The Sports Report

The Big Man is Jacob, a basketball machine. Here is a video of him at home shooting baskets but not a typical video. Usually his routine is to chew gum and play music loudly on the boom box while shooting baskets. This week his music of choice was one of the Casting Crowns cds. Of course he must always be dressed appropriately. His field goal percentage must be somewhere around .899 or better!





Unfortunately, my second video doesn't show as much as I had hoped. I allowed Allie to use my camera to look at photos and videos and did not realize that as she pushed the buttons, she was deleting videos and pictures. I will pay more attention next time. At his game, Jacob did some cute little lay ups. The hoops are at 6 feet for his league.



Speaking of Allie, oh my! She has become such a little toddler since I saw her in November! She HAS to do everything that her brothers are doing and does not want to be left out for a minute. I cracked up at her shooting baskets like Jacob. Allie is very opinionated about clothing! She wanted to wear a "ball" shirt (Jocob's hand-me-downs) everyday.



Here are some Allie-oops with an assist from Ryan.



Ryan has improved in basketball. He guards really well, with his arms up but looking for the ball. He tries to rebound, also. It was fun to see him try to make baskets. He will soon be making his shots. He does great with the six foot hoops but the eight foot hoops are a bit of a challenge. At practice though, he made six baskets. The first video is of Ryan passing the ball inbound.



This video shows Ryan taking a shot at the basket.



You have a phenomenal team! I am a die-hard fan!

Happy Days are Here

In a few days, I will go to NC and see these three sweet children.



I will surely take my camera and won’t be able to resist taking pictures because to Grandma everything they do or say is shutter worthy.

However, I have done nothing with the pictures I took on my last visit in November and lest I get too far behind in recording these special moments, I am doing another recent history post.

I am tempted to give a play by play of our entire visit but will limit myself to just reflecting on things observed, enjoyed, appreciated about the kids—characteristics that I love.

Sweet Ryan is a nurturer. For a long time, he had a special stuffed animal that he cared for—Fanny the fox. But that is no longer good enough. Ryan wants a pet—something real—something alive—something to care for. A pet is just not an option for the family right now and so I gave him an ant farm. And though the whole family did enjoy it, it required to no care and eventually the ants all died.

Later Ryan received some tadpoles and watched them develop into little frogs. That was some improvement over the ants. While I was visiting in November, it was time to release the little creatures. It could have been a traumatic except that his mama figured out how to lessen the pain by including friends and following up with the gingerbread party.







One way that Ryan expresses his nurturing is in his care of his little sister. Ryan knows how to make her smile. He plays with her and comforts her when she is sad.

He rescues her when she get stuck or needs a boost on the play equipment.

He watches over her and makes sure that she is safe.

Ryan loves Allie and it is just sweet to observe.

Ryan loves building things whether from legos, or setting up the train tracks or hot wheels. It seems to me that his joy comes from the sense of accomplishment in getting it put together right and working.

While we were visiting, the kids got flue shots. G & G promised them a treat if they were brave and both of the boys were incredibly brave with no tears. When we went to get a surprise for the boys, Ryan said, “I don’t think I really deserve a treat because it really didn’t even hurt.” That child is such a sweetie and so responsible.

Mom and Dad also gave us permission to take the kids for a haircut. Their daddy usually cuts their hair but had been busy and it is a process to get both boys done. This was their first time in a regular barber-type shop. Again, both boys were scared but very brave. Ryan was willing to go first.



Jacob makes me chuckle. Jacob plays basketball all day, every day. There is a hoop in the family room so it is handy to toss a ball and make a basket before coming to the table or quickly before putting on his shoes. He usually plays for Duke but sometimes he plays for the Bulls. He knows the players by name and even recognized one in Dunkin Donut one day.

One thing that is fun about Jacob is that he changes clothes several times per day. If he is playing basketball, he runs to put on his basketball shirt. When he plays with cars or trains, he has a need to be dressed appropriately for whatever activity he is engaged in. He loves “short pants” finding jeans and long pants too confining. He frequently asked if he could wear shirts with “short pants” also. His daddy reminded him that those are called short sleeves but I think it is so cute that I never correct him.

Jacob loves cars and trains. He has loved them since before he was two years old. He is consistent in that.

Jacob also loves music.

He was into Toby Mac in November. Jacob is the DJ. He does not read but knows the track for every song on every CD they own or have from the library so that if you have a request, he immediately chooses the correct CD and selects the track and plays it for you.

Allie is becoming more her own little independent self. She likes to do things by herself and she wants to be included in everything that her brothers are doing.

Wherever they are, she is not far behind. When their daddy is tossing the football with the boys, Allie has to have her turn running out for a pass.

If someone is wrestling, guess who is right in the mix.

I get tickled when the kids join forces. “Me and Ryan want to talk before lights out.” “Me and Ryan like McDonalds.” Recently, Andy (their daddy) posted on his facebook page a little video of Allie joining forces with Jacob. Jacob was in the bedroom with the doors closed playing with Ryan’s legos. When their daddy started to go into the bedroom to see what was going on, little Allie came and pushed on his legs to keep him from going in the room. Then she said, “Bye Bye” to Daddy and closed the bedroom door clearly protecting Jacob by being the bouncer.

Allie also loves music and dancing and can act like a singer. She knows when she is being a ham. Oh how I love these kids.

The kids have great parents that are teaching them the things that they need to know. I will end with this little bit of evidence from a recent conversation.

Andy to the kids: "We don't like commercials and advertisements because they are always wanting us to do stuff we don't need to do."

4-year-old Jacob: "Daddy, you are kind of like a commercial."

They are going to keep me busy and smiling. What a privilege!

My Mother-in-Law

She is Sweet,
Kind,
Gracious,
Forgiving,
Accepting,
Praying,
Loving,
Intelligent,
Wise
and Ingenious.
She is a make-do, get it done, work hard,
don't complain, praise others,
be grateful, give God the glory person. . .

AND she gave me permission, a long time ago,
to call her Mom.

I love you!
Happy Mother's Day!

Liquid Eyes and Long Lashes

Lilly and Jackson, precious grandchildren, live a thousand miles from us. What a privilege to spend a day just talking and walking and delighting in their presence.

At the zoo, we were enchanted by the giraffes.

Their sweet faces are so appealing with their “liquid eyes and long lashes.”

I love the way they move—so smoothly and graciously.

We fed the giraffes lettuce and crackers.

Of course, we laughed when we saw their loooong tongues.

Lilly wanted to make sure that a baby giraffe received some food but was a bit tentative with mama standing above.

These pictures are deceiving as we really did not get to touch the elephants but we did enjoy watching them.

O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:24

I chuckled that the children's second favorite after the giraffes was climbing on the benches.

I love their playful natures.

Of course, eating ice cream ranked pretty high,

As well as the carousel ride.

Later, of course, a swim in the motel pool was in order.

Each chose a small gift to remember our day. Lilly chose a shark’s tooth necklace and Jackson a small stuffed animal—a monkey—named Yi Min. The Chinese translation of Yi Min means “happy and smart.” Jackson said, “That’s a good choice for me because I am happy and smart.”

Yes! And oh that we could all be like a child. As we left, both children, with “liquid eyes and long lashes”, were sad that our trip was so short—as was I! How I love them!

It was a very short visit—but long on memories.

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Our Abba Father

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with His hand. Psalm 37: 23-24

Sweeter than honey

After being with the grandkids for ten days, I have lots of material for blog posts but instead just did a little movie of pictures. I think this song is so sweet and of course the kids are sweeter.

Slowing down? Eat something red!

Andy checked out a book from the library on Eat This Not That! for Kids!. The boys have especially latched on to the designations on pages 12-16 about what kind of Superpowers vegetables and fruits give you—depending on which color they are. Jacob uses the phrases like code words for whatever he would like on his plate at mealtimes.

• Red food makes you dash like the Flash!
• Orange foods give you night vision!
• Yellow foods make you jump higher and play harder!
• Green foods give you sharp vision and superhuman healing abilities!
• Blue foods make you the smartest kid in the class!

Jacob loves his Red Fireball shirt and being on a team. In the video, he is the smallest Red Fireball. His number is three. Jakie is particularly into “dash like a flash” foods.

Apparently it works?

Y Fan

I like the Durham Downtown Y

I like the zero depth pool.


I like free play in the gym and the walking path above it.


I like the staff.


I like the programs . . .

for all ages . . .

I like the families.

I like the spectators.


I like the participants.

And guess who scored in his Blue Lasers game on Saturday!

I am a fan.