Basketball Season || Martin Brothers Wrap Up Part 2

One last Martin Brothers post.

Jaden's basketball season finally came to an end in mid-July with a big tournament up in Wisconsin Dells.

We left Kaitlyn at home for the weekend with Papa Tim and Nana Deanne, Cody and I took an extra day off work, and we headed up there the four of us on Friday morning. Jaden's games began Friday afternoon, with a schedule that thankfully allowed quite a bit of free time to explore in between all the basketball.

Cody was on deck to help coach this weekend, and the team did pretty well, and Jaden had probably one of his best weekends of the whole year. Despite some challenges late in the season, his confidence grew, and it was fun to watch him attack the basket, run the floor, and apply all the fundamentals that he takes seriously: rebounding, boxing out, setting screens, putting defense first.

Games were held Friday, Saturday and Sunday... and we came up just shy of the championship game.

When we weren't playing basketball, we were bonding with the Moore boys - and spending some quality time as a family! Along with the Moore family, we decided not to stay at the big hotel with the waterpark passes because we weren't sure we would have adequate time to make use of the waterpark, thus wasting a whole lot of money. It turns out we made the right decision because it was quite chilly and rainy on Saturday and Sunday. Carter had found this cute little motel and inn very close to where our games were played and one block from the main strip of Wisconsin Dells - and overlooking the river! It wasn't the most modern of accommodations, but it was all we needed for two days, it had the sweetest charm to it... and most importantly... an outdoor pool and just walking distance from Dairy Queen. ;)

After the first games on Friday afternoon, we checked into our room, walked across the street to eat at the pub overlooking the water, and then spent the rest of Friday evening in the pool. It was SO HOT that night.

Just before sunset, we pulled all the kids out of the water and took a walk along the river, ending up downtown and at the DQ window for some much needed ice cream before bed. The sunset that night was beautiful...

After Saturdays games, we had fun driving through the Dells and looking at all of the resorts and water parks, stopped for some mini golf and more ice cream, and then enjoyed a fun little outdoor dinner before another night of swimming with the Moore brothers. I loved the vibe of our outdoor dinner spot, with pizza and food trucks on the patio overlooking the river right in the heart of downtown with river views.

After one more game on Sunday morning, we were ready to get home to our girl. Basketball season: that's a wrap!

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"a portrait of one, two, or all three of my children - once each week - in 2019"

Jaden: What a joy it was to watch you in your first game of the season this past weekend. You ran for two touchdowns (would have had a third but it was called back for a holding penalty), scored a two point conversion, recovered a fumble, threw good passes, had some big tackles on defense, and threw a block for a teammate which resulted in the game's final TD. But most importantly, you showed a confidence beyond your years and an understanding that you're playing for more than just yourself. When you made a mistake after a timeout, you immediately went up to your head coach on the sidelines to show that you understood his correction and would adjust the next time. And - you had a ton of fun out there. After a rocky end to your basketball season due to outside pressures and politics, it was so fun to watch you just be you. And then display nothing but humbleness when it was all over. We talked on the way home and reminded you that you WILL have "bad games" and things won't always go as well as they did during that game, but the way you take it all in stride and how how you always focus on learning and just taking the next step to get better... it's quite something to witness. This was a game we'll remember.

Brandon: Unfortunately your first game of the season was cancelled due to rain, but we're all getting antsy to watch you take your turn! Nothing but dry skies and warmth in the forecast for the next game! You're excited about football but also excited for your first season of soccer this upcoming spring. You've been playing soccer every day at recess, and you told us the other night over supper that everyone at school has been telling you that you're the best soccer player in the 4th grade. ;)

Kaitlyn: And you deserve your own praise, as well! It was a big weekend for you with some new babysitters and routines, and you rocked it! Papa Tim watched you by himself for the first time on Saturday while we enjoyed the UNI game, and big cousin Ella stayed with you on Sunday while we traveled to Jaden's game. I hope that you're getting more and more comfortable with Mommy being gone because football season requires a lot of flexibility and juggling on all of our parts! One of your favorite things to do right now is climb in and out of this little wicker chair that our neighbor loaned to us for your toddler years. You also love being outside and seem to expect to be heading out for adventure almost as soon as you're done eating breakfast!

Basketball Season || Martin Brothers Wrap Up Part 1

After a crazy spring/summer basketball tour with Martin Brother's, Jaden wrapped up his stint in the pink and neon yellow colors with one final tournament in the Wisconsin Dells in July. He was genuinely sad to see basketball season end - even though he'd been playing since September and was only going to be getting a two month break before Outlaw's season starts again in just a couple of weeks! Martin Brothers was a huge learning experience for all of us in so many ways, and we're happy to be sticking with Outlaws moving forward, but any chance Jaden had to play basketball and travel to new cities made this boy happy.

Before we get to our Dells trip... a quick look back at a June tournament in Council Bluffs. We took Kaitlyn along and spent two nights in a very cramped hotel room, but she did great! (Cody on the other hand... wasn't thrilled with the team's choice of hotels and the VERY small quarters we had to spend our weekend sleeping in). ;)

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"a portrait of one, two, or all three of my children - once each week - in 2019"

Jaden: You had a good week of practice and another scrimmage this week, heading into your first game this Sunday. You say that you are nervous but excited, and though you weren't ready to hang up your basketball shoes when football season started, you have now fully embraced this change of season and are loving competing in your helmet and pads. And instead of telling you to "buckle your seat belt" when you leave the house - I now tell you to "tackle safe!" ;)

Brandon: You started your own flag football season this week with a couple of practices under your belt and your first game next week! You are playing for the Giants and are excited to have some buddies on your team this year. And we're excited about how excited you are to play. You've been looking pretty good out there on the field, and you appear to be the fastest one on your team!

Kaitlyn: You looked the part the minute I put your UNI cheerleading dress on you last weekend. You clapped your hands for the football players on the TV, and made your mama's heart swoon every time I looked at you. I don't know how, but you get cuter every single day, and now that you're a walking machine, we're having even more fun!