Sophie's Basketball Game

We were able to go to several of Sophie's basketball games this past season.  I only brought my camera to one game and it was my old camera at that.  So many of the pictures were blurry.  I'll just blame my camera and not the photographer.  I'll be anxious to see if my new camera does a better job.

 I know this picture is very blurry.  But for whatever reason I like it.

 There is Sophie, #50, going in for a rebound.

 A quiet, still moment.  She is concentrating on her next move.

 And she is off!  Stealing the ball from the other team.  She goes on to make a basket.

There also happened to be a girl from church on Sophie's team.  Ashley is the one taking the foul shot.  She was in the game for all of 1 minute before getting fouled.

We had fun going to the games.  Ashley has a brother a year younger than John.  They all had a good time together sitting in the stands and eating popcorn.  We can't wait for next season.

Harlem Globetrotters

Hans found out the Harlem Globetrotters were in town and said we had to go.  He has been wanting to take John to see them since they saw them on TV last year.  Hans also figured Sophie would love to see them too.  So Debbie, Pam, Sophie, and our crew made plans to make the drive down to Peoria, IL.  We also decided to keep this a surprise for the boys.  I'm glad we did because we almost didn't make it down there.  We got a ton of snow the night before and it was snowing a ton and blowing all over the day of.  School had already been cancelled for the next two days and they were advising people to stay off of the roads. But I was determined.  We spent a lot of money on these tickets and, since the Globetrotters were still having the show, I don't think we would have gotten the money back.  Money doesn't normally motivate me, but it sure did in this case.  So we all piled into Pam's Envoy and I drove through blowing snow all the way there.

 John was trying really hard to figure out why we were here.  He kept asking if this was a college basketball game.  Debbie assured him we would not have traveled this far with the weather like it was for a college game.

 Then the Globetrotters came out and it still took John a few minutes to figure out what was going on.  He was very excited once it all clicked and he realized these were the funny basketball players from TV.

 They put on a great show.  John was very concerned that the Globetrotters weren't going to win since they were losing so badly at halftime.  

 Anders had 4 adults to mooch food from the whole game.  That was probably his favorite part.

 These guys are pretty strong.  I can't believe they can get themselves up there.  This coming from a girl who would probably die doing one pullup.

 So this guy kicked the ball to keep the other team from making a basket.  Gus said wants to learn how to do that.

 The Globetrotters had a lot of audience participation.

 There was much dancing.

 And lots of smiling.

 At the end the players stuck around for autographs.  Our crew decided to take advantage of the small crowd and waited in a couple of lines.

I'm so glad we made the trip.  It was worth the blowing snow and white-out conditions to and from the stadium.  My husband has made me an honorary viking because I have some mad winter driving skills.

A Little Basketball

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Debbie, Pam and I went to lunch, did a little shopping and then went to Sophie's basketball game.  I had as much fun watching the parents in the stands as I did the girls on the court.  5th grade girls basketball is a very competitive sport.

 Here is Sophie and her good friend, Holly.

Holly took her defense duties seriously.

The girls played well, but it just wasn't their day for basket making. 

 This is what I mean about not a basket making game.  I'm pretty sure this shot didn't make it in.  It looked so promising.

 I couldn't help but add this shot.  Sophie had just passed the ball, but it looks like she was busting a move as the young kids say.

 Sophie going for a foul shot.

 Look at that follow through.

The girls came in 2nd by 1 point!  But it was a great game and they played well.

Thanksgiving

We had a Thanksgiving Eve service at our church followed by their annual pie festival.  Pie festival?  Hans had no idea what this was but was game for anything including pie.  After church, we all sat, chatted and enjoyed various pies.

 Some of us enjoyed our pie more than others.

For as much as was on his face, hands and clothes, he actually got a good deal of pie in his mouth.

On Thanksgiving morning, we drove to Indianapolis and had a great meal with family.

 Despite what has been said about the thing on Hans' forehead, I assure you it is not a hickey.  That would be very, very weird.  Hans bumped his head on the bathroom faucet while brushing his teeth.  He is still working on his depth perception.

On Friday we had a relaxing day in Zionsville.

 We all went to the park to play a little basketball and throw the frisbee for Fritz.

 Grandma showed her strength as she hoisted John up for a basket.  That kid is A LOT heavier than he looks.

 Anders just enjoyed walking around.  He loves his new found freedom with walking.

 Hans was showing the boys how it's done.

Look at the wrist.  That is some great follow through.  I remember my grandpa teaching us how to shoot baskets in our backyard.  He drilled us on our follow through (in a loving grandpa sort of way).

Solveig got a new chair for her front porch just Anders' size.  Now he wants to sit by himself in every chair he sees.  What a big boy.