Rysa Little Dribblers ( History makers)

All Star Basketball Season is over for the RYSA Jr. Girls.  These girls have made Rains County history.  I don’t know exactly how to go about checking it but if the preacher says it’s so it must be so.

Ten girls were picked from all the groups of girls playing basketball in the regular RYSA Little Dribblers season. My belief, as a grandparent, was that this would give them a little more experience for the next year and it would not interfere with softball to much.  Remember this was my belief.

So practices begin and tournament play starts.  It is all going great, we are winning games, every time we turn around and the girls seems to be having a great time.  The coaches are beginning to see more than just winning a few games. Eyes are looking at our team and the skills they possess. The other teams are now whispering about Rains. These girls are having a blast and winning is just part of the fun. So this starts the beginning of history making, lots of games and lots of gyms and lots of miles. One game keeps coming up and I just have to share it with you.  Our girls played at Crossroads. Never heard of this little town and still not to sure it’s not the area where the guitar player met the devil, anyway… When we entered the gym it was unlike any facility we have ever played at.  No score board, No possession light, No time clock equipment, No buzzer.  Basically, 2 goals, 1 basketball and a hard floor is all it was. The following is what was used for the above missing items:  Score Board—Dry Erase board with a dried up marker, you had to spit on it to make it mark. Possession light—Honey Bun box with an arrow drew on it with black crayon. Time Clock—Cell Phone if you had one with a timer. Buzzer—the loudest air horn ever made. Each team was responsible for providing there own score keeper, that day it was me. So don’t tell me our girls can’t overcome obstacles, because they have played under the worse conditions and come out winners. After winning that game we advanced to a better facility that had all the right equipment to make it a true basketball game. Did I mention this was the same tournament my daughter and I got ejected from? That’s another story…

Okay so the final tournament to name the Regional champs rolls around in Teague. This is where we make history for the RYSA!  We win the title of Regional Champions.  In 3 short weeks we will be playing for the Little Dribblers National Junior Girls Championship. In Brownfield.  Brownfield? Where is that? Ever heard of Levelland? Nope. How about Lubbock? Lubbock!? The Championship Tournament is an 8 hours drive one way. So now the hard work for the families starts. Until now we have just sat back and watched the girls do the hard work.  If we are going to stay in Brownfield we should have fund raisers to at least pay for the motel rooms, if we can find them.  We needed other items as well, not just motel rooms.  We needed a banner for the opening ceremony; we would like to have matching T-shirts and socks. There was so much work to do and only 3 weeks to get it all done.  Car Wash, boot drive, raffle tickets and just plain begging was what they came up with.  It worked; they managed to raise enough to pay for rooms for 2 nights.  The other nights would be on the parents.  Watching these girls work hard during the season was one thing, but seeing them work just as hard for the trip was a sight that should make every parent and grandparent proud of.  They worked and played as a TEAM with one goal in sight! 

RYSA Basketball Commissioner Jason Campbell, held a pep rally for the girls on Monday night at the Emory City park.  He presented each girl with a send off package of goodies and they enjoyed drinks, cupcakes and cookies. They all decorated cars and had another great fellowship with the team, before this journey ended.

All the team members arrived safely at the Holiday Inn in Levelland.  This motel was the closet one that could be found at the time the arrangement had to be made. Levelland was about 30 miles from Brownfield where the actual games would be played. The Wildcats first game was at 445 pm on Wednesday June 8.

This next part is where the party begins:

As they enter the gym, images of Crossroads immediately comes to mind for the parents. Really?  This is where we are to begin fighting for the National title? To say something nice about this facility is hard and the only thing I can think of to say is the air conditioners worked and it was cool inside the gym. The girls played that game for all it was worth. At the end of the game tied up.  Overtime!! At the end of that 2 minutes…tied up.  Overtime!! (again) With only a few seconds left on the clock we foul, Bowie goes to the line with 2 shots. She misses the first and makes the second. Score is Bowie 32 Rains 31.  We threw the ball in and the buzzer screams! Our girls lose this one in DOUBLE OVERTIME BY 1…………Nail Biter and Heart Breaker.  Coach calls them all together and tells them we play again tomorrow at 300 pm. 

After the game against Bowie we are invited to attend the opening ceremony for the tournament at 700pm.  The girls got to walk around the football track with the other 27 best teams in the state of Texas. They proudly held up their banner that stated they were the Regional Champions. During this ceremony if you wanted to enter the hat contest you were invited to strut your stuff.  The parents had “Blinged out” each of the girls an awesome cowboy hat with sparkles, feather boas, beads and each of there numbers.  In this spectator’s opinion, they were by far the best of the best!  The judge apparently was blind in one eye and not able to see from the other, as she chose another team over us for the award. We now know what is expected and will not be caught off guard next year. 

Thursday June 9 300 pm, Rains versus Fairfield, here we go, the battle is on to fight our way back up from the loser’s bracket.  We were hot. We looked good. We played with 100% pure joy of the game.  We had the gym excited. We were the queen’s of the court.  We had game.  We lost.

Final score Fairfield Wins Rains Youth Sports Assoc. Makes History……..

#1 Jaylee Sims                             # 13 Kharley Silva

#2 Heagen Steed                         #14 Dempsey Horton

#3 Leo Terry                               #15 D’Kaela Hill

# 10 Natalie Potts                       #20 Peyton Potts

#12 Vivian Bradshaw                   #21 Makenzie Potts

Coaches:

Chris Horton     Scott McGowan

                            A season well played girls. 

The day after.

I am sure I said thanks for the invitation to the after graduation party for Morgan, but in case I didn't, THANK YOU James and Mary Helen for having me over.  I had the best time.  It was good to see James being hisself, asking tons of questions, I never know exactly how to answer, afraid he will use it against me in a court of law ;) It was good to know Morgan and Dylon was not at some pasture party, getting high. (oops Carla did I say that!) It was good to see Presley nd Audie at graduation for there big sister.  It was good to finally get the meet the CD and Asst CD!!  It was good to see Pam's tat, and it not be rotted flesh with angry red streaks on it, it was beautiful and very tasteful. It is good to know that Paul and Katelynn are always happy.  It was good to see the other side of Mary Helen family, I don't get to be around much.  IT WAS JUST GOOD! And I had a blast, riding home with Uncle Sam and Martha. You know Carla...And I hope you know I only want the best for you and your family.
I really wanted to sleep in late this morning, Kent had to work and all I thought I had to do was go by Brookshires and get my car washed for a small donation.
Well Janie called me at 7..you ready to go?  UHH NO! Mom we have to set it all up? No one told me that. Did I forget to tell you that?  UH Yes Jane, a minor detail, I will be there as soon as I have my coffee.
I think if anyone ever suggest we have a car wash for a fund raiser I will run.  We put out a few signs and the cars started stacking up before we even had the water hose hooked up.  It was Janie, Kharley and ME..where was everybody else.....I was in panic mode...then all the gang showed up and the water fights began...A cool spray of water is not bad on an old fat granny, that was in charge of cleaning wheels.  After it was all  put away, the team did pretty dang good.  It stopped at 2 the hottest part of today and the BEST part of the day. A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THAT DONATED SO GENEROUSLY. And I know it had to do with the elbow grease I was putting in on the wheels, had nothing to do with 10-12 young cute little girls in bathing suits and pony tails. I had those WHEELS SPARKLING!!
Needless to say I am spent, exhausted, wore out, and tired...so looking forward to my pillow.....
happy trails to you, to ALL a good nite.  Nen

School (is almost) Out for the Summer

Right now, this very minute I could be getting ready to go back to the Bahama's. :(   how sad.   Back when Cord ask me if I wanted to return I turned him down because of the new job and I was just not comfortable asking to have the last week of my contract off.  WELL it turns out I am going to be off the last week of my contract, not going to the Bahama's but to Brownfield,,they both start with a B, but it aint the same. Although I have never been to Brownfield, it may just turn out to be PARADISE. ( I will post my decision after my return). 
Brownfield is where we are playing for the National Champs Title.  (Little Dribblers Basketball Kharley's age group) Has anyone ever heard of Brownfield?  didn't think so.  Anyone ever heard of Lubbock, heard about it in a song and rear view mirror...so we will see. 
T-Ball update: Red Sox Undefeated. As Kentlee walks up to homeplate with bat in hand, he is playing the air guitar.  Every Time.  So Cute, the crowd roars with laughter and he smiles and eats it up!
Kharley has been commissioned to keep the boys for the summer.  So the first day she had them, she calls her mom at work...MOM Kentlee is saying the P word when I make him mad.   Mom......Put Kentlee on the phone......Kentlee are you saying bad words? Kentlee.......are you going to whoop me if I say it?  Mom......No, what are you doing? Kentlee...She is pissing me OFF!
Next day...Kharley goes to a friends house, boys go back to Donna's.  Not sure how much Kharley will make this summer....Hope Kentlee and Kyle can out run her.
At Kyle's 4th bday party, the wind was blowing alot.  We went to the Alba park early was there at 10 it was really nice, but the wind was so high.  When it came time for cake and presents, we all sang HBTY and it was time to blow out the candle.  This was Kyle's time to get pissed...WHAR MY CANEL??? MOM??? WHAR MY 4 CANEL??? Explain high winds and tiny candles to a 4 year old. priceless..
We (I say we) moved some more dirt for the pool.  The ground is semi concrete and takes a pick maddox to persuade the dirt to move.  I got home from work on Memorial day, yes I worked on Mem. Day. and James and Kent were hard at it.  Sweet was pouring off of Kent he looked pale and needed a break.  James on the other hand had just got his second wind and could see the finish line.  I, being the little helper that I am, grabbed a shovel and told Kent I would take his place and help James get this job finished............................
When I woke up from the heat stroke I had suffered (kiddin) all the company had left, must have scared the pjeezies out of them.  I don't know what happened.  I thought I was making some kind of head way out there. It was hot, hot hot but I was doing okay, vaguely I remember Kent saying U O K?  just needed a drink, then everyone was gone..............................
Looking forward to graduation on Friday, glad to see Morgan closing this chapter in her book of life.  I can't wait to see what the title of the next chapter will be. 
Wishing I could introduce my grandsons to Pam grandsons and see who survives!  LOL
Can you tell it is Wednesday?  Kent is at Prayer meeting at the man hole and the rest are somewhere, all alone here by myself......somedays I love it, somedays I don't....Today it is love!

Don't fence me in and Happy trails to all and to all a good nite.  love, nen

May, where have you gone?

Just look at the calendar! It is almost June. Everything is flying by and I am missing most of it.  We, the whole family, has been so involved in the RYSA season we have almost missed May!  Geez.... Kyle birthday is the 28th and I haven't even got an idea for his present.  My friend Michele, just became a grandparent, my other friend Shelley is in the hospital, or so I heard, and I have done nothing. Morgan's prom has come and gone, next graduation.   The Junior Girls Basketball team has consumed my entire life....Work has been a madhouse.  When I did payroll for the school district, my routine never changed, same thing everyday, nothing exciting.  Now that I am on the campus level, it is chaotic.  Never know what you are walking into or when it will hit the fan!  So many personalities to get used to. AND you never know which personality it is going to be. About the time you get one down and you think you have it figured out, up pops another one.  It's the movie-- Sybil times 18!!! 
Kent is trying so hard to get our pool up.  Janie and I helped, if you can call it that, Sunday.  We are not speaking to one another today.  Kent knows so much but has the hardest time explaining the process to me and Jane.  Finally Janie screamed at him and I KNOW I AM A DUMBASS, so explain it AGAIN.  I thought maybe if she understands it then she can explain it to me.  Thank goodness, we were invited to a birthday party and had to quit early....wooshoooo!  Dodge that fight! 
So today, Monday I got Kent a dental appt with a new dentist.  A sedation dentistry office.  Dr Gary is sending him to Dr Tiner in Gville to have 4 teeth cut out, they will put him out to do it all at once.  We left Sul Spgs and was home by 930 this morning.  Janie calls and says Mom can you get Kharley she passed all her test and is out for the summer. Wonderful Flex year....at Rains... I told her I had to work but Kent was off he could get her.  I was on my way to work, stopped to have the oil changed in Kent's BRAND NEW 2011 PICK UP AND the techs at D and D said he had some trouble under there and I should take it back to the dealership....well shit!   So I call Jane and Kent tell them I will just pick up Kentlee and Kharley and take off the rest of the day in order to get the damn truck in the shop.  Okay Mom!   OH by the way we have a game in Mineola tonight at 6, Kharley's team.  Oh boy!!! I called Kent and told him about the game and the truck at the same time.  When I got back home he was getting ready to follow me to Mineola, it was about 1130 by that time so I fixed us a sandwich and it dawned on me.....DUH!  Mineola game tonight, we could just wait and drop the truck off as we went to the game...Save a few miles in gas and money.  So Kent puts his work clothes on and starts on the pool prep again with the aid of Kentllee and Kharley.  I start trying to find my kitchen.  Ring Ring, it's Janie again...............Mom, tell Kharley to go get her uniform and would you PLEASE wash it for her?................welll sure why the hell not!  Get a wash going and attempt one more time to find that damn kitchen.  I have never been a fan of paper plates or plastic cups, but I do believe Summer is a perfect time to change my ways.  Especially as close as these children live to me.  NO one drinks twice out of the same damn glass.....why????  Empty dishwasher, feed every scrap I can possible find the Macky, reload the dishwasher, and start sweeping, yeah I need to mop, but to hell with it, it's raining!!!  Oh did I tell you after we made the big decision to just wait on going to Mineola for the truck and game, it started raining.............Kharley wants to know if the game is canceled.  Well I hope so, oh I mean hope not, but we have to go to Mineola anyway so might as well watch a game too. My word,  could this day get any more confusing??????  The Mavs play tonight, I so hope they beat the thunder out of OKC....get it??  bahahbahahaha.
Oh yeah I am suppose to be raising funds for the BIG National Tournament the girl is in........save me some steps and just send money.....all denominations accepted.....receipt upon request...smile!!

Dontfencemein!    love, Nen

Mother's Day 2011

For whatever reason, Kent is having a real hard time this year with Mother's day.  He wants to go to the cemetery tomorrow, first Mother's day in 3 years.  Hughlene died in August of 2007.  He has been to the cemetery maybe 4 times in the 4 yrs she has been gone.  I on the other hand have been to visit with Mom Doe Daddy, Granny and Granny Pa about 1 a month since Mom and Granny have been gone. I won't ask Kent to go to Woosley tomorrow, we will just visit P-Ridge, I think Mom will understand.
Today was Founder's Day at the city of Emory.  I have never really participated much with that event, but this year we sat up a card table (we Carla, Morgie and I) for our Rains Alumni Association We had a Banner ....The banner was bigger than the table I brought, so we just wrapped it around it..Funny, Silly looking but the company was wonderful and I got to visit with lots of Alumni.....brought Kent some lunch and went back to the city Park for 'The Duck Races'  Kharley, Kentlee and Kyle each had a..1..one..duck and all thought they would win that Wii system....I think the odds where against them, about 400 ducks in the creek and the first one to pass thru this slot was the winner.......and I'll be dang, the number 1 duck was the one in the lead for the first 15-25 feet of the race it was turned upside down and you could see the number.....at first I thought WTH!  then it started to slow down and looked like it was taking on water....and the rest of the ducks got pushed up to the shoot....it was neat hearing the kids scream out the numbers......I'm not sure who won but it was NOT Kharley Kentlee or Kyle not sure who won the homemade Ice cream contest or the 42 contest.....then the Flaming Duck race...this is a race between the local VFD's from Point, Emory and East Tawakoni....with real ducks.  I kinda thought they were gonna set a duck of fire, but someone said it was called Flaming for the Fire depts.....ok well anyway, each city had a volunteer to grab 1 live duck jump in the creek and try to shoo the duck down to the bridge.  SOO Funny!!  East Tawakoni's duck took a turn and went to the donut shop direction, she spent the majority of the race trying to catch her duck, the Point and Emory was in a dead heat and right before each duck got to the bridge, they each turned around....NO winner so they tried again.  Emory Volunteer dove into the creck almost right on top of his duck, while Point Volunteer, just kinda begged her duck to please go under the bridge.....after it was all over Point is STILL THE CHAMPION FLAMING DUCK WINNER!!  I think the anouncer said the 4th year in a row for Point...I love it when Point dominates! 
It was all in all a good day, my grandkids seemed to have a good time as I did.  Hope all the Mom's that read this have a great day tomorrow.  Each of you deserve it. 
Thanks Carla for making my day....

Happy Trails and Mothers Day from Nen --May 2011

Why The Tears??

My neice was in a pagent...I wrote her a good luck note...added a little note about her granny, my mother in law who died in 2007.....neice responds, I cry!
FB wants you post pics of your Mom until Mother's day.....I post as my profilepic a pic of my Mom....Mom died in 2007.....as I type her name, I cry!
One of  my BF reminds me of many trips to the Sonic.......venting about a runaway daughter......daughter is about to graduate and is back safe and sound......my BF moves away as I think about missing her and her daughter, I cry!
Sorry ass soon to be ex son in law # 2 is outside playing with his sons, thinking about how hurt MY daughter is about the crap he put her thru.......wondering how in the world she will ever make it and knowing she is to proud ask us for help,  I cry!
Another BF son in law lays in a hospital paralyzed with a 5 kids and a wife to support....We send money to help with hospital cost or monthly bills, whatever they need....thankful it's not my family but feel guilty for being thankful it's not my family...I cry!
Missing my Mom and Granny and Mother in Law and Aunt so much, I cry!
If you have anything you wish me to cry about for you then send it to me soon and  I will take care of it, it seems to be my season for tears. I am saying this like it is a Blue Light Special so hurry while the tears last!

Okay I'm tired of crying!! I used to wonder why teachers were constantly tired and weary and looked haggard.  Well it's because of Teacher Appreciation Week.  My Boss has planned something exciting for all of our teacher for every day this week.  I have run around and been Little Ms. Helpful all week and my give a damn is almost used up....Come on FRIDAY and get me back to normal on Monday! Maybe the crying will stop as well, no wait Sunday is Mothers day!! Janie will make sure I cry no more, I just know it....
Gonna watch the Mavs whoop the Lakers!  so good nite to all and to all a good nite.
Nen.

Prom Season (for some)

Thank you Lord for getting Pam and Danny thru the Prom.  Colby and Chelsey were never in danger like Mom and Dad....The best story is on Fenter Funny Farm, if you get the chance read poor Pam's ordeal with 2 attending the Prom.  Thanks for posting it Pam, I remember well the 2 prom's Janie went to.  Both of them with her first ex husband. For what they put me thru they should of had to live together for ever!!!
One year I helped with Stacy's  after Prom party...and swore then this aint never gonna happen again.  I was on constant watch for kids going to the woods, leaving in trucks, people coming out of the wood work just looking for a party.  Some events should just be forgotten and never spoke of again. The one thing I remember was a couple got into the biggest fight, because he wanted to leave and she wanted to stay with the rest of the class.  She was crying......mad me so sad, they ended up leaving and all she wanted to do was just and party with all her friends, boyfriend thought it was lame.....dumb ole boy!!! 
One pre-prom party for Janie, we had a photographer come out and made some great pics of the the kids.  That is probably what Pam should have done.  She has a brother in law that has a really good camera and if asked nicely would have done that for her..(Huh Paul?) 
Wish I could figure out how to post some pics from Easter, I have the best pic of Kent and Kyle with the "catch of the day" 
I need an easy pic posting 101 lesson.....anyone??anybody???PAUL!!
Talk again soon, Happy Trails and Happy May!!( 40 degrees and the wind is blowing!!!!! go figure))  Nen