V-o-l-l-e-y-b-a-l-l

I played volleyball again this winter and spring in two different city leagues. It's good exercise, nice to get out of the house during the cold winter months and where else can I compete? This is the second year I've played with this group, most of them anyway, we added Shanna and Annie and lost one player. Their coaching and encouragement has really helped me to improve. (We were all relieved when I finally got my serve down!)

Our first season didn't end well. Our matches were close, but we struggled to finish them with a win. After our final match, and one of our most frustrating losses, we decided to sign up in another league that was about to begin play.


Adjusting to the new league took some time. We missed having referees, score keepers and cramming three courts into one gym was kind of annoying. We played all twelve teams in the league and came up just short of being placed in the upper-division tournament. Lower-division was a bit disappointing, but we liked our chances of winning our remaining games.

We beat our first opponent in the tournament and barely lost to the second. The following week we won our first match and advanced to the championship, which was a rematch with the team we lost to the week before. Because we were coming from behind we had to beat them two out of three sets and then again in a set to 35. We lost our first set, won the second and the third and then beat them 35-18 in our final set.

2010 Champions!

Twins!

I've always wanted twins and last week my wish came true! Not once, but three times over. We watched some of our friend's kids while they took a trip and it was an adventure.

Aren't they darling?

Kate and Mason

They are just three weeks apart - close enough to count as twins. Kate is a sweetheart! She turned two in October and does very well with her large vocabulary. On her first night here I helped her get ready for bed and she said, "You are so nice!" in the cutest little voice ever. The next day we were out shopping at Costco and she randomly declared, "You look nice!" She says "sank you" about 12 times a day, likes when I sing, and takes at least three hour naps. I could keep her forever. Seriously.

Savannah and Nicole

Nicole is very loving and expresses it in so many ways. On Friday, the UPS man came to our door to deliver a package. As I signed the tablet Nicole rushed outside and gave him a warm hug. He looked down and said, "Aren't you a sweet girl!" He seemed to appreciate her sincere gesture and I couldn't help but think that world really would be a better place if we followed Jesus' teaching to become like the little children. (Certainly the UPS people would like their jobs better.)

Naomi and Alexis

Naomi and Alexis are two months apart. They happily played together for hours, only pausing for meals, school and sleep. Alexis is thoughtful and analytical, she's also witty and easy-going. She and Naomi put together their own cookbook with six or seven original recipes. They were so pleased with their creation, that is until one of the two year olds colored on it. (Hint: it wasn't the exceptionally polite one with pigtails.)



The oldest daughter is two years older than Cam so I can't count them as another set of twins. Allison is a mother's dream. She is selfless, considerate, polite and very helpful. (She even likes to bake and cook!) I don't think we could have handled the full house without her.



After four days our friends returned home from their trip and they wanted their beautiful girls back. Sigh. It was fun while it lasted.