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...