The last couple days of single digits...

January 27, 2016

The last couple days of single digits...

The two days leading to the BIG DAY when Alyssa would turn double digits were fun ones for her.

On Sunday, Alyssa and Donnie went to a UC basketball game. One of our friends gave us two tickets to two different UC games. Alyssa had been requesting to go to a game before the tickets were offered to us and since the first game to which we had tickets was two days before her birthday, Donnie decided to take her. When they arrived at the basketball stadium and found their seats, an usher came over to them. The usher asked if they'd like to have court side seats right behind Kenyon Martin (KM was a superstar bb player at UC and went on to become a pro basketball player in the NBA). Donnie accepted the upgrade in seats, although, Alyssa, who sat behind the 6'5 Kenyon Martin, had some trouble seeing the court over him so I'm not sure if her seat ended up being an upgrade:). The usher told Donnie that the Jumbo Tron would pan over to them at a certain time and they were supposed to smile and wave (as opposed to point at themselves appearing on the screen). There truly seems to be no such thing as real reality TV when even "Jumbo Tron moments" at a UC basketball games are scripted!! The lady sitting next to them was under no such obligation to smile and wave so she took pictures of Donnie and Alyssa (apparently the two seats that Donnie and Alyssa received court side are always reserved for two people who are "randomly" selected (I'm sure there's some criteria for being selected such as having UC attire on) from among ticket holders at each home game and those two people selected are always featured at some point on the Jumbo Tron). Anyway, their seat upgrade selection made the game even more special, if not better viewable, for Alyssa!!

The two teens and I went to church while Donnie and Alyssa were in the Cincy for the game (the timing of the game rendered going to church impossible for Donnie and Alyssa). At church, I ran into a mom who has a son in Alyssa's class at school. The family recently started attending our church. The mom told me that her son started talking about Alyssa on the way to church and said that he *likes* Alyssa and what he likes about her the most is that she's a tomboy who likes sports. I told the boy's mom that, funny she should mention Alyssa liking sports- that Alyssa was at the moment attending a UC basketball game. The mom asked that I not tell Alyssa that her son *likes* her so I didn't say anything to her about it and I'm not mentioning anything here. About two weeks ago, another mom who has a son in Alyssa's class told me quote, "I'm not saying X (her son's name) *likes* Alyssa. All I'm saying is that we hear an awfully lot about Alyssa in our house." Maybe in a few years a tomboy will be less preferred by the jocks than a girlie girl, but in 4th grade, it appears the tomboy has an edge!!!

Later Sunday evening family members came over to our house to celebrate Alyssa's birthday. Alyssa received money from a lot of family members to buy some items she wants at Target (knock off American Girt items). Donnie bought Alyssa just about any Star Wars related item you can think of - clothes, Rey's outfit, books, stuffed animals, autographed posters, light sabers, Star War Lego sets, etc. We concluded that Amazon Prime + Star Wars + Donnie's iPhone + Alyssa's birthday = Alyssa getting spoiled :).

On Monday, Alyssa had to go to school of course, but even that day was a little "special." I was her substitute teacher! I was worried about being her teacher; she may be embarrassed if/ when I had to discipline unruly kids. The kids were amazingly good and nothing "bad" happened. Alyssa called me "mommy" when she addressed me which was cute and she seemed proud that her mommy was the teacher for the day. It turned out to be a fine day, notwithstanding my fears. One of the boys in her class (another one whom I suspect *likes* her as he plays select soccer too and loves to talk about it with her) told Alyssa that I was the best teacher and he wishes I taught everyday! I prefer subbing (about once a week!!).

After dinner on Monday, Donnie took Alyssa to Target as the gift cards and cash she received the previous day were burning a hole in her pocket. She came back with two huge items and surprise, surprise, she didn't have enough money for them both but daddy covered her the difference. She was in HEAVEN with her new (fake) AG doll items and begged me to let Abby and her stay up (Abby was at dance and has it until 9:30 on Mondays) to play some with her new items. I did let them stay up later than usual (and didn't Abby feel it the next morning :() and they had a ball playing together.

So, the two days preceding Alyssa's actual birthday were very good ones for her. Her actual birthday was a tad anti climatic- school, no presents, futsal after school, etc. but at least she was 10!

Here are a number of pictures from the two days preceding her birthday:

At the UC game on the Jumbo Tron (the following two pictures were taken by the lady you see in this picture to the right of Donnie with her cell phone taking pictures)