Basketball

Willow had a great basketball season!! 6 of the girls on the team were 2nd-year players and they played so well together! So many things "clicked" for Willow this season. It was great to see her be a bit more aggressive and have the confidence to shoot the ball - even scoring many shots throughout the season! She gained confidence and skill in dribbling and being able to look up for a good pass at the same time, getting quite a few assists for her team! They had an end-of-season tournament and the girls definitely played their best, even winning the tournament! I truly felt my heart swelling with pride watching them shine!! Check out her season's highlight video!

3 basketball games in one day (tournament) sure makes you rack up some steps!!

Willow's "average" days compared to her tournament day!!

Grandpa Rexroad

We were able to celebrate the life of my Grandpa Rexroad recently. He lived to be 90 years old and flying out for his funeral in Arizona was a great opportunity to reflect on memories we have with him. My dad was the oldest of the 5 boys along with Dave, Mike, John, and Paul. Grandma Nisbett passed when I was in middle school and his second wife, Liz, passed in _______ (pictured above with the boys). Kim and I spoke at the funeral to share these memories:

We traveled to Phoenix for many Christmases and Spring Breaks and will remember...

- learning to play Hearts

- spaghetti dinners

- watching Wheel of Fortune with muted commercials

- playing at the school's playground

- playing the electric piano

- big breakfasts with bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy

- getting a "sodie" from the woodshop

- staying up for Santa, usually working on a craft project

- his weiner dogs

- learning to rollerskate

- ordering pizza

- eating "soak 'ems" (aka day old donuts)

(L-R): Grandma Liz, Grandpa, Dad, Uncle Paul, Grandma Nisbett

Top: Kim, me, Mom

Back: Uncle Dave, Uncle Mike, Grandma Nisbett, mom, Grandpa

Middle: Jeremy, Julie, me, Kim

Front: Jenny, Jeffrey, Lisa, Ryan

(L-R): Dad, Paul, Grandpa, Dave, Mike, John

Uncle Mike with Grandpa and Grandma Liz with their "weiner dogs"

We also remember seeing him in other places:

- our infamous Alaska trip

- visits to the cabin

- visits to Pagosa Springs

- my college graduation in FL

- Kim's college graduation in CA

- my wedding in CO

- Kim's wedding in VA

At Kim's wedding:

Thanks to his woodwork, we'll remember him by:

- a stool with my name

- stools with  my kids names

- a rocking horse

- a number puzzle semi truck

- trains and trucks

We are thankful that during our last visit to Arizona our husbands and children were able to come meet their great-grandfather and have 4 generations together.

May 2016

At Lisa's wedding, May 2016:

 

My dad would tell you that this woman, Evelyn, added a decade to Grandpa's life. She's 96 and still going strong!!!

My parents were able to go out to AZ to help celebrate his 90th birthday in August:

While we were out in AZ for the funeral, Evelyn had us go through photo albums and take what we wanted. It was fun to see pictures of all the brothers as kids!!

My dad with Uncle Mike and Uncle Dave:

Kim and I with our cousin Lisa and cousin Chris:

Dave, Dad, and Mike with their step-brother John:

Some of Grandpa's friends joined us for lunch after the funeral. The man on the far right is the pastor of the church he attended in Pagosa Springs and made the drive to AZ for the service!

We drove by Grandpa's house that we grew up visiting. Looks like the new owners are doing some work inside. 

We ate our feelings during our visit. It's hard to resist In-N-Out since it's only out west!

We never had ice cream for dinner as kids, but did one day we were in AZ. It was fun to be with the "original 4" for a few days!