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The JR & Lisa Wilson Family

More MN Weather, Basketball Talk & Eli Entertainment

3/20/2011

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News From the North

Seems like my Blogs all contain something about the weather, something about basketball and then something funny Eli has said.  Well, here goes again.

It’s Minnesota and spring comes slowly.  We are finally experiencing temperatures in the low 50’s, but there is snow in our yard and the forecast this week is predicting some days with highs in the 20’s and a “wintery mix.”   Friends and family on Facebook are talking about mowing their yard and the flowers beginning to bloom.  Although we’ll get tastes of some spring-like weather, we realistically aren’t in the clear until late April, early May.  There have been many baseball tournaments we’ve spent bundled-up!  This is really the only time I begin to wonder why I live in MN.  It isn’t in January when the temperatures are minus 20.  It is in March when it should be spring … but it’s not.  Whine – whine - whine.  I’m not asking for pity … because I know I wouldn’t get it.

The flu has been running through our house.  It has struck Jake, Isabella, Lydia, Eli and now Lisa.  It’s not very pretty, but it only lasts about 36 hours and then it’s gone.  I’m holding out and hoping not to get it!

Most of you already know about the awesome run Jake’s basketball team is on.  The team entered the Sub-Section tournament seeded first and won the finals last Wednesday.  They then won the Section Championship on Friday.  That places them in the state tournament with seven other teams.  Zimmerman High School has only been in existence for 8 years; when the school district split another high school into three separate high schools.  This is the first team state entry the school has ever had.  They play their first state game this Wednesday at Williams Arena, which is the home court of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.  If they win that game they then play in the semi-finals in the Target Center, which is the home court of the MN Timberwolves.  Regardless of the outcome, this team can be proud of their accomplishments.  Just getting to state is a major feat.  It has been fun to be a part of the entire experience.  The community is really supporting the team.  We had a huge fan turnout for the last game.  I’ll let you know how it goes!

Latest fun Eli saying:  “Mommy, I have the hook-ups.”

It’s March Madness, and my bracket still has some sibilance of hope.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about – just skip this paragraph.  The Ohio State University plays today at 4:15pm.  I’ll be watching!  Go Buckeyes! …………..

………………  Well, I took a break, watched the game, and now about 6 hours later I’m back.  And the Buckeyes won convincingly!

For you prayer warriors, my mother needs some prayer.  She has had two surgeries on her back to repair her disintegrating vertebrae.  Her second surgery was just 18 months ago, and her surgeon has determined that it was not successful.  I don’t know all the specifics, but I know that the condition causes Mom great pain in her neck, back and groin.  It is difficult for Mom to walk, or really do anything without experiencing great pain.  She has been to multiple doctors, and there really hasn’t been a good solution.  She is now considering a visit to Duke University.  Please pray for Mom (Margit Cook).  Pray to help ease her pain, and pray that the doctors and surgeons can find some way to give Mom relief without the drugs.  Thanks!

I was standing in the kitchen.  The pantry door opened from the inside and out came Eli.  He smiled, his face covered with the powder from the donuts he had been eating.  His hands were covered with white powder, and his hand prints on the pantry door also showed his offense.  Daddy had a good heart-to-heart talk with his three year old, telling him that he was not to do that again.  Later in the day one of the kids found him hiding behind a chair eating another donut.  I got Eli up on my lap and whispered into his ear, “It really makes me sad that you ate another donut when I told you not to eat any more.”  Eli then innocently whispered back, “It really makes me sad that you didn’t give me another donut.”

Love
JR
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That’s gonna hurt coming out!

3/8/2011

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Jake and Amanda ready for the Snow Dance (They were the Sophomore King and Queen) .......... Isabella's 8th grade B-Ball team (Rogers Royals) after their last tournament
News From the North

Snow, snow and more snow!  Please stop the snow.  More importantly – let’s start having some warm weather.  Even the 40’s would be a good start.  Is it just me, or has this winter lasted a long time?  And this is Minnesota, so we really aren’t in the clear until May.  It gets really discouraging when family from Ohio start talking about the tulips and daffodils beginning to bloom, and I have to say to them, “Please speak up.  The snow plow outside is making it hard for me to hear you.”

I shouldn’t complain – the snow is beautiful.  Our home is surrounded by big pine trees, and it is awesome to look out the window (from inside our warm home) and see the trees full of snow.

Basketball is winding down.  Luke and Bella are done.  Jake begins the sectional tournament on Thursday.  The team is seated first in the sub-sections.  Although it will require solid play, the team really stands a good chance of getting to the state tourney.  That would be awesome, and a first for the school (in basketball).

Now don’t be mistaken.  The end of the basketball season just means the beginning of the AAU basketball season.  Isabella will be playing on the MN Charity Warriors Elite 8th grade team.  It is a competitive program that competes in tournaments across the Twin Cities, as well as a few out-of-state tournaments.  Jake will be playing for the MN Comets 16U Elite team.  They compete in 10 tournaments through-out Minnesota, as well as out-of-state tournaments (including Las Vegas).  This team is a “by-invite” only team.  They saw Jake play in a varsity game.  He was approached by three other AAU teams, but the Comets program seems to be the most competitive and well-coached of the four.  Both Bella and Jake are excited about playing on these teams.  They love basketball!

Luke who is in 2nd grade has been having some discipline issues at school.  When this happens, we receive a slip from the school explaining the behavior problem – we are required to sign and acknowledge that we are aware of the offense.  So far Luke has received three of these slips, plus a call from the principal, which ended up as a half day of in-school suspension.  Now don’t get me wrong, Luke is an ornery boy and he gets in his fair share of trouble at home.  We had great angst when Luke started first grade, fearing that his inability to sit still, and his aggressive (sometimes border-line violent) behavior was going to be a problem.  In first grade – no issues – perfect student!  Well this year here’s what he has done:  1) scraped some decorative “snow” off a door, 2) erased a girl’s name on her name card, 3) “bullied” a boy by calling him by his middle name (Mark), 4) grabbed a boy around the neck - which the school later confirmed Luke’s story that he was just fooling around with a friend.  First let me say that the school Luke attends is great.  The teachers are passionate and creative.  When you walk into the school all the kids are well-behaved and respectful.  It is great learning environment.  I am supportive of the school, and Luke was grounded at home in addition to the in-school suspension … but don’t some of these offenses seem a bit petty?  I guess you have to keep order, but when I was in school the teacher would just have scolded the kid and moved on.  Times have changed.

I am excited about NCAA basketball this year.  The Ohio State University is #1!!!!  As a Buckeye fan, success in basketball has been sparse. In the history of Ohio State basketball they have only won one national championship, and that was in 1959/60.  Fred Taylor coached Bobby Knight, Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek.  On three other occasions the Buckeyes finished as the Runner-up (two of those were the Knight, Lucas, Havlicek team – 1960/61 and 1961/62).  In the last few years we TOSU fans have had some hope that we can be more than just a football powerhouse.  The Wall Street Journal ran an article in which it said, ”The Ohio State Buckeyes, who took over the No. 1 ranking in both polls this week, loom as college basketball's next potential power program.”  I can only hope!  What a recent run with Greg Oden & Mike Connelly (06/07 – NCAA Runner-up), Evan Turner (09/10 – Sweet 16), Jared Sullinger (10/11 – currently ranked #1).  Go Buckeyes! … in the Big Ten Tourney which starts on Thursday, and then on to the Big Dance!

Lisa called me today to tell me that Eli just told her that his throat hurt.  She asked why, and he told her it was because he swallowed a rock.  She asked him how big the rock was and he held his hands as far apart as they could go and said, “This big!”  ...  That’s gonna hurt coming out!

Love,
JR

PS – Sorry about the Ohio State rant – I know most no one cares – but I couldn’t help myself.
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Gabriella dressed for her Valentine's Dance (Isabella was her date) ............ Our home after a recent snowfall
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    News from the North

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    Author:  JR Wilson

     

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