Free Friday: Basketball Nationals

We're at the NCHBC tournament in Springfield, MO this week. It has been a great experience for The Bear, Pastor Dad, and myself but a week filled with ups and downs. The games they win are exhilerating! The games they lose are excruciating. The same ups and downs are attacking our own personal emotions. It's The Bear's first time to be here and it's The Bear's last time to be here. He decided awhile ago that he's retiring the basketball shoes after his junior year in order to use his senior year for other pursuits. So while we are glad to be part of this wonderful homeschool experience we see the door of the past closing behind us and the door of the future opening before us. But for now, we're enjoying the week! And really, people, it's time to stop worrying about the socialization of homeschoolers. :)

Team Spirit

The Bear in the circle prior to the start of a game

Homeschoolers with their heads bowed in prayer. To me this is the most awesome sight of the week!

We took yesterday afternoon to have a bit of fun in Ozark, MO at the Lambert's Restaurant. If you've never been to a Lambert's the best way I can describe it is that it's like a Cracker Barrel on steroids! The decor is similar, as is the fine country cooking, but watch out for those rolls whizzing past your head! Better yet, catch a few and eat 'em! And they'll stop by the table offering you cooked vegetables not on the menu. Mmm-mmm.

A few happy dudes and dads waiting to be called to dinner

As parents, we decided to play a prank on the players. Their coach took them to the parking lot for a bit of "practice" to help pass the hour wait for our table. Was the coach in on the prank? We'll never tell! :)

After several minutes (a delay was encountered when one lid held massive amounts of tape!) we attacked with cans of Silly String.

String clean-up occurred, and it was back to basketball as usual like nothing had ever happened.  :)

Most of America is engrossed in March Madness, as are we, but this young man is definitely my favorite player on any court, at any level, anywhere!