Fallin' into Winter

Can't you tell she's having fun playing in Aunt Mindy's leaves. Last weekend, we left winter at our house (were the ground was already freezing) and managed to get a little more of Fall while we were in Anchorage.

We don't have any deciduous trees around our property so my kids haven't gotten the privilege of raking leaves and running and jumping in the piles. I remember having piles of leaves almost five feet tall when I was growing up in the Midwest. I would make mazes in the mounds of maple and oak leaves. Our little aspen and birch leaves don't create the same affect.

This is a happy man. He had his nap and was outside playing in the warm sun. He wasn't so crazy about the leaves but enjoyed crawling over to the slide.

Little man is on the count-down to his first birthday. He's just started being brave and taking three and four steps at a time. It's not a regular thing yet, but he's getting there.

Can't you just see the mischief in that smile! It's all him! He is one ornery kid. From hitting and pulling hair to throwing food and climbing onto the rocking chair and standing with no hands. He's the little terror that will keep his big sisters on their toes.

(Sorry Jess, I ran out of space to get a picture of you in here. I'll have to find a good one.)

I'm one of those...

I can't believe I did it. I yelled and screamed like one of those crazy parents that I had always laughed at during Heidi's first Little Dribbler's basketball scrimmage today. I was even trying to coach her from the bleachers! Oh it was so hard to sit there and watch. It may be my competative nature...or maybe my maternal instinct to keep my daughter from experiencing the feeling of defeat. Whatever it was, I got excited. I have to say that my other half did also. Bless his heart, it's just so hard for Tim to sit there and watch any sport if it's not being performed to the peak potential.

Heidi put forth a lot of effort and energy during her first game. She figured out how to guard "one-on-one" and stuck to her man very well. But occasionally she would get hit in the back with the ball because she was paying more attention to her man than where the basketball was. Heidi is not a selfish player and had some good passes, but unfortunately her team was unable to score. The other team scored twice. But I have to say that Heidi's team was composed mostly of girls and the other team had some pretty good boys on it.

Of course, I forgot the camera. Must have had something to do with trying to get all six of us out the door to get her there on time. There is another game next week. We'll see if the parents can handle themselves any better because I'm sure Heidi will do great!