JaNuArY

This month has been a frenzy of BASKETBALL!!!! Every Saturday found us at the gym for 5 ball games between the three children. We race from the new High School gym, to the Junior High Gym, and over to the Pioneer gym to cheer our favorite teams on.

Olivia's 8th grade team has hit a few bumps along the road this season, winning/losing some close match-ups. Olivia has been very determined to step it up and play hard. She has not been starting this season, but sees plenty of play time, and we keep telling her that her hard work will pay off. The last week of January it did pay off and she was able to be a starter for her team. She played remarkably well. I can't believe how much her defense has improved this year! My favorite part of basketball is watching a good defender and I have found myself intently watching her, and thinking, "Wow, she has really stepped it up!" I also love to watch her shoot three-point shots. She has the most natural form, something I never had as a player. Even though she is just a 5'3" gal, she works hard and is determined to play ball the best she can.

Shaylee's team too has seen its bumps ~ losing to its nemesis Soda 5th grade team. They have improved a ton this year, but they still need to learn how to deal with the mental situations of playing ball. Hopefully, their next few weeks will prepare them for the upcoming tournament where I am sure they will again face this scrappy, well-disciplined team. Shaylee is all legs and arms. When she goes up to guard someone all you see is her long arm stretching up over everyone else. She has mastered both right and left handed lay-ups, and is very consistant on foul shots. Even though she has a two-year head start compared to when I started she reminds me a lot of me. She wears her entire feelings on her face, her emotions get out of check easily, and she is all over the court. At 5'5 1/2" she definately stands out when she is playing in the 5/6 grade league. She is the center on the team, can outjump most of the girls she comes up against, and has a mighty fast hussle. She eats, drinks, sleeps basketball and is determined to play ball in the WNBA. If you are going to dream, dream big!

Taite is in a love/hate relationship with basketball. He HATES watching his sisters' games for hours on end, and is always hoping he can talk Grandpa and Grandma in to coming to the games so he can catch a ride home. I am not sure why the games are easier to endure with grandparents there, but I am sure glad they come to support the kids. He really had fun playing this year. His league was short, playing only five games, and their record was 2-3, but it was fun to watch him play. His LOVE relationship comes in to play when he is on defense. He is determined when his guy has the ball that he is not going to make a basket. His determination was also all over his face. Sometimes Dave and I aren't sure he really enjoys playing, and just when we decide we aren't going to put him on a team he starts asking about it again. At the end of the season some of the dads were talking about putting together a team and playing in another league and at first Taite wanted nothing to do with it. However, the last time Dave ask him about it he was excited to get back on the court.

Shaylee is also still playing on her basketball team in Ogden. Luckily, we only have to travel down there on Thursday nights. They are winning almost every game they play and the coach is talking of moving them up to the 7th grade league to take on a bigger challenge.

With practices held Monday-Friday, games on Thursday and Saturday, there really was not time for much else to happen to our family of five in January. The month flew by and at the end of it we had enjoyed 20+ ball games and I am sure February will bring more.