Britton just loves basketball. More like he eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. So when he started his freshman year of high school at Willow Canyon he could hardly wait until basketball season started in the Winter time. He even went to summer ball conditioning allmost every day to prepare and keep his skills up. So when he didn't make the team he was needless to say a little upset. I thought it would devastate him but to my surprise, he handled it very maturely. He went to the first practice and waited to talk to the coach and asked him if he could do anything at all to be on the team.... anything. Britton came home, drafted and wrote his resume and gave it to the coach. He was now on the team as the official manager. I must say that part of the reason he didn't make the team was because he was in marching band first semester and his band instructor believed that band was life, life was band. He didn't make most of the tryouts/practices the first few weeks of basketball. So as manager he is able to travel with the team to all away games, sit by and help the coach and even practice with the team during the week. The week befor last the coach told him that since he was looking so good at practice ( and I think his excellent team spirit and hustle were a big motivator) he was to get to wear a jersey and play!! Last week the coach put him in last quarter and he did awesome! A very excited Britton came out after the game to tell me that during the after game huddle the coach said that Britton was going to be playing more often since he had played so well that game! Yay! I am so so so proud of this kids perserverence, dedication and positive attitude! Teachers and coaches have ALLWAYS loved him for those qualities. It is so fun to watch him grow up and continue to amaze me. I love you Britton!

Sitting by the coach. ;-)

GO # 12 !!

FINAL SCORE, WILLOW-62, BOULDER CREEK-51 !

Nolan's hand 2 weeks old

torture treatment

Lately I have to beg, plead and steal kisses. The boys act like it is a form of cruel torture and say "Noooooo!" and squirm out of reach whenever I hug them and steal kisses. sniff sniff. So yesterday, during one of these torture treatments I was holding Nolan's arms and kissing his sweet chubby face and he was giggling and squirming and finally said (remember he's barely two) " Mommy, would you just stop it!" and I said, " but I just want to give my baby kisses." N~ " Oh, bwother!" and gave in with a roll of the eyes. What happened to my snuggleuffigus? I thought I had more than 2 years! He looks so much bigger than a 2 year old, but he's still my little baby!

Sea World

We went to Sea World a couple of days after Christmas for our 2nd annual family tradition.
This year was MUCH more pleasant than last years experience! Which is really a good thing since I practically begged and promised Jim that it would be worth it. The boys lasted most of the day walking around and enjoying all of the animals and sights. Well, Nolan lasted all day, Jack doesn't do so well without a nap! The first day was insanely busy and we didn't get to see much besides the aquariums and outdoor exhibits. Those were the boys favorites though so it was a lot of fun. We spent a long time in the salt and fresh water aquarium caves and the boys were just fascinated with everything in those big tanks! It was so nice actually being able to watch the fish and sea creatures without chasing the boys out the door.

Jack would have jumped right in the sting ray tank if I'd let him, and almost did! There isn't a moment of fear or hesitation with this child! He jumped right up onto the wall and stuck his whole arm in the water and was petting all of the sting rays. He wanted to put his finger in their mouths! Crazy kid!

This was in the shark exhibit which we had to go through 3 times.

There was a Christmas Tree forest set up in the front of Sea World with a maze of beautiful Christmas trees and a snow blower to make things even more festive. It smelled sooo wonderful and with the Christmas music and chilly weather, I didn't want to leave the forest. The boys thought it was pretty cool too. Remember, we are from Phoenix so we are easily impressed with this sort of thing!

I had to put Jim's "artistic shot" in the story. It is pretty.

Nolan L.O.V.E.D. the penguins. He stared at them forever and cried when we had to go.

Our Family Christmas 2008

Jack at Papa's house



Rock Band at Papa's house


Nolan

What a busy Christms we had! It's wonderful having so much family living close by, we get to have one Christmas party after another!
The week before Christmas the boys all went to Dorena & Sergio's house for the Wilson family Christmas party and had a great time. There aren't any pictures unfortunately because I was sick and didn't go. On Christmas Eve we all went to my parents house and had a wonderful dinner and lots of fun! Thanks Dad & Brenda!!! All of my brothers and their families were there. My sisters Carrie & Rachel live on the other side of the country and couldn't make it this year, we missed them a lot! (I saved you some banana cream pie Rach!)

Grandma Brenda, Buffy and JoAnna.

Uncle Brett

Gwen and Jim at the Lloyds house

Christmas morning at our house just gets more and more fun each year! Maybe because we keep adding a child to the family each year! As the boys get a little older it's so much fun to watch them as they get really worked up and excited over all of the celebrating and gifts and family fun. Britton is getting pretty expensive to keep up with on Christmas! Thank goodness he doesn't ask for much and is mostly into sports! I hope everyone had as wonderful of a Holiday as we all did!

Britton got a new stereo, a catchers bag, a MP3 player, a feather bed, movies and a couple of X-Box games among some other smaller things.

Nolan is really, realllly into trains so Santa brought him a train station with motorized train! We will see how long it stays put together. He also got a bunch of other toys and games and movies.

Jack was a wise man this year at the Stevenson Christmas party.

Jack and Santa!