3-19 That's all she wrote...

Tonight was the girls' basketball team's first game in the play offs 

and it also was their last of the year.

They traveled to Fairfield for a 7:00 tip-off time.

We didn't go and neither did Steve's parents since they are living it up in sunny Florida.

The girls got off to a bad start, as usual, and had way too many turnovers early.

They got it together a bit more in the second quarter and were down 33-21 at half, I think.

During the second half, they may have gotten it down to an eight point spread but that's it.

Fairfield ended up running away with it and there was a running clock.

The final was 67-32 or close to that at least. 

So that is all she wrote....an end to another season...hopefully we can all enjoy a slower pace of life until track starts in the spring. 

Valentine's Day

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Valentine's Day

but I wanted to make it special for our girls.

I don't ever really remember growing up, it being a big deal

but it seems now that every "holiday" is a reason to celebrate with kids.

I guess I really do like to show them how much we love them ;)

I like buying gifts a little too much maybe :)

Oskaloosa Christian always does a fundraiser with making

V-day cookies and you can have them delivered, too.

So Steve got cookies delivered at school

and I also had a batch delivered to the babysitter for the kiddos, too!

The girls had a 3 day celebration.

First with gifts from Grandpa and Grandma VG on Thursday!

Which included chocolates, books, necklace...)

(Not a picture - sorry!)

On Friday, they each took home a goodie-bag full of Valentine's

from all the babysitter kiddos.

Then on Saturday, they got gifts from us.

It was like Christmas all over  - 

even decked out in their pink and red jammies, appropriately ;)

"How Much Do I Love You?" book - pretty cute 

(think in Frozen Anna's voice..."CHOCOLATE!")

Elsa card

Minnie Mouse V-day book

card, chocolates, pink "A" necklace, nail polish

Steve surprised Mommy with a gift card

JUST FOR MOMMY to get her McCafes-

that means he is giving me permission to do so! :)

our BIG girl!

Daddy reading Aubrey her new book

 Daddy also surprised EACH girl with a ROSE!

Avery-yellow, Aubrey-pink, and Mommy-red

VERY SWEET :)

Avery loved to flail her rose around (and try to eat it, too!)

3-18

Friday night was the last ball game of the year

That we will attend.

We had the whole Kaisand gang there...

Craig, Char, Andrea, Noah, 

Me and the girls,

Grandma and Grandpa Kaisand,

And the whole Dixson family

(Mostly because they are also Pella fans, but that's ok...

They did sit on the Osky side during the girls game)

We knew the game would be brutal and it was.

With this being the last regular season game, 

It appeared the girls just gave up

And that frustrated Coach Kaisand a lot.

But you can preach it to them all day long

But ultimately it is their actions and decisions.

Too bad for them.

The final was 68-31.

Wow, 11 months!

Wow, 11months...how did that happen to our 

Sweet Avery Leigh?!

Here's what she's up to:

-sleeps from 8 pm - 7 am

-still likes her three naps a day

-has two bottom teeth and five top ones

-crawls like a missile and cruises all over

-stands up by herself, but hasn't taken any steps yet

-loves to play in Aubrey's room with her

-takes four 6 oz bottles a day

-has baby food 2-3 times a day

Along with some solids...her favorites include...

-bread, strawberries, cheese, crackers, lunch meat...

-gives open mouth kisses often

-loves to splash and bouce around in the tub

(And stand up for that matter)

-knows the meaning of NO and gets pouty when told so

-still loves her thumb and blankie

-naughtily likes to "drink" hairspray and detangler bottles

-wears size 3 diapers and around 12 month clothes

-plays very well by herself...

Loves loves to "read" books by herself 

-is often seen carrying something around in her mouth...

Such as toys or socks or fuzz

-doesn't keep socks on for the life of her!
-babbles a lot, "says" dadda, baby, hi dad

Can't believe in a month we celebrate her turning ONE!

Unfortunately for her, she was always have a joint party with her sister.

3-17

On Tuesday, we had our LAST HOME game of this season.

Grandpa and Grandma and the girls and I attended.

It was also Senior Night.

Aubrey enjoyed playing with "H" again and that kept her very entertained,

although she did miss her last national anthem-

due to a quick potty stop.

She may have been in tears over that one!

The team played Norwalk, which is also another "beatable" team

but last time we were blown away 60-40.

The girls played really well this time!

They were able to work together and shoot a lot better!

It was the "9 point nemesis" that continued to linger.

We could get it down to a 9 point spread but hardly past that.

Overall, the girls looked like they were competing

throughout the entire game.

The final score was 51-41

(also a "pretty high" score for our typical team).

On to Pella on Friday for the last regular season game.

Regional Game #1 will be on Wednesday vs. Fairfield.

3-16

I know this is a tad belated, but this needs its own post -

WE GOT ANOTHER WIN!

On Saturday night, the girls played Albia at Home

in a non-conference match up.

After a later start time than normal, Grandma Char joined us.

We knew this was a "winnable" game but so were many others, we had thought.

The girls came out to a QUICK lead!

They were shooting the ball well and working together!

It was really FUN to watch!

I think by halftime, we had close to 28 and Albia might have had only 8!

Now we know what it is like to be on the OTHER side of a 

lopsided score - we may have been a bit bored ;)

Not really - we liked it!

The girls hung on and played well!

There was even a running clock on their end.

The final score was 55-21!

YIPPEE! Way to go, Indians!

Aubrey was invited to go into the locker room to celebrate!

2-16

On Friday night the team traveled to Newton...we did not attend.

The girls and I stayed home and listened while we had supper.

Aubrey even had to turn off the lights, put our hand our heart and sing to our "flag" on the frig.

I actually listened to the game well the first quarter and we were ahead! 12-11

Then came play time and bath time for my girls while Steve's ball girls kept on.

The team did not manage to stay ahead for much longer and the final was 58-43.

Four games to go...

2-15

Tuesday night the girls made the long, cold trip all the way to

Dallas Center Grimes.

That's without saying that we did not attend.

Last time we played this team we had a total of 14 points,

thankfully we did a bit better than that this time.

I had the game on in the background of supper and baths

and of course, I didn't catch a lot of it.

But, as Steve said, they may have played the best 

PARTS of the game they have played all year

but they cannot string together anything that lasts.

DCG was on a roll of hitting shots, 

that they typically would not have been making,

but teams seem to do that to us - 

go on runs that are a bit uncharacteristic of their players.

Go figure.

The final score was 76-31.

On that note, we have four regular season games left

and one Regional game.

We have been paired with Fairfield at Fairfield. 

We are down to the "two weeks notice."

I can say that I am ready :)

In bed...

Snow days are made for memories...Aubrey hopping into Avery's crib :) 

Snow!

Saturday the snow came and snowed through Sunday.

(ALL of these pics were taken while I was inside through the window:))

Daddy and Aubrey braved the weather a bit!

Daddy (and Aubrey) making a snowman.

Aubrey was making the nose with a stick.

Final product!

Steve figured close to ten inches when it was all said and done

Lots of extra time spent with Daddy this weekend

Monday brought a snow day...the girls entertained themselves with selfies...lol

So sunny and sparkly on Monday

Daddy shoveling for the third time since it drifted 

Aubrey playing out in it for about twenty minutes...that's all she lasts