Basketball has begun!

Isaiah decided before we left Korea that he wanted to play basketball. We are proud of him because he chose this because HE wanted to and didn't do it because his brother was doing it. Basketball season started in December where the kids practiced during the month and learned a few things then in January the games began.  It is fun to watch him play.  The first game Isaiah was so nervous.  I think the entire team was.  It is so fun to watch because traveling is allowed, double dribbles are overlooked and the kids have a separate free throw line. They also don't keep score at his age, so it is very hard to keep track of who is actually winning, but at this age it is just about learning the game and having fun.   The kids also can't try to come and take the ball away after someone rebounds the ball, so Isaiah is often the rebounder and loves to take the opportunity to dribble the ball after the rebound because there isn't any competition.  During the last game Isaiah was so cute.  He started to skip while he was dribbling the ball down to his team with the biggest grin on his face.  He also had two free throws where he was able to make one of them and he sat there doing a celebratory dance while the ball was being taken down to the other basket.  We had to yell at him to get back into the game.  We love that he loves to play the game.  And he is also pretty good at it too. Shooting is his strong area.  Yes, his shorts are a little too small.  He has about three pair and these are his favorite, so he wears them often and they have turned into his game shorts.  The last game that we had Isaiah was the master blocker.  He discovered that they other team doesn't score very many baskets when he blocks.  He loves to be able to keep someone from moving around him and he is quite good at it.
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The little girl in front of Isaiah is his little buddy.  He always passes to her when they are on the floor together, she is taller than most of the other players and is quite a good shot.

Braxton's 12

Time has just flown by.  It seems like this young man was just a baby a little while ago.  Braxton had his 12th birthday just a few weeks ago.  We are so proud of Braxton.  He was just ordained a deacon in our church this past weekend.  I can't wait to watch him pass the sacrament tomorrow.  He decided that since we are back in the states again that he wanted to have his party the day of his birthday.  Braxton's birthday parties are getting easier and easier to throw together.  He wanted to have a teenage get together.  We had hotdogs and hamburgers, the kids played nerf gun battles and watched a movie.  They all had a great time.  We love Braxton so much and are so proud to have him as our son.