As most of you know we eat, breathe, live, and sometimes sleep at the gym during the Fall/Winter/Spring. Our basketball season extends from November to April with Tob coaching High School basketball as well as AAU, refereeing, and filling in wherever he is needed, as well as the kids playing Junior High ball, AAU, and for Lex grade school basketball. The best part of it is we don't make our kids play or expect them to excel, in fact it's the opposite. We can't stop them and with as much as they play, they will continue to excel. The little gym rats as I call them couldn't be happier with a ball in their hand and a basket in front of them. I spend a good majority of the time not coaching (well, unless you ask Nojah, I do a little on the side, much to his dismay) but running the score clock when needed and keeping books or occasionally stats. It's a family affair!! Due to both Tob and I having a job during the games I haven't been able to get many photo's this year, so basketball posts are infrequent, yet a huge part of our lives. Thanks to the help of Emily at our last AAU tourney we captured a few.
We started out with 11 boys this season on the AAU team in hopes of a fully committed group. However at our 2nd tournament we were down to 7 the first day and 6 the second. It meant LOTS of playing time for those boys and they played their hearts out taking 3rd place overall out of 6 teams in La Grande. Although LG is a 4a school and we are a 1a we enjoy playing them because our nephew is on the team and we know the coach and it's a great group of boys. Our boys get killed (for lack of better words) every time, but in all honesty if they keep their chins up, which they do, they can only gain from the experience.
The best part about these tournaments is the family time. All the cousins get together and they all get along so well. As parents we love it. We must have done something right because we have some wonderful kids who are caring, respectful, and look out for one another.
During halftime my oldest nephew Jake holds sweet Bella while visiting with Coach Uncle Toby.
We have Grandma's and Grandpa's who take their weekends to come support and watch these kids play. Even though I don't have much time to sit and visit, I do appreciate everyone who takes the time to come and support the kids. They are growing up fast and before we know it they will be done with this phase of their lives.
This is where I hang out for the games.
This is Lex's first tournament and will have 2 more years left. The girls had a lot of fun and won 1/3 games. She very much enjoys the social aspect of the games as well.
This is Nojah's last year of AAU but will be busy with Summer league (ok maybe it is year round), basketball camps and then High School ball next year. Ummm, did I just hear myself.....High School ball....I can't possibly have a kid that old.
Again, more bonding with cousins. We also had my brother there with his family, but unfortunately no pictures.
Sweet Bella, taking pointers on how to become a gym rat.
Basketball tournaments also means sleepovers. Sometimes with grandparents and sometimes with cousins. These 2 silly bedheads enjoyed their time together. Lex and Bella were pretty sweet as the snuggled down on the living room floor together and fell fast asleep.
and even though we can't get photo's with everyone, we appreciate the ones we do capture.
Even if Nojah secretly sneaks a banana onto grandpa's head for the photo.
We sure do love our family and are grateful for how close we are and the time spent with each other. Between these 4 kids they had 17 games in 2 days!! Wowsa!!
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