Wilson on the Hard Court

So, our Tuesday nights, Thursday nights, and Saturdays have been busy with basketball since the beginning of the year. I have to say that I'm really proud of Wilson. He didn't know very much about basketball when he started. Baseball and Football are emphasized a little more around our house. He has learned a lot since he started. He listens to his coaches and tries to improve. The one thing that would really help Wilson is a little aggression. I'm not sure if he will ever learn that--it's just not in his blood. Here are some photos of Wilson's doing his favorite things during a game:
Giving Hi-5's at the end of the game.
Rallying together with the team and putting his hand in the circle to say "GO CARDINALS!"
Taking a break on the bench for a little drink.

We interviewed Wilson #15 to find out the scoop on 5 year old basketball:

Wilson, what is your favorite part of the basketball game?
Wilson: When I go back to my defense or offense spot.

What's the toughest team so far?
Wilson: Farmersville, because I got the ball and I was going to pass it, when this guy hit the ball out of my hands.

What's your favorite part of practice?
Wilson: Warming up.

How many games do you think your team will win this year?
Wilson: 2 or 3, because we are a good team

Why do you like playing basketball?
Wilson: I like playing with my friends. Oh and I like getting Gatorade after the games. I like the end of the games.

Is everyone on your team a good sport?
Wilson: Everyone, but Jimmy

Why?
Wilson: Because he cries when he doesn't make a basket.

Do you ever cry?
Wilson: No...uh...yes. Only when I get nervous...or hurt.

Do you think girls should be able to play basketball?
Wilson: Yeah--pretty much. When they are teenagers, because then they've been practicing and practicing.

How many times have you gotten to say "1-2-3 GO CARDINALS!" when your hands are all together?
Wilson: 2 times

I've concluded that ultimately Wilson just loves being on a team and he loves being a Melissa Cardinal.

Update on Trampoline

We are happy to give a report on the current status of the trampoline: FUNCTIONAL
Not only that, but it's really really FUN too!
Santa Claus was true to his word and replaced all the broken parts(free of charge). A pre-stretched mat and *new* instructions were also sent.
Wilson and Maisy jump on their new trampoline everyday for hours--making up all kinds of new games to play.
We just leave a walkie-talkie out side with them and they radio us when they are ready to come in (special thanks to Ray for giving the walkie-talkies as such a great Christmas gift.)
Then they come inside, eat dinner, and are ready for bedtime. So in the end, was it worth all the hassle and heart attack?? YES!! Sure, why not?

Good Times with Baby E

We were able to spend quality time with our cousin Baby Eliot over Christmas break. I'm not sure why we still call him Baby Eliot, because he's 18 months old--hardly a baby anymore. The name just has a special ring to us. His mother, Kressyda, wonders if this term of endearment will change when "baby Luigi" is born. I guess we will find out. Here are the highlights with Baby E:
Sweeping and mopping with him.
Kissing him: he was so cute because he kept initiating these kisses with Maisy. Grammy was getting very envious because she would say, "Okay, Eliot now give me a kiss." He would then lean over and give Maisy another kiss. This picture truly embodies the term *kissing cousins*.
Taking pictures with Eliot.
You can tell that Maisy and Wilson adore Baby E.
I think he liked them too. He was always doing whatever Wilson and Maisy were doing--whether it was falling down, running through the kitchen, or just chillin'. We love you Baby Eliot!

Silver Dollar City

We had the merriest Holidays this year (until we caught a stomach virus after New Year's--another story for another blog post)! We had a cozy Christmas Day in our new home that we love to abide in. Then the next day we decided to go to Bentonville, Arkansas to visit my parents. They had two free tickets to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and were willing to let us use them. I LOVE Silver Dollar City! Who's with me?? Maybe it's nostalgic for me because I loved going as a child--dunno. Anyhow, we had a super chilly fantastic time. It was so fun, I've decided to tell you about in verse:

When we woke up that morning it was 34 degrees.
We thought, "This is not a problem--the weather's a tease!"

So we packed up our things and were off for our trip.
We entered Silver Dollar City with smiles on our lips.
Our first stop after buying Maisy some gloves and a hat
was at the ice cream soda shop for some hot chocolat.
With our bodies warm and toasty, we were off to take a lookie.
We ended up in an oversized heated tent, and Wilson decorated a cookie!
My main reason for going to the park was to eat one of these treats.
It's a smore with messy chocolate so I didn't expect to be neat.
Tinker the Talking Tree was one of our favorite events of the day.
He was jolly and cheesy and we didn't know what next he would say.
The Geyser Gulch, "the world's largest tree house," is always an imperative stop
It consists of a huge vaccuum, shooters, and thousands of balls that spontaneously drop.
Wilson and Maisy frolicked and played until time to leave was soon nigh,
But then the vacuum sucked up Maisy's mitten and it went two stories high.
We had a delightful time, but when "I'm so cold!" is all Maisy could say
We said good-bye to the festive lights, and decided to call it a day.

iNephi

You've heard of the iPod,




the iMac,



the iPhone,



and now I present to you . . . iNephi!!


In our church we are beginning an in-depth study of the Book of Mormon this year. Many of you who read this blog have also read the Book of Mormon a time or two. I'm really trying this year to read EVERY DAY and make my study time more valuable and profound. In order to do this, I've set up a little blog to share my studying experience and hopefully help others to gain some studying motivation. You can find the blog at:

www.inephi.blogspot.com

I hope to have people reading along with me in the Book of Mormon this year and leaving lots of comments and insights to share with our little community. Even if nobody reads it, I can pretend that they are and get lots of motivation to get out of bed and study.

So join me, if you'd like.

Brett

Blame it on the Elves

Christmas morning is always full of surprises, and this one was no exception. Wilson ran down into our room at about 6:15 am shouting, "Santa came and he left me a trampoline, just like I wanted!" It was still dark at that moment, and I (Brett) thought to myself, "He might be singing a different tune by the light of dawn."

When the sun rose, this is what Wil and Maisy saw:


I blamed it on the elves. The story goes like this. The elves were putting the trampoline together late on a chilly Christmas Eve. They followed the assembly instructions EXACTLY, and things were going really well. As they moved the completed trampoline to a different spot in the yard, the tension of the springs folded the metal like an accordion.


Santa left a note for the kids right next to the crumbs of recently devoured Christmas cookies. He explained that the eggnog-addled elves had messed up the trampoline, and that it would be fixed soon. The kids were understanding and supportive, and are patiently awaiting for Santa to fulfill his repair promise.


When I called the workshop at the North Pole (AKA Bouncepro), the lady asked me, "Well, did you try to put it together in cold weather?" When I replied in the affirmative, she casually let me know that "our products were made for warm-weather assembly. That's why the metal bent." Apparently I should have waited until June or July to assemble my children's Christmas present.

And so we learn two lessons from the Christmas morning surprise:

1. Be sure to check the temperature, humidity, dew point, and ozone levels before assembling a Bouncepro product.

2. When something goes wrong, blame it on the elves.