The Power of the Tongue...

We are doing Upward Basketball again this year. The girls love it. I thought I'd post some pictures since Sarah was gracious enough to take photos. I don't like taking pictures during the game. I want to watch, and if I'm trying to take pictures, I miss the game...So, Sarah came to the first game and took pictures for me! What would I do without a family photographer?

First, here's a brief synopsis of how Upward works. It is faith based. In the younger grades, there is no score keeping. They have to guard the girl with the matching clip on their shirt. This is to keep them from swarming the one girl with the ball. Also, they are not allowed to steal the ball from the other team, until the team gets the ball to their side of the court. I find this frustrating, but I can understand that some teams would never get the ball on their half of the court, and we are trying to demonstrate Christ to them. Teams are divided according to skill level at the beginning of the season, so each team should be reasonably well matched. The girls are paired against each other based on their skill level. This means you don't have an experienced player against a girl who has never looked at a ball before. Also, the game is began with prayer, they have a half time devotion, and they finish with prayer and are given awards for each game based on skills they displayed in each game including, best offense, defense, Christlike, etc. Anyway, the girls have fun, and it's a great way to learn the fundamentals of the game.

So, without further rambles, here's pictures of Popcorn's first game...

Have you ever noticed how integral the way you hold your tongue is to dribbling?

Stealing the ball or fighting for it is a hard skill to learn when your kids have been taught to share, be nice and not take other's toys...

Look closely. You will see that the tongue is even important for defense!

And running...

Shoot, it's probably even necessary for rebounding!

I forgot to mention that the girls play half court basketball. This way the church has 2 games going on all day long until the evening when they do 5th & 6th grade games.

Popcorn and Bookworm

My beautiful girls need online names. I've been pondering this for a few days. When they were littler we referred to them as Number One and Number Two when they were in the room and we didn't want them to understand who we were talking about. I originally thought this would work online, but where's the fun in that? And, what does that tell you about their little personalities?

When you name your child, you have no idea what kind of person they'll be. The amazing thing is, that once you meet them, and their little personalities develop, you can't imagine calling them by any other name. Well, I'm saying you, but I guess I better take ownership of my feelings, and quit pushing them off on you, dear reader. I think my little darlin's names are perfect for them, but today I get to be creative and give them new names. So, welcome to the christening of Bookworm and Popcorn... Aha! You already have an immediate image based on these descriptive names, yes? Well, let me tell you a little about my little girls.

My oldest daughter, Bookworm, is... a bookworm, and all of the personality traits inherent in bookishness. She is intellectual, careful, and has a very dry sense of humor. Did I mention she's a tad dramatic? Don't know where she got that from! She actually has a crazy sense of humor, but not everyone gets it. I, of course, being a master in humor fully understand her.

Now, don't you need a story to fully grasp her? Of course you do! Take the Loch Ness monster. The amount of knowledge about a mythical creature in her little noggin is amazing. "Did you know it is probably a plesiosaur? It lives in a lake, called a loch in, like Ireland, or Germany, one of those places." I ask you, how many 8 year olds know that if Nessy exists it's probably a plesiosaur? Or, how about this one. "Mom, the reason my hair looks like I don't brush it is because it's swept." Hmmm....not sure I understand...."You know, it's windswept!" Is that a bookworm word, or what?

Now for Popcorn. She also loves to read, but she is much more...explosive... in her personality. I decided on Popcorn, because I'm never sure when she's going to explode into action. Why walk? Skipping is better. Why sit on your bottom for a movie? Lying on your back and continuously bicycling your legs in the air is way better. This is also the best way to practice spelling words. I guess this helps the blood flow to her brain. She can spin a tale out of almost nothing... It's a mystery where that comes from.

Let me tell you about the "Tricked you now I gotta stick you game." She told me all about it today. The rules are still a little fuzzy. "First, you trick someone, then you say the rhyme. Then, they run away, and tag the mailbox. You must open and close the mailbox... but everyone has to see you do it... Oh, and you have to spin around three times... no four...NO! NO! You do jumping jacks, that's it! JUMPING JACKS!" I asked her if she just made this up. "Yes, but I'm not sure about the rules yet, but it's REALLY FUN!" Of course it is!

Well, dear reader, I hope you have a blessed day. Thank you for sharing my ramblings. I'm sure you feel more complete having learned about my little munchkins? Of course you do!

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."