The Home Schooled Basketball Player.

Sweet Pea started basketball practice last night.  We live in a real rural area, but there is a small town about 15 minutes away and she is going to be playing on their team.

Poor Sweet Pea.  I suspect her P.E. teacher has failed her.  She has not one clue what is going on, bless her heart.  But,  she was all smiles as she was attempting to dribble and run down the court.

After the practice, I was a bit nervous to talk to her.

Me:  So, did you like it?

SP (all smiles):  Yes!  I'm not that good.  But, oh well!

Me:  Oh, you are fine!  We will practice at home.  Did you meet anyone?

SP (all smiles):  No.  No one really talked to me.

Me:  Oh.

SP (all smiles):  Wait!  One girl told me I was doing everything wrong.  That's it.

Let us all have a moment to applaud the courageous spirit of my daughter, who is THAT HOME SCHOOLED GIRL that nobody knows, playing a sport she has never played before.

Holla, Sweet Pea.  I don't think I could have done it.

Henceforth, her father and I have bought her an early Christmas present:  a basketball.  She is out there practicing some skills (or skillz, whichever you prefer) as we speak.  And this most certainly did not cause weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth from the three other children wondering why they, too, did not receive a basketball.  Nope.  We live in perfect harmony.

We are officially on Christmas break.

OH.

DARN.

We have decided to start our first annual "Christmas Home School Party."  Because we aren't nerdy at all.  We are making appetizers and Christmas cookies and will be doing all sorts of festive things.  David will be thrilled.  Perhaps we won't invite him?

I kid!  I jest!

His attendance is required.  For he moved us out here and he must feign delight in our whimsical ideas.  It's the rules.

I have some fantastic news.  We are going to be K-I-D-L-E-S-S this Saturday night!  We are going to a Christmas party and then we are going to stay in a H-O-T-E-L.

Please.  Try to contain your jealousy.

We won a hotel stay awhile back and we shall be redeeming it.  My parents are taking all four kids for the night and are to be commended for it.  As payment, I created their Christmas card with them over the phone last night.  It was torturous, as one might imagine,  and my services are worth more than fine rubies.

Mom:  Hmmm . . . I'm not digging the brown where it says "Merry Christmas."  Can you change it?
Me:  No.  It is Costco's template.

Mom:  Can you just change the color?  To black?  Or red?

Me:  No.  It is Costco's template.

Mom:  Ok.  Then put a picture over it.

Me:  I can't.  It's the template.

Mom:  I see.  Well can you swap it with the pattern from the other card I liked?  Or move it?

I suspect she is not familiar with the meaning of a template, no?

Anywho . . .

The Christmas season is upon us.  I would love to hear about some of your family traditions and happenstances that you have going on.  If you feel so inclined to share.

I am feeling a bit lonely today and I fear I have already bugged my Facebook friends enough.  What with my meaningless status update and whatnot.

I just need interaction!  That's all!  Not too much to ask!

So, yes.  Tell me something fantastic!  Share with me!  Visit with me!

Or not.  I'll live.