Things In January - 2024

 We got 4-5 inches of snow on January 5th. Schools closed. So, we broke out the sleds and headed to a new hill to try it out. The new hill had two sides and was steep. Great sledding!

Above, Justin, Sarah, Phoebe, and Silas.

I absolutely LOVE how Sarah ALWAYS smiles when she is sledding, going down a hill, crashing on her sled, and even walking back up the hill to sled some more. Sledding = a Smiling Sarah!

Lots of birds have been coming to eat at our birdfeeders lately. They are fun to watch and try to identify.

Silas had a lot of Fans at one of his last HAC basketball games. Below, Justin, Stacee Will, Sarah, Silas, Phoebe, EP, Lindsee, Popee, and Eric.

Matt came to Kansas for a visit in mid-January. We had a soup dinner one night and played some games together.

I caught our dogs sleeping by our wood-burning stove again one afternoon. Gus doesn't get too close to the fire, but Belle likes to get right up by it.

Silas's last HAC game was a rough one against a team of all 6th graders who seem to be using a lot of football moves instead of playing basketball. Our team won though! Great job boys!

Sarah and Jax spent an evening together hanging out. They don't have any classes together this year, so their time spent together is less, which leaves them both missing each other and their friendship.

Sarah flipped our dog's ears inside out and we got a good long laugh at their funny ears. They stayed like this for about five minutes just standing and laying there looking out the front door with their funny ears.

Belle likes to be up close and personal with her favorite people.  She is a snuggly dog who likes to give kisses (licks) and get right up in people's faces. She is still working on her manners though and learning to stay down (not jumping up on people). She weighs in at about 35 pounds and Gus is weighing in at about 65 pounds now.

WARNING! LOOK AWAY if you LOVE SQUIRRELS! The squirrels and I have a terrible relationship. I DO NOT love squirrels. They love to eat my birdfeed, get on my feeders, and chew up my feeders.  They get on our porch, chew our deck, eat my plants, and just like to cause havoc. I have been putting my sharpshooting skills to work.

Silas got to sing with other children from our church at a memorial/honorary church service for Glen Ledbetter in Wellington in January. They had speaking parts and sang songs written and sung previously by Glen Ledbetter as a surprise for his children and grandchildren.

Dad got to attend one of Silas's YMCA basketball games in January. Thanks for coming, Dad! The kids, Eric, and I really love having you with us, spending time with you, and appreciate the support you always give and show us.

Silas Basketball - 5th Grade - Season One

 ** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

Game #1 December 2nd, 2023

Sarah and I are coaching Silas' basketball team again this year.  We were all fourth graders last year playing in a 3rd/4th grade league where we dominated every game.  I was hoping moving up to 5th/6th grade this year, and our team being all firth graders (except 1), that we would have more competition.  Based on the first game, it may be more of the same.

Looks like Silas pushed this free throw instead of shooting it (arm is out in front instead of up high)

Silas is a really good point guard.

He guards ball pretty well too.  Like that he is watching ball and keeping the center of his body between the ball and basket.

Sarah keeps the bench players motivated

Silas is always ready to react to the ball.  Sometimes he gets out of position, which is one of the few things that I have to stay on him about.

Go Rangers

We won 44-12.  Silas had 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.  He is the best passer.

Game #2 December 9th, 2023

(No pictures from this game because Stacee was at Phoebe's basketball tournament.)

This was a pretty easy game for us.  We won 29-6.  Silas had 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. I like that he continues to get assists.  I had to have a talk to the team about how there is no "I" in "Team".

Game #3 December 16th, 2023

This was the game we were all waiting for.  A game against the sixth grade football team.

Silas had their best defender sticking on him like glue all game.

Silas made some good drives.  The refs did not call many fouls which led to a brutally aggressive game.

We have 10 players so I rotate in a group of 5 players every 4 minutes.  This keeps everyone playing the same amount of time.  The other team played their best players most of the game.

Sarah keeps the boys on the bench in line.

#14 on the blue team had Silas by several inches in height and hair length.

I kept pushing the guys to play their hardest no matter the circumstance (i.e - The other team was fouling hard or not substituting in their weaker players)

We fought hard through the adversity and prevailed in overtime.  We won, 15 to 12.  This was a very rewarding win.  Silas had 2 points and 5 rebounds.  He also had a few assists.

Game #4 January 6th, 2023

After a two week break for the holidays, we got back to game action.

We were a little rusty but did some things well

    Foul?  Yes.

When you drive and the other team swarms you, Pass.  Good job.

It wasn't our best game, but we did win 33-10.  Silas did well with driving and passing.  We will need to pick up the intensity going into the last two games.

Game #5 January 13th, 2023 

I like seeing my assistant coach, Sarah, talking with the team.

Silas is very focused on the court.

Last week, a few players from this Orange team got into a shoving match with the other team that they were playing, which ended up in the game being stopped short.  I let our team know that we will not engage in that type of behavior.

#3 has some hops.  Silas somehow got his shot up and over him.

I was raising my hands because I was Sure.  Some of you will know what I am talking about.  I actually was reminding the defense to keep their hands up and active.

Silas' free throw shooting was off this game.  Silas is running our in bounds play, Bottoms Up.  He sets a good screen here.

Silas is always active.  He plays good defense.

He is also a good ball handler.

We won 33-9 in front of a supporting fan base. Below, left to right, Justin, Stacee, Will, Sarah, Silas, Phoebe, EP, Lindsee, Paul, and me (Eric).

Last Practice and Pizza Party

Friday before the last game, we had a practice and then a pizza party.

Game #6 January 20th, 2023

Here we go.  Round 2 with the 6th grade, ultra aggressive football team.

The refs allowed the hard fouling to happen the first game that we played them a few weeks ago, but did not allow it this game.

We started off with the first score, and though the game was always close, we never trailed in the game.

Like to see Sarah smiling and engaging with the players.

Sarah keeping the bench players smiling and happy.

The other team was bigger and taller than us, but not better.

Silas was a good point guard today.  He didn't turn it over much and passed well.

We beat their full court press really well.

We won 14-9 and ended the season 6-0.  Combined with last season, we have went 12-0.  I handed out medals, said a few words, allowed a few boys to say some words, and we took one last team picture.

Below, left to right:

Front row - Kale, Luke H, Carlo, Blake

Middle row - Luke B, Silas, Corban, Andrew

Back row - Nayte, Coach Sarah, Coach Eric, and Slade

Good season Silas and thanks for being my assistant Sarah.