2-14

Tonight the girls were home vs. Grinnell. It was Coaches vs. Cancer night, too.

Last game their best player scored 33 on us and we lost by 34. 

Tonight, she was out sick with mono, but we still lost by 33.

Aubrey liked all the pink uniforms, of course.

Overall it was a disappointing game, since their freshman scored 31 on us!

She's going to be around for quite awhile, sadly.

Our defense was not good enough.

The final score was 74-41.

I took some pics, too, which I haven't done all season :)

Starting lineups

Coach Kaisand

Aubrey had fun sitting and playing with "H" at the game

Snuggle selfies before bed

2-13

On Tuesday night, the girls had a home game vs. Pella Christian.

Interesting fact:

In Steve's five years of coaching, PC is the ONLY team has never beaten.

Interesting, right?

Tuesday night the girls started off even worse than vs. Eddyville!

They only had six points at the half...how does that happen?

Poor decisions, lack of shooting, and misses like crazy.

Once again, as the theme of the season, 

They played a much better second half

and actually out scored them in the third no fourth quarters.

We held them in the twenties for awhile. 

But, it was just too little, too late.

We lost with a score of 23-41.

Aubrey got to go in the locker room and she said she really liked it :)

She likes to put her arm in the huddle and do 1..2..3...osky

It worked...

Wait, now I figured out how to post my iPad pics to my blog...nice! You probably have seen these already...just test - running.

One last pic of Aubrey before her haircut

Girls being silly in their jammies

Last week, Avery went on a run where she needed to be rocked to sleep....that never happens!

Winter sunset from the backyard

Checking out Daddy's cow catalog

Puma outfit from Daddy

Instagram

So for you few family and friend folk who are not familiar with Instagram...

It is an app for your phone or iPad where you take pics and share them,

Kinda like Facebook but just pictures.

Anyway, I have found myself using it a lot lately.

So I have posted a link to those pictures on my blog.

You should see it along the right side of the blog before my posts.

You can click and follow the pics there.

They will display In a 2x2 grid and you can click on them to view larger.

 So, please, if you have Instagram, please follow me

For an even better picture trail...Jkaisand.

Enjoy more pics!

2-12

Yikes...way behind this time. 

This past week Steve had three games this week and this season 

Seems to be taking a long time.

They still have about ten games left!

We both agree that this is one of the slowest seasons so far.

Partly because of their record, 

Partly, for me, being single mom with two kids

Is more tiring than one, but such is life.

Tuesday...away vs. Knoxville.

We didn't go...they lost.

Friday...away vs. Eddyville.

The two girls and I went, unaided by gma and gpa 

Since gpa had just gotten home from the hospital :(

(On his birthday, too yet:()

Eddyville is a small gym and it was packed.

The girls and I did ok...

Aubrey had a bit more than usual iPad time

And Avery did well being contained.

We had to take several potty/snack/crawl/run around breaks.

Aubrey also wasn't as thrilled that I 

Had to buy her halftime sucker instead of grandpa;)

The Osky team played very poorly.

We had 8 points at halftime!

After a butt chewing, they got their act in gear

And played a much better second half.

But it was too little, too late.

We lost.

Aubrey got to go in the locker room for the first time

After the game.

Daddy needed a little pick me up so

That he wouldn't yell more than needed ;)

Aubrey didn't really like it though...

She wanted Mommy! Go figure.

Saturday....home vs. Mt. Pleasant.

It was at 1:30.

We napped...they lost.

Three more games this week! Phew!

Haircut

Aubrey got her 3rd haircut from Kelly on Friday.

Here are her before and after pics!

She loves the pampering, sparkles, and braid she gets there :)

2-8 and 2-9

Yikes, with three games a week, it sure is hard to keep this updated

So here is a two for one post.

On Friday night, Pella came to town and we knew it would be tough

And it was, but the girls really played well

And held their own for awhile.

We got down quickly at 9-0 but maintained to 

Keep it to onLy a 13 point deficit at halftime.

Overall, the girls gave up too many offensive rebounds

And the Pella dutch were just too much ;( 

Final score was 60-34.

Saturday game time was 4:30 at home vs. Washington

For just a varsity girls game,

Which also meant...no crowd.

We had well wishes before the game started

And this was a game that was winnable, as well.

Our team was flat and did not play well at all!

The refs were "horrendous" according to Steve

And to be honest we were kind of surprised

 Steve didn't earn his second technical of the year ;)

We gave up 32 points in the first half to a team

That's whole game average was 34...:(

After a butt-chewing from Steve at halftime, 

There was a bit more effort from some,

And his sophomore post had the game of her life 

With 29 points and 12 rebounds!

You can't fault that effort.

At one point in the fourth quarter we got it down to four points

And the two of our players fouled out, 

Including our point guard and that was it.

Final score wa 57-45.

2-7

On Tuesday night the Oskaloosa Girls basketball team traveled to Norwalk

And the girls and I did not attend.

 Instead we stayed home and tried to listen to it on the radio.

It is a tad difficult to really concentrate

When you are trying to feed and bathe two needy girls.

The Norwalk team had not won a game all year

So we were thinking we could have a chance.

The team started off sluggish and came down quickly 11-2.

The girls did fight back and got it it tied 14-14 in the second quarter.

Unfortunately Norwalk went on a few runs and we couldn't regroup.

Apparently I wasn't paying that much attention to the game 

 During the fourth quarter because Andrea texted me that Steve got a technical!

What?! How did I miss that?!

(Later Steve told me it was a cheap call, as he was sitting 

Down and he and the rest of his coaching staff yelled, 

"That was a travel!")

And he was T'ed up on the spot.

Even a Norwalk fan told Steve later that it was a cheap call.

After the technical, Norwalk out scored us 18-4

So no momentum boost for us with that call, either!

Anyway, the final score was 66-37.

Friday night is home vs. a tough Pella team.

Snow

Last week we got about 8 inches of snow 

and then it got COLD!

Aubrey did brave the cold for about 10 minutes each day

just to get some fresh, frigid air and play in the snow.

Unfortunately when it's that cold, the snow doesn't make a snowman

Aubrey found out ;)

snow angel

thanks for scooping the snow back ONTO the drive way ;)

SNOW DAY snacks in jammies!

SNOW DAY fun!

CURLY hair for Daddy's game

(after a day in two braids)

blurry...but Daddy's little "puma tracksters"

Last Christmas

On Sunday we had our last Christmas with the 

extended Kaisand family who is around.

We had lunch and opened a few gifts.

Aubrey and Catrina (and Noah) playing with the cat "Oreo"

Aubrey LOVES to hang around Catrina

opening her present FIRST - a "Sofia the First" game

Avery's turn...

it was a puppy baby
(since this day, Avery says "Ba-By" all day long - so sweet
and she gives "Ba-By" kisses al day long, too)

Aubrey colored a picture for G and G

The girls got a present to share, so they had to open it together

EVERYONE loved playing with their new set of people and
swings, and horse and carriage...

Aubrey playing her new game with Aunt Cindy

G and G with the great grandkids:
Avery, Noah, Caden, Aubrey

 (as good as it gets with these four :)

"Disaster, Disaster, Picture Drama!"

(long post...don't read if you don't have time ;) 

If you have ever read any of the "Llama Llama" children's books,

this title may ring a bell to you a bit.

We own the book "Llama, Llama Time to Share"

and at one point the little llama doesn't want to share his dolly

and the dolly breaks in two and the phrase is used,

"Disaster, Disaster, Dolly Drama!"

Aubrey has picked up on this phrase and will use it in a time of crisis.

"Disaster, Disaster __________ Drama"

and she fills in whatever may be going on (kinda cute:))

Therefore my title is "PICTURE" drama .... in good Aubrey fashion.

Here it goes:

It was a lovely Saturday morning to take some

already rescheduled pictures (since the girls got sick in December).

I decided that they girls are usually pretty good and smiley, so

I would try it on my own and take both by myself.

It was mainly for Avery's 9 month pictures, but I figured

I would throw Aubrey in a few as well, since it doesn't cost extra.

Saturday morning proved to be a morning of getting everyone ready.

The girls needed baths, Avery a nap, snacks and bottles....

and a whole bag of accessories, bows, and outfit changes and we were off.

The appointment was at 11:15. The plan was take the pictures

in 45 minutes (or less!), go eat at Culver's and then pick out the pictures

and be home in time for a little later nap - all good.

Not really.

We get there and immediately get the girls' hair combed and we were ready to go.

The photographer gets the background set up and we were on our way.

She had Avery sitting and she was SMILING AWAY and LAUGHING

for 30 seconds

and then she crawled to me crying and afraid!

Literally, 30 seconds!

30 seconds!

We tried for the next twenty minutes,

different poses, with Aubrey, without Aubrey,

standing by a box, sitting on the box.

Laying on the chair.,,,BEADS!

NOTHING WORKED!

Avery was ticked and needed to be held by Mommy!

Meanwhile, Aubrey has been told to get out of the way

and stop clinging to Mommy - I needed to be with Avery.

The photographer suggested she sit in the window. So she did.

For 1 minute. Then she came to me and I shoved her away.

And now AUBREY was bawling since "you hurt my leg, Mommy!"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 

CHILDREN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

Once I calmed Aubrey down, we tried Avery one more time. 

At one point she jumped off the wooden box, head first. Awesome.

She was shaky in fear and pain and I knew it was not good.

The photographer was ready to give up, but I wasn't quite yet.

I thought we could try the two of them together again

but nope - not happening!

SO WE LEFT immediately and I WAS TICKED!

I told her I would maybe call her later and she said

she would put the few she had online for us to check out.

Aubrey had been promised Culver's if she was good - but she didn't get it!

Instead I drove back to Osky SO MAD

withOUT "her songs or her show" - NO!

You have to sit there quietly Aubrey, sorry! 

You did not earn anything, expect a firm talking to

3/4 of the way home! HA!

And you know what she says,

 "I am sorry but I don't know how to stop it?!"

YES YOU DO! 

You are in control of your actions, ALWAYS!

Not a good excuse.

Not a good mom move, but I wanted to talk so firm to her and make 

her feel disappointed in her actions, and once again, I brought her to tears.

Avery on the other hand was giggling the day away - UGH!

Okay. End rant.

I haven't even called the picture place back yet.

We are NOT rescheduling, NOT going back (until March)

and I am bringing reinforcements!

Please, once again, you faithful readers, tell me you have days like these ;)

2-6

Grandpa and Grandma Kaisand met us at our house on Saturday

And we made the quick commute in our van to North Mahaska.

This is the first time that we have played them during the year

And Steves family knows their coach from showing cattle.

It was just girls JV and Varsity and it was a LATE start of the Varsity

Game because the JV went into OT for their first win on the season!

So the game didn't start until 7:40 so we may have busted out the iPad 

A bit earlier than I normally would have, but the girls managed surprisingly well

And didn't get to bed until 9:40!

Anyway, back to the game.

We knew it would be a bit of a crazy game, just noting 

How the refs were making calls in the JV game.

Several girls were in foul trouble on both teams.

 We started off the first quarter very poorly down 16-9.

But after a bit of butt-chewing the girls got their act together.

Going into half time it was tied at 28-28.

NMs point gaurd was really good...but got in foul trouble.

She had to sit almost two whole quarters

But still managed to get 31 points! 

(PS...that girl goes to our church had has signed to play for Dordt next year)

Our point guard made 8/9 free throws down the stretch

Who was previously 2/15 on the season.

We won!

The final score was 64-54....a season high in points!

Congrats to the girls and of course our Coach Kaisand.

To Norwalk on Tuesday.

1-6

Friday night proved to be a tad less frigid, 

So the girls and I bundled up, along with grandma and grandpa

And headed to the home game vs. Newton.

Newton had also just one win on the season,

 So we knew it was a winnable game.

 Both teams were pretty well-matched and for the first three quarters 

We were either up by a few or it was down a couple.

The fourth quarter came and Newton goes up by about four or so

And with three and a half minutes to go, we looked defeated already.

They started to panic and quickly we lost control of the game.

 It turned into us fouling a lot in the end,

Causing a few of our girls to foul out and running Newtons score up.

The final I belive was 37-26.

It also didn't help that we were wanting to shoot the threes

But only made 1 of 17....yikes.

We really were hoping for a W....on to North Mahaska tonight

Where we have nother shot to win, as well.

1-5

On Tuesday night it was ABSOLUTELY FRIGID!

So, the girls and I stayed home and watched the game on TV.

It was Home vs. DCG and G and G Kaisand

didn't attend either due to sickness and injury.

We knew the game would not be pretty,

and I am kind of glad we didn't brave the weather and "enjoyed"

it on TV with our "picnic supper" in the living room.

Even Avery's high chair was pulled in - it was kinda fun.

Aubrey lasted as long as it took her to eat and then she was off.

Totally uninterested and I don't blame her ;)

She came around again at half time to with the girls AND BOYS dancers.

Well, about the game....not pretty as expected.

Lots and lots of turnovers by us and DCG was good.

There was running clock and I think the final score was 58-14, losing by 44!

 EEKKK!

We will leave it at that. Record is now 1-5. 

They play Friday night at home again vs. Newton,

hopefully a better report from that coming later. 

Christmas at the Kaisands

On New Year's Eve the girls stayed overnight 

at Grandma Char and Grandpa Craig's

and the rest of us joined the Kaisand family

on New Year's Day for our little Christmas.

Injured Grandpa (leg/knee)

and Avery and Noah hanging out

Reading the Christmas story before presents

Noah in his Mommy's wreath from Aunt Sara

Noah opening his gift from us

Avery got new jammies from the Palmers

I think it's safe to say Noah liked his gift from us :)

Grandpa reading Aubrey's new Veggie Tales Bible book

Aubrey is not sure the dress will fit ;)

colored water pellets for the bath

FROZEN washcloth from the McMahans 

Avery was still very much into eating the wrapping paper 

3 kiddos got "big kid" towels from G and G 

oh my...

"Best Gift Ever!"

testing out the colored bath...oh my :) GREEN!

...and PURPLE :) - thanks McMahans :)