Weird Winter Weather

We've had more snow this winter than I can remember in probably twenty years. It's been frigid here. I'm ready for Spring! Brantley got to go sledding for the very first time a few days ago (I'm a little behind in posting). We had snow followed by ice the last weekend in January which led to all Basketball games being canceled that weekend. (The Tarheels won this past weekend. Brantley scored 10 points!) We don't even own a sled so we tried to make a make-shift one with cardboard and a garbage bag. Brantley was embarrassed to use that. Then, I thought about out skim board from the beach. It worked perfectly, especially since the ground was actually frozen. We didn't even make footprints walking on it!

Ice Basketball

The first ball he put in got stuck in the net because it's frozen. I didn't have my camera out so I didn't get that shot. Every time the ball got away it just kept going because of the ice. He slipped several times but kept playing anyways. The driveway is so frozen that for the most part our feet didn't even break through. We need some ice skates!

Conversations with Brantley

This conversation occurred at bedtime as I was laying down with him for a few minutes.

B: Mom, I'm either going to go to college at Florida, Vandy, or Memphis.

Me: Memphis? (I'm sure it's because he's completely into basketball right now.)

B: Actually, I probably wouldn't go to Florida. It's a hard decision. Which one has the best education?

HA! That came out of no where. Who's been talking to this kid?

After I finished laughing I said, well, then it would have to be Vandy.

B: Okay, I'm going to play basketball at Vandy.

Basketball Update

The Tarheels won last week. Brantley scored 8 points, 2 of which came from free throws after he was triple teamed. Today, we had the 8am game. Brantley is not a morning person. He didn't wake up until the 3rd period, but he scored 9 points in the 3rd. He says he scored 4 more in the 4th, but I'm not sure. Either I just quit counting at 9, or he didn't make any in the 4th. I remember he put up some shots, but can't remember if he made a couple of them. Either way, that is the most points he has scored in a game thus far. Even with that though, they lost today, 26 to 21. They were down 14 to 3 after the first period so they tried to come back. I did get a clip of Brantley making a shot in warm ups. It's actually a pretty nice shot. :)

3rd Grade Music Program

3rd Grade Program Clips

Brantley's first library card

I'm really not sure why we hadn't already done this, but tonight we went to the public library and got Brantley a library card. He asked me yesterday about going to the library and I decided I needed to encourage the interest. I've never really been an avid reader. My mother says that I started reading when I was three, but I don't remember ever really enjoying reading. I have to have absolute quiet to read. Any distraction just makes me mad and I can't comprehend what I'm reading. I'm more of a numbers person. Give me a book of numbers and I'd probably be able to recite it to you backwards and forwards. Brantley was really excited to get his own card. We spent about a hour picking out his books and he checked them out. He got (and is reading first) Vampire Brat, Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom, and Z-Rex The Hunter Book 1. He gets to keep them for 3 weeks. They are actually all big books so I'll be impressed if he finishes them in 3 weeks.

Tarheels lose

It was a disappointing loss for the Tarheels today, but Brantley needed a good loss. They lost 21 to 10. Brantley put up lots of shots, but only two went in. The whole team put up lots of shots, but nothing was going in. Not to mention the other team had all of the tall kids on it. Brantley said after the game it was his fault they lost. I told him he just needed to practice and do better. Hopefully we will get some practice in this week, but the weather is not looking great for driveway practice.

New Year's Day

We didn't get home until about 2 in the morning on New Year's Day. We spent NY's Eve at Ginger's house. We always have a great time, hence not getting home until 2 in the morning. Thanks to Santa, we had a treat on New Year's Day. We got to go see the Harlem Globetrotters. It was pretty cool. My favorite part is when they get in the circle and do all kinds of crazy moves. I think Brantley liked the show. At the end they announced that everyone could get an autograph of their favorite Globetrotter. They had a rope going around the court and people were supposed to stay off the court. Mass chaos ensued. People did stay off the court, but there were not any real defined lines to get autographs so it was just a mass of people trying to get autographs. We bought Brantley a program and we got in a line to get an autograph. As we stood there not moving, a couple of teenagers started to get in the line in front of me. I pointed out to them that we were all standing and line and showed them the end. They of course ignored me and went ahead. They moved on up and they, and another teenager went practically all the way up to the Globetrotter. I wouldn't have been so mad except that their shirts were covered in autographs and Brantley didn't even have one yet so I had to say something to them. The nice lady in front of me pulled Brantley up and put him in front of the teenagers so he could get Airport's autograph. There was only about two minutes left for autographs and it didn't appear that we would get any more, but Brantley somehow managed to sneak in and get Handles autograph. We learned from the program that one of them, Spark, went to Tennessee Tech. He's the one with the 'fro in the pictures.



I also took a few clips. SHHHH! I wasn't supposed to do that.

Harlem Globetrotters - vids

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Brantley thought this Christmas was the best ever! I think he has said that every year. Santa was very good to Brantley. He brought him a freestyle bike, Rock Band for the Wii, Lego Rock Bank, tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters, and several other things. I'd list everything he got from everyone, but I don't know that I could remember everything.

No more cross bite

Brantley had his checkup at the dentist yesterday. He saw my dentist for the first time instead of the pediatric dentist we had been going to. They made me mad the last time he had a checkup so I decided to move him. I didn't force him. I gave him the choice and he wanted to change. He never liked going to the dentist. I had told my dentist that Brantley hated going to the dentist and that he gagged really easily. The hygienist made the visit really fun for him and they used a little trick to keep him from gagging while doing his x-rays. She put a little bit of salt on the tip of his tongue and on the the x-ray things that they put in your mouth. He didn't gag even once. I don't know if there is something scientific about it or if it's all mental, but it worked. He felt like he was eating french fries. The hygienist was so fun and Brantley was having a great time. He even liked the dentist when he came to take a look at his teeth. When Brantley was about 4 his dentist told me he had a cross bite and would need to have braces if his permanent teeth didn't come in better. The other dentist hasn't mentioned it since. So, I asked my dentist about it and he said Brantley's permanent teeth have come in very well and his cross bite has corrected itself. He does have a lot of crowding, but nothing too serious. He will eventually need braces, but probably not for a couple more years at least. As we left Brantley said, "Mom, I want to come back here!" He had a big smile on his face when he said it.

2009 Christmas Photo

Here is the making of our Christmas photo this year.

Quotable Quotes

Brantley: "Mom, come here."

Me: "What?"

B: "Mom, just come here. Look. That present is coming open. I promise I didn't do it."
--It looked like some tape had come loose and the flap on the end had flipped open slightly.

Me: " Well, reach under there and press it closed."

B: "But, I don't want to see what it is!"
--He couldn't see what it was and he did press the flap back down.

Basketball time!

Today was the Tarheels first game, since last Saturday was a bye. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the team played together. I was cracking up at Hunter telling some of the others where they were supposed to be. They only have 3 plays, but a couple of the players can't remember what they are supposed to do. Brantley was the starting point guard. He put up several shots that didn't go in but he didn't let it get to him. He was visibly disappointed with the missed shots, but it just made him more determined. He ended up with 8 points and Hunter had 4. Final score was Tarheels 19, Gators 12.

Seriously...This is just not right.

Brantley's new shoes came today. When I pulled them out of the box, I thought there is no way he can wear these. They have to be too big, which is fine because he could grow into them. I was able to fully insert my foot into said shoe. Granted, they were snug, but I could walk around the house in them. Brantley does have growing room in them, but c'mon. Why can't my waistline be as freakishly small as my feet?

What is Christmas all about?

Today in Brantley's folder was a letter about the holiday plans for not just his class, but all of the third grade classes. Instead of exchanging gifts they are collecting items to donate to two local charities. One is a ministry that has a "store" of sorts where families who qualify can go and get things for Christmas. The other is a non-profit nursing home. So tonight while we were out we bought some items to donate. Brantley helped pick out what we got. A couple in the store overheard what we were talking about. They had recently held a food drive for the ministry and thought what the kids were doing to help out was just wonderful.

Tomorrow is our annual holiday shopping day at my company. This is one of this things that I love about my company. Instead of spending money on a stuffy holiday party they give us each an "angel" to shop for then they bus us all over to Wal-mart to shop. Last year I had the privilege of shopping for two children in need and I believe the company spent about $140,000 on gifts for about 800 children. It's a tradition they started years ago and a wonderful way to give back. I've got my Santa hat ready! Let's do some shopping!