Bringing 2009 to A Close

Santa's $5 giftcard to Starbuck's took Mama and Lil' on an unexpected adventure today.

While waiting for our tasty treats Lil' spied a very tall woman wearing the BSU logo on "both her pants and her shirt!" She immediately struck up a conversation with this gal and sang her the BSU fight song with more enthusiasm than I've ever seen. As it turns out Lil' was singing to the assistant coach of the BSU Women's Basketball team and got herself invited to the game at 2:00. Coach thought it would be fun for Lil' to sing to the team in the locker room before the game and sit on the bench with the team during the game. Lil' and I came home and Lil' spent the next few hours preparing. She got her pom-poms and BSU baton (orange and blue from the dollarstore) out and practiced her moves.

Lil' was full of questions as we drove to the game.

"How long until we are there?"
"About 10 minutes"

"Where were we going"
"To Bronco Town" - a term Lil' came up with for the BSU campus.

"But where?"
"To Taco Bell Arena where the basketball team plays"

"I'm going to Taco Ballerina?!"
"Huh?"

"Taco Ballerina?"
"No darling, not ballerina. Taco Bell Arena" --Although from her spot in the backseat of the car I can see how it all got messed up in translation.

We arrived at the game and discovered that due to a scheduling change she wouldn't be going to the locker room but she was given a "Ball Girl and #1 Fan shirt". While chatting with our new coach friend I asked if I could get Lil's picture taken with a few players. She told me that we could do it right after the game.

We opted out of sitting with the bench as it was not the way that Lil' was going to get a great view but instead got great seats perpendicular to the bench right behind the basket in the third row. Warm ups were exciting but Lil' wanted her turn to shoot the basketball. She did get more interested in the players when during those warmups one of the players waved to Lil'.

This made her excited. The player introductions with orange and blue spotlights was also pretty cool. She wasn't very interested in the game but did enjoy running up and down the row flipping all the stadium style seats down (which wasn't a problem since we had the whole row to ourselves). Mid way through the first half we took a snack break. While in line we saw the secretary from Mama's school, which was an added bonus at this point in the adventure. Popcorn, a hot dog and a huge drink got us through the rest of the first half and once again Lil's interest was peaked when a few more players waved as they headed to the locker room. During halftime Lil' went to the very edge of the floor and did some dancing. She had quite an audience since the cheerleaders are all currently in Arizona getting ready for the big game on Monday. Towards the end of halftime when I finally had to go out on the floor myself to get Lil' before the teams ran out I went to the section of the stands lining the corridor where the team would return. The girls were gathered at the far end of the corridor as a group waiting to return. Lil' knew this was a great opportunity to do some cheering and again belted out her fight song chant. This made the girls momentarily turn to look at Lil'. A few moments later as the Broncos were brought back into the stadium by announcer an amazing thing happened. Her name is Stephanie Storms and she is a freshman on the basketball team. She was also the first one to run down the corridor and as she neared Lil' she ran from one side of the corridor to the side where Lil' was still cheering. As she ran up to Lil' she threw her hand in the air to give Lil' a high five. I didn't even have to tell Lil' what was happening. She was ready! She got her high five from Stephanie and every other member of the team who followed her lead. 20 or so high fives for one very excited Lil'. During the second half Lil' wanted to leave the game. I kept reminding her about the pictures which would hold her attention until the next time the very loud buzzer went off and she was ready to go home again. As the end of the game drew near and a Bronco victory was assured Lil' and I got ready. With camera in hand and my girl at the very edge of the floor we waited. The final buzzer sounded and all the girls came over to get pictures taken with her. They again all gave her high fives and got down at her level to say hello and hear her do her cheer.



Starbuck's Giftcard from Santa $5.00
Popcorn, Hotdog, Soda $9.50
Spending the last day of 2009 with the BSU Women's Basketball Team: Priceless

A Bowl of Sloppy Joe Sauce and A Smile

11+ years ago at our wedding Mr. Eleven and I received a set of mixing bowls from Aunt Scully. At the time she reminded us that marriage was about the every day moments and that she thought these bowls were a good way to represent her commitment to our every days. This week I experienced one of the great every day moments.

Lil' loves to make dinner. She is most helpful in getting things out. She likes to open the refrigerator and find ingredients. She also likes to get the mixing bowls out and practices her knowledge of small, medium, large.

On this night we were making Sloppy Joe sauce. We measure, we dumped, we stirred. We talked about her day at school as we worked. She was telling me about her day when she suddenly stopped both her talking and stirring. She was still for a moment and then said

"Mama, guess what!"

"What, Lil?"

"This is the best silver bowl ever. Way better than the ones at school. They are sad bowls and this one is happy!"

"Why is the bowl happy Lil?"

"Because it's our family bowl."

I imagine these were the moments that Aunt Scully was talking about all those years ago.

Coach K

Wednesday's are a very special day for Lil' at school. It is the day that Coach K comes. Coach K runs a sports program that promotes healthy living and teaches the basics of many sports. In just the first few weeks Lil' has learned that you dribble a basketball with your fingers and not your palm and that you need to keep your eye on the ball when swinging a bat. She's learned some fun new games including a pirate game where she walks the plank and tries to avoid being hit by the beanbag that the pirate launches at her (Coach K is very good at getting close enough with the bean bag but never actually hits her target). This week I arrived at school during the sports class and was able to watch Lil' participate. It was fun to watch her work with her peers and compete individually. As usual her size is no indication of her determination. She lines up for a race and looks around to size up her competition. When it's time to go....she goes! And in a way that makes me proud, when the race is done, she high fives her peers and jumps with as much joy for the winner as she won the race.
At the end of class this week Coach K came over to me and told me what a joy Lil' has made sports class at her school. She told me that Lil' has an athletic future in front of her and that she sees a sweetness in her competative nature.

Happy Halloween

Carving Pumpkins with Dad.

Being Silly in her new glasses from pre-school trick or treat event.



Drumming Ghost



Neighborhood trick or treating

Happy Girl Ghost

Today was the costume parade at Lil's preschool. Lil was so excited to be walking with one of her good school pals.

Boo At The Zoo

We've been talking about Halloween costumes since July. For a few months Lil' was sure she wanted to be a bag of jellybeans. Mama designed a very cute costume. Then, a few weeks ago, she changed her mind and announced she wanted to be a ghost. Not wanting to have a costume that covered her face entirely Mama turned to Oosje who designed a two piece costume. Last night, Mama set to the task of getting the costume ready for today's events. It turned out cute, and without desigining it to do so, fits nicely over Lil's warm coat. Mr. Eleven is responsible for the creepy make up. After the reactions at the zoo event we will be eliminating the black eyes for Halloween night.



Waiting our turn for the costume contest. Mama thought the kids paraded around and had Lil' all excited for that. She wasn't as thrilled about waiting in line to walk across the stage and see the judges. She just wanted to trick or treat.

First Day of Preschool

Lil's first day of preschool seems to have been a bit hit. She met new friends, colored, napped, ate her meals and came home ready to go back tomorrow.

Her teachers, Ms. Beverly, Ms Brandy and Ms. Lori, all agreed that it seemed like Lil' had been coming to school forever....She jumped right in, like we knew she would.

Here are a few photos of her big day.

Ready to Go....

At school....

Lil' lives to Learn

This morning she wanted to type the following words.

rabbit
zoo
dad
pig
mom

She wanted to know why the "i" on the keyboard looks like this...I...which she insisted was the little "L". Hard to argue with that. She sounded out each word (I only helped her add the 2nd b to rabbit).

Update: When Mr. Eleven got home last night I was telling him about Lil's typing and sounding out the words. A few minutes later she had gathered paper and pens and was writing the words.
She added the word "kid" to the list which is upside down from the rest of the words in the picture.

Boise State Homecoming Parade

Lil' was very excited about the BSU Homecoming Parade. She learned very quickly that if you shout "GO BRONCO'S" you might get candy.

Scissor Misuse #2

After getting home from school yesterday Mama was wiped out! Playground duty in 90 degree weather had drained Mama of her energy and apparently her brain as well. Lil' was excited to see the present that the school secretary sent home...a large box of paper scraps in all shapes and sizes. Mama, needing to get the potatoes cooking for dinner, got out Lil's scissors and set her up in her kitchen chair with a pile of scraps, before turning her attention back to the potatoes. Lil' was involved in cutting her scraps in pursuit of making Mama a special prize. We didn't exchange words for a few moments and then she said it...."Mama I'm sorry I cut my HAIR!". So much for the fantastic haircut that Mama gave her the day before. I mean really, what was I thinking....she cut the curtains the other day so clearly she doesn't make good decisions about what to cut. But she was confined to her chair in the kitchen, so what could happen right? Um, well, maybe I should have realized that since she had gotten a haircut the day before she would have the connection of scissors and hair on her brain! Nope, not this silly Mama.

I did manage to get through the following few minutes without losing my cool with Lil'. I just cleaned up the mess while thinking back to last week when I was wishing my curtains were her hair because at least hair grows back.

Photos to come later....I didn't want to get the camera out to take a photo because Lil' loves getting her photo taken and it didn't seem like that was a good message for me to be sending her..."Cut your hair and get your picture taken". But since it's Saturday she'll probably want to play on the computer camera at some point today and I'll see what she captures.

Special Family Day

Saturday was the first day of fall fun at Linder Farms and our first time out to the activities.

Lil' loved the scarecrows at the parking lot and by the barn. She had to get her picture taken immediately. And said in her Lil' way...."I'm so glad we have the camera". Which was funny because we had to go back to get it after we left the house.


Next was the petting zoo area where Lil' did not hesitate one instant when she decided to hug the baby camel. The camel was very nice but it scared me a bit.
Then it was off to the pony ride.


The electric swing...which Lil' proclaimed as her favorite part while driving home.


The train pulled by the tractor was another big hit.

We practiced our maze skills in the kiddy maze.



But Lil' found her own way and left Mama behind.

Then it was off to the Bronco Maze....


And finally time for a rest....


Before catching the hayride to the pumpkin patch!!!


After doing some serious searching....

Lil' found the perfect pumpkin...


And it was time to head home...

More Swimming

Zoo Fun

Lil usually runs right past the jeep that is a permanent fixture in the African Experience at the zoo. This week however, she stopped and wanted to drive Daddy in the jeep.



And then it was Mama's turn. Plus, It was a good chance to get Oosje a picture without sunglasses that she's been wanting.

Playgroup at the Swimming Pool

Lil' enjoying good times with her friends. Lil' is the one in the water wings hanging out by the edge. She's always ready when the camera is out.

Alien

Lil' continues to love the camera in the new computer. She calls it the silly camera and every day wants to have her own photo session. Here is one from today that I thought Uncle Niddles might enjoy.

Lil' Loves The Mac

After a week or so of being offline after our computer had an untimely death we are back and Lil' is loving the new computer which has a built in camera. Here is just one of the photos we took yesterday.....


After discovering the camera Mama thought it might be fun to use this camera to talk to our family and friends who are far away so we are now all set up on Skype and we'd love to chat with you if you want to get set up on Skype too....(setup was super easy for us, it took only a few minutes....and it's FREE!)

Sixteen? Really?

I love you Mr. Eleven!

Mother's Day

My new apron


At the Rose Garden before our picnic lunch



Trying to take our picture on the paddle boats

Race for the Cure

Proudly wearing our pink and thinking of Aunt Scully's friend Michelle. We know she was loved by many people and is dearly missed.

Saturday Morning Art

Lil's Family

from left to right: Mama, Daddy, Lil', Belle.