A list for January
So for whatever reason, blogging seems hardest in January. Between the bitter cold weather-induced cabin fever, our insane and constantly shifting schedule, the lack of presence of mind to snap a dang photo every once in a while, et cetera. It just doesn't work.
And in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, I need to blog. But what about? Basketball? Food? Or...basketball? Or food. Ooh, snow! There is no snow. So maybe basketball?
You see how it goes.
So here's a list-style January life dump in no particular order that, yes, does include basketball and yes, does include food, and no, doesn't include a ton of photos. And you're welcome, and now I can feel better about having pushed publish.
Toughness
I have a fractured knuckle. I've had a fractured knuckle since September but didn't know it was fractured until I finally went to the doctor for it last week. It happened in a front-yard football game where I went to block Trey's kick and his foot bent my finger backwards. Short of cringing through stabs of pain every now and then, my hands have kept up their end of this bargain called life for the last four months, typing and piano and all. Hear me roar.
Worth celebrating
As it stands at this moment, our Golden Eagles basketball team and their coach (who we call Daddy), are eight and three. Only if you know the frustrations of the past six or seven years can you possibly understand how huge this is. It's an amazing thing to watch those boys becoming men, becoming a big basketball family, and being able to rejoice in success that they have worked for harder than ever this year. And of course, we're super proud of the coach.
Last Sunday, the winter sports teams and their families were invited to a local church for a service highlighting faith in sports. Brandon was asked to speak, and gave such a great message on commitment and thankfulness. Such a blessing to be part of all this.
Pilot
Aden, after begging for a drone since he first learned how to talk, finally got the chance to fly one, courtesy a very, very cool family gift. He was a natural at it, even with the added complexity of trying to stay in view from the drone's camera, waving to himself and making funny faces. We took a video, but since the camera seems to face down and we live surrounded by fields that all pretty much look the same, it wasn't terribly interesting. We'll work on that. If we can ever find a day without wind.
Coder DNA
On Trey's gifted report for the second nine weeks, his teacher reported that "Trey has taken an interest in and done very well on our introductory programming lessons. He seems to have a knack for it." My heart can hardly stand it, nor can Giga's! He's so mathematical and scientific, the problem-solving and creativity and black and white of logic is going to captivate him quickly. Boy is following in some proud footsteps.
Fur friend
Our sweet Dudley is not doing well. The boys and I have had some terribly difficult conversations lately about life and death and animals and humans and how loving anything means your heart is going to break. It just is. Trey and Dudley were born around the same time and have been together their whole lives. Aden is the kind of boy who should just have a dog, and Dudley has filled that void for him. We love that precious doggie so much and are praying for a miracle.
Best New Year's Eve ever
December marked our turn to host the tribe, a group of four families growing super close and doing life together, ups and downs and laughter and tears and all. And so New Year's Eve was settled upon, and conversation and food and laughter kept us glued to the kitchen table for five solid hours. Holly brought out a candle labeled "Apple Pie" that, when blown out, smells like vomit. Which was great. The kids did a fun ornament exchange game while Regina read the Christmas story. And by the end of the night, all the men were standing over top of my crock pot shoveling chipfuls of hot sausage dip into their mouths. We watched the ball drop for its last ten seconds, and the kids hooted and hollered as if they were right there in Times Square.
Magic, I tell you. Exhausted from the late bedtime, house a literal wreck, heart full and thankful and glowing. That's how you start a year.
Aden the Big Man
Aden moved up an age range in basketball this year. No coaches out on the court during games, a referee who calls things like backcourt, free throws, and (gasp) actual scorekeeping. It's faster and decidedly more exciting, and equally more stressful for the bleacher crew. Aden's warming up to it, loving the tip-offs, building his confidence, and showing off some sweet ball-handling skills he worked hard on in the offseason. It is tons of fun, and we're enjoying every minute.
Hot Sausage Dip
In case you thought it was a mean tease to mention the popularity of my hot sausage dip and not share the love, here you go. Be prepared. One, it does have a noticeable kick to it. Two, the written recipe looks like the makings of a disaster. Three, it's addictively good.
1 pound ground sausage
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes with chiles, drained
8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 oz sour cream
3/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Brown sausage with onions in skillet, and cook until onions are soft. Drain grease. Stir in both cans of tomatoes with chiles and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cream cheese, sour cream, and pepper flakes. Heat through. Keep warm in crock pot as needed and devour on tortilla chips.
You're welcome.
Happy January.
And in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, I need to blog. But what about? Basketball? Food? Or...basketball? Or food. Ooh, snow! There is no snow. So maybe basketball?
You see how it goes.
So here's a list-style January life dump in no particular order that, yes, does include basketball and yes, does include food, and no, doesn't include a ton of photos. And you're welcome, and now I can feel better about having pushed publish.
Toughness
I have a fractured knuckle. I've had a fractured knuckle since September but didn't know it was fractured until I finally went to the doctor for it last week. It happened in a front-yard football game where I went to block Trey's kick and his foot bent my finger backwards. Short of cringing through stabs of pain every now and then, my hands have kept up their end of this bargain called life for the last four months, typing and piano and all. Hear me roar.
Worth celebrating
As it stands at this moment, our Golden Eagles basketball team and their coach (who we call Daddy), are eight and three. Only if you know the frustrations of the past six or seven years can you possibly understand how huge this is. It's an amazing thing to watch those boys becoming men, becoming a big basketball family, and being able to rejoice in success that they have worked for harder than ever this year. And of course, we're super proud of the coach.
Last Sunday, the winter sports teams and their families were invited to a local church for a service highlighting faith in sports. Brandon was asked to speak, and gave such a great message on commitment and thankfulness. Such a blessing to be part of all this.
Pilot
Aden, after begging for a drone since he first learned how to talk, finally got the chance to fly one, courtesy a very, very cool family gift. He was a natural at it, even with the added complexity of trying to stay in view from the drone's camera, waving to himself and making funny faces. We took a video, but since the camera seems to face down and we live surrounded by fields that all pretty much look the same, it wasn't terribly interesting. We'll work on that. If we can ever find a day without wind.
Coder DNA
On Trey's gifted report for the second nine weeks, his teacher reported that "Trey has taken an interest in and done very well on our introductory programming lessons. He seems to have a knack for it." My heart can hardly stand it, nor can Giga's! He's so mathematical and scientific, the problem-solving and creativity and black and white of logic is going to captivate him quickly. Boy is following in some proud footsteps.
Fur friend
Our sweet Dudley is not doing well. The boys and I have had some terribly difficult conversations lately about life and death and animals and humans and how loving anything means your heart is going to break. It just is. Trey and Dudley were born around the same time and have been together their whole lives. Aden is the kind of boy who should just have a dog, and Dudley has filled that void for him. We love that precious doggie so much and are praying for a miracle.
Best New Year's Eve ever
December marked our turn to host the tribe, a group of four families growing super close and doing life together, ups and downs and laughter and tears and all. And so New Year's Eve was settled upon, and conversation and food and laughter kept us glued to the kitchen table for five solid hours. Holly brought out a candle labeled "Apple Pie" that, when blown out, smells like vomit. Which was great. The kids did a fun ornament exchange game while Regina read the Christmas story. And by the end of the night, all the men were standing over top of my crock pot shoveling chipfuls of hot sausage dip into their mouths. We watched the ball drop for its last ten seconds, and the kids hooted and hollered as if they were right there in Times Square.
Magic, I tell you. Exhausted from the late bedtime, house a literal wreck, heart full and thankful and glowing. That's how you start a year.
Aden the Big Man
Aden moved up an age range in basketball this year. No coaches out on the court during games, a referee who calls things like backcourt, free throws, and (gasp) actual scorekeeping. It's faster and decidedly more exciting, and equally more stressful for the bleacher crew. Aden's warming up to it, loving the tip-offs, building his confidence, and showing off some sweet ball-handling skills he worked hard on in the offseason. It is tons of fun, and we're enjoying every minute.
Hot Sausage Dip
In case you thought it was a mean tease to mention the popularity of my hot sausage dip and not share the love, here you go. Be prepared. One, it does have a noticeable kick to it. Two, the written recipe looks like the makings of a disaster. Three, it's addictively good.
1 pound ground sausage
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes with chiles, drained
8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 oz sour cream
3/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Brown sausage with onions in skillet, and cook until onions are soft. Drain grease. Stir in both cans of tomatoes with chiles and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cream cheese, sour cream, and pepper flakes. Heat through. Keep warm in crock pot as needed and devour on tortilla chips.
You're welcome.
Happy January.
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