Mini Basketball...What exactly is that?

I really do love our school but what exactly is Mini Basketball I asked when my son called and said he wanted to coach it. His exact words were "I want to Coach Mini Basketball and you cant say no". I laughed. He told me what it entailed and I thought it was great. Of course I said yes.

So our school as some of you know is small. From K-12 (even though there is an Elementary school and a separate High school they are right next to each other) there is roughly 200 students total. These 200 students come from 4 towns that we call Big Valley. We have a JV team when we have enough players in High School and we have a Varsity Team always. After Basketball Season is over for the High schoolers they have a Mini Basketball Season for 3rd-6th graders. Its a week long after school. They start on a Monday and have a tournament on Friday.

4 amazing teams and all their helpers!

Its so cool seeing how many kids come out to do this. I don't have kids in elementary school anymore but if I did they would totally do this. How exciting for the kids to play and the parents to watch. Why is this special to me personally? The teenagers get to coach. So my oldest son Jackson (17) stayed after school to get to know the kids and coach them for the tournament.

Kellen on left, Jackson on Right and the Wolves!

The tournament is four teams and they get to play two games each. The Big Valley Lions Club sponsors it which is amazing. They supply the kids with all their T-shirts and all the stuff they need. We are very lucky to have them sponsor us. Its so gracious of them. Also, my good friend Becky also works really hard getting it together. She would die if she knew I even wrote about her. She is one of those people who never wants to be thanked and hides if she thinks someone is going to. Thank you though Becky!!

With a small town you always have a lot of helpers. We had the Basketball Coaches from high school helping, parents, Ms. Silva and lots of teens too helping with being a Ref or Announcer.

So Jackson had a hard first day or two when he went. He really wanted to be able to do more with the kids. We had a family discussion about how they look up to him and he needs to keep on keeping on. By Wednesday Jackson got his team which made him feel more like a Coach. At dinner he was talking all about each child and how excited he was. Heck his excitement made us excited. We were excited about him and the kids in his team.

Jackson became Coach Jack to them.

Friday came fast. It was a half day at school. Jackson stayed after school along with great volunteers to help his kids decorate their shirts. His team was now known as the Wolves. There were also three other great teams that they would be going against. Its funny to see siblings on different teams or bests friends. Its all in fun and each child got to play and play a lot. Go Wolves!

As a parent I was excited at the game watching my son be excited while he coached. I thought he did a stellar job always pumping them up, high fives and good jobs everywhere, and a big smile on his face. When one of his girls made a basket (she is really shy) he jumped up and down screaming. It made my heart swell! At that moment I wished it wasn't just a week. He had a plan on how to have every kid play a lot. They did too! I am smiling just thinking about this event yesterday.

Go Team!

They won both their games but even if they didn't they were all winners. The kids had so much fun. It was great seeing all the teenagers coaching. I loved being in the stands watching. It was a lot of fun. Really shows the lil guys how much fun Basketball can be and gives them someone to look up to also. Whoever started this event years ago was ingenious.

I was a proud mom. I was proud of my son and how he behaved with the kids. I love how he got a technical and talked to the Ref in a good manner. I love how he pushed his kids to do well and to lead them into doing well. I love how those kids became his friends and how he said on Monday he is going to keep it going by telling them how awesome they are. I love that he gave Gatorade to all his team. It was funny to hear the kids tell their moms they didn't need water because "My Coach bought me Gatorade!". So funny.

I never thought I would be the "sports" mom but I have been for awhile. Yesterday Jackson told me I was now the "Coaches" Mom. I really hope he does this again next year too. Its an amazing event. Couldn't be more proud of my kid and his team!

Thank you to BV Lions and all the Volunteers from Jackson

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Jason's first game and it's that kinda night

645 am and we are up on a Saturday getting ready to drive to the 8th grade first basketball tournament. Not only is it the first game of the season but it's Jason's first game ever. We make the 1.5 hour drive to the game all pumped up for the day. Excited and nervous he is but it's gonna be a great game.

As other families and friends of ours who have boys on the team show up, we set up for the best view. This game we only have 5 players so they will be playing the whole game. Jason did great hustling and passing the ball. I think he was afraid to shoot as he would pass it to someone right next to him. We were screaming from the stands... " Go Jason!!!" "Arms up get that rebound" " Go Cards" "Shoot the ball!"

I could tell Jason was afraid to shoot the ball so at half time I talked to him and said ,"just shoot the ball.... If you miss then you miss......just go for it". In the second half of the game I was proud because although he was getting tired and his cheeks flushed...he started shooting! Bingo! He is coming out of his shell. My son didn't make a basket in the two shots he took but he got close. He did great on rebounds and grabbing the ball. For a first game he did really well.

Although they didn't win the game it was still a victory to have your first game over with and already progressing just since the start of the game. Go Jason! Took him out to a breakfast place and we talked about what we did well at and what we could work on;)

It seems everyday is packed full of something. When we got home Jackson and Ryan were finally done with the fence. They decided to go coyote bow hunting. Jason was too tired to go but was happy to chill with Josh and Cassie who were drawing.

That night we did our family night. I cooked this new pasta meal with brocalli, sausage, asparagus, capers, Chinese mushrooms, red onion, penne pasta and homemade mushroom sauce with freshly grated paramesan. I really wanted pasta bec after this weekend I am going to have our family cut back a little on so many carbs. Mainly me....but since I cook I guess that means them too.

You see I have gained over 120 pounds in the last couple years because I have a rare disease called Cushings. It's when you have a tumor on your pituitary in your brain. It wrecks havoc on your body and 11 of your hormones. So no matter how much I exercised, dieted, I gained and gained. Let me tell you that was only one symptom of the many. No one wants that to happen though. Fast forward to now. I am 5 months post op from brain surgery and had to take replacement meds so still wasn't losing but thankfully wasn't gaining. As of two weeks ago I weened off all the hormones and BAM! 12 pounds gone without me dieting or anything, 8 inches off my waist and 6 inches off my hips. It's starting to reverse itself on its own!!!! I literally cried because when you are gaining weight every week and can't do anything about it ...it affects how you feel. Now to see it reversing finally is so exciting. My tears were of joy! So I thought now if I changed my eating habits now that I can lose weight that it might be beneficial! So Tuesday when we come back from our mini mini vacation to see family I am going to start. I am totally not a sweets person but I just may have an ice cream cone before Tuesday.

Saturday was a good day. Fun at basketball. Jason and I even made a funny video to the song "shake it off". We all had our dinner together as usual and had pretty deep convos with lots of questions and answers. Cassie was super talkative and I swear she talked about school, anime and vines she had see. For the whole first half hour ha!  Then we watched the movie Guilt Trip which apparently Josh and Jason were too tired to make it to the end as you can see!

It was midnight and we all had to get up early to leave to South Lake Tahoe which is 5.5 drive to meet up with my Dad and stepmom for lunch (they will do the hour drive after church to come see us;) and then we are going to Ryan's twin sisters house and staying the night and next day since kids have off to chill, visit and give gifts to our niece who just turned 3 this weekend;) It's going to be fun and I am thankful our friend is house and dog sitting for us;)

****Sidenote and my dad will probably kill me hehe but today he was telling me he read all my blog and that I hadn't mentioned him much lol!!! I said don't worry Dad I will make sure I blog all about you when I see you. He did get a haircut so I guess that makes him totally blog ready;) I love my dad. He served in the Army (Military Intelligence ) for 23 years and is very smart. The thing I love about him though is he isn't stuffy ....he is goofy and fun with our family;) There you go dad.... Another blog with you in it and tomorrow yet another;) Can't wait to see you!

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Question of the day: Do you take pictures of every event? If so... Why? If not.... Why?