I'm finding that set-up to be pretty awesome in that's how great community is built. The elementary kiddos and their families support the high school, and the high school kids are great about helping the young kids when needed as well as "high fivin'" them in the hallways, etc.
Both the boys' and girls' basketball teams did well this year. Marc, Luke, and I like basketball, and we're striving to train Kate to enjoy it as well. One must simply keep in mind that she's really indeed only 3 1/2. Sitting for extended periods of time AND understanding a basketball game simply isn't going to happen yet. Sometimes -- I have to remind myself of that seemingly obvious statement.
There was recently a 9-Day time period when our family attended 5 high school basketball games. Luke, the 7 year-old with a strong attention span who indeed likes basketball, did fantastic and was very enthusiastic throughout the process. Kate is 3 1/2. Enough said. In all reality, though, Kate did well considering her age.
Both teams made the final sub-state game. The girls gave it their all, but they were not able to pull off a win. We certainly enjoyed watching them, however.
The boys won sub-state, and it was FUN watching them win!
The boys' and girls' sub-state games were one right after the other. Sooooo....Kate had to get through two back-to-back games -- sitting in a warm high school gym where MANY families had shown up to support our team (as well as supportive families from the other teams)....Kate & I (and her baby) took several walks outside to both cool off and get away from the "sitting like sardines" experience that exciting high school games requires.
After those two final games, both kiddos fell asleep during the over hour-long late night drive home. I actually only captured a pic of Kate -- which I'm guessing Luke will thank me for later!
The next week -- the boys were off to the state tournament in Manhattan, KS -- not quite two hours away from home. Luke's school was called off so anybody and their families could attend the state tournament. Remember -- the whole school is involved? Trust me -- it's awesome! (And -- thanks to a mild winter for our area, we had snow days we could use up....)
Marc had to work part of a day. So -- the kiddos, Miriam (our lovely foreign exchange student who is part of our family; whom we let get out of her own school to come with us), AND I headed to Manhattan. Mar joined us later that day for the actual game!
We packed our lunches for a BEAUTIFUL day, and once we got to Manhattan, we asked a gentleman at a convenience store for a park recommendation. He gave us a fabulous recommendation. We ate lunch, and the kids played for awhile! (Sorry -- no pics of Luke)!
THEN -- and I'm sorry I didn't capture any pics of the next planned event -- one of our favorite teenagers (who used to baby-sit Luke needs Kate and will hopefully at least *sometimes* will again) gave us a tour of Kansas State University. It'd probably been over 20 years since I'd been on campus. Miriam, Luke, and Kate had never been on campus. To Luke's delight, Jillian (our previously mentioned teenager) even showed us her dorm room!
Miriam LOVED the campus! Luke has now moved K-State up to his number 2 spot on colleges to attend someday, behind Wichita State University (after all -- Luke's in the first grade...one simply can't wait to make a college decision -- Ha)! For you University of Kansas folks reading -- Luke has already seen the campus; he likes the K-State campus better. But -- don't worry. He's still supporting the KU Jayhawks basketball team!
*****
After the college tour -- we headed to the basketball game! It was very exciting to watch a small school high school team play in a large college arena!!!! (And -- more comfortable seats to add)....
Unfortunately, our boys lost up not without a good fight! But goodness -- it sure was fun to watch!!!
And -- the team that did win (Jackson a Heights) went on to win the state trophy. Jackson Heights had a great team!
And now -- we're on to cheering on the WSU Shockers AND the KU Jayhawks in the NCAA Tourney! After all -- it's March, and that's what we do here in the USA. We watch college basketball!
