Jumping with Six Year Olds, and Other Fun Tales.

Another basketball season came to an end. It is hard to believe that HD only has two seasons left, and LD three. For years it felt like this season of racing around to all the different basketball games would last forever. It will be odd when it is over.

Here’s a picture of the boys together before their first game together only four years ago.

I asked them to take a redo this year and THEY SAID NO. I shall pick up the pieces of my shattered heart. Next year I will get one.

LD, aka Mr. Mullet, had a good season on JV and learned a lot. I am excited to see him play next year. Here’s a video of him during one of his best games.

He had somewhere around 27 points that game and made 5 3-pointers in a row. It was all very exciting.

Not too long after, he just came to me out of nowhere.

LD: Mom. I am going to be done with this mullet.

Me (trying to conceal my elation): Oh? Why?

LD: Because I did it. And now I am done with it.

David (laughing): Dude. That’s not even a full mullet yet! You gotta keep going!

Me: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WE WANT THIS PHASE TO BE OVER!

Anyways. He chopped it off, and a more handsome boy he could not be.

HD had a good season-it is always fun to watch him play.

HD’s Varsity season ended well, although it was definitely a very challenging season in many ways. The last game ended with a loss and they took second place.

The coach from the opposing team called him over after the game to tell him he has been watching him play since the 8th grade and has been impressed by how he plays and his attitude on the court. He told HD he was looking forward to seeing him on the court next year.

HD: Mom. He, like, knew my name!

And thus ends Basketball 2022-2023.

***

We kind of, sort of, started an entire home remodel. I think. I don’t know.

All I know is things keep getting added to the list and I suspect that within 3-7 years, we will be finished.

First, we are putting new flooring in throughout the entire house.

Here’s Hadley and LD ripping it out.

And then HD and LD installing the new flooring, which is luxury vinyl planking.

***

We still have cows.

Sometimes they live. Sometimes they die. We like when they live.

***

We flew Kate home from Kansas and took the whole family on a cruise to the Mexican Riveriera.

It feels like the kids are not only growing in age, but in stature.

We were joined by my parents and David’s parents, and let me tell you, it is no cake walk keeping track of four senior citizens and four adult/teen children.

David and I need a vacation from our vacation.

I kid! I jest!

It was fun.

Hadley and LD.

Kate and HD.

All four kids at dinner one night. Guess how many photo attempts this took plus death threats upon the boys if they wouldn’t cooperate.

Go ahead. Guess.

Our ship had an indoor trampoline park and the boys fancied jumping for one hour together one day. So I took those two yahoos and went to sign them up.

For the purposes of this story, it is important for you to know that HD is 15 and LD is 14 and LD is the tallest of our four kids AND weighs the most AND needs to shave.

Yes. Let that all sink in for a moment.

Anyways.

Employee: I am so sorry ma’am, but they cannot jump together.

Me: Oh?

Employee: Yes, you see, you see, your youngest is not yet old enough to jump with the 15+ group, so he will need to jump with the 6-14 year old age group.

I display LD to him.

Me: You really want him jumping with a bunch of six year olds? He’s like 6 feet tall.

Employee: Yes, ma’am. I understand that he is definitely large, but he is not yet 15 and rules are rules.

So, I sent my 14 year old man child to go jump with a bunch of elementary aged children.

For reference, here is LD with his siblings. He is on the left.

Why he is standing as such? I have no idea. But I am pretty sure he needs to tuck in his pockets.

***

Life has been stressful and tricky for me as of late. It was nice to get away and get some sunshine.

I snapped this photo to make my teacher friends back home jealous.

It worked!

Happy Sunday!