as it stands...

i won't say much.  i'll let the NCAA standings speak for themselves.  i'd gloat a little more if i didn't feel slightly bad about beating most of the children....yes, i know my youngest, a four year old (who chose his bracket based on the word that was easiest to say), is still in the lead, ahead of me.  whatever.  he got lucky.  but the extra fun part is that i'm poised to finish ahead of Jeff again~ yep, two years in a row.  i asked him if he'd like my help next year when choosing his bracket.  good of me, i know.  that's how i am...all i got in response was a little grin.  he's considering it i'm sure, as he should...poor Layla is still holding out hope for a Kentucky win that would push her up out of last place...we'll know soon enough...Read on people, read on....

AJ~ 93 points (0 teams left)
Shana~ 80 points (2 teams left)
Jeff~ 74 points (ouch) (1 team left)
Hudson~ 71 points (1 team left)
Adam~ 69 points (1 team left)
Joelle~ 67 points (1 team left)
Hannah~ 64 points (0 teams left)
Layla~ 50 points (1 team left)

march madness

as is our newer family tradition, the eight of us have done our brackets and are full speed into the NCAA men's basketball tournament.  it is so cute to see.  the games are on when we're available to watch, and at any time you can see a few of the kids perched on the couch, or asking...."mom, can i see my sheet?  who did i pick to go on between these two teams?"  Layla even asked for divine intervention last night during bedtime prayer.  she isn't happy about her current last place standing.  i'd never expect God to step in on such matters, yet i couldn't help but think He must find this little girl pretty entertaining and delightful.  Jeff and i will purchase eight prizes to put in a basket, and order of choice depends on final standings.  last year we threw in a "fruit to go" as one of the prizes just to create some drama and panic.  the kids were horrified at the thought of ending up with something so boring when there were things like jelly bellies and multi packs of gum, etc...of course, it was Jeff or myself that chose the lame prize but it added some extra fun...as the kids get older the prize values will increase proportionately.  we were saying this morning~ we can picture our kids scattered across the country one day and every March waiting for their dad to send out an email and collect their picks for the March Madness event.  
on to March Madness of another sort....check out these pics from yesterday.....yes, yesterday...it's certainly a record for earliest pool entry on our premises...

my brave niece and nephew, and four of my kids, including AJ whose legs are visible in the top picture, jumped into the cloudy and frigid water with smiles on their faces....insanity....

and then they did it again...as if one dip in the 46 degree water wasn't quite enough...

good memories...so fun to watch and not partake in....

AJ is attempting to smile between the girls, but that's tough when your teeth are chattering...it was such a shock to his system that he almost looked like he forgot how to swim.  he went in by choice (yes, by choice...i know you are all thinking otherwise knowing Jeff :)) three times, yet each time came out very upset by the temperature.  like he thought maybe it would warm up if he tried again....now this is March Madness, but i sure hope it continues...

my wrestlers

to my dear friend "A", you may want to skip this post and tune in next week.  might make you nauseous...:)
it still seems surprising to be typing the title above. i guess i never would have thought.  i always knew Jeff loved the sport, and knew i loved watching him wrestle back in university.  but then again, i was smitten and probably would have watched him do just about anything, like maybe even paint a fence...i probably still would if he talked while he painted! :)....early into our parenting days we would have been much more likely to predict we'd be spending hours in the arena watching our kids play hockey.  we love hockey and would both still be playing had i not messed up my knee too many times...oddly, there actually hasn't been a huge interest in competitive hockey here, other than on the backyard rink.  but wrestling is another story.  slowly i'm catching on as well.  i'm becoming that wrestling mom.  the cooler cramming, weekend organizing, sideline spectator (with a hand over my mouth and sometimes my eyes) who is gradually learning to identify moves and point systems and strategies.

this weekend Joelle finished off her grade nine season with a bang!  she had qualified for the Ontario Winter Games in Barrie, and Jeff and I were blessed (thanks sooo much Mom and Dad!) to join her there for the two day event.  so much fun~  not simply because we were away for a break together, but also just to watch her in that competition with total freedom to take it all in without the usual distractions of caring for the smaller ones in a very crowded venue...it was bliss!  i learned a lot more that way too.  stuff like the "re-roll", the round-robin bout sheet versus the eight man bracket, etc...all important things if you are the only non-wrestler in the family!  Joelle did so well.  as is her usual way, she took it all in and eeked every last bit of fun out of the experience.  she loved rooming with her team and hanging with some of her out-of-town wrestling friends. she also radiated great character during her two wins and one very close loss.  that always matters most~ winning with humility and losing with grace....she finished with a silver medal and the rewarding feeling of trying her best and gaining experience and memories.

 horrible picture quality, i know....one day we'll invest in a decent camera, but until then, she's in the blue singlet shaking hands with the gold medalist in the red.

i finished the weekend refreshed and happy to see my crew back home, and slightly disappointed to face the task of laundry and cooking again...

report cards

had to laugh when i read this on the smallest one's report card..."AJ can identify the letters A, and J."  :)  way to go, buddy!!