The Champion

Parker managed to do what no Ball brother could do that has gone before.   Parker's team won the championship basketball game for rec basketball!  No one could be more surprised than we were.  His team was not great.  At all.  But it's rec and that's fine.  They lost about half their games.  But none of that mattered because all that counts is winning games in the single-elimination playoffs and you're good to go.  And that's exactly what happened.  They came.  They played.  They won.

Parker is also in the middle of another fun lacrosse season.  Pictured above was when Parker was in the penalty box for two penalties.  Another first for the Ball Brothers.  Parker is sporting the number 45 because he's the 4th out of 5 brothers.  Get it?  

His team wins about half their games and Parker gets about half his shots in the goal.  He's really good at dodging and telling the coaches when he ready to sub out :)  It's hard to believe my sweet little Parker is almost a teenager.  In my mind he's still a sweet 7 year old obsessed with Legos.

Basketball

Marcus's 2016 basketball season is over and ended in tears.  Poor kid.  It was only rec ball (because the thought never crossed my mind to have him try out for a competition team.  Oops) but his team played well and were expected to do well in the tournament.  Sadly, they lost their first game.  Ouch.  To a team they had already beat.  Ouch even more.
Thankfully our friend took some great shots of the last game so when I tell you Marcus is a good basketball player, you'll believe me.  I have no idea where he gets his natural ability and Randy and I always say it's too bad he's got us for parents because he could probably go really far as an athlete if we knew how to guide him.  I guess that's what coaches are for, right? Randy missed the last game because he was at Landon's basketball game (Landon's coach calls him "The Weapon" and he made 14 baskets that game) which was at the same time.  I sat in the stands, helplessly watching Marcus's team struggle to make any shots.  The ref seemed to only have eyes for Marcus, constantly blowing his whistle, and I had no idea why so I couldn't tell Marcus to stop doing whatever it was.  Occasionally one of the other parents would shout some words of encouragement or yell at the ref which made me feel better.  I know it's just a game, but this loss hurt to watch.  The other moms and I joked about leaving and coming back after it was over.  But oh well.  You win some, you lose some.

Marcus got fouled on a 3-pointer so he went to the line and made all 3 of his shots.  It was impressive!

I'm a Survivor

blurry iPhone pic of Marcus making a free-throw

We finished basketball season and I am jumping for joy!  Hooray for no more hauling all the boys back and forth from one game to another.  Hooray for no more looks of pity from the other parents who are watching their only child play in the game while I entertain three little boys from the sidelines.  Hoo-Ray!!
If you think I'm exaggerating about how crazy it has been, I am not.
9:45am - drop off Marcus at game #1, drive home
10:15am - take Ethan, Landon and Parker to Ethan's clinic/game, watch for 5 minutes
10:20am - load up Landon and Parker and go to Dunkin' Donuts to pick up a gift card for Marcus's coach, load boys back in van
10:45am - arrive at Marcus's game, watch final minutes of game while little boys are occupied with eating donuts
11:00am - Marcus starts game #2 while I'm in the halls playing with the boys
11:30am - Leave Marcus and load up little boys and drive back to watch Ethan play
12:00pm - Load up Ethan, Landon, and Parker, drive back to watch the end of Marcus's game
12:15pm - Marcus's game ends, no one got seriously injured or left behind, and I even remembered to give Coach the gift card
12:25pm - arrive home just in time for lunch and realize the gift card is in my wallet.  Marcus gave his coach an empty envelope. 
I.  Am.  Awesome.

Keeping boys entertained in the hall

Bean playing ball