bracelets to each game. This week the two players that earned them were Cade and Carter. They are our 2 weakest players and both had great games. We were so proud of these boys and the entire team!
Front Row (L to R): Cade, Carter, Katie (I'm not sure what's going on with that hair!
Her mom works nights and her dad brought her to pictures.)
Back Row: Owen, Joey, Fisher
Coaches: Brian & Kevin (Owen's Dad)
Brian also got a nice plaque for coaching!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Snow!!!
We woke up to about an inch of snow this morning! It wasn't amazing for snowballs or snowmen but it was still great to play in! Snow angels could be made!
The big boys threw snow at Brian and Grayson at the window.
It wasn't terribly cold (it reached the upper 40s this afternoon) so it was great to play in.
Whenever I tried to take their picture, Carter and Rylan threw snow at me!
Finally a good picture!
And more snow throwing at me!
Charlotte had fun playing in the snow too!!!
Some of our neighbors came over to play and I remembered our sleds that have been sitting in the garage unused for 2 years. We went across from our neighbors house and slid down a hill into a drainage area for the neighborhood. It was a perfect hill!
Carter and Avery ...
A solo Carter ...
Carter with Sosi ...
Carter, Emory, and Avery ...
Rylan surprised me by actually going down the hill twice. He got snow in his boot the second time and was done though. I walked him back to the house and stayed with the other kids for another half hour of sledding.
I'm so glad we finally got a little snow. And that it showed up on a Saturday so the kids could enjoy it!
The big boys threw snow at Brian and Grayson at the window.
It wasn't terribly cold (it reached the upper 40s this afternoon) so it was great to play in.
Whenever I tried to take their picture, Carter and Rylan threw snow at me!
Finally a good picture!
And more snow throwing at me!
Some of our neighbors came over to play and I remembered our sleds that have been sitting in the garage unused for 2 years. We went across from our neighbors house and slid down a hill into a drainage area for the neighborhood. It was a perfect hill!
Carter and Avery ...
A solo Carter ...
Carter with Sosi ...
Carter, Emory, and Avery ...
Rylan surprised me by actually going down the hill twice. He got snow in his boot the second time and was done though. I walked him back to the house and stayed with the other kids for another half hour of sledding.
I'm so glad we finally got a little snow. And that it showed up on a Saturday so the kids could enjoy it!
Friday, January 23, 2015
100 Days
Carter's school celebrated 100 days of school today. The kindergartens got to have fun and dress up as if they are 100 years old. Carter was ridiculously excited about today. It's all he talked about this week.
For Carter's transformation, we used a white shirt and khaki pants that Carter already had. Then we added a bow tie (from Party City) and suspenders (from Walmart). I got gray hair spray-on dye and a cane from Party City and reading glasses from the Dollar Store (I popped out the lenses).
I think Carter looked pretty awesome!
The work Carter brought home today all had to do with the number 100.
If Carter had $100, he'd buy ice cream and a car :)
Carter gave himself a grandpa name ... Mr. Papa.
I love when Carter gets to do some fun things like this at school!
For Carter's transformation, we used a white shirt and khaki pants that Carter already had. Then we added a bow tie (from Party City) and suspenders (from Walmart). I got gray hair spray-on dye and a cane from Party City and reading glasses from the Dollar Store (I popped out the lenses).
I think Carter looked pretty awesome!
The work Carter brought home today all had to do with the number 100.
If Carter had $100, he'd buy ice cream and a car :)
Carter gave himself a grandpa name ... Mr. Papa.
I love when Carter gets to do some fun things like this at school!
Stones River National Battlefield
The second stop on our "adventure" on Sunday was Stones River National Battlefield. After going to Fort Negley on Saturday, the boys were begging to see more cannons and where people fought. They don't really understand the civil war yet, but I'm all for exposing them to more history! Plus getting outside was a priority since we haven't had many warm days lately!
We went to the visitor center first.
They have a small museum explaining what happened at this site. There was also another short film that the boys were super excited to watch.
While in the visitor center, we had to get Grayson's national parks passport book and his first stamps!
Next we went outside to see the cannons and wagons.
We did a short hike on the Pioneer Brigade Earthworks Trail where the big boys did their best shooting stances :)
We drive over to the Hazen Brigade Monument next and searched out a recently placed letterbox.
Inside the box was a First Finder prize as well as a hitchhiker we'll place in a box the next time we find one out of town.
The First Finder prize was just a certificate and we taped it into our log book.
Our last stop was our favorite, though it has a really morbid name - the Slaughter Pen. As you'd probably guess, there were a lot of soldiers that died here. However, the rocks here are really unique and so much fun for the boys to play in.
And since it's winter, I wasn't too worried about snakes, weird bugs, and poison ivy :)
I had so much fun with my boys on our weekend adventures. I'm looking for more adventures to go on soon!
We went to the visitor center first.
They have a small museum explaining what happened at this site. There was also another short film that the boys were super excited to watch.
While in the visitor center, we had to get Grayson's national parks passport book and his first stamps!
Next we went outside to see the cannons and wagons.
We did a short hike on the Pioneer Brigade Earthworks Trail where the big boys did their best shooting stances :)
We drive over to the Hazen Brigade Monument next and searched out a recently placed letterbox.
Inside the box was a First Finder prize as well as a hitchhiker we'll place in a box the next time we find one out of town.
The First Finder prize was just a certificate and we taped it into our log book.
Our last stop was our favorite, though it has a really morbid name - the Slaughter Pen. As you'd probably guess, there were a lot of soldiers that died here. However, the rocks here are really unique and so much fun for the boys to play in.
And since it's winter, I wasn't too worried about snakes, weird bugs, and poison ivy :)
I had so much fun with my boys on our weekend adventures. I'm looking for more adventures to go on soon!
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