An assist from Santa

I've been trying to figure out which sports Elise may want to play when she gets a little older, because apparently I have no more-pressing matters to think about. I am not planning to pick a sport for her. It's more just a curiosity, not unlike wondering whether she will be right-handed or left-handed or whether she'll start thinking Dad is totally lame when she hits 10 or 11.

Anyway, I think her tour de sports is under way, thanks to a gift from Santa. Just as we were wrapping up Christmas this year, Anni said there was one more present, this one for Elise and me. We were given an indoor/outdoor basketball hoop. Turns out Santa knew that I like hoops and that Elise's doctor pegged her to be at least 5'9" as an adult.

So, this being the middle of winter, we're playing basketball in the living room -- or, as Elise calls it, "bouncy ball."

Even while constantly racking up turnovers for double-dribbling and traveling, Elise is already dunking and attempting short jumpers. She can catch a bounce pass, but doesn't yet understand that you don't get points for trying to eat the basketball. I guess we need to save one lesson for when the hoop goes outside this spring.