Basketball Season has Begun!

For the first time, Joey is part of a basketball team.  Saturday was the season opener.  The Boys and Girls club was teaming with activity.  Kids poured in from all around Corvallis wearing their new team T-shirts.  It was picture day after all.  Each team has its own color and sponsor's name.  Joey's team is Team Ryan Sparks DMD (local dentist).  The first game was sure to be a tough one against Papa's Pizza!  (However, we thought maybe they would offer us some pizza if they won!)  As it turned out, no such luck.

It was GREAT fun!  Joey had a ball and he did great...hands upon defense, dribbling down the court, took some shots, made good passes....it was so exciting.

Here are some photos...

 ...gettting ready for the picture.

Look who gets to hold the ball!

game on!

 Team talk with Coach Hailee.

Making a plan.

Matching up by size for serious man to man.

Serious chatting going on during the game.

...AND THEN THERE ARE THE DEVOTED FANS!

Little Worker Bees

Learning is such a magical thing, whether it is learning to tie a ballet slipper, stop a goal, read, write or draw, it is inspiring.
Recently, I have been struck by how the kids are focusing on their work,  concentrating their efforts to master new skills.

Here is a little tribute to their efforts...

Pen and Pencil

Reading

Physical Fun

There are so many ways to grow... I am inspired by the efforts around me.

Big hugs!

P.S.  Here is a shout out to others who inspire me by their efforts...

• Mother and son studying a new language abroad!
• A man completing a labor of love and sending it off to the publishers!
• A man constantly researching recipes and techniques for creating beautiful food.
• People stretching their physical limits as they mountain bike, do yoga or try a hip-hop class.
• A group of women meeting to practice meditation.
• Students' efforts to keep plugging away at things that don't come easily.

Winter is here!

I don't know what just happened but at about 8:45 AM winter arrived, dark, blowy and cold with a spitting rain.  Maggie and I are tucked into our little house with our little wood stove burning away in the kitchen.  She is coloring and I am trying to figure out medical insurance plans.  Well, I was trying to figure out medical insurance but, now I am taking a break and trying to embrace the coming of winter.

Let's look back at winters past to get excited...

Funny, how it really doesn't snow much here in Corvallis but, those are the fun winter pictures.  :)

I hope we get some snow this year!

I wish you all lots of fun in the winter months ahead.

Almost a full year later...

It is true that this blog was started almost a year ago and I only posted 2 or 3 times.  As a matter of fact I totally forgot the password so we had to create a new one to even get to the blog again...but I'm back and I am going to share a couple to goals out loud with you all so you can hold me to them.

1)  Communicate with people I love more often.  (For example: blog or email or call or hug...make the time.)

2)  Don't worry about getting it all done at once, just start.  (That goes for so many things.)

3)  Take more everyday pictures again.  (Mom just sent me a few older pictures and they were precious.)

OK that is a start...

Here are just a few pics to share... 

A BOY AND HIS DOG

Joey's 7th birthday is coming up.

Peanut has seen it all! 

Thanks for being such a trustworthy dog.

We love you!