Little Boy Basketball

I had to post about Hunter's first Upward basketball game.  Jared is his coach.  It is such a hoot to watch those kids play basketball.  There are 10 boys on the team.  On the team roster Jared got in the mail before the games started, they were listed in order of skill level.  Hunter was about 6th on the list.  He's not terrible but he's not the best on the team.  I say it's because there are 1st and 2nd graders on the team.  He's only in 1st of course so they have a year up on him, right?  Anyway, there are 6 6-minute periods.  Each boy gets to play 3 periods, whether in succession or not.  They could play every other or play 2, sit out 2.  It's the coaches call.  Also, they don't keep score at this age.  That's hard to get used to.  Isn't that what a sporting event is all about?  It's a neat league and we've really enjoyed all the sports Hunter's played so far.  Hunter actually had about 5 or 6 steals in the first game but got a whistle down the court for traveling or double dribbling.  He's a good shooter though.  Even if he did make it in the wrong goal! 

Strange Sights

You just never know what you're going to see at any given time at the Lillard house.  For instance, you might see a 16-month old sitting in a recliner, controlling the tv.  Or, you could see a 59-year old papaw styling barbie heads with his 4-year old granddaughter.  Apparently, you might get a glimpse of a 6-year old boy playing with his sister's dollhouse.  Last but certainly not least, you could see a little girl in a darth vader mask lying on the floor of a closet, after she was sent in there to pick the cars up.  I'm glad I have a blog now so I have a reason to use my camera! 

I Am Not Ready For This

I am in panic mode.  I am a nervous wreck.  Right now, I want to jerk Hunter out of public schools and put him in a Christian school with other kids, whose parents actually care about them being good and doing right.  This 1st grade year has been very enlightening for Hunter.  About a week ago, I learned that he knew "ass" was a bad word.  Not that that's the reason for my panicking.  I can deal with that.  I also learned that he knew it was something bad to "put all of your fingers down except the middle one".  I don't THINK he knows exactly what it means but the fact that he's onto "the bird" is not good.  Today, I learned that he got in trouble for making a sign with his hands that is basically calling someone else gay.  When the teacher showed me the sign, I immediately thought it was a gang sign.  She proceeded to tell me that it was the equivalent of calling someone gay.  Finally it dawned on me:  he doesn't know what gay is, does he?  We've never even gone there before.  I was stunned so that I didn't even know what to say to him on the way home.  He was cowering behind the back seat.  Apparently, some kid taught Hunter this sign in AUGUST!  He and Hunter have been doing it back and forth for months now and today, the other kid decided to tattle on Hunter for doing it to him.  They both got in trouble.  I did ask him what the sign meant and he said he didn't know at first.  Then I said "yes you do" and he said it means 2 boys in bed together!!!!  It was at that moment that I knew I could not finish this conversation alone.  My mind was swimming and I felt like I was drowning.  Where to begin with this conversation with a 6-year old!  PLEASE, if anyone out there has any advice, now would be a great time for it.  Of course, I've already called upon God to help me so I didn't have a panic attack.  Hopefully, He'll give us the words to say because I really don't know what to say to get through to Hunter.  I am really not ready for this!

Chase and the haircut

Yesterday, Chase got his first "real" haircut.  He's had his hair trimmed a couple of times but this one was The Big One.  While I loved his wings, I must say that he makes one very cute big boy.  He sat up on the booster seat, wore a cape and didn't cry.  He got to play with my phone, which is only used in emergency situations.  After the haircut we picked Jared up for lunch.  We went to a great little place called Frostop in North Little Rock.  They have some of the best burgers ever!  Chase and Avery shared a cheeseburger and some tater tots and I KNOW that he ate more than she did.  He loved every bite!  He also didn't even have to take a nap that day.  What a big day for a little boy!

Random

What else do you do on New Year's Day but sit in front of the TV and watch bowl games and eat cheese dip & chips?

Also, a few pics from Christmas.  I have many more but this blog thing didn't act like it was going to let me put anymore on here.  

There is a story for the last picture.  It follows: 

Today was a very unusual day for us.  It started raining this morning before the sun came up and by 9:00, it started freezing.  It continued to rain all day long and continued to freeze on the trees, grass and bushes but not the road.  At 12:30 our electricity flickered about 10 times, seriously.  Chase was just sitting on the kitchen floor being totally still watching the lights come on and go off.  When they remained off, he started to whimper.  I had to go pick Hunter up at school at 2:30 and the lights at his school were also off.  We came back home and as we were getting out of the car, I realized I didn't have a house key on my ring.  I couldn't open the garage door because of the power outage.  We had to drive all the way to the arena to get Jared's house key.  I didn't have my purse, driver's license, A PASSY or anything.  We got home and the power was still off.  It was getting cold in the house and it was kind of dark too.  I finally thought to put a DVD in the computer by the fire that I built for the 2 big kids.  We were just all sitting in the living room floor by the fire when Jared got home at 5:15.  It was just one of those days that you realize how thankful you are for things like electricity and heat.  Anyway, I also got out of cooking dinner so we went to Cracker Barrel for some breakfast.  Yay!  It was definitely a day out of the ordinary for us.  Oh yeah, and Buck got to lay on a nice, cozy couch out in the garage.  So, the last picture is of the kids in the dark, watching a movie.  

I Can't Even Think Of A Good Title!

I am a little brain dead at the moment.  Thursday, my parents came down to give Avery her birthday present since they couldn't come for her party.  Friday, I had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon that repaired my hernia.  Saturday, we got the two big kids to Canaan's birthday party by noon and then left for the Arkansas basketball game at 1:00.  Got home from the game and left with the whole family to eat dinner.  Came home to a messy house and did as much picking up and preparing for a birthday party as I could without feeling like it was all going to be undone before the party.  Sunday, went to church, lunch and home to run around like a mad woman finishing everything up before our party guests arrived at 3:00.  Avery's birthday party was a crazy, loud, chaotic time with lots of kids and parents all talking and playing and laughing at the same time.  The party was done with at 4:27 and my house was pretty scary looking.  Now, at 9:27 pm, my kids are asleep, the kitchen is cleaned up and the trash is all neatly piled in and beside the trash can.  School begins tomorrow.  Along with gymnastics on Monday nights, Upward basketball practice on Tuesday afternoons, church on Wednesdays and work on Tues/Wed/Thurs.  The rat race resumes.  I am really going to enjoy my next 9 minutes before I go to bed!  (See?  Who possibly cares about any of that?)

Callie, I'll leave the tribute to Avery post to you.  You're WAY better at this than I am!