Ending for one

Cassidy's thought her basketball playing ended after
the "B" team tournament but oh how things changed because the
"A" team tournament was still to come.
Keep in mind, she has been a bench warmer the whole
"A" team season except for about 3 minutes.
The first tournament game was on a Tuesday afternoon
and knowing she was not going to be playing, I had chosen not to go.
Then, I get a phone call at work around 10.
"Mom it's Cassidy, are you coming to my game?
One of the subs is sick and I think I might get to play."
I could hear the excitement but yet nervousness in her voice.
She left me no choice but to go. Well, lets just say
the team didn't play very good so the coach didn't do much subbing.
Then we had a couple snow days, which pushed the whole tournament
to be played on the following Saturday. By doing this it left the
team two girls short.
Now the excitement,
nervousness,
excitement,
nervousness
really set in.
Cassidy did get a lot of playing time in and by the end of the tournament
she was relaxed and enjoying herself.

Warming up before play.

This is the beautiful smile we see on her face on and off the court.

Cassidy loves battles with the opposing teammate.

Not only has basketball come to an end but so has cheering.

This is how much Brooke gets into the games. She wasn't feeling well so we took her pillow and DSi for her to relax. She is laying in between two bleachers.

He came! He came! Santa was here!!!

Merry Christmas indeed

Brooke really loved this jacket, you will see her wearing it in the rest of the pictures.

"Peace out y'all"

Santa must have been watching Cassidy very closely this year.
Though she didn't receive any coal,
she did get a gift wrapped box
containing a gift wrapped box,
containing a gift wrapped box,
containing a gift wrapped box,
containing a gift wrapped note.
The note was tightly taped and folded very small.
In tiny letters in the center of the paper
it instructed her that her gift was still
inside of the very first box, taped to the lid.
It was a lot of fun watching her open this one.

Tearing the box lid apart to find her iTunes card hidden within.

He bought himself a roll around tool chest on Black Friday that was empty.
He was so excited to get this 200 piece set of Craftsman tools.

Caught up in the spirit!

Thanks Montana and Washington!

It's a ritual on Christmas Eve that the kids are allowed to
open gifts from the Montana families and Grandpa Forest.

Thank you very much Grandpa for the cards with money.

The kids were shocked and are very excited to burn through it.
I'll bet more iTunes cards will be coming soon.


The kids couldn't wait to get to these gifts.
Thank you Aunt Melody and Aunt Michaela and their families.

Don't think she's excited do you?
She did nothing but play with her new games the whole week off of school.
Cassidy and Mom even got in on the thrill of these games while
traveling in the vehicle to our next destination.
If you have two DSi's, some games allow
you to connect so you can compete against each other.

The picture says it all!

Wasn't to sure at first, but the shirt quickly grew on her.
She got nothing but complements while wearing it.

Preparing the Goodies!

With school Christmas parties and holiday treat trays coming up,
you know there is always some wonderful
baking going on in Leslie's kitchen.

Love and kisses to all!

These are one of Dylan's favorites.
Peanut butter cookies with kisses in the middle.
He even chose Cherry Cordial Kisses.

Brooke was getting into the fun with sugar cookie candy canes.
She made these with Mommy for her class party.

Dylan being Dylan!

"Darn things won't stay!"

The girls take turns putting on the tree topper.
Thank goodness for her big and strong brother,
no ladder was needed.

Korney Cassidy saw this shirt and had to buy it for her Dad.
She made him wear it all day on Christmas.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Christmas Concerts

Another year of singing and blowing into a horn.

It was a short and sweet program for each of them.

They DID actually incorporate a few Christmas songs
to remember that this really isn't just a "winter" concert.

Unfortunately, Brooke didn't get to sing one of those Christmas songs.

There are always actions with the songs which make it more fun for the kids.
Beats just standing still and singing.

What a beautiful little lady this one is turning into.
Her flute playing has taken off
to the point that she actually did a duet with another flutist.

J-U-M-P

Jump, Cassidy Jump!

Basketball has grown on Cassidy and she dearly loves it.
Her most favorite part is pushing people around on the court.
This is so unlike her but she does an awesome job at it.

At the beginning of the season, Cassidy was afraid to handle the ball.
By the end of the season she loved hearing the other teams coach yell,
"You got to figure out how to stop #15!"

This game is very special to Cassidy.
She had 9 of the 11 points scored.

Going in for a lay-up.

Cassidy got a big boost of confidence the other day at practice.
The coaches husband was filling in for her.
He took Cassidy aside and told her how good she was,
and that now he understood what his wife was talking about
when she would go home and praise Cassidy's basketball abilities.
He told her he would make sure she went out for basketball in high school
because she will be awesome!


"Leader of the pack"
Brooke and friends cheering for big sis!

Rambling......

I do apologize for not posting something sooner.

Life is so busy for the Wines'. Yea, yea, yea, I know it's that way for everyone.

But for me, this year was going to be different.

I had it all planned out and even got a head start.

I make homemade gifts for the Montana nieces and all was going great until...

Well, lets just say, I broke my new sewing machine.

It has been in the shop for over a week.

Called Monday and he still hasn't received the part. I am really bummed out!

I guess our gifts for the Montana nieces will, like always, be late.

Sorry girls!

As for the Wines', it's hunting season for the men of the house which means they are not included in anything the girls do.

The Brooke and I are trying to keep up with Cassidy playing basketball two nights a week

and squeezing Christmas shopping in on the weekends.

Shopping is not going so well.

Last weekend, the girls wanted to watch their cousin wrestle in an all day tournament at Mission Valley and this weekend Cassidy has a basketball tournament on Saturday.

That leaves Sunday for hitting it hard. Look out Topeka!

I am struggling this year with Christmas shopping.

The older they get the fewer items they want which is GREAT but those few items are more expensive. Decisions, decisions!

Our computer is in the shop but as soon as we get it back we will have several posts.