Craig and Heather plus TWO: January 2014

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Marbles visit

The boys, who usually are very well behaved, were having a rough time (at times) getting back into the routine once the Christmas break was over. So, as a way to help them get back into their good routine, we told them that when they make good choices over the last week that Jack and Mark would be able to go to Marbles.

Well, that certainly worked. On Saturday morning, we went to Marbles. They had a great time. We have been to Marbles a couple of times. They love several things there. However, as surprising as this is, the two favorite areas to play in are the hockey and basketball areas. We wound up staying at Marbles for 90 minutes. We only visited two areas...the hockey and basketball areas.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

I need to get another puck out to shoot into the goal. - Jack and Mark

Getting ready for another pass to setup a shot on goal. - Mark

I look like I belong with Jordan Staal, #11, of the Hurricanes. - Jack

Watch me make this shot. - Jack

Which goal should I shoot at? - Mark

Brothers hanging on the rim at the same time. This is awesome!

Look at my hang time! - Jack

I dunked the ball very hard! - Mark

Jack practicing from long range.

Practice makes perfect! - Jack

Now it is time for Mark to shoot some. This pass goes to Mark.

Time for me to make some shots. - Mark

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Learning more soccer fundamentals

Now that we are in the middle of soccer season, Jack and Mark are focused on bettering their fundamentals. Each Monday we go back to XL Soccer World and they get to listen to Coach Ben as he teaches the boys how to dribble, turn, pass, and shoot. The boys enjoy this so much. You can just tell by looking at their faces:

Jack, this is how you dribble around the cones. - Mark

Mark, I am going to pass the ball to you now. - Jack

Coach Ben makes sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to do.

Soccer Season again

It is that time of year. This past Monday the boys started a new soccer season over at XL Soccer World. They are so excited and pumped up to start playing soccer again. This year, the league they are in is still an instructional league; however the players are older and thus there is a new requirement that the players were shin guards. Jack and Mark were so eager to wear their shin guards for the first time. They wanted to try them on the night before.

Look at our soccer model showing off his new ensemble:

Birthday Party time

A couple of Saturdays ago, we went to Cooper's birthday party. Cooper is a friend who is in Mark's preschool class. His party was held at My Gym, which is where the boys' 2nd birthday party was held. The parents of Cooper also invited Jack, which was very nice. In Mark's class, there are four kids who are twins. In addition to inviting the entire class, he invited the twins of the four kids. So Jack and Mark were excited to go back to My Gym. Once we got there, the boys had fun playing with each other and their friends. The owner of the gym really enjoys birthday parties for the children. She does a great job.

Jack and Mark had a great time and did not want to leave.

Here are a few pictures from the birthday party:

Time for the balance beam. Follow me Jack. - Mark

How many balls can we throw out of the ball pit?

This is interesting but she said to kiss my knee so I will do it. - Jack

Jack, can you bend over all the way like I am doing? - Mark

OK, what's next? We are ready for some more fun! - Jack and Mark

Back in the ball pit, where is Mark? Did he fall in again? - Jack

High-steppin time!

Wherever a ball is, a goal is nearby. Time for shooting. - Jack

Watch me fly across the room on the zip line. - Mark

I bet I can go faster. - Jack

Thursday, January 9, 2014

ACC Opener vs Pittsburgh

On Saturday, NC State opened its ACC schedule with a home game against Pittsburgh. This is Pittsburgh's first year as a member of the ACC. It still doesn't seem right that Pittsburgh (Syracuse, and Notre Dame as well) are in the ACC, but we don't have any say so over that.

The boys were so excited to go to the game. They had spent the previous evening at Granna and Grandpa's house. We picked them up before the game and they had a great time. When we got to the game, they gave out free programs that had Beejay Anya on the cover. Anya is the boys' favorite player. Whenever he blocks a shot, the boys say "Get that out of here."

Unfortunately, although the Wolfpack jumped out to a 17-2 lead, it was just a tease as the Panthers stormed back from an eight point halftime deficit to beat State by 12.

The boys still had a good time and look forward to the next game.

Here are two pictures from the game:

I cannot believe that State blew a 15 point lead. You gotta be kidding me. - Jack

Before the game, we are all smiles.

New Year's Day Party

Happy New Year 2014!

With all of the kids in the group being no older than 3rd grade, the group is not ready to have a true New Year Eve's party...yet. So we still have an annual get together on New Year's Day for brunch. It works out well as we can all hang out with great friends and let the kids enjoy playing with each other. This year, the party was at the Luck's house.

After everyone ate brunch, the children opened gifts (each kid was randomly selected to get one of the other kids a gift). The boys always enjoy getting gifts and this year helped Mommy and Daddy pick out gifts for Delaney and Keith.

After the gifts were open, the kids went outside and played on the playground. Jack and Mark loved it. They had a slide, a swingset, and a little rock wall climb that they did several times.

A little bit later, the kids came back in and were playing upstairs while we were watching some bowl games on TV downstairs. Only two kids came back down to check out the score of the game that was on. To no one's surprise, those two children were Jack and Mark.

We all had a great time at the Luck's and enjoyed the whole party.

Here are a couple of pictures from the event: