Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas 2008 Part 2

Here are some various pics from Christmas Day.

It was sooooo warm here - around 65 degrees with the sun shining! The kids actually ate outside on the screened in porch. We even played some bball!

(Mafffoooo and Sophers)


(Guitar Hero imitation!)


(Matthew going in for the swish in a game of HORSE)


(Matthew and Costa goofing off while opening presents)


(me, my sister Cynthia and my brother Jeff)

(Costa shooting a few with Matthew in HORSE. The girl has some skillz!!)

(Chip Shot declared no more puzzle!)

Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas 2008

My Mom and sister, Cynthia have been here all week. We have cooked and baked up a storm every day. Thankfully today is a little more low key. I will make Turkey and Dumplings. That seems to be a favorite the day after Christmas. Mmmmmm.

Each year we try to save one of Nathan and Matthew's gifts for the scavenger hunt. Here are a few pics from this year's hunt. They are getting older so we thought we would make the clues a little harder. Thanks Cynthia for help in creating the clues.

(First clue was right in front of them on the desk but they could not see it...they needed some help. You are cold..your are hot..you are red hot!)

(Clue in bird book....amazing. I did not realize I had so many bird books in the house!)


(Clue in Nathan's guitar case...)


(Clue high up on the basketball goal.)


(Yes, even a clue in the Bagel Bites!)

(The presents were in Chip Shot's new sleeping spot...under the plastic grocery bags.)
Nathan got two Xbox games and Matthew got an iPod.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Braces!!!!

Matthew has been wanting braces for a LONG time. Probably since Nathan got his. The day has finally come. He practically insisted on getting them over the school holidays!

BEFORE


AFTER

He is such a goof ball!


He is doing okay at the moment but we have Tylenol and Ambesol on standby. No doubt Mister Nathan will be dogging him a bit this week.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Game #4 vs. Granard

Carver 42 - Granard 55


Oh well. Carver is now 1 and 3. I do believe, however, this was their best played game yet. Granard had boys nearly a foot taller than Matthew. These boys are 7th and 8th graders. I am not sure but I am thinking Gaffney has some super vitamins in their water or something.
Matthew had an outstanding game despite the loss. He was brought in late 1st quarter, played all of 2nd and part of 3rd. It was a very aggressively played game with some lousy refs. Matthew played hard and had no fear of the taller boys.

You may not believe me but the team's score throughout the game was pretty good until 4th and then Granard pulled ahead. Well actually....I do have a little proof. It was 23-29 (Granard) in the 3rd quarter then soon thereafter he was taken out for rest of game. I think Matthew should have stayed in! Of course there is NO BIAS here! lol


A little action shot...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Game #3 vs. Whitlock

Woo hoo! Wildcats beat Whitlock 39-12!! First win of the season.

Matthew's team had a great night. They were definitely a different team compared to the last two weeks of play. Matthew got to play a good bit in 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters and scored two points on free throws. The boy knows how to swish the ball.



He has his bud, Zach, had a great game. Not sure if you could tell by this post game pic! ; )

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Games and Government

Matthew's team did not fair so well on Thursday against McCracken. I did not note the final score as the game was pretty frustrating. I believe it was 23-47. Matthew played only a couple of minutes in the 3rd quarter. I know it was frustrating for him to sit on the bench watching his teammates continue to do terrible passes again and again. Oh well, next week is a new week of games.

Nathan got home from Youth In Government yesterday afternoon. He had a great time meeting new friends and seeing old ones. His Bill, however, did not pass but he enjoyed doing other presentations. Evidently students could choose to stand up when a bill was read to do an argument for or against the bill. Nice to have him home.

Matthew was supposed to go on this same trip but a week before the trip he decided he would rather played in the McCracken game than go to Columbia. Interestingly enough Matthew's Bill was given the Most Outstanding Award. His Bill was to have tougher penalties and fines for parents that do not buckle up their children. Matthew wishes he would have gone now rather than sit on the bench. He is definitely learning. : )

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Update



Matthew's basketball team played Ewing Tuesday night in Gaffney. Lost 35-51. They started out strong in the 1st quarter but the other team simply shot more shots and were off the boards waaaay better than our boys.

Matthew played a little bit of 3rd and 4th quarters. Coach brought him in again to be the 3 point shooter. Matthew has amazing calm on the court. He hit a beautful 3 pointer. SWISH!

Next game is tonight against McCracken on our home court. Matthew is excited to play them as he knows some of these kids from church league the past two years.

Nathan left for Columbia Wednesday afternoon for Youth in Government. He will present a bill he wrote to the Youth Congress. His bill is for allowing kids to use their mp3 players during tests and exams to allow them to focus more on the test. Interesting concept. Music personally helps me focus but not sure that teachers would appreciate their kids tuning it up in class.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Turkey Day Antics

We drove to my Mom's house in Kingsport, Tenn for Thanksgiving. We ate at my cousin Donna's. We had about 16 people there. Of course yummy food.

Before the eating festivities began the boys were horsing around outside at Mom and Jim's. Here are few pics I took.















(And a nice shot with their Mema before we got on the road home.)

Matthew's First Basketball Games

The Carver Wildcats had a tournament on Monday and Tuesday this week. Two VERY exciting games!

They lost to DR Hill 27 - 28 Monday.
They lost to Gable 30-28 Tuesday.

Matthew played only a few minutes each game but had a great time and played well. On Tuesday he tied up the game when he swished two free throws. He was so calm as the crowd was stomping their feet and the cheerleaders screamed.

He had a great time despite the losses. The regular season starts up this Tuesday.

There was a bonus on Tuesday. He had extra cheerleaders. My mom along with our friends Heather, Jennifer, Donna, Hayley and Hayley's boyfriend, Jay all came to cheer on Matthew. Hayley used to babysit the boys from when Matthew was just a few months old. It was great to see her.

(Matthew going for the swish!)

(Nathan in between cheers. Yes, he did indeed cheer for his bro!)

(Matthew chatting it up with Heather and Jennifer after the game)

(Nathan, Hayley and Matthew)

(And I got some after game loving from my star basketball player!)

Monday, November 17, 2008

It's a THREE POINTER!!!

The minutes were ticking by.....8:30...8:35 and no phone call. Poor Matthew went upstairs....crawled into bed...head buried under the covers. I laid down next to him.

I am thinking to myself. 15 boys to make the team. The coach is going to call 15 boys in 30 minutes??? Not likely...but as the time got closer to 8:40 I started to wonder if Matthew was going to make the team. I started to tell him that coaches make mistakes...that we are still proud of him...all the things Moms say when trying to mend their children's hearts.
Then finally at 8:49 the phone rang. Nathan answered the phone. I took it from him....it was the coach. Matthew sprang from the covers with tears in his eyes. He hesitated at first to talk to the coach because he was crying. He took the phone and the coach told him
YOU MADE THE TEAM!
All Matthew could say was thank you and thank you....
Matthew has literally been dreaming of playing for Carver for three years. He practices every day and lately has even been practicing with his friends and adults at the YMCA. This means SO much to him.
Here are some HAPPY DANCE pics and a short vid to show you how excited he was.
(Right after hanging up the phone...)
(Calling Mema and telling her the good news....)

(And of course, the HAPPY DANCE!!)

Waiting for the call.....

Matthew just got home from practice. If he made the team the Coach will call him tonight between 8 and 8:30.

He is pretty calm about it....I am watching the minutes tick by....

Basketball

Matthew made the first cut for the Junior High basketball team. I believe there were 40 kids in total during tryouts and they narrowed it down on Friday to 30 (I think). He is at tryouts as I write this. I am hoping and praying he makes it. He should....my mother status aside...the boy has some skills.

We should know sometime this week if he made the final cut. 18 boys will suit up.

Keep your fingers crossed for him!!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

He's Baaaaaack!!!

Nathan had a blast in the Big Apple! My sister, Cynthia, was able to join him and the rest of the band for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe on Sunday.
Cynthia found a good spot on the parade route and got some nice pics. HUGS to Aunt Cynthia for taking awesome pics as usual!!

Here is my personal favorite and here is the link to all the pics she took. http://flickr.com/photos/cyntata2672/sets/72157608902404615/

I snapped this right after Nathan got off the bus yesterday. They left NYC around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night and rode all night. Poor guy said he woke up every few hours due to strange dreams. I think he actually looked pretty fresh after a 12 hour bus ride. Perhaps he was just happy to be home.

Monday, November 10, 2008

New York City

Nathan is having a good time. I think he got a little bored on the bus tour this morning. (I do not blame him after a 12 hour bus ride yesterday!) He sent me two pics he took today via his cell phone.

First one is him in front of the NBC Peacock sign at lunch today.

This was taken tonight from atop the Empire State Building.

Happy Monday

Nathan is in New York City with the Spartanburg High School Band. They are marching in the Veteran's Day Parade tomorrow. He is VERY excited. They left on chartered buses late Saturday night and arrived noonish Sunday. They saw "The Lion King" and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. I have not received confirmation that it occurred but my sister was due to meet them for dinner. I hope I can find an online video of the parade tomorrow. Have fun Nathan!

Basketball tryouts start today for Matthew. He was like at kid on Christmas morning on the way to school. He said "lots of kids" are supposed to tryout. The team will be comprised of both 7th and 8th graders. I cannot wait to hear all about it. Good luck Matthew!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Round Two...Ding!

Round two of trying to fix the ceiling appears to have a KO. (That's a knock out for you non boxing fans.)

I called two "professionals" this week. One declined and the other never called me back. I guess they are not interested in small jobs. So Friday I ventured once again to Lowe's and picked up more of the spray "popcorn" ceiling stuff and more paint. I think it has worked!! I look forward to seeing it tomorrow when it has completely dried.
It actually was not too bad. Step 1 - Spray Kilz Step 2 - Spray popcorn (3 cans) Step 3 - Roll paint

Thank you, Matthew, for being my big helper!

Before...

During...

After (Still drying....)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Have you voted?

I hope you voted. Please exercise your right to vote.

I voted this morning. Took me about 90 minutes. Lots of people at my polling place.....all ages and races.

My sister lives in New York City and last I heard she had been in line for nearly two hours. Only one voting booth there. Amazing! Only one in her district in NYC. Wow! I surely hope voters do not get frustrated by the lines today.

Please go vote. No matter who you vote for...just vote. Make your opinion heard.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Home Fix It......

In the Spring of this year a pipe broke in the boys bathroom upstairs. When I came home from work that evening the water had flooded their bathroom and created a nice big stain on the kitchen ceiling. I have not been motivated to fix it until now.

So yesterday I went to Lowe's and got spray Kilz and spray popcorn. (Yes, the ceiling is that old yucky popcorn.) The Kilz worked pretty well but this morning it was still yellowish. So off to Lowe's I go again for ceiling paint as I really did not want to use the popcorn on such a large space.

Well, the painting started well but then I hit the spot where the water had saturated quite a bit. The popcorn just started coming down and down and down. UGH! The bad stuff is now all scraped away and I will be calling a "professional."

Kilz, paint and special rolling brush - $35

Hiring a professional - Pricey











Doesn't this almost look like an eagle with it's wings spread???