Great Day

It was a great day in the Anderson household.  Morning went off without a hitch.  Boys up, ready for school, breakfast, brushing without Mommy the Drill Sargent appearing. We get home and homework, setting the table, dinner, playing, reading books, bedtime...without tears and complaining.  Please let my stars be in alignment tomorrow and the next day.
Proud mommy moments from today-

• At dinner we talk about what we are proud of from the day, and what things we could have worked better at.  Order is oldest to youngest.  Me-I could have focused on projects at work a little closer. Jackson says he needs to do a better job at circle in kindergarten with keeping his mouth shut.  Love that kid!
• Jackson had a great time putting name tags on things around the house...all in the pursuit of learning.  Corey comes home from work and wonders why the door, table, dresser are all named. :)
• JJ asks before bedtime if he can watch Martin Luther Kings Jr. speech on youtube.  How can I say no to that?
• Coop had pink eye today...he had fun hanging out with Daddy this morning.  
• Coops at that age where you either have a penis or you don't.  If you have one, it's either bigger or smaller than his.  Get the picture?  

Never a dull moment in a house of boys!

my soap box...

I just read an article about two 8th grade basketball coaches who got into a punching match over one player tripping another player.  Seriously?  I have been around my fair share of sporting events, most likely more than my fair share.  Youth sports have gotten completely out of control. Elementary school kids don't need special uniforms, parents keeping stats on the bench or huge trophy's at the end of the season.  They all should be saved for when you get to play Varsity in high school.  Coaches should be teaching the basic fundamentals of the sports, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship.  Taking  knee when a player is injured, shaking the other coaches and the officials hand after the game, and being a graceful loser.

Most are coaches are volunteers.  It is not an easy task to find 150 people to volunteer their time to coach a youth basketball team.  I am one of those volunteers.  My fears have been not playing everyone equally and having a son who is a ball hog.  The first I think I did a good job one, the second is a work in progress.

Officials-usually you need 1-2 officials a game. Yes it's a paid gig, and most are probably in high school.  They needed a job so they sought out their local Y or Kidsports.  They are doing their best. It is difficult to officiate a game when you have an overzealous mom screaming at you to watch out because #4 is pushing her baby.  It's a game.

Youth sports are suppose to be fun.  Leaning the skills, accomplishing the first play, making a great pass, and having fun with your friends.  The majority of coaches do a great job.  It's those crazy few who don't have a clue about good sportsmanship and winning is the most important thing, and the 3rd grade team that has special uniforms and a website to show the world their stats.

Today as a mommy, I will be focusing on my ball hogs, yep I have two.

Off my soap box for now:)

Basketball...is there more to life?

Ahhh Basketball.  It deserves to be capitalized.  In my life it is the best friend that your husband spends his time with.  I have loved basketball since I was little.  Playing at Central School, shooting in the driveway, refereeing youth, Bean Courts (playing for slurpees and crazy bread), Riley Hall side court...basketball has always been in my life.  But it hasn't been my life.
My boys love basketball.  We have had a hoop in our house since JJ was born (thank you Heath and Andrea). Slam dunks, trampoline, off the ceiling, jumping over brothers, you name it and it has taken place in the front room.  There are at least 10 basketballs in our house, a couple we aren't allowed to touch, and a couple we can't shoot outside.  All different sizes, just in case we want a change.  We have a hoop in front of our house, with the key and 3 point line painting in yellow and green.  Again, my boys love basketball.
My biggest boy loves basketball too.  He has been coaching since I met him.  Do you know how long basketball season is?  Practice starts in October, games in November and it could run until mid March.   April-September is time for recruiting, open gyms, weight lifting, working on specific positions, etc.  The answer is, Basketball season is year round for a coaches wife and family.

Basketball is motivation at times

• If you mess around in class and your teacher calls your mom to talk, there's a good chance you will be watching your next practice or a game.  Thankfully that has only happened twice in JJ's 8 years.  :) 
• Getting your homework and reading finished correctly means you can play dunk hoops in in the living room.

Basketball is a distraction

• The hoop is closed at 7:00pm.  Boys can focus on getting ready for bed.
• I think the hoop calls out the boys every time they walk by it-"Come on boys, just one more shot!"

Basketball is discipline

• Ball bucket has been known to spend a night or two in the garage when boys are stinkers.
• NBA or Duck Jerseys have been excused from the closets when listening ears aren't working

Basketball is FUN!

• It's fun to practice plays at recess.  
• It's fun to attempt a behind the back pass.
• It's fun to play Bump.
• It's fun to make crazy shots in HORSE.
• It's fun to play with your friends.

I loved playing basketball in High School. Loved rebounding (I'm only 5'8"...I like to compare myself to a certain Round Mound of Rebound).  When high school was over, I was thankful to play for fun.  It' wasn't about winning, unless you are a guy who doesn't think a girl can beat you:).  

I want my boys to work hard on the court, the field, the classroom, and the diamond.  To respect their coaches, referees and officials and teachers  To respect the game and their studies. Basketball has spoiled them.  They get to go to their daddy's basketball games, raid the snack bar, sit on the bench, get water and towel for the players, shoot for popcorn at half time, play under the bleachers, and stay up late.  What little boy wouldn't love that? 

Basketball isn't Life. Basketball makes life a little better, even though sometimes I think of it as someone trying to steal my husband.   

When you're shooting around....never end on a miss!

My Grandpa

Tuesday will be my Grandpa's memorial service.  He passed away in his sleep on January 6th at 89 years old.  This past weekend I spent with my Grandma, my Mom, my aunts, uncles and cousins, going through pictures, and remembering Grandpa.  I knew that this day would come, that my Grandpa would move on to greener pastures.  He was a cowboy...he liked greener pastures. I started writing my memories about Grandpa the night that he passed away.  My Grandma asked my to say something at the service, thank goodness I was prepared.    I hope that I can make it through and share my love for my Grandpa with our family and friends.  


Here is my story...
As the youngest granddaughter…I was his favorite.  Actually we were all his favorites.  Even if it took a couple tries for Grandpa to get our names right, he would get it.   After all there are too many of us to remember.  I've been looking through a lot of pictures of Grandpa and he is smiling in every single one.  Surrounded by his children, his grand children and his great grandchildren.   Surrounded by love.

Grandparents with almost all the great grandkids

I have great memories of my Grandpa.  He loved a garage sale.  When we were all little we used to go camping at Beverly Beach during the summer.  If there was a garage sale between Newberg and Newport, we would stop to find the next big bargain. 

• Riding in the top of the truck camper while Grandpa was driving…a little crazy.  I can still see drivers faces coming at us with look of terror as we went around corners.  
• Listening to “Counting Flowers on the Wall” on the 8 track in the camper while playing cards.  Every time I hear that song I think of arguing with my cousin Maggie over whose rules of rummy are correct.
• Old Fashioned Days parade every summer, with the Yamhill Sheriff Posse riding their horses with the appropriate flags, Grandpa sitting proud on his horse in his yellow shirt.

Grandpa and I at Old Fashion Days

• Getting to go to the posse meetings in Mac, running around the grandstands, playing in the dirt, and getting to ride the horses after the meetings.  Julie, Roco,  Andrea,  Coco, Brandy, Frosty were a few of his horses and mules.   A cowboy hat and belt buckle were permanent fixtures on Grandpa. 

Funny Face JJ and Grandpa

Several of us grandkids had the pleasure of picking filberts and walnuts and bucking hay.  Every once in a while a filbert would go flying through the air, perhaps hitting a sibling.  Grandpa would yell at us to get back to work.   My job for bucking hay was rolling the bales in rows and spreading salt on the bales when they were being put in the barn.   Grandma was the driver of the big red truck. “Hit it Marge,” Grandpa would yell when it was time for the truck to move.  The truck would usually die and Grandpa would yell again, sometimes going to help Grandma get it started.

Boys love John Deere...especially the gator

Barns.  Grandpa has a lot of barns, and they are filled with all his treasures from the garage sales.  When I wanted a camp stove, dad said ask Grandpa.  I did, he had several to choose from.  And the one we picked worked.  The boys have camping cots from one of Grandpa’s bargain hunts.

I saw my first calf being born with Grandpa.   I am pretty sure it was my last. 

The last several years, Grandpa and I had taken to talking about food and gardening.  He loved to order things out of crazy magazines that were delivered.  I think mom tried to recycle them before they made it to Grandpa’s hands.  Dutch oven recipes and ice cream maker recipes and mixes were some of his favorites.  Even though I’m pretty sure those items weren’t on his diet.

Adrian and I with our kids and Grandpa and Grandma

My boy’s memories of their great Grandpa are of riding in the gator to get the mail or paper.  Eating snacks with great Grandpa (great Grandma makes the best snacks).  The best summer birthday party ever when all the cousins come together to fish and go down the zip line. Getting to ride his stubborn mule and random horse shoes that he would give them.  My memories are those of Grandpa holding each baby boy and snoozing in the recliner with them.

Grandma and Grandpa and the0ir kids

In the words of the great John Wayne “Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway." 

My Grandpa was a proud and loving man.  He may have been scared when he it took him longer to remember which granddaughter he was talking too, or frustrated that Grandma wouldn’t make him scrambled eggs soaked in bacon fat.  But he didn't show it.  He saddled up every day and was the best Grandpa and great Grandpa that he could be.

Thank you Grandpa.  I love you and you will be missed!


Added notes...
On the way home from our day, JJ (from the back seat) tells us that he's already forgetting what Grandpa's voice sounded like.  


My cousin Tacie spoke today also.  She had letters form Mark and Wayne.  Both were amazing.  Friends of Grandpa's spoke too.  One brought up the pancake breakfasts at the posse. I had forgot about those.:)

Finally a Big Boy

January 3rd is Cooper's 3rd Birthday.  The day the sippy cups disappear and my little guy becomes a Big Boy.  

As I write this, he is resting his head on my shoulder and we are snuggling in bed. Jackson and his friend Luke are comfy in their sleeping bags watching a movie in the playroom and JJ is at Camp Gma and will be home this afternoon.

Cooper is our bonus baby. I sent Corey back to the store at least 5 times to buy more tests because they kept being positive. 

His birth story is a quick one. We went to our morning appointment and Dr. Betterton had us check into the hospital. With all 3 boys I was induced due to high blood pressure. They get me all hooked up to the bells and whistles, and pitocin drip.  We wait a bit, I get checked, nothing, pitocin seems to be taking it's own sweet time.  Couple hours go by, I am not sure the exact order but somewhere in there my parents arrive, Corey goes home to get the boys settled, nurse tells us it won't be until later in the night and then another nurse checks me. Woosh, she accidentally breaks my water.  The contractions begin and they are STRONG!  There is no stopping now. We get on the long list of people wanting epidurals, contractions are getting stronger and much closer.   Epidural guys arrives, I "talk" to Corey on the phone and strongly encourage him to speed back to the hospital or he may miss the birth. About 3:00 pm Corey and Dr. Betterton walk into the room and 11 minutes later out pops Cooper.   The epidural served no purpose.  Famous last words again from our doctor...."It really does get easier each time for you guys." 

Cooper Alan Anderson made his grand entrance into the world January 3, 2008 at 3:11 pm weighing in a tad over 7 pounds and 20 inches tall.  He is my snuggler and ball boy.   He could shoot at the living room hoop for hours, as long as someone rebounded for him.  He loves oatmeal and rice milk.  Every morning when he wakes up, "Milk mommy, milk daddy."  His favorite songs are Return of the Quack and Call me a Duck.  Elmo is his favorite monster and anything John Deere puts a smile on his face.  He loves recycling and garbage trucks and tackling his brothers.

Happy Birthday Cooper! Have an amazing day!

the biggest boy of them all

I asked Corey the other night if he had read my blog...I knew the answer.   He read them right away and wanted to know why I hadn't written anything about him (pretty sure he was whiny).  That was after he critiqued my spelling.  Thanks sweetie.

Where to begin with Corey...  We have been married for 13 years, together for 15.  We met while I was score keeping for summer league basketball and he was playing on a team.  We flirted, he sang me happy birthday in the gym, we ran into each other at Rennie's and he asked me out on a date. Being the good girl that I am, I told him I wouldn't sleep with him on the first date, but maybe the second (don't worry mom I didn't).  We had a great first date; dinner at Jo Feds, sneaking into Mac Court, playing hoops at Bean Courts, and surfing the web (it was new back then).  At the end of the date he walked me to my apartment and leaned in to kiss me, I backed up and offered him a hand shake.  He said no thanks and wasn't too happy, I giggled.

Before Corey and I were engaged I knew his passion was being a basketball coach.  He was coaching at Willamette HS.  My favorite part was getting hula chick pizza from Abby's after games.   4 weeks before we got married Corey started working at Marist HS as the Athletic Director (eventually coaching boys basketball too).  5 years ago he became the Athletic Director and Men's Basketball Coach at Northwest Christian University.  I never really realized what an athletic director did until I married one.  On top of the day to day job of answering phones, talking to students, checking on grades, meetings, emails, etc--there's all the sporting events.  Volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's and men's basketball, softball, golf, cross country, I think I might be missing a couple. When you add coach to that....yikes!  It's a lot of texting and phone calls in lieu of seeing your spouse.

With kids life got a little trickier.  I think the boys have been to more sporting events than most adults.  We attempt as many events as we can, as long as they occur before bedtime.   JJ and Jackson love going to basketball practices with Corey.   The players are great with them (although I notice a tad bit of attitude after they have been to practice).   He is a great dad!  We enjoy Oregon football games, riding bikes, heading to Gilham to ride the bike jumps, shooting hoops, camping, cutting out sports clippings and taping them to the bedroom walls, wrestling, and whatever else the boys decide they want to do.  They love their daddy's pancakes and waffles, topped with syrup and powdered sugar.  Sometimes a banana or food coloring gets added:)  When Corey is away on road trips, the boys miss him terribly.  He finally accepted a lesson on how to Skype (difficult I know) and now they love talking to him and seeing what his motel rooms look like.

Tonight he had a game against Southern Oregon, and they lost.  One of the not so fun things about being hitched to a basketball coach, they take losing pretty bad.   I am hoping they win tomorrow...or ringing in the New Year is going to be a barrel of fun!

There he is in a nutshell...or else the rated G version.  He makes me laugh and I love him lots!

Happy 6th Birthday Jax

Today is Jackson's 6th birthday.  The Christmas decoration are already down to make his birthday as important as the holiday that proceeds it by 3 days.  Holiday birthday's are a challenge and we have two of them (Coop's is on the 3rd).    

December 28th, 2004 at 6:44 pm he came into our lives (much easier the second time around).  A little over 8 lbs and 20.5 inches, a little hair and chubby cheeks.  I can't remember many details about his birth day.  No complications,  a good eater, a very healthy boy.  He loved his green monkey mimi from the very beginning (all the boys call their blankets their mimi's).

Jackson seems to be everyone's favorite.  He loves to smile and laugh.  He asks a lot of questions...and follow up questions...and more follow up questions.  Please don't say something to him that might not be true, because he will remember and hold you to it.  

Jackson is our middle child.  He wants everyone to listen to him and you usually don't have a choice. My dad recently had a heart to heart with me about the inner workings of the middle child.  JJ is going to do everything first, Cooper is the baby, so we get to try harder to help Jackson feel successful and heard.  His feelings get hurt and he gets fixated on certain things very easily.   I am learning quickly how to distract him to keep his planets in alignment.  Jackson has no fear of things. He is willing to try new things without hesitation, and thankfully that includes new food.  

He is my helper in the kitchen and the garden.  He wakes up early on Sundays to go grocery shopping with me.  He is my snuggler and my craft and mess maker!  He tells me he is going to live with me forever, and I am holding him to that.

Happy Birthday 6th Birthday Jackson!  I love you.  You are going to have a great day!