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About this Blog
Thus continue the lessons of Pinnockfamily.com, created by the parents of Allie and Grace for the friends and relatives of Allie and Grace.
So follow along as we wake up, smell the coffee and try to keep pace with the girls, whose adventures will take us -- and their toys, dishes, clothes and tempers -- down the staircase and back again, from breakfast until bedtime and every bath in between.
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Saturday, February 28, 2009
Not one, but two grand finales
The girls polished off the Upward Basketball season today in memorable fashion. A couple of season-best efforts, followed by big smiles, said it all.
Gracie's morning game unveiled a side of the little monster we hadn't seen this year. She got defensive -- first by snuffing an opponent's shot with an all-ball rejection before halftime. And in the second half she tied up three different opponents -- including the other team's top player -- to force jump-ball turnovers. Gracie's coach took notice, and awarded her a star for best defense.
Allie followed suit with her best offensive game of the season. She sank two baskets in the second period and was spotted hustling back on defense while grinning from ear to ear. Fittingly, the coach gave Allie the star for best offense.
And so the eight-game season draws to a close -- almost. The season-ending awards extravaganza is tomorrow, and word on the street is the guest of honor is a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. We're sure a good time will be had by all.
posted by Geoff 4:06 PM
Monday, February 23, 2009
A familiar face at the Oscars
When actor Ben Stiller mocked bedraggled space-case Joaquin Phoenix during the Academy Awards on Sunday, Gracie took notice.
Her first reaction: "That looks like Uncle Monkey with bed head."
posted by Geoff 11:13 AM
Saturday, February 07, 2009
That Gracie, she's a playah ...
The fifth weekend of Upward Basketball offered something old and something new.
The new: Gracie's offense continues to improve. She played a heckuva game today in another win for her first/second-grade team, the Saints. She scored twice -- her second basket coming after a full-court drive and close-range bank shot -- and on defense really flustered her opponent.
The old: Allie's third/fourth-grade team, which is basically aimless through no fault of the players, was soundly defeated. (It got so out of hand, they turned off the scoreboard. Anyone care for a ride on the humilitron?) The big sister, who is currently battling a cold, didn't put any points on the board but it wasn't for a lack of trying. She threw up five shots but they were all misfires.
The schedule: Five games down, three to go. Yes.
posted by Geoff 5:09 PM
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Staying in the hoop loop
So today's foray into the world of Upward Basketball was monumental in one respect: Nobody won, and nobody lost.
On an afternoon scheduled so tightly that Gracie and Dad missed the start of Allie's game, there was plenty to celebrate. Both girls played great games.
Gracie carried a big load for her team, which is consistently the aggressor -- and, if scores were kept in her league, would probably be unbeaten. The little hustler had a couple rebounds, took three shots (narrowly missing all three), played strong defense and ran the point for one period. She got bonus points for smiling most of the game.
Allie also was charged with bringing the ball up the court and -- unlike a couple girls wearing the same color jersey -- attempted to pass to her teammates. She turned in a nice defensive effort in her team's 22-22 tie. Allie stayed clear of the rebounding scrums, but didn't hesitate to take open shots.
The girls are now halfway through the season. The season-ending party is March 1, and the guest of honor will be a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
posted by Geoff 9:50 PM
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Stand-up performances
The highlights of Mass at St. Peter's today were the readings of the Prayers of the Faithful.
As the kickoff to Catholic Schools Week, Allie and Gracie were among a small handful of All Saints students who were selected to read to the congregation.
Allie, of course, is an old pro at such things. Gracie overcame her jitters and made us proud.
Watch the video
posted by Geoff 4:44 PM
Monday, January 19, 2009
Isn't she a doll?
Overheard, as Gracie was playing with her Barbies:
"I'm so sexy. Do you want to see my sex?"
posted by Geoff 11:30 PM
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And a fine day it was
The girls made the most of their Upward Basketball opportunities Saturday, filling their roles well, playing great defense and coming home with victories.
Neither Allie nor Gracie put points on the board this week, but there were no complaints. Allie's team, the Golden Knights, posted a 38-30 victory -- thanks in part to Allie's defense. She frustrated every girl she covered, took only one shot on offense (it was a bit out of her range) and played the point a few times. The bonus: No rebounds off the bean, no sprained fingers.
Gracie's team, the Saints, would have won handily if scores were kept in her league. She brought the ball up the court a few times and ran her little tail off chasing her opponents around the court on defense. On offense, moving without the ball is becoming her speciality -- but she is showing a hunger for handling the ball, too.
The noon-and-3 basketball grind was followed by a luxurious lunch at McDonald's and a trip to the movies with dad to watch Bedtime Stories.
Indeed, it was a full day.
posted by Geoff 12:09 PM
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Upward ... and onward
And so today we began our second season of Upward Basketball. And it was good.
Despite Allie's rough-around-the-edges debut, everyone survivied. Gracie scored a basket in her first official first/second-grade game, and about an hour later Allie nailed her first two points of the third/fourth-grade season. So at least we have that monkey off our backs.
Allie's basket came after, shall we say, a slow start. She unwittingly committed a handful of turnovers on tie-ups against a much larger opponent, took a rebound off the noggin and jammed her left middle finger on a loose ball -- the latter leading to a tearful removal from the game.
But to her credit, she came back in the second half and finished on a high note.
If you're keeping score at home, Allie's team lost after being tied at halftime. Scores are not kept at Gracie's level, but her team would have won handily.
Next stop: Game 2.
posted by Geoff 10:55 PM
Sunday, January 04, 2009
You know it's been a wacky winter when ...
... Spokane County cancels Monday classes for all school districts -- before the snow even starts falling.
The girls are in heaven because their holiday vacation has been extended by another day.
But mom and dad ... not so thrilled.
posted by Geoff 8:05 PM
Monday, December 22, 2008
Overheard
"My crazy uncle is coming tomorrow."
-Allie, talking to her friend on the phone
posted by Geoff 3:03 PM
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Snow daze
So it came to pass that Mother Nature let the girls out early for Christmas Break. There was no school Thursday and no school Friday, thanks to a snowfall so intense that it prevented not only newspaper delivery for two days, but also shut down the mailman.
But it didn't shut down Allie and Gracie, who have criss-crossed the back yard's three feet of snow so many times in the past few days that it resembles a giant ant farm.
One lesson learned so far -- Gracie discovered that a snow-covered stairway does not make a good slide. Misdirected attempts tend to send one off the edge.
posted by Geoff 12:34 PM
Sunday, December 14, 2008
A fleeting basketball jones
Dad took Allie and Gracie to the health club today to shoot baskets in the gym and work on some simple skills.
Both girls thought it was a great idea -- until about 15 minutes after we got there. That's when they discovered a stash of giant rubber exercise balls.
So much for hoops practice ...
posted by Geoff 6:36 PM
Saturday, December 13, 2008
They were Jack frosted
So imagine our surprise this morning when the girls awoke to falling snow -- and expressed near-tearful dismay because it wasn't "snowman snow."
Funny, though, how a round of morning chores left them more than eager to go out and play an hour later ...
posted by Geoff 10:32 AM
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A shot in the dark
Perhaps that's the way we should handle a flu shot for Allie, who is overcome with tears at the mere suggestion.
Gracie, meanwhile, is eager to meet the challenge.
Gracie's courage under duress harkens to a battle scene from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Allow us to substitute their names:
Allie to Gracie: "So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?"
Gracie: "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them."
Allie: "For death and glory?"
Gracie: "For Rohan."
Allie: "Yes. Yes! ... Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn!"
We can only hope ...
posted by Geoff 9:03 AM
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Right up their alley
We took the girls bowling today for Allie's birthday, and -- thanks to good ol' gutter guards -- the entertainment value was high.
But Allie launched the entertainment to a new level at one point when she missed the entire lane -- airmailing her ball over the gutter guard and watching in horror as it dropped straight down into the gutter. Thankfully, it was the gutter connected to our lane. Not easy, that.
In the end, everyone came away with at least one strike, which was good for at least four big smiles. Mission accomplished.
posted by Geoff 8:16 PM
Relocation, relocation, relocation
Hey folks -- Just for the record, our winning bid at the All Saints auction was for a week in a cabin in Long Beach, Wash., not Longview (that was the alcohol talking.)
Google it and you'll see why we are so darn tickled.
posted by Geoff 10:18 AM
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
In baseball lingo, it's called a basket catch
Gracie came up with an invention of sorts this morning while playing a game of mommy and baby.
For ease of transporting the wee one, Gracie formed a sling out of a shawl and draped it around her neck.
She then placed the baby in the shawl and -- voila! -- hands-free parenting.
Except she used her hands to hold a basket below the shawl -- just in case she dropped the baby.
posted by Geoff 9:30 AM
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Recipe for two quiet girls
- One swimming outing at the health club
- One filling Sunday dinner
- Two pairs of jammies
- One showing of The Amazing Race
posted by Geoff 8:06 PM
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Emerging from a slumber
Here endeth three weeks of static. A few updates from the Land of the Girls:
Report cards
The girls are in a nice groove at All Saints and are performing well. And that's an understatement in Allie's case. Her first graded report card showed seven A's and one B, and she wasn't happy about the B. Meanwhile, Gracie has been a steady performer -- all 2s on the number system for her grade -- with big leaps in reading and reading comprehension.
Youth basketball
The annual Upward evaluations (mandatory for all players) were two weeks ago. This will be Allie's second season of basketball and Gracie's first. (You may remember she was a cheerleader last year.) Both girls held up well during evaluations, especially in the shooting drills. It's clear that our purchase of an adjustable driveway hoop was a wise decision. (Allie's level plays on a 9-foot hoop, Gracie's at a 7-footer.) We'll hear next week from the girls' coaches, who will tell us when and where to be ready for the first practices of the season. Games begin in early January.
The election
The girls (and their parents) were beyond excited about Obama's victory. While Dad was proudly orchestrating the production of the first completely sold-out Spokesman-Review in his 16 years there, the girls and mom were filling in an electoral map and counting electoral votes with tiny M & Ms. In the end, the girls toasted the victory with sparkling cider. Dad and his colleagues toasted the newsroom's effort with drinks at the local bar after deadline.
Halloween
As always, the girls struck gold at the office trick-or-treating gig. Then they headed out into the neighborhood and added some icing to the cake. Grace dressed as a Barbie, complete with huge blonde wig. Allie was a black cat. Both costumes were off-the-scale cute.
And a bonus -- we got our pumpkins inside before they could be kidnapped and rolled down Freya hill.
Allie's braces
They'll be coming off within weeks -- but not before her birthday. Still, the kid's pretty excited, to say the least.
posted by Geoff 10:27 AM
Sunday, October 19, 2008
So that's why they call then lazy Sundays
Question: How can you tell when Allie is comfortable on the couch?
Answer: When she stretches out her leg to reach the remote on the table -- and hits the fast-forward button with her toe.
posted by Geoff 10:37 AM
Monday, October 13, 2008
Schoolgirl politics
Question: How do you know when the kids are engaged in election season?
Answer: When they give mom's zit a name: "McCain."
posted by Geoff 8:48 PM
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Shootin' for the stars
As we usher out September, the girls are squarely focused on autumnal activities -- and that doesn't mean raking up and jumping into leaves.
Allie and Gracie joined Dad in the driveway yesterday for what appears to be their budding passion: basketball. Both girls are demonstrating large improvements in skills -- in particular, putting the biscuit in the basket.
Even though she'll be playing a 7-foot hoop when Upward Basketball practice starts in November, Gracie showed she can handle the taller hoop (the fourth-graders' 9-footer) when shooting from close range.
And Allie? She couldn't wipe the smile off her face after making six consecutive baskets at the end of the evening.
Of course, Allie's biggest concern wasn't how many baskets she made, but what color the uniforms will be this year. Stay tuned ...
posted by Geoff 9:25 AM
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Ballard or bust
We took the girls to Seattle last week to enjoy a couple days with Mike and Margie.
From a trip to Ballard Locks to a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, the girls were consistently entertained.
But one of the big talk points of the weekend came during a visit to the publc library. Did the girls find a cool book? Nope. But a fire alarm went off. And the building was evacuated. And a fire truck came. It doesn't get much better than that.
Find some pix from the trip at right.
posted by Geoff 8:55 PM
Monday, September 01, 2008
Not quite ready to go the distance
Overheard as mom was looking through school documents:
Mom: "Girls, do either of you want to do cross country?"
Gracie: Ohhh ... how long does it take?
And there's your answer.
posted by Geoff 11:45 AM
Like sands through the hourglass ...
...These are the final hours of summer.
While the girls' cousins enjoyed their first week of school last week in Great Falls, Allie and Grace make their grand return tomorrow to All Saints Catholic School.
There are alternating feelings of excitement and angst in the house this morning, but one thing is certain: Summer vacation ends tonight at bedtime. And mom and dad are so ready ...
posted by Geoff 9:40 AM
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