Keene's KEYS To The Game

Honestly, I have not been real inspired this week......


This is the first week with no basketball practice or games. If you read my prior post, this week is usually a roller coaster of the 7 stages of grief in Keene-ville! I also find MYSELF coming off a high of madness and a whirl of emotions once that last buzzer sounded. Usually takes a week or two to find a routine, especially with Coach at home now after school...



Before every game Coach Keene does a segment on the radio, "Coach Keene's Keys To The Game." This is a short outline of all the things the team needs to do for a strategic win. Well, today I was thinking, "The KEYS to surviving the first week AFTER basketball!"





DAY 1---Don't lock the KEYS to actually LETTING THE GAMES begin in the car....yeah, this picture was taken through a very dirty window, hence the blur. My keys are quietly waiting for me in the driver's seat. $80 later, they were in ignition...Yep, Coach will be home right after school, yippee...an extra set of hands for the entire evening!






Day 2---Absolutely, positively, NO Post Season talk...You can secretly check scores, but don't mention anything about the sectional championship or the Supers...not to mention REDBIRD....I personally LOVE it when people say, "so and so says we need to get better, but do you really have to have a summer program? That is just asking alot.." OMG people...players are MADE in the off season..Go BIG or GO HOME...






Day 3---Coach Keene has left the building, the school building that is...Yep, Coach's parental responsibilities have officially kicked in, again. I think he might be a little overwhelmed. I noticed today he was trying to use the steamer mop to clean up one of Justice's spills--he said, "Does this thing need water?" He may be able to draw up the most strategic last minute play, but yes.....steam does come from water, dear...note to self--Coach needs a project ASAP, but not floors....







Day 4--Coach Keene has gotten up with Cameron a few times since birth--and yes, I have been counting. Now that basketball is over, I find it much easier to nudge him when little Mr. Peepers needs a bottle :) ....also, remember when I said I was really excited about having an extra pair of hands at home, by day 4....I am ready to send him back to the gym. We have a routine and bringing him back into our huddle is like two-a-days this week... (these words, "send him back to the gym", are brought to you today with the utmost love and compassion...)









Day 5--TGIF---Today is my off day, from the job I get paid for that is... The kids were wild. Cameron cried all day, darn those teeth. The house looks like a war zone, please God send NO visitors to my house tonight. I am cranky. Did I mention I have yet to comb my hair today and its now almost 9PM. Coach has spent his day taking calls from coaches who want advice about their opponent in the super-sectionals. Kinda ironic, we beat most of the teams in the supers, but here were are, done with the season....which brings me back to WHY SUMMER IS IMPORTANT...okay, off my soapbox.






Friday Night--Coach took Justice to the YMCA tonight to work on his shot for Monday.... and blow off some steam from being on lock down all day at home. Justice made a friend in the gym. Coach said he was about 6 years old. (reminder, Justice is 3)




New Friend-- "Hi, I made like 3 shots"

Justice--"I made 9"

New Friend-- "I made 10"

Justice--"Well, I already made like 90 today, beat that..."

New Friend---quiet

Justice--"Just shoot already"






Once again, not feelin witty tonight. Just exhausted. Well, tomorrow my agenda is clean the battle ground of today's war crimes, and help Coach Keene come up with 101 ways to fund raise for a trip to UNC this June.....So, I guess the KEYS to the first week after basketball in Keene-ville....is just..... survival!

KEENE NATION

Yep, we are gonna be THAT family. Ya know, the kid in school who needs at least 1 set of bleachers for his whole family tree to attend whatever event he is participating in. So this is Pre-K basketball at the YMCA tonight. Now that daddy is officially finished with the season, we celebrated tonight in, (BIG SURPRISE) yet another gym! I will try to bring this picture to life for you...here goes.....

Grandpa Dana, standing up in the front row is giving Justice instruction from the side lines, "shoot, Justice, Shoot!" Grandma Marsha, tan flowered shirt, is trying to capture the Kodak moments. Grandma Beverly, green shirt, is smiling because Justice just gave a "thumbs up" to the stands after he made the basket. (Just like his dad, always a show with him) Aunt Ashley, bottom right corner, holding Cameron. (FYI--she is not dating anyone, her likes are dark spiky haired outdoorsy men, must have a job....haha Sorry, Ash! I had to do it..) Cameron is chewing on his hand--he is probably the sanest one of all of us! Grandpa Keene, watching at the top of the bleachers and Coach Keene taking notes of all the things we need to work on this week....Last week, we worked on jumping jacks. I tell you, you want a good laugh, have Justice do some jumping jacks for ya...poor guy I think he got my coordination, gotta love him!

So, just to warn the Macomb Class of 2025, Justice Keene will BE THAT KID! His family WILL come to everything and sits in the front row, probably cheering so loud we will drowned out everyone else...Maybe we will just have to earn our own section---KEENE NATION :)

Cameron eating his FIRST food....Applesauce mmmmmm, Hey Mikey, He LIKES IT!!

Two Of A Kind...

Since Valentine's Day this year fell on a Sunday, Coach Keene and I decided to honor Justice. It's been a long four months of madness and, all in all, he's been a real trooper. I do want to note--he DID ask me to be his Valentine...he told me I was "coooool"! Got a big wet kiss and everything...Better enjoy it now, before long I will have to walk 10 paces ahead of him..

Our morning started out with breakfast, french toast with strawberries. Justice helped me make this menu item and even served it to the table! We packed up both kids and dropped Cameron off at Grandpa and Grandma Roudebushes for a few hours. Coach, Justice and myself headed to Galesburg. We ate lunch at Happy Joe's. Its like Chuckie Cheese on a small scale. And yes, the pizza is just as terrible, but who goes to those places for the food? In the Sandburg Mall, which is sadly dying, had a tractor show and a miniature golf course. Two of Justice's other favorite things...

Now that Basketball season is over, Justice has his putting mat out at home. Have I ever mentioned, Justice has 4 sets of golf clubs. No, like real golf clubs. 2 sets of Pings and a Ping Stand Bag, 1 set of Nike Tiger Woods Clubs and a set of US Kids Clubs. We have a golf hole in our back yard. Stay tunned for summer...

You won't believe this, but Justice scored a "2" on every hole of miniature golf. The scary bearded man running the joint walked over to the GNC store, told the worker, "you gotta come watch this kid!" He had a small gallery for the last couple of holes. On a side bar--The putt putt golf only had 17 holes, which drove me nuts the entire time! Anyhoo...it was fun. Speaking of nuts, can you tell which is the squirrel and which is Justice? The "unofficial carnie worker" gave Justice a Reeses Cup once he finished. Little did he know that was his favorite! He told him, "that was a nice round for a 5 year old." Coach Keene informed the man he was 3 and struted out of the place like he was Earl Woods. (Tiger's dad people....) We ended the afternoon letting Justice touch all 75 tractors in the house...if they werent green (John Deere) then he didnt like em'. For the ride home, he filled a basketball tin up with Caramal Corn and fell asleep by Monmouth.

Kinda funny how kids change everything. Seems like yesterday Coach Keene was sending me on an all day Valentine's scavengar hunt...now the only thing we scavenger for is REST!!

Justice watching game film in the car....This is Where I need to DRAW the line people!

Cameron is Gonna Be A Baller Too!

Valentine's Day Breakfast--French Toast with Strawberries handmade by Justice!

Cameron giving a lil' Valentine's Day Smile...

Will You Marry Me?

Okay, In light of Valentine's Day, I thought I would share a personal story. I don't know how many times people have said to me over the years, "How do you live with him?" Yep, that screamer and stomp er on the sidelines is NOT the guy I know at home! If you have ever experienced Coach Keene's practice itinerary or his game day previews, you know Coach is a planner, everything is organized down to the last detail with him. (Almost needs therapy "organized") Well, my first experience of his "attention to detail" was our proposal story...

I was coaching golf at WIU. The day he proposed, not only was I hosting my home tournament with 12 teams, but it was the eve of my birthday. My stress level was MEGGA! After the tournament, He drove me home to get ready for a fun filled evening. Yeah, I am not going to lie, I was exhausted, alittle grouchy, and didn't really want to do anything except go to sleep...

He gave me my first "gift" of the evening before he left to give me some much needed downtime. It was a foot spa to rest my feet and relax after two LONG days on the links. He shared with me he would be back in a few hours to continue my evening of surprises.

Upon his arrival, we left in the car together. He asked, "can you pull down the visor"…and a golf cart key fell out. He said we had to make a stop before dinner. Yes, me being the outspoken gal I am, began gripping we were going out there. I had lived at the golf course that week..blah blah blah...We arrived at the golf course, only to find a cart that matched the key sitting next to the pro shop. In much confusion, we rode out to my favorite hole over looking the WIU campus. There was a blanket, a dozen white roses, and a bottle of wine with two glasses laid out on the green. I told my Zach, “this is a great thought, but people are golfing. We cant really have a drink on the green.” He reassured me it was fine, he had arranged for the golf course to close early. We laughed for a few minutes and it started to sprinkle. He then directed me to pull out the flag. Inside the cup was a little bag with a WIU logo ball inside. Under my breath I thought, “nice, I have 3000 logo balls.” In confusion he told me to turn the ball over. It was imprinted with the words, “Will you marry me?” After my SHOCK and then answer of YES…we went to dinner at Magnolia's. Yep, we had a special table waiting for us to celebrate.

Just when I thought the evening was coming to a close, it was time for my last surprise. Coach Keene had planned a surprise party with all our friend to finish the celebration....Yes, he got on one knee and proposed and yes, he met with my dad weeks before and asked for his permission...

Couldn't have asked for a better story to tell my boy's or at least my boy's girlfriends someday! :)

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! XOXOXOXO

UBUNTU--"I am what I am, because of who we all are!"

Orange Ball

Your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you. Justice has been asking for a possession arrow for months. Papa Keene delivered one yesterday! Justice is all set up in the dining room as you can see...stat book--check, game film--check, and yes a possession arrow--check. He just told me, "Mom, its time out on purple, and the ball goes to the Orange when the buzzer sounds." His 4th birthday is only a few short weeks away and hes asking for a scoreboard, ya know, like in the gym....with the loud buzzer...YIKES! P.S. the possession arrow makes for a nice nightlight in his bedroom too :)

Coach Keene in his Element....

Gan-Pa Dana With Cameron Cheering!

Yep, Pretty Sure Justice Will Be On Staff Soon Too..

The Stat Keeper WONT Miss A Thing With These Glasses On!

BLACK FRIDAY

Black Friday---LOVE that shopping day! Unfortunately, today is another kind of BLACK FRIDAY at Keene-ville. I anticipate our mayor to go through every stage of grief in the next 24 hours. After 7 years, I have came to terms with this "mourning of the season" mode, that I am sure most coaches go through. Did I mention we lost to Canton last night to put another season in the books?

--Shock and Grief--Pain and Guilt--Anger and Bargaining--Depression, reflection, loneliness BUT after about 24 hours of these feelings----he's back---The Upward Turn---Reconstruction--Acceptance and Hope--

When the final buzzer sounds, this is the most helpless feeling a coach's wife will experience all season long. Losing in the first round is torture, especially to a family that has this date marked on the calendar all year long! You have lived all the time, energy, effort, passion, late nights, early mornings, time away from family, and to much more to type-- that goes on behind the scenes of this basketball production.

As time melts off the clock..buzzzz, the box I build around myself behind the bench, is shattered. While waiting on Coach Keene to finish with the team and media, I get the pleasure of listening to all the scuttle after the final game--this part sucks! You know, the people who complain in the stands, under their breath, all year and once the season is over--they voice their opinion to anyone who will listen. Okay--I am off my soap box.

On a positive note, its always nice to hear the good things that people have appreciated throughout the year. I had one parent come up to me after the game and share some touching words. That positive feedback, if you only hear it from ONE person, out weighs all the other. As a coach, if you can only touch one life a season, then all the extra is worth it...yep every last bit!

Well, this post is short and bitter sweet. As Coach Keene is mourning the loss and completion of his 3rd season at Illini West, secretly....I get him back, if only for a few days. Tomorrow is another beginning....THE FIRST DAY of planning for next year! Its a wild ride, but its our journey and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Twas the night before Regionals...

Twas the night before Regionals and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, well, except for Coach Keene...

As the game film was playing on the flat screen he stare,

In hopes that the basketball gods would soon offer care..

The Keene children were nestled all snug in their beds,

with visions of trophies dancing in their heads....

While mom at her computer and I getting a snack,

Had just settle our minds for a short winters nap...

When out at Illini West Nation there rose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter...

Away to my window tons of snow in a flash,

I tore open my phone and gave it a lash ...

The game had been postponed from the new fallen snow,

gave yet another day to prepare for our opponent below....

But what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a new "competitive attitude" from my team we hold dear...

With our press as the driver, so lively-so quick,

I know at this moment what made our ladies tick..

More rapid than eagles the closer they came,

I whistled and shouted and called them by name...

Go Dana, Go Dannie, Go Bali, Go Cait,

Go Lea, Go Lauren, Go Katelyn, Go Tiff, Go Carter...

Go Emily, Go Taylor, Go Rachel, Go Halie...

To the Top of the Leader board, To The Top of the Poll

Now Dash Away, Dash Away, Dash Away All...

They spoke not a word and went straight to work,

Filled the board with points and turned with a jerk..

Coach Keene laying a finger aside of his head,

and giving a nod, they dropped another opponent like lead..

Coach sprang to the locker room and gave them a whistle,

and away girls flew like a down of a thistle...

But I heard coach exclaim, as the team drove out of sight,

"Your heart has the answer, now follow that light!"

One of many snacks at the Keene house on Super Bowl Sunday! Justices LOVES ice cream cakes...

Everything Counts

Starting Monday, EVERYTHING COUNTS! The slate is clean and everyone is 0-0. Wins and losses of the regular season become a faint memory. Hold on tight, I have a feeling its going to be another wild week for this coach's family!

Speaking of Everything Counts....I asked Justice today what those words meant to him....

First he counted, "1-2-3-4-5-6...". Then I tried another avenue of asking him the question, more three year old appropriate. He says, "mommy, if I don't make my ball in the hoop, I just get up and shoot again. Sometimes I have to cheer REALLY loud when I miss, so I know I will make it the next time." Great Advice Justice! I asked him, "how do you make "everything count" when you spend time with daddy this time of year? Justice says, "Well, we play clothesline (translation-this is a wrestling move these two do on the couch or any soft surface when I am not looking), and he reads me books, he keeps my stats, and sometimes, if I am really good, he lets me throw water all over the bathroom..um...kinda like a flood and we don't tell you!" Note to self-- Ask Coach Keene if this is why the walls are wet after bathtime?

Speaking of Everything Counts---On a VERY serious note, My grandmother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease this week. Its going to be a hard road for our family. Upon hearing this horrid news, I thought to myself, life is not a dress rehearsal for "regular season" play. And like the "postseason" of life, we need to make "everything count" with our loved ones, everyday. We never know what kind of "opponent" is lurking around the corner. Have the courage to live and make every moment count. Carpe Diem my friends and seize the day....today!

"That was a foul" from the stat keeper...No "T's" tonight Mr. Keene

Our shooter struck again, but this time the score was 52 degrees in the house...burrr

Justice and Joe at the Bench doing stats...

Justice Says"Ladies and Gentleman, put your hand together for the Illini West Chargers playing SOUTH AMERICA!" WOW, that must have been a bus ride!

Justice says, "mom, I need a cheering section while I shoot these free throws, Go get Cameron...he will do" Poor Cameron, the things he WILL do...

Justice Between Games...WHERE does this kid get the energy?

Cameron, Yep He is Drinking the Kool-Aid too...In his Basketball Chair!

Stat Man on our Fridge....by Justice P.S. did you notice the green stat book in his hand, Justice found that in a magazine

Going to War...and other Battles

I came to the realization last night. Packing two kids for a basketball game is like going to war. I looked down at half time, nestled up by my feet was this massive pile of necessities to keep the Keene kids functioning for 3 hours in the gym. The list included: 6 diapers, a stack of wipes, 3 outfits for Cameron and 1 for Justice (he has never had a accident, but ya never know) 4 bibs, 3 bottles, 2 pacifiers, Gatorade, candy--cant forget the popcorn, a Michigan State basketball that Justice NEVER leaves home without, the infamous stat book, a Michigan State dry erase board (Doesn't everyone in the stands draw up plays during the game) two dry erase pens and a Illini West bag...not to mention my purse that weighs 10 pounds, Coach Keene's watch-that he seems to rip off in the middle of the first quarter almost every game these days, and a massive amount of tums because, for some reason, I have heartburn...I highly doubt that has anything to do with not eating dinner or being stressed out with my new product training, did I mention no restful sleep this time of year at the Keene manor....naaaa, just another day in the life of a Coach's wife. And well, we lost...that's another story for another day.

It's Gettin Hot In Here...

"Is it hot in here?" I thought to myself around noon today. I had been sitting in my bedroom/office in a web class all day learning about allergies. You name it, I have a cure for it, with my products of course. (Sorry, senseless plug, I am drinking the Kool-Aid this week) I was nervous I was going to be asked a question via web teacher, probably just hot from that stress...WHICH brought back memories of school days. Besides the lesson, I heard dribbling most of the day. One of Justice's many hoops is on the door to the basement, next to my room. "He shoots and Scores!" "Go Chargers!" "Go Leah, Go Dana, Go Carter" Justice likes to commentate his own game...

Anyway, finished around 4:30 and started on supper. "Is it hot in here?" I asked myself again. I am almost sweating at this point. I guess the oven was on, so maybe its a combination of dinner and my post baby hormones. Daddy arrived home around 6:00.

Ate dinner as a family. Then suprise, Justice was back at the hoop again. I watched to see if he made the shot and IT HIT ME....I asked him, "WHAT are you doing." Standing on a chair Justices tells me, "Well, the thermostat is my scoreboard and I have now scored 92 points!"

IT WAS HOT in the house and our stat keeper/basketball player/radio guy/announcer had messed with the scoreboard! Just a day in the life of a gym rat :)

Nighty night.....yet another day of learning tomorrow...Hypertension, here I come!

Did I Eat Dinner?

Manic Monday---A short recap

5:00 Am Justice awoke

6:45 Made Coffee (extra strong), gave my hubby a kiss good-bye and started the day

7:10 Cameron awakes screaming for a bottle, Justice shooting baskets--I know, never stops!

7:45 My Mother arrived to watch the kids

8:00-12 Web Class on the wonderful world of Allergic Rhinitis---Makes my brains hurt, not to mention my nose itch..

12-1:30 Lunch and Cameron screamed the entire time, until I stripped him naked and put him in the tub...happy then

1:45 Wrote out Bills---D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-N

2:00-4:30 More Web Class---ahhh Allergies

4:30 Get Justice ready for YMCA basketball and get myself ready for Muscle mix class

4:35 Off to US Cellular--my phone didn't survive the bath Justice gave it on Sunday, had to go to TWO US Cellulars to get a loaner phone...rrrrr

5:00 Arrive at YMCA, Justice plays basketball, Grandpa Dana takes him home, I stay for class

6:30 Arrive home from Muscle mix, Cameron yet again screaming

7:15 Cameron gets a bath again to stop screaming...

8:00 Called Mother In Law about Tuesday agenda

8:15 tried to get game on Internet, wouldn't work...^$#^**%#@

8:30 Read books with Justice while Cameron eats bottle

9:10 Both kids asleep

10:30 Anticipated arrival of Coach Keene

I still have to read 3 journals for tomorrow's class, write a paper, I didn't have time to take Coach Keene's Suits to the dry cleaners and hummmm......... I FORGOT to eat dinner.....

One Day Down---6 more to go!! A shout out to all the single mommas...