Silas - Upward Basketball Season

I coached Silas' 1st-3rd grade Upward team.  Our team name was the Jazz.  Basically, 4 of the 6 players on my team had never played basketball before.  During the first game the referee, who also is the director of the league, said "it looks like you got your work cut out for you this year".  After two games, I was concerned that we would not win a game the entire year.  Then, all of the sudden the kids figured out how to play the game and we won our last 6 games of the season.

Game #1 - against the Hornets January 11th

We lost a close game.  The other team was out there best player so it was disappointing that we didn't win this game.

Game #2 - against the Bulls January 18th

Ernie and Judy came to watch along with Popee and Nanee.

Game #3 - against the Rockets January 25th

Game #4 - against the Cavaliers February 1st

We pray together before each game.

Game #5 - against the Nuggets February 8th

Game #6 - against the Hornets February 15th

We always broke our huddles by saying, "Jazz for Jesus!".

Game #7 - against the Bulls February 22nd

Each player is introduced and runs out to the middle of the court under the spotlight before each game.

This was the most exciting game of the season.  We were down by 4 points with about 15 seconds left.  Silas made a shot so we were down by 2.  The other team had the ball.  I yelled to him, "you have to steal it".  Silas stole it and drove to the basket for a last second layup.  He made the basket and was fouled.  Per Upward rules in the last two minutes of the game, the team that gets fouled is awarded a point.  Thus, we won the game by one point.  I would have preferred that Silas been given an opportunity to win the game with a free throw but it was still an incredible job that Silas did.

Silas's teacher, along with Nanee and Popee got to see a great game.

Game #8 - against the Rockets February 29th

These boys sure came a long way this year.  This was a very rewarding coaching year.  Above, Coach Eric, Grayson, Silas, Leland, Daxton, Noah, and Alex.

Upward Awards

At the awards ceremony each team and Coach was recognized and each participant was given a new Upward bag.

February Fun

We, along with most of the people in Kansas, were very excited this year for the Super Bowl.  We couldn't wait to watch the Kansas City Chiefs that Sunday.  Each year Eric draws out the "100 Squares" chart for our family to participate in during the game.  Each person randomly picks squares.  Then the numbers are draw and written across the top and going down the side.  At the end of each quarter (4) the score determines the square that is the winner.  Winners get to pick a prize.

Silas was the first quarter winner.  Eric was the second quarter winner.

Eric was the third quarter winner and Silas won again at the end of the fourth quarter.

The most exciting win though, was the CHIEFS WIN!

We all have had a fun time this season going to the Varsity Colts basketball games.  The boys team is undefeated.  They have some amazing players!  Silas has really enjoyed getting to meet several of the Colts players.  He really enjoys watching the brothers, Steele and Sterling Chapman, but his favorite player is Thomas King.  Below, he and his friend, Elliot, got to get their picture taken with Sterling Chapman after one of the home games.  These two boys especially love watching these players, so getting to meet, and talk to them, is like meeting a superstar.  Thanks Sterling, Steele, and Thomas for being good role models for these younger boys, (and lots of other kids).  They look forward to watching you, and trying to be like you.

The girls had a friend sleepover in February.  We love having Shawna and Abigail come over and spend time with us.  They always find things to do together, and I love the laughs that they all share.

Sarah and our friend, Abigail, have started making and selling bracelets.  They take orders from people for certain types and/or colors of bracelets, and they sell them at DOUG'S AUTO SHOP.  Their intention is to raise money to donate to the Veteran's Honor Flights.  Both girls have a grandpa who was in the military service, so this is something near and dear to our families.  

If you are interested in placing an order please contact me, or visit DOUG'S and pick one out for yourself or a family member.  These make great little gifts for an individual or a small group of people.

Eric has been hard at work finishing our basement.  He has two rooms done and has started the third.  Below, you can see a couple pictures of the basement bathroom as he was working on tile.  This bathroom was a complete start to finish job...top to bottom.  There was a shower/tub there, but we took it out to put in a whirlpool tub... Which meant having to tear out concrete and redo plumbing.  There was also electrical to be redone, drywall to be hung, walls and ceilings to finish, light fixtures and exhaust fans to be put in and run, toilet to install, tile and rock work, trim work, a vanity to be added, and a few special custom features that we came up with to make this bathroom unique.  Have I mentioned that my husband can do it all???  I am sure that I have.  But WOW-WE-WOW!  He is such a hardworker. We are blessed.

Silas needed a Valentine box for his school Valentine exchange this year.  He and I made this Patrick Mahomes box.  It turned out great!

I have a friend at school that creates and makes personalized insulated cups and mugs.  She made three for us to give our kids for Valentines day.  They turned out wonderful.  Each one different for each of our kids.  The kids thought they were fantastic!  Silas especially loves his and may have drank about 2 gallons of water out of his that day after receiving it.

Above, the backs of the cups.  Below, the fronts of the cups.

We attended our friend's Mandy and David's church Valentines banquet with our other friends Steve and Traci.  It had a "CLUE" theme this year.  The dinner was delicious.  After the dinner we played a giant game of CLUE.  Our table did not win, but thanks to David's sleuthing skills and attention to detail we did know who did it, where, and with what, but a table beat us to the punch giving the answers.

Below, our crew, Stacee, Mandy, Traci, Eric, David, and Steve.

Sarah played on a 12u YMCA Volleyball team with some of her friends starting in February.  It was a 6 week session.  Her team is good, and get better each week, playing as a team and working together to get the win.  So far, they are undefeated.

Parents get to help out with score keeping and line judging for each game.  Eric has helped a couple times with line judging.

Popee and Nanee have been able to come and watch a few games with us too.

Silas finally got to meet and take a picture with his favorite Colt player, Thomas King, towards the end of February.  As he and I walked out on the court after another Colt win, he suddenly got very shy, and I had to talk to Thomas for him.  I think he was star-struck.  What a kind young man Thomas is, and someone that I love for Silas to look up to and be a fan of.