February: Valentines, Basketball, and Mud

Valentine's Day was our 9th wedding anniversary.  We were pretty much out of groceries that day, so Brandan left for work without a lunch, but I promised him I'd scrounge up something.  The morning was absolutely beautiful so the boys and I met Brand at his school at lunch time for a family picnic at the tables in the school's front yard.  Dash loved the idea and told us "a picnic is a really good way to celebrate Valentine's".  His poor future wife.

Actually, just a few hours after our pleasant picnic, clouds moved in and it snowed.  Go figure.  That night the high school had a basketball game and I'll tell ya, I never got so much attention.  Brandan had announced our anniversary to all his classes so all the students kept congratulating me, I think they're impressed we made it nine years.  And then, since it was Senior Night for the teams, the school gave the Senior's and the coaches wives flowers and they made an over-the-microphone announcement of our anniversary.  So, it was quite public.

The boys have fallen into a basketball game routine and are starting to do pretty good at the games.



Dash and Colt usually play with toys and friends, and their friend's toys, in the bleachers during the basketball games. 

Between games and during halftime, the boys run around the court knocking over other kids and throwing balls around.

Sport was just getting ready to take the court.

Sweaty run around a gym + long hair + tight winter hat = Silly Colt

On Friday, Brandan coached the basketball through their last regular season game on his own since the headcoach had to be out of town with his daughter that night.  Brandan was a little nervous, but he did a great job.

Brandan is the fuzzy guy in the red shirt.  Red?! I know, right?

Saturday was another beautiful day (it snowed on Sunday), so we went for a family walk that afternoon.  The warm weather is great, but we have a dirt driveway and live on a gravel road, so...

The boys in the mud.

Sport likes to collect rocks, but gets frustrated with his mittens.

Dash and Colt in what is suppose to be the beginning of our driveway.

Sport particularly loves the mud.

Sport killing whatever grass might be coming up through the mud and snow.