End of Basketball Season

It has been a busy week in the Hood household. Tuesday we celebrated Nina's 2nd birthday. We absolutely adore our baby girl and appreciate all the joy she ahs brought to our family!!!

Even Mollie loves Nina

On Wednesday, my co-worker invited me to go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to see my all time favorite, Tim McGraw. The last time I saw Tim McGraw was with my sister, her husband and Mason (maybe in 2007). 

We had a great time singing at the top of our lungs and enjoying the view.

This weekend was the end of season tournament for basketball and we had two games Friday night. We ended up losing and not advancing in the tournament, however Casen had a 3 pointer during one of the games which was AWESOME to see!!! I am so glad Casen picked back up basketball this year. I know I say it all the time, but it is so fun watching my boys do what they love!!! 

On Sunday, Camden reported that he had a loose tooth and proceeded to pull it. Not anything earth shattering, right? However this particular tooth took extra work to get out because it came out in 3 pieces! 

One more highlight to our weekend was that we got to dogsit Bella, my sister's dog. We always love having Bella.  

Relaxing after a nice walk.

Not Baseball Weather

It was the first tournament of the Spring season and oh my gosh, it was NOT baseball weather!!! It was a miserably cold and wet weekend. Our first game was not until later in the afternoon yesterday, and since Camden is still having headaches and trying to recover from his concussion, we let him stay home. I missed having my cheering buddy with me. 

Cold, wet, freezing and missing Camden

On Sunday we headed back to the fields and luckily the sun was shining during the day and the boys were ready to play. Casen hit the ball well, as did the rest of the taem, and after a long day they came out on top and won their first tournament of the season. We didn't leave the field until 10:45pm, but I think the boys would say it was worth it! I am so glad to be back out at the fields (despite the weather) watching Casen do what he loves.

Got my cheering partner back!

Love these boys of mine!

Concussion

This afternoon we headed to Burroughs Park to watch Camden play with the 2009 boys. While he was defending the goal, a player from the other team kicked the ball and it hit Camden on the right cheek and straight down he went. There are floppers in soccer, even at Camden's age, but Camden is definitely not one to go to the ground unless he is hurt. So once I realized it was him, my heart sank. Of course, mommas aren't allowed on the field, so I stood on the sidelines waiting for what seemed like an eternity. After Coach Jessie went out, Camden finally got up and headed to the side lines. The team manager (and mom of the goalie) gave me a thumbs up. A bit later, she motioned me to come over there and said that Camden was complaining of dizziness and a headache and felt we needed to be seen by the athletic trainer who is at the fields to help injured players. She just told us we should follow up with our physician.

Grateful that he was OK, but sad that he had a concussion we headed home for him to rest. 

Camden's Birthday Weekend

It is so hard to believe that with Camden turning 12, it is the last of his preteen years. Due to the chance of  ice and snow, school was cancelled for Friday, so Camden got to spend his birthday playing Fortnite all day. I guess that is a 12 year old's dream . . . 

Shane flew to Birmingham to go to Pop Pop's funeral, so Camden did not get to open gifts until late. Luckily, Melissa and Shawn came over earlier in the day and brought his birthday gifts so he didn't have to wait all day to open a gift. 

For Christmas Camden had asked for a fingerboard skate park, which you can't just go and buy. It was something that I ordered off of Etsy from overseas way back in November and it was supposed to be here in time to be his Santa gift. Well, since it just arrived two weeks ago, it became his birthday present!

Saturday afternoon, Casen and I headed to his basketball game where he played well and scored 2 free throws. While we were at the basketball game, Shane and Camden were in Houston for a soccer tournament where Camden played with the 09 boys who won both their games. 

Since it was late when Shane got home on Friday night, we lit candles, sang Happy Birthday and ate cake Saturday night. Per Camden's request, he had a yummy homemade Reese's peanut butter cup ice cream cake. 

On Sunday, we all headed to Houston to the Rise tournament where the boys won both their games and were the tournament champions. 

It was such a fun, but busy weekend. Camden is looking forward to when we can find a date in the very near future to go out to eat and then go to TopGolf with a few of his friends. With all their busy schedules, it may not be an easy task.

So Long For Now

Shane lost his grandfather, Pop Pop, Saturday night due to COVID. He was 96. He was hospitalized last weekend and fortunately did not suffer as he passed peacefully into the gates of Heaven. Shane's parents arrived to Birmingham the day prior to his death so Derenda was with him as he passed. His funeral will be Friday and Shane will fly there to be a pallbearer as well as be with his family. The boys and I will stay back so that they can go to school and be here for their games this weekend.

I will miss the many great stories Pop Pop told. He had such a rough life, however despite the bad hand he was dealt as a youngster, it made him the strong, generous man that he was. He was loved by all, especially children, since he always had candy to give them.                                                                                                 

Pop Pop holding Camden

Pop Pop and the boys in 2016

2018

Christmas 2020

So many times since September I have told Shane just how glad I am we went to visit his family this summer. We sure didn't realize it would be the last time that we would see all three of his grandparents. 

In the words of Pop Pop himself, "So long for now."

Rodeo Art

A few months ago Camden and I sat down at the computer to look for an inspiration photo for his art class. He was instructed to pick something he could draw for rodeo art. Camden had a picture in his mind of what he wanted to do, so we searched online and found a desert landscape photo.

I knew he had been working on his piece at school, but he didn't speak much of it or how it was coming along. We had a nice surprise right before Christmas when Shane found out that Camden's art work was chosen to go to the Tomball Art Festival to be judged for rodeo art. 

Today was the Tomball ISD Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Show 2022. Prior to Camden's soccer game, we headed to the Tomall Event Center to view the artwork. What an honor it was to see that Camden's artwork received a red ribbon. 

Once again I am amazed at Camden's talent. He is very fortunate to have an awesome art teacher, Mr. Clifton, who is teaching him so many new things and helping him shine.

Spectating from Indoors

It has been a few years since we have had a basketball player in the family. The team Casen played flag football with this year asked him to play on their basketball team and he gladly joined. Despite his team only having two practices prior to this weekends games, they did well. Their first game, which was last night at 8:30 (a little late for this old lady), they came out on top. 

A winning smile!

They had another game today which they also won. I am thinking it was all of Casen's fans today that pulled them through to a victory. :)