Hoop Dreams

The "Stice Team"  has a hoop!  Woo hoo!  This has been a dream of Todd's for a very long time.  Todd's been working for a few weeks now on a concrete court with the help of friends, and got the hoop up this weekend. 

The first few shots made on it:

Brielle, lowering the hoop. 

She made her first three attempts!  Woo hoo!

As parents, I think it's always exciting when we see our children discover an interest.  Finding something they really like and want to learn more about. Brielle and Ashton are wanting to be out there shooting hoops constantly now.  Whenever we're gone and headed home, they say they can't wait to get home so they can play basketball.  They love the daddy-time they get when Todd gives them something to work on or plays with them.  They both had this immediate thrill with it all.  Ashton really struggled making shots at first, but he stood out there in the cold and told Todd he wasn't going inside until he made a shot.  He finally made his 50th.  Made Todd proud to see his calm determination, having no doubt he'd make his first shot eventually! 

One of the many things I love about Todd is his incredible patience.  For date night a few months ago, we used my church key and Todd taught me to shoot hoops in the church gymnasium.  No one was there and I felt the pressure off to be able to just listen to Todd's instruction and calmly attempt making a basket.  My parents don't play basketball and any instruction I had ever had was in front of a team or class which intimidated me too much to ever get anywhere with it.  Todd stood there on our date night and rebounded the ball for me over and and over for an hour and a half.  He coached my form and encouraged me until I could make a lot of baskets in a row from several different positions.  Maybe it sounds silly, or seems small, but I don't give myself that kind of patience.  Or anyone else for that matter.  One of those small but significant experiences where someone reminds you that you are important and special without really meaning to.  Heaven knows our kids won't get good at basketball from my help, but they have a very good mentor in their daddy.

We debated whether or not to put the basketball court out this late in the year or to just wait until Spring.  But with Brielle starting her first season of basketball soon, we thought any amount of time practicing now would be all for the better.  And at least it would be set and ready the moment winter let up.  But they don't seem to mind the cold.  It snowed this week and they were still out in their winter attire shooting and dribbling and loving it.