Basketball is so fun!

Alexander told us, out of the blue, that he wanted to play that game where *insert pantomime of dribbling of a basketball*. We inquired with Addie if she wanted to play and voila, the kids were signed up and Jeff was assigned as their coach. I thought I would have the chance to be the assistant coach but if you read this post, you know that's not an option.

So, I took advantage of the first practice to take a lot of pictures!
Best friends, ready to go!

"Take a knee team"


Alexander learned to dribble by playing Follow the Leader.
No surprise that he played the role of caboose. And never once dribbled.
He did a great job following the leader, though!


He learned how to shoot the ball.

Believe or not, he made the basket!

He listened to Coach Jeff.

Learned to play defense.

And figured out where to go during a practice game.

When we left the gym, Alexander exclaimed, "that was SO much fun, Mom!" I knew he was hooked when he practiced dribbling at home, in the dining room, for close to a half hour when we got home from practice. The only other time I've seen that level of excitement is after the first swim lesson.

His first game is Saturday. Eric promises to take a lot of pictures as I will be with Jo-Jo as she tries on wedding dresses.

And the conversations just keep getting better and better...

Alexander: "Mama, it's going to SNOW next week!"

Me: "It is? No way. Who told you that?"

Alexander: "Mrs. G. And she knows everything. She's a teacher, ya know."

Me (feeling a little put out at not being the hero of the story): "Well, I'm a teacher too so I must know a lot, right?"

Alexander: "Mama, you USED to be a teacher. Now you're the bad guy who puts kids in time out."

This conversation followed the one where he told me I couldn't coach his basketball team this season ...

Me: "Alexander, Jeff asked me to help the basketball team. What do you think about me coaching your team? Wouldn't that be fun?"

Alexander bursts into tears and yells, "NO! NO! NO!"

Me (in a state of shock): "Why not? Didn't you enjoy me coaching soccer? I was a PE teacher and I know how to play basketball. It would be so much fun."

Alexander: "NO! I don't want you to be a teacher or a coach. I just want you to be MY mommy and help ME! No one else should get you. Just be my mom and cheer for ME!"

Me: "Ok, ok, Buddy. I'll keep my mouth shut and watch."

Eric (from the other side of the house): "Like THAT'S going to happen..."

Skype, Skype, Skype!

Today was the best day.

Alexander had the chance to skype Umma and Big Papa and then we skyped Uncle Patrick, Auntie Lissa at their baby shower!

skyping on the big screen!

Grandma and Grandpa are loving it.
It never fails to amaze me what technology can do.

We gathered in the living room and enjoyed the fun...from afar.
Patrick gave us a tour of the baby room.

Crib, dresser and changing table is ready to go!

This kid's closet is filled to the rim!

Love this!
Lissa shared her niece Piper with us, who is the super adorable.

And Patrick snuck away to spend some time with us, too.

So, even though we couldn't be with them in person, we had the next best thing.

Their heads on the big screen, grinning back at us, sharing this time with them.

We love you!!

And we'll see you in June.

Storytime

I asked Alexander to tell me a story the other night.

Alexander: "Chapter 1. There was a Mommy, a Daddy and a little boy who lived at the train station. They had a lot of work to do switching out the 844, Challenger, and Thomas for their adventures on the Rocky Mountain Express run. So, they worked and they worked and they worked."

Mommy: "Are there more chapters?"

Alexander: "Yes. I will tell the next one to you at naptime tomorrow."

A day passes...

Mommy: "Ok, I'm ready for the rest of the story."

Alexander: "Chapter 2. They worked so hard they retired. The End."

Mommy: "So, that's it? The story just ends at retirement?"

Alexander: "Yes. Cause when you retire you move to Arizona."

Big Changes in 2012

Alexander has NO idea that the rest of the world is on the brink of 2012.
He just knows he is on the brink of some big ol' changes to his world!

Remember when we chanted his room to this? And this?

Well, my parents want to clear out the twin bed they have in the extra bedroom so we said we'd take it. Naturally (Mommy being who Mommy is), this means a whole new bedroom theme.

New Bed

New Bedding

picked out by the young master himself.

A couple of new posters

And a train track border to finish it off!

Looking Back

Last night, I was lamenting the fact explaining to Eric that I don't know why I keep updating the blog. With only 25 followers, it seems like I'm doing a lot of work for nothing. I have never complained about this before but last night, Blogger was NOT being my friend and I was frustrated.

"Nothing?" Eric said. "Really?"

"There are people who read the blog, like our parents and his aunts and uncles, who would be sad if you stopped. There are people who read the blog, like Neighbor Ann and your friends, who don't comment but would be sad if you stopped.

There is our SON, who doesn't have a baby book, who would be sad if you stopped."

I gotta admit, he got me with that last one.

So, I decided to go back to the beginning and remind myself WHY I take the time to update the blog.

Busy Boy

Binkie Boy

A New Game

Goat Boy

As I was looking through old posts, Alexander asked me what I was doing. After I told him, he wanted to look so he climbed up on my lap. He and I have spent the past 1/2 hour looking at old posts. I shared stories with him, told him why I chose the pictures I posted, and laughed over his little boy antics. I don't know if I would have been able to capture the same memories without this blog.

Looking back, I'm really thankful I have done this blog.

I'm not done blogging.

Not by a long shot.

Alexander and the Puzzle Club

Once upon a time, Alexander met a Puzzle Expert. Her name is Dorothy. She is one of Umma's close friends and is a co-worker of mine.

She was so impressed with Alexander's puzzle skills that she invited him to her puzzle club. Turns out there is a local puzzle club that has been meeting once a month for years. Who knew?

Alexander and the club diligently worked on a train puzzle for over an hour and was a rockstar with great manners and terrific behavior.

Watching his face light up as he worked with others who love puzzles as much as he does was a true delight. They talked about all the different puzzles and shared a tip or two.

Thanks Issaquah Puzzle Club, for inviting us to join you!

And thank you for the 3000 piece puzzle you gave us.

We're looking forward to working on that big boy next summer!