Winter Basketball 2013 - 2014

Deuce finished up his second season of basketball at the beginning of the month. He really enjoyed playing with Carter and the bigger kids. The boy never stops, he is super busy. Starting next month he will be playing soccer and baseball, basketball at school and taking karate. He wants to try everything and I will definitely let him. Although he has the sports he really loves (football), I want him to grow up playing it all and not focus on any one thing in particular. I think that makes you a better athlete in the long run and there is less chance of burn out. And who knows what his size will be and what he may end up being better at. As long as we can afford it, I'll encourage him to try.

basketball.done.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't happy about TJ's basketball season being over. This year he played for the Carolina Tide out of Winston Salem. They practiced at least twice a week and had a tournament almost every single weekend from March through July. This meant that Ed was gone late driving to and from Winston on practice nights, and he was usually gone or busy from Friday to Sunday. As much as I cherish that time alone with Deuce, it's exhausting to constantly be the only entertainer. I was missing Ed's help. A lot. I went to a few games but with AAU they play multiple games in a day and the tournament often lasts for two days. Do you know how hard it is to contain occupy a toddler all.day.long. in a gym? Almost impossible. He either thinks he should be on the court with TJ, on the bench with the team or doing his football runs up and down the sides of the court.

Luckily there were some younger brothers on this team and Deuce could play with them some, but you know for a toddler, that only lasts for a few minutes. And these boys were old enough to roam the different courts of the tournament on their own. Deuce is obviously not. So there was a tantrum every time the younger brothers were going to watch other games and Deuce had to stay with mommy.

Not pretty. Or fun.

But during TJ's nationals in Charlotte this year there was one day when they only had 1 game scheduled so I decided to go and be supportive and handle Deuce for this one game. It wasn't bad. TJ's team lost so their season was over but TJ played really well.

And after all that running and playing, Deuce went from this....

to this.......

Yes, on the gym floor, beneath my legs right beside the court. He was tired.

So basketball is over for now, until November when the winter YMCA season picks up.

(TJ played in the summer YMCA league too and that just ended last week so now it's officially done!)
I have my husband back, for right now, and I even went to work out the other night and when I came home, Deuce had been bathed and put to bed already. It was so nice to come in the house, sit down with Ed for a few minutes and then get ready for bed myself. In peace and quiet.

Miss Lexi and the Fountain.

We had a play date at the mall last Friday with my girlfriend Erika. Erika was on the dance team at NC State while we were in school & I was coaching all stars and then she coached the team after graduation for a bit. She now coaches the team at UNCG so we have a lot of connections in the cheer world, which was my former life before marriage and baby. We ran into each other in the mall in Greensboro about a year ago at the play place and she has 3 little girls that are 3 years apart. We like to meet up at the mall and let the kids run around. Friday morning she sent me one of those last minute "hey we are going to the mall, come meet us." texts that are so awesome. She only had Lexi, the middle child who is only about 5 months older than Deuce, so he was all excited to go meet "Lesi" to "fide" {slide}. The kids had a great time playing and then we took them to Chick Fil-A for lunch. Is Lexi not the cutest thing??

Erika and I are already planning their wedding. They held hands as they walked through the mall. And after lunch when we were going our separate ways Deuce would not let go of Lexi's hand. It was pretty darn cute. After Lexi left I let Deuce walk around the mall a little more. We went by the Easter bunny and we waved but we also kept a very safe distance from the big-eyed rabbit. Like, really far away. Ed's parents told me they took him to the mall in Chapel Hill and he ran the opposite way when he saw the Easter bunny. LOL!!! We got a cookie from the Nestle Tollhouse store and then he saw IT. I always try to avoid it but I was unable to steer him away this time.

So we went to the fountain but I had a firm conversation with him that he was not to touch the water or try to get in. This water was only to look at. It was not a bath, there were no toys and we didn't have a towel to clean off with. Yeah, see how well that worked...

And when I stood up to make my presence known with a firm "DEUCE!" this is what I got...

Val & Davis call him the silent protester. He is peaceful and quiet but he lays down and straightens his arms & legs as if he cannot be moved. It's hard not to laugh.

In one year from now we will be getting Deuce ready to play his first season of basketball. At 3 he can play in the summer Y league on Saturdays where they practice for 30 minutes and then play a 30 minute game on a 6 foot goal. He is hard at work preparing already. He loves to go outside and "shoop." He hates me video taping though and sometimes he does his silent protesting when he realizes that he is being recorded.

We are headed to the beach today. With ALL of Sesame Street in tow. And they will be watching themselves on TV. Deuce will make sure that they are each positioned appropriately so that they can see the screen. Here's to a peaceful ride and a more peaceful 5 days!

March Madness!

Sorry I have been MIA for almost 2 whole weeks. We have had no shortage of busy days around here. Work is in.sane. I have picked up some extra hours and fortunately for me, I am being allowed to complete those hours from home. This makes for some late nights since I can't seem to get any work done with a toddler near my computer. If mommy is working, so is Deuce. So I have been up until the wee hours of the morning working. The work day is just slammed packed and we have been in training rooms for the past several weeks, away from our desks and piled around conference tables. I have had no time for much else.

With the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament being in Greensboro, I took Deuce over to the coliseum last Thursday to watch the Tarheels practice before their first game on Friday. He had a great time. I have been fortunate enough to see the Heels play in the NCAA tournament the past several years {twice in the Elite 8} and I want Deuce to have that experience also. We didn't go to the games but Ed & TJ went to the game on Sunday.

The practice was about 45 minutes, which was perfect for Deuce. I think he was ready to go by the time it was up. He really just wanted to walk up and down the stairs but after I got yelled at by some old man "guarding" the stairs because I was letting him walk to our seat on his own {he was holding the railing, mind you} I decided that wasn't going to work. These ladies in front of us were just so amused by Deuce and how excited he was every time he heard the fight song. One of them asked could she record Deuce on her iphone fist pumping to the fight song and saying "TAR...HEELS" during the practice so she could show her husband. Her mother was amazed at how early he had developed his love for the Heels. That's because we are Tarheels born and Tarheels bred and when we die, we'll be Tarheels dead. See for yourself!

Go Heels!

Brrrr.... Let's Shoot.

Who says you can't play in the cold?

Two of my baby's favorite things. Basketball and his Crocs.

Practicing your bike riding on the carpet in the house just doesn't cut it. So we practice outside. For about  10 minutes. Because we still need help. And we are very independent and don't like help. Then we move on to the basketball.

And after shooting around for a little bit, we put the ball down and practice jumping to touch the rim. And we get really excited when we touch the net.

Then we venture out into the yard to play with sticks and trees.

Then we're officially cold and look like Rudolph and we head inside for some milk and snuggling.

Ballin'

This video is a few weeks late but I still wanted to post it. The Saturday after Thanksgiving was the 2nd Chapel Hill HS Alumni 80s v. 90s basketball game. Ed and his brother played against each other again and I had a great time seeing old friends.

After the game was over, all of the kids took to the basketball court to shoot around.

There was a DJ and Deuce couldn't decide if he wanted to play ball with Chanler and Jalen, or dance...

And I'm not sure who the kid in the skinny jeans are but I would have walked away from him too for having those pants on if I was Deuce. He ought to be ashamed of himself for cutting off his circulation like that!

PS. HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY TO MY HONEY TODAY!!

Air Deuce & Daddy

This is how we have been spending our Saturday's.  Usually, I go to Zumba during TJ's swim lesson and when I come back to pick them up, I find them all in the gym.  And just in case any of you were wondering...Ed is preparing to make an appearance in the NBA this season as a free agent. 
Can't you tell?

{Keep in mind that the goal is at about 8 feet.}

I just love the way Deuce kicks his little legs like he is pushing off and trying to climb the air to the goal...

High School Memories

So this past Saturday was the 80s v 90s alumni basketball game at Chapel Hill High.  I just have to tell you, it was so much fun to see these guys play ball together again.  My girl Crystal updated her facebook status to say "This game is hilarious.  They have hit the floor more than the ball has."  That was so true within the first 10 minutes of the game.  There were some serious gasps and  "Oh's" happening from within the stands whenever one of the 80s players tumbled and rolled across the hardwood.  I mean these guys are now in their 40's and they were playing so hard.  They had something to prove.  They still got game.  Well...some of them.  My bro-in-law definitely does.  After all, his picture is in the Hall of Fame at CHHS. 

Ed: class of 1997

Major: class of 1987

Anyhow, it was so much fun to be back at CHHS and back in the gym where I spent many nights cheerleading while my future husband was playing basketball.  I loved having Deuce there and letting him walk all over the basketball court where his daddy & his uncle played ball growing up.  Of course, Grandma & Grandpa were there and were the only parents to have a kid on both teams.  They had a blast seeing people they hadn't seen in years, showing off their grandbaby and watching their boys play against each other for the first time.

There was a DJ spinning some great tracks from the 80s and 90s during the hour leading up to tip off.  The player turnout was great and they had a good time taking jabs at each other.  There was a 3 point contest and a complete concession stand with some yummy food out in the caf.  The attendance was great and all of the proceeds were given to the CHHS class of 2011.  I saw a lot of people that I hadn't seen in years including former teachers and coaches.  The 1985 class president was the event organizer and the current CH police chief is a 1985 graduate so he was there to speak as well.  The guys arrived in plenty of time to get in a good warm up which was imperative for my husband, considering this was the first official game he has played in since dislocating his shoulder in 2008 and then having knee surgery last November.  I loaded him up with some Aleve before the game.

The teams were introduced and the game was underway.  The majority of the crowd was of the 80s generation so there was a loud, resounding cheer whenever they scored. 

After a few minutes of watching from the stands, we decided to create a kiddie corner over by the bench's.  The kids are now of the age where they don't want to be held.  Aja came to watch with Deuce and they met up with Addison and Sophia.  Addison's uncle is Tony and Sophia's daddy is Ryan.

The game was very exciting.  After pretty much beating up on the 80s team during the first half, (I think they were up by like 15 at one point) the 90s let the old guys back in the game.  It seriously went down to the last second.  The crowd was loud and on their feet during the last few minutes as the score remained tight.  A shot by Pat Walton for the 90s was good and put them back up by 1 with a little less than 3 seconds on the clock.  It was all over after that.  Deuce slept through the entire 4th quarter.

I love those last 2 shots of Ed & his bro.  There have never been pictures of them on opposite teams before.  I only wish my camera actually took good pictures indoors!!  After the game was over, a large group of us went out to eat at Bailey's and had a great time catching up and reminiscing about high school days.

Grandma and some of her boys.  Back in the day, the Geer household was the spot to be.  Everyone stayed over at their house and Grandma always cooked for them.  Both Major's friends and Ed's.  The boys kept saying they wanted to go to Betty's to eat instead of going out.  I'm sure if it hadn't been 9:30pm, she would have gladly agreed.

Pat Walton '99, Ed Geer '97, Tony Riggsbee '98, Ryan Walden '97, Major Geer, Jr. '87

Hopefully they will make this an annual event!