Day 60: February 29, 2012

Happy Leap Day!

FYI - It was really difficult to get these three to leap together! And Morgan is not pictured, because she really didn't understand what we were doing :)

If you'd like to see the "rejects", here's a link: The Kerzman 6

Day 59: February 28, 2012

In 2012 I vowed to be more organized and more financially responsible.

For me, menu planning is the first step toward accomplishing both of those goals.

This our menu board:

It's nothing fancy - just a piece of a chalkwall from  Uppercase Living on a picture frame. Every Sunday I plan out our evening meals for the week, based on the ingredients we have on hand. It's helped me be smarter at the grocery store (I try to only go grocery shopping once every two weeks), and add a little variety too. Pre-planning means we no longer eat the same four meals every single week!

But there's another benefit of this menu board, one I just discovered tonight. I had to work late, and when I got home, Brad has supper ready... he read the menu and took it upon himself to cook supper.

There's no way I want to work until 6:00 every night, but I could get used to someone else doing the cooking!

Day 58: February 27, 2012

Me: "I'll be right there Lizzy."

I was too slow... this is what I found when I went in to the girls room:

Poor Lizzy (and Woof-Woof) fell asleep beside a pile of books she wanted to read :(

Morgan, however, continued to run around like a crazy woman for another hour!

Day 57: February 26, 2012

Today was a very long day of basketball.

Lexi's team went to Minot (last night, to beat the storm) to play a three game tourney today. But because of the storm, a few other teams didn't make it. So the Sparks played in the 7th grade division and the 8th grade division.

It was a great experience. The girls did awesome - and gave two 8th grade teams a run for their money (lost one game by 7, and the other by 2 in overtime). What a confidence builder!

It also meant back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back games. Really. These girls played from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm with no break, then again from 1:00 until 3:00.

It makes me tired just thinking about it.

But it was a super fun tournament, and while I missed two of Jake's games (I'm really, really feeling bad about that.. sounds like they were good games.. a huge win and a nail-biter) and I missed the little girls and Brad like crazy (I can't remember the last time I was gone overnight without them), it was kind of fun to watch Lexi play, without also keeping the little girls from running onto the court to join the game!

I even got to move around and take some different, closer pictures. Here is one of my favorites:

This was a pretty intense time out, with 5.8 seconds left in overtime. Our team lost, but winning isn't everything!

I honestly mean that.

The lessons that these girls are learning on the court will help them long after they've hung up their basketball shoes.

Teamwork.

Dedication.

Hard work.

Really, lessons that will help them in all aspects of their lives.

These girls are going to do great things one day, on and off the court.

Day 56: February 25, 2012

Lexi and I are getting ready to head out of town for a basketball tournament.

Much to my surprise, Lizzy hasn't asked to go once.

But, she did make me some pictures of herself, so I won't forget her (we will be gone for one day!):

Day 55: February 24, 2012

What did we do in the days before smart phones?

Days like today, I'm not sure how we survived.

My phone beeped/rang/buzzed all day today.

Emails.

Texts.

Phone calls.

I'm not really that important most days, but today, I was pretty popular.

My phone is now dead - too much use! I'm tempted to not charge it, to "unplug" for the weekend.

But I can't.

I need to get up early for Jake's ball game tomorrow.. and without my cell phone, I don't have an alarm clock!

Day 54: February 23, 2012

Snow!

Finally!

I say yuck... Lizzy says yay!

She was pretty excited to make snow angels and throw snowballs this afternoon!

Lucky for  me, she's got a terrible aim!