January 17, 2014

Basketball Clinic

Basketball clinic/play date episode 3. I asked Nicco if he wanted to go play b-ball or go to swim practice and as expected, his answer was "neither." Ultimately, he decided that he would rather play basketball and I made him a deal. He has to give it a good try, listen, pay attention, do his very best, for 10 days. If he still hates it after 10 times, I won't make him do it anymore. He agreed. And, the little stinker had fun.

I like these pictures, even though they are from behind. You can still see the boy's smile as he passes the ball in to his friend. 

I passed one of the other moms going in to get her kid as I walked out with Nicco. She asked him if it was fun. He said part fun, part not. I asked what percent fun. We were hoping for an improvement like last time, but we were pleasantly surprised when he said 50%!



January 14, 2014

The Boss had an appropriate foot rest for the Bear Bridge Ranch. Sadly, the foot rest remained in a closet for most of its time at the ranch. One day, the Boss asked the Daddy if he wanted it. The Daddy brought it home and gave it to Nicco.

And now everyone is happy.

January 12, 2014

"The weary sun hath made a golden set, and by the bright tract of his fiery car gives token of a goodly day tomorrow."
(Shakespeare, Richard III)

January 11, 2014

The Fuzzy Buddy

Mostly, Frankie sleeps. And gives us dirty looks.

She's a cat, after all. And that's what cats do. Cats are also curious. I've been cleaning nooks and crannies and drawers and cabinets and Frankie wants to know exactly what is going on around here.



And maybe she thinks I'm giving her a new place to hide and roll her eyes.

January 11, 2014

Basketball Clinic Continues


Nicco's evaluation of round two of basketball clinic play dates with some friends: "It was 10% fun."

That is a 10% improvement from "I hate basketball and I'm never doing this again."

At this rate, he will L-O-V-E basketball 100% in just about 10 tries! Win!

Special thanks to Heidi for hosting and Josh for being a very patient, understanding, and kind coach. The efforts are much appreciated.

January 7, 2014

Oh my goodness gracious me, Good Morning!

Also, my car had a little snowflake by the temperature this morning. As if I don't know that 41* is cold. (P.S. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo to anyone with minus temps!)

January 6, 2014

My child had a hard time getting his britches on this morning because the top button was buttoned. "Why do you always button my pants before you give them to me?" he asked, annoyed. I told him it's because he doesn't UN-button them when he takes them off, I don't button the pants when I fold the laundry like his grandma. I said his Grandma does some weird things. "She's not weird!" he said, defensively. I clarified that I didn't say she's weird all the time or that everything she does is weird. "No, that's grandpa." he said.

Sorry Dad, you have a Grandpa Madsen reputation. Silly, weird.

January 5, 2014

Infinity Scarf

I'm not the only one in my family to revisit the skills I learned in my youth. My little sister dusted off her crochet hooks this year too. She made me my first infinity scarf for Christmas. I've never had an infinity scarf. She said she was planning to find, print, and send some images of different ways to wear it, but she got lazy or in a hurry. I had to figure it out myself.

Is this how you do it, I asked her...

There are no rules in scarf wearing, she said.

Lucky me! Although, there is sort of one rule...it should be cold enough to need it. In that regard, my opportunities for scarf wearing are limited here in Tucson.

 

Fun though. Cute. I like it!

January 4, 2014

"Hey mom, let's be funny!" said my child, as he turned on "A Night in Casablanca." We've been giggling ever since.

January 1, 2014

New Year's Resolutions

We made some nice family and individual plans to make 2014 productive and joyful. We have some lofty goals, but you know, reach for the stars.

Frankie on the other hand.
Frankie's resolution is to get more sleep.

December 31, 2013

New Year's Eve

We pulled out some snacks and our new favorite game (thanks, Aunt Di!) and got ready to party all night and ring in the New Year.

Frankie was not amused.

We laughed and sang (yes. sang. Nicco loves rock and roll suddenly) and played and ate and when the clock struck twelve, we headed outside to light up the night.

We were the only ones out on our street. Bunch of party poopers!

2013 was fantastic. Brilliant. Full of good memories and great times.

We're ready to make 2014 the best year yet!

December 30, 2013

Pinewood Derby

Nicco got his first block of wood from scouts. He's been designing his car for the derby since.
It's going to be blue. It will look like his Daddy's Dodge Challenger R/T. It will probably be very fast.

He's very serious.

December 30, 2013

Kitty Jail

We cleaned and organized some things and emptied out this wire bin.
Frankie hangs out there. I think it looks like she's in jail, but since she puts herself in the solitary confinement, maybe it's something else. Like sanctuary. A panic room. A place to go where someone can't get her.

Whatever it is, it's funny.

December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas


Christmas is fun. I remember packing snacks and games and sleeping bags and blankets and pillows all in one room so my three sisters and I could entertain ourselves comfortably as we inevitably stayed awake all night long on Christmas eve, unable to sleep with the excitement and anticipation.


As a mama though, it's way more fun. Now I stay up late putting finishing touches on gifts and piles and writing notes to/from The Claus, filling stockings, etc. I don't stay up all night like I did as a kid, but the excitement and anticipation is just as palpable.


This year we could. not. wait. until the boy got up to see his surprises.

He was thrilled with his 11th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver. He goes around sonic-ing everything. 

He was happy, but a little intimidated I think, with his very own bb gun.

The screwdriver and a Dalek bookmark and the bb-gun were all the presents for him under the tree. The Daddy and I opened our gifts and I could tell that Nicco, thrilled as he was with the sonic, was a bit disappointed.

I led him down the hall where his entire bedroom door was wrapped. I guess he thought it was just decoration. I told him I thought it looked more like the biggest present ever. He opened the door and ...

Wow!

Ooh!

Aah!

Awesome!

Oh my goodness!

Yippee!

He L-O-V-E-D his new pad. He explored and tried out every nook and cranny. We could not have wished for a better reaction. Even the Fuzzy Buddy was excited!

After the initial surprise wore off, he made himself comfy as the Man of his House.

He invited me to sit on his couch and read while he played.

We joined him. All of us.

And it was a very merry Christmas indeed!