Harlem Globetrotters

Years (and years) ago when I was a young teenager my dad took me to a Harlem Globetrotter's game and I loved it!  I can't remember all the tricks or exactly what they did, but I do remember the feeling of the event and it has stuck with me even now. 

The other week the Harlem Globetrotter's came into town and I was working so Daddy took the kids to the game and they came back soooo excited!  Emma says that we're starting a tradition - my dad took me, her dad took her and when she has kids maybe their daddy will take them.  Aw, so cute!

Some of the best moments according to Daddy, were watching the kids' reactions to what was going on - and Navia especially is very outwardly expressive!

After the game Daddy let the kids each buy their own special basketball (with their own money) and they got them signed by many of the players.  It was a great night for them and when they came home they just were bursting with stories of things that happened on the court.  

I'm so glad that our kids were able to do this with their Daddy and even though I was working they didn't have to miss out.

Check out #3!!!

Yep - Emma just finished Basketball tryouts and this morning I drove her to school after piano lessons and just had to sneak inside to check out the sports board . . . she made the Jr Girls Basketball team - again!!!  YAY!!!  She was the only Grade 4 last year that made it so she was really hoping that she'd make it again this year, and of course she did.  There were 50 girls trying out this year so I'm thinking she did pretty good!!! (oh and this year her best friend made the team too so Emma's really excited about being able to play on the team together!)

I just had to brag though - I'm her mom, what do you expect?!?!?  So, it's back to a busy season of early morning basketball practices.  April will be our slow month because once May comes it will be craziness in the Bailey household as all 3 kids are in baseball, which will equal up to seven practices/games a week - although they won't all be on separate nights as the kids are on 3 different teams - it will be divide and conquer and sometimes see if a kid can hitch a ride with another player as there are only two parents in this family.  I guess we should enjoy the slow pace of right now :)

Emma's First Basketball Game

Emma made the Grade 4/5/6 Basketball team this year - on the 'B' team.  She was really really excited about it and every Wednesday she would go to school extra early to practice and then have another practice every Thursday.  She loved it!  The best part was that she wasn't discouraged that she wouldn't be playing this year - she was the only Grade 4 that made the team so she thought that itself was pretty special and couldn't wait until next year when she was hoping that she'd make the 'A' Team (the travelling team).

Emma ended up getting her wish a little earlier than expected!!!  A starter on the 'A' Team wasn't able to make it and her sub was also away so Emma came home with a note from her coach saying that Emma had been working really hard at basketball and deserved a chance to play the Finals with the 'A' Team!  Emma was soooo excited - and of course we said she could go.  She got to take the afternoon off of school and travel to another school for the finals.  Brade was able to take time off of work so she had her Mom, Dad and even Navia there cheering her on!

She's wearing the blue #4, with the blond, low ponytail.

    

    

Emma had a lot of playing time and was a great guard and teammate.  She knew who the accurate shooters were and got them the ball incredibly fast.  It was awesome watching her and cheering her on!!!

Their team, the Stars, tied for 3rd place in the Finals and they were all excited about going back to school the next day and hearing their names on the school announcements for placing.  Our little girl stood her own against a ton of older and taller girls and she did great!!!  

So, basketball season is now officially over, and baseball is just beginning - but this time for all THREE of the kids: Emma is in her second year as a Mite, Kaleb in his second year in 5-pitch and Navia is starting her first year in T-Ball (oh, and her team is the "Music for Young Children" team - yep - I sponsored her team so I'll definitely be posting their adorable pictures of them in all yellow MYC shirts!!!)