Changing seasons

Thursday night marked the end of the kids' first ice skating class. They were in the "Snowplow Sam" class for 5 and 6 year olds. Next winter they would both be able to be in the Level 1 intermediate class. Thursday night was also Nadia's last basketball team practice for the year, and yesterday she had her last game. Paul's parents met us there to see her play. Everyone was hoping she'd make her first basket, but it didn't happen. She was closer two weeks ago. Everyone was pulling for her - the coaches of BOTH teams, the ref, players on both teams, etc. They kept feeding her the ball, and she had many attempts. Last year I had zero expectation that she'd make any baskets, but I admit that once she started making them in practices (as many as 12 in one night), I definitely got my hopes up that she'd make one during a game this year. Last week she wasn't feeling well when she played, so I had my hopes up yesterday to finally see her make a basket. I admit I felt very disappointed, but I didn't say a word about it. She loves playing basketball has improved in many ways over the past year (dribbling, defense, etc.). Paul's favorite moments were when she dove to the floor for the ball.

She is very excited about playing basketball again next year, when she'll be on a 2nd/3rd grade team. She's been on a K/1st team the past two years. The kids will be getting more practice at basketball the next two weeks at homeschool gym classes with the coach from Bucknell. Ian right now is not too thrilled at the idea of playing on a basketball team next winter, but we are going to sign him up anyhow. We are trying to get him out of this phase of saying he's too shy to do such things. We want our kids to try different things and then they can decide what they want to continue to pursue. Paul will be coaching Ian's U6 soccer team this spring. We haven't heard from Nadia's coach yet, but practices will be starting in the very near future! They will be missing two of the eight spring games due to our trip to Florida. They played all eight soccer games in the fall, and Nadia played all eight basketball games this winter.

Since it will be officially spring in a few days, a couple of days ago I also went through the house and took the remaining snowman decorations to the basement. Tomorrow it's supposed to feel like spring outside  (high of 59). I am planning on taking the kids to the playground for the first time in months. WOOHOO!

My fever broke on Saturday morning. PTL! When it still was registering at 101 on Friday afternoon I called the doctor's office, but they didn't have any openings until Monday.

Normally Paul's parents come over to our house when they come up for soccer or basketball, but they didn't come over yesterday due to all the germs floating around our house with three of us coughing. They met us at church this morning to hear the kids' choir sing in the second service (Nadia had a short solo at the beginning of the song), and instead of coming to our house they treated us to lunch at Pizza Hut so we could have a little more time together, as we hadn't seen them in a month. Hopefully we will be healthy soon so they can come to our house for a visit. Our church has an average attendance of 1,500+ so I was pleased with Nadia's poise during both services this morning. In April they are singing three verses of "Jesus Loves Me" - two of the verses they will also be signing in ASL and the third verse they are singing in Spanish in honor of those in our church who are deaf and those who speak Spanish.