Future Three Chucker

Tonight was Maryn's first basketball practice. The other day the coach called and told us when and where it would be held and that's when we found out Maryn would be the only girl on the team. We didn't want to emphasize that so we didn't say anything about it, but we went to the practice wondering whether she'd notice and how she'd feel about it if she did. She didn't, and she had a great time. The two coaches were good about helping her without singling her out, and the boys were in their own worlds so none of them noticed her either. When they held the skills test two weeks ago, we found out she doesn't have any just like anyone else playing for the first time. Tonight she followed the drills like the other kids did, and the coaches showed her how to shoot the ball. Maryn is eager to learn how to do new things so she follows when someone is showing her something. After many failed attempts at the basket and just as many quiet groans and aughs from her watching parents, Maryn made a basket. We're not sure who else joined in with us, but we weren't the only ones who cheered when the ball fell through the net, so there must of been a few other parents there wanting her to feel the thrill. Tom is quite a mushball, and at one point during the practice I asked him if he was enjoying it and told him I was surprised he wasn't bawling yet. Then came the first basket, and when I said, "How about now?" he looked at me with a wide smile and tears in his eyes. I said, "Now that's what I'm talking about."

When the practice ended, Maryn got high fives from the coaches just like the rest of the team, and we couldn't ask for more than that. Looks like we'll be going back next week.

Snowhenge

Maryn has been enjoying winter. "Mommy, I like-a snow," she says. She wants snow pants, boots, scarf and mittens packed for school so she can play outside during recess, and when she gets home from school she wants to get out in it again. We're lucky that we can step outside our back door and take a short walk to a great sledding hill. The neighborhood kids have really been working it over, and I've had several rides on the saucer myself.

We finally had just the right snow for snowmen, and Maryn and one of the girls next door went to work in our backyard. When they were finished, we had three snowmen and seven large balls of snow uniquely positioned here and there around the yard. It now looks like an unsolved mystery of strange formations out there, probably showing up on satellite images. Don't be alarmed, they'll be gone by spring, if not sooner.