Basketball Season

We decided to try something different this basketball season. Jake has had such bad experiences in AAU the last few years, he wanted to try to make a club basketball team. There are a bunch of clubs in the Boise area and we told Jake that if he worked hard and was able to make a club team we would see what we could to. He picked one of the clubs that takes a break in the season to allow him to play basketball for his school team as well, Boise Slam. 

He went to their camps over the Summer to get ready to try out and caught the coaches eye with his hard work and smart play. He tried out and made the team. We sat down and planned it out and agreed to try to make it work. Club basketball is an expensive proposition. There is a monthly fee, plus pretty hefty uniform costs. Additionally, you pay for each tournament and the travel and lodging costs as well. We agreed to pony up and see if he liked the experience. 

He is just finishing the first half of the season now. We have one more tournament this next weekend prior to taking a break. They have had a pretty rough first half. We played a local tournament in Nampa after we got back from London and they got beat up pretty badly. Then we played a tournament in Burley, which is far enough away that Jake and I stayed overnight in Twin Falls. They lost all of their play in games but won in the final game to stay out of last place. The team struggled shooting and Jake didn't play great either. Then we traveled to the first big tournament in Portland. Jake's team played in a four team, four game bracket and lost all four games by double digits. The competition once you get out of state is a lot tougher and the team didn't play very well again. Jake struggled as well, ending the tournament with more turnovers that points. We had a really fun trip (aside from the actual basketball), we hung out with the team, went and saw Creed which Jake really liked and got Voodoo Donuts for breakfast. The trip wiped Jake out and we didn't get home until almost midnight on Sunday. 

He got some private coaching sessions as a Christmas gift as well as a bunch of other Basketball gear and is looking to put it to use as he works to get better in time for school tryouts as well as the second half of his club season. 

Tanner played his last season of Yball this year. He did well and had fun playing on the Hidden Springs team. We're trying to figure out if he will play AAU next year or if he will join Jake in the Boise Slam club. Once Tanner's basketball season ended, he was able to start throwing a baseball again. He did a Christmas camp with a couple of former pro ballplayers right before Christmas. They were impressed with his pitching velocity as a 10 year old. He starts a pitching camp with the Boise High School coaching staff in a couple of weeks as well as a middle infielders camp. Little League hitting workouts start in the next couple of weeks as well as we start to get ready for tryouts at the end of February

Thanksgiving in London

We left for London on November 20^th, the day before Tanner’s birthday, at 230 in the afternoon. We flew to SFO and had a 4 hour layover there before departing on the 11 hour journey to Heathrow. The seats had individual TV screens, which the kids of course loved, so they zoned out for about 4 hours watching movies and playing video games before we made them turn off and try to sleep. I’m not sure how much sleep any of us got but eventually they turned on the cabin lights and served us breakfast.  At this point we realized Tanner had turned 10 while flying over the ocean, so we wished him a happy birthday. A few more episodes of Borgen later and we landed. I can’t say we looked, felt, or smelled very pleasant!

Joan and Phil picked us up and we drove to their home in Bookman’s Park- a very nice suburb of London where we had a delicious meal of homemade spaghetti followed by a special birthday cake for Tanner.  It’s the first birthday any of our kids have spent with Grandpa Phil so it was pretty special! We made ourselves stay awake until 730 then crashed out until around 10AM the next day!

Sunday we drove to Windsor and toured the castle. The kids weren’t as interested in the history as I’d hoped, but, to be honest, Brian and I haven’t really given them a lot of opportunities to experience museums and tours and things, so we weren’t that surprised. Faith loved the audio tour, however, and she enjoyed hearing all the castle stories. They all enjoyed seeing the grandiosity of the rooms and the look of the castle itself. Brian and I were fascinated by the austerity and wealth it all represented. After touring the castle we spent some time in Windsor exploring shops and eating a late lunch. The town was decked out in holiday decorations which was really cool. I think the kids’ favorite part of the day was when Grandpa Phi bought food for the swans and they ran along the riverside and on the bridges feeding them!

Monday morning we woke up a little earlier and headed to the local train station to hop a train to London. The kids loved riding the tube. We had rented an AirBnB for two nights so we dropped our luggage there, then headed out to explore the area. We were right in the heart of London, a two minute walk from St. Paul’s Cathedral, and surrounded by pubs, restaurants, and shops. That day we spent with Phil and Joan and we covered a lot of ground! 10+ miles to be exact! We walked to the Sky Garden, then to the London Eye where Phillip had purchased tickets for us all. The kids loved riding in the huge ferris wheel and looking at the London skyline, identifying famous sites, etc…. We found a good pizza place for lunch (one of the only things all of the kids would eat in London) and then walked back to the Sky Garden where we went to the 33^rd floor for a cocktail and view of the city at night. Joan and Phil headed back home and we headed to our little apartment (or “flat”). 

It was a beautiful, fun place to stay. Great windows overlooking the neighborhood. It was situated above a pub and Brian and I left the kids with their devices while we went downstairs to eat fish and chips and share a pint. None of us slept very well that night, in fact, Tanner and Jake and Brian and I were awake from about 1-3 eating frosted flakes on the couch. The late night led to a very late sleep in for the kids and we didn’t get out of the flat until after 10AM on Tuesday. That was OK because Brian and I had our coffee and energy drinks handy and we enjoyed sitting in the front room watching the Londoners arrive for work and listening to music.

We started Tuesday with a double decker bus tour of London. Our first stop was the Tower of London which we toured on our own, saw the crown jewels, and the torture rooms, as well as the many different areas of the tower itself. It was very cool, but, once again, I think the kids favorite part was seeing the Ravens that are housed there and chasing the pigeons through the squares. Hmmmm. I see a bird theme going on here.

After lunch we boarded the bus tour again- that was a mistake. The city is FULL of construction and we basically sat, in the rain, in a lot of bumper to bumper traffic while trying to get to our next stop- Covent Garden- to buy theater tickets. We gave up after about 90 minutes and bought tube passes and took a quick train over to the theatre district. We bought tickets to Mamma Mia then headed quickly back to our flat to meet one of my oldest and dearest friends, Yoshi, for a beer and (more) pizza before our 745 show. After a fun hour and a half catching up on life, Yoshi ordered us a car to take us back to the theater. It dropped us right in front and we all enjoyed the play. After it ended we walked to PIcadilly Circus where the kids had a midnight snack at McDonalds, taking in the lights and sounds of the city at night. The tube took us right back to our flat where we collapsed into bed.

Wednesday we woke up late again and after breakfast at a local café, we headed out to Spittalfields Market (for me) and then Harrods (for the kids). Brian and the kids were patient while I checked out all the stalls of jewelry and clothing; then I was patient while the kids explored Harrod’s toy department.  Late that afternoon we stopped back by our flat, picked up our luggage, and took the train back to the station nearest Phillip and Joan’s house where Phillip was waiting for us. We went back to their house where Joan cooked us another delicious meal (followed by another delicious fruit crisp).

Thursday was Thanksgiving- not only in the USA but also in our own little area of London. Phillip moved to England 30 years ago and wanted a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal so he gathered all of Joan's family and Joan and her daughter Sarah cooked up the feast. Joan cooked pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, and more while Sarah did the turkey and vegetables, etc...  We had such a fun time celebrating this American holiday in London! We were at Sarah's house- about 15 minutes from Joan and Phil's place- and our kids loved spending the day with their "British cousins".  Sarah's girls are 12 and 15.  Harriet and Faith had a great time, as did Jake and Georgia.  Mark, Joan's son, also joined in the festivities and brought his son Jack who had just passed his drivers exam that morning. His girlfriend Helen and her son Connor were also there. We sat around the table and listened to story after story that kept us laughing all night while the kids all played upstairs. It was a really fun night. 

Our last day I took Tanner down to Brookman's Pub again for morning coffee enjoying our one-on-one time, while Brian and Phil worked out at the gym and Faith and Joan hung out at home. That afternoon we went with Sarah and her girls to a local ice skating rink then back to her house for leftover turkey made into a pot pie.  

It was a really fantastic trip. I think everyone had a good time- but I'm sure Phillip and Joan slept for a week straight after they got their home back from our crew! 

Tanner Turned 10

We had to celebrate Tanner's birthday a little early this year so on Friday, Nov. 13th he had his dinner out with Brian at Applebees. We keep thinking his culinary tastes will improve but Tanner said it was a choice between Applebees or Taco Bell and Brian convinced him that a bean and cheese burrito from Taco Bell wasn't a real great birthday dinner! We followed that with the family gifts at our house.  He mostly wanted baseball gear this year and we got him a new catcher's mitt, an under armor long sleeve shirt, and a blitz ball. Jake and Faith got him a bow and arrow (toy) and an archery lesson which he LOVED, and Nana gave him money for London.  He got some pretty cool baseball pillow cases from Mary and a NY Yankees hoodie from Auntie Sue.  

The next night was his friend's birthday. We had 6 boys over for pizza and cake followed by a trip to Dart Warz- an indoor nerf gun/glow in the dark place in Meridian. They all loved it! Three of the boys spent the night and then joined us for chocolate chip pancakes the next morning and some games on the green.  

His real birthday was celebrated when we arrived in London- on his actual birth date (Nov. 21). I don't think he even really remembered it was his birthday until Brian and I reminded him when he woke up on the red eye flight.  Phillip and Joan got him a birthday cake and we sang happy birthday to him after dinner- before crashing into bed at 730 exhausted and completely jet lagged. 

It's hard to believe my second child is now in the "double digits". He is so "innocent" compared to how Jake was at that age- he's still such a little boy and I have to admit that I eat it up.  He is loving and kind and really smart. He is an amazing big brother to Faith and takes care of her in ways that constantly surprise me and make me so proud. He is funny and silly and forgetful. He is a boy of few words- trying to get him to talk to us and tell us anything about his day is like pulling teeth! He has a crooked grin and knobby knees that are usually stained green and pointy elbows. He's skinny and strong and athletic and creative. I remember being disappointed initially when I found out that I was going to have two boys... wow...I can't imagine my world without my second boy.  He is a true blessing.

Halloween 2015 is in the Books

We realized a few weeks ago that we hadn’t had Mary for a visit since last Christmas. We called her up and made plans and chose Halloween Weekend for a visit due to the baseball schedule that would allow her to see both boys play a game on Saturday.  It also worked out well since the kids were off school Thursday and Friday. We made good use of the time!

Thursday Jake had school but Tanner and Faith didn’t, so after Parent/Teacher conferences (which were great as usual) Mary and I took them to Jump Time and then to Simplot Hill to play. I think I could’ve saved the 15 bucks and just taken them to the hill! They ran up it and down it, slid down, rolled down, trudged up, and did it again until I finally had to tell them it was time to get home.  On Friday we took them to see Inside Out- which they had both seen but I had not.  Mary and I really enjoyed it, too.  Jake brought his friend Ryan and they went and saw a different movie- more interesting to a 12 year old boy that thinks he’s 26.   That evening Mary got to see Faith do her gymnastics lesson while I took Jake to basketball practice and Brian took Tanner to his final baseball practice of the year.  Never a dull moment!

Saturday was Halloween and we had a full day planned. Jake’s game was at 10 and Mary and I picked up Dad and brought Tanner and Faith to meet Brian and Jake at the field.  We enjoyed the game, stopped for takeout sandwiches en route to Tanner’s game, met Nana there, then watched his game from 1-3.  It was the last games of the season and I know Mary really enjoyed watching them play.  After a brief stop to pick up take and bake pizzas for Halloween dinner, we headed home where the kids watched TV and I napped until 5.  Then it was dinner and into costumes.  Jake was a human voting booth- which Brian helped him design and build and which apparently was a big hit with the neighborhood.  Faith was a kitty cat lady of some sort and Tanner was a nerd (along with his best friend, Gus).  

Brian and Mary stayed back to hand out candy and watch the World Series game, while I dropped Tanner off with his friends for his first “parent free” trick-or-treating experience. He was out for 2+ hours and had a blast with all his buddies.  I went along with Faith and her friend Abby (who dressed as a crazy old cat lady) then headed home after about 90 minutes to watch the rest of the game. The Mets won, so that rounded out a pretty fun night. We hosted a triple sleepover at our house that night but kids were all great and mostly asleep by 1030.  

The next morning Brian made everyone pancakes while we told Tanner repeatedly that, no, he could not eat all his Halloween candy for breakfast!!! The candy bin is overflowing but likely won’t be for long. Brian and I are the worst culprits. I have no willpower around those little mini Twix bars!!!

Next up-we celebrate Tanner’s 10^th birthday in two weeks, followed a week later by our trip to London. When we return it will be less than a month until Christmas. Time flies this time of year!

Fall Ball

So this was our first year of playing Fall Baseball. Both of the boys decided not to play football this year. Tanner we knew from last season didn't want to play tackle after he was done with his flag years. Jake kept saying he wanted to play on the lightweights (under 105) team for his middle school. He went to off season workouts and weightlifting over the summer and decided he wasn't really into it, so we were able to get him signed up for baseball at the last minute. 

He was too old to play Majors and there was no Intermediate Division available in fall, so he made the jump all the way up to the big (high school) field. His team was horrible and he was the youngest kid on it, but also the best player for the most part. He ended up pitching almost every single game as well as playing catcher and Center Field. He really got a lot better over the course of the season. I wasn't able to see a lot of his games as I was coaching Tanner's Fall Ball team, but was able to see a couple. The rules change at this level to be real baseball, including leading off, stealing and balks. In the game this weekend, Jake picked off two guys while pitching, which I never taught him to do and he's never been able to do before. He still needs to grow into the field size with his pitching and hitting, but did really well. It's going to be tough for him to play in the Spring with his basketball schedule, but the coach he's going to play for in High School really wants him to play next season. He's going to have the ability to workout with the High School team in the winter/spring and them possible play on the American Legion team over next season (which in Boise is the pre-season HS squad for the most part). So he is coming to the end of his Little League career, and he likes Basketball better than Baseball, but he has a future in HS in the sport if he wants it. 

Tanner played up a division in the Fall, playing with the 12 year olds. He played All Stars and there was no point in him going back and playing Fall Baseball with his own age group. His friends form the All Star team, Gus and Evan, played up with the 12 year olds also and all of them held their own. North Boise Little League had the best teams in the Valley in this Fall season. Our team only lost one game to a really good team of ALL 12 year olds. Tanner has done really well. I was hoping that playing up would get him set to play Majors next year (a year early) and not be too scared by the hard throwing pitchers. I think he will be fine and he impressed all of the coaches he played for and against. He pitched some, caught a lot and played his normal smart baseball in the field. The guy that managed his team will manage in majors and said he would draft Tanner to that division. Since Tanner pitched in Spring, Summer and Fall now, we're going to shut him down from baseball over the next two months completely. He'll play basketball, but no pitching or throwing of any kind to give his arm a break. After Christmas, he'll start up working out with the High School program in their youth camps. 

Both Marisa and I found we didn't miss Football Saturdays at all and really liked getting up on Saturdays to watch baseball instead. Tanner has already said he wants to play again next year, so we'll be back. 

September (in October)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- September 2015

September was a busy month- as evidenced by the fact that we didn’t get a single blog written- a first in our ten year blogging history.  Here’s  our month in a nutshell:

• Tanner went through an intense fear of spiders which caused some very difficult bedtimes complete with crying and screaming fits. He appears to be over it now but we suspect is may have been due to his slight Minecraft addiction.

• The boys each had baseball games each Saturday. Loved every second of it! Fall Ball is awesome because the weather is perfect.  Dad came each week to watch his grandsons and cheer. 

• Jake had a girlfriend. She broke up with him. Jake has a new girlfriend.  He went on a “group date” to the movies where he held her hand. I had small mental breakdown worrying about my preteen and lamenting the fact that his childhood as I knew it is pretty much gone now that he is in middle school.  Both loving and hating these days of “growing up”.  

• Dad tried to take up tennis again. Ten minutes into his first “practice” with his caregiver, John, I  got a phone call from him at the ER. 7 staples in his head and 4 hours later we picked up pulled pork sandwiches and headed back to paramount where I took his tennis racquet and balls back home with me. He’s fine now. He got really lucky. 

• I officially began my new job as “West Coast Director of Implementation” for TTM. I am challenged daily but not overwhelmed. Feeling very happy and fulfilled on the work front.

• All the kids settled into their new grade levels with ease. They continue to do well in school and, more importantly, continue to love it. 

• We went to Old Time Farm Days where Tanner and Jake learned to shoot arrows. Now Tanner wants lessons. Maybe our love of the show Arrow has something to do with it….

• NFL began.  Sundays mostly see us dividing and conquering: Brian does laundry while watching games, monitoring his weekly Draft Kings lineup, and comparing stats with the boys. Jake eats lunch with Papa and plays poker and pool, I grocery shop, and Faith watches way too many Minecraft videos