A Fantastic Saturday!

Doug, Brett and Cam met Carl and Marina at the Knights of Columbus for breakfast this morning.  Cal had to work and Meg and I decided to sleep in.  They enjoyed their time together and brought back some pancakes, eggs and sausage to share.  I had started on the laundry yesterday and got back to it as soon as I got up.  I had told the boys to bring their clothes, towels and bedding home.  They did, but  it wasn't as much as I thought it would be.  Cal also brought home some items that he didn't need at his house, so I organized those as well.  Brett went with Doug to the grocery to pick up supplies for the next couple of weeks as well.

Cam, Doug, and I accompanied Brett to the winery this afternoon.  He really enjoyed it and Cam and I got in some corn hole time.  It was the perfect afternoon break from the homework and housework that we were all trying to catch up on.  Carl and Marina met us back at our home after the winery.  Meg played the piano for them which we all enjoyed.  Cam had to serve tonight and Doug was an usher, so we all went to mass before dinner.  Meg made it to mass, but left from there for senior night at the boys' soccer game.

Cal made it back from work by the time we got home and my parents were able to join us as well.  Cam challenged Brett and my parents to a game of croquet while Carl and Doug were grilling steaks and pork chops.  Dinner was delicious with a lot of desserts to sample.  Hannah-Marie arrived after her volleyball tournament and there were several rounds of cards played before the evening came to an end.  Meg was back to hang out with us before bedtime.  She had had a great time with the junior class at the game even though Argos once again got the better of Bethany's soccer program.

Fun For All

It was a great first day home for Cal and Brett.  Cal got up early to play basketball with Doug and the teacher's at the high school.  Both Doug and Cal said that it was the best that they had ever seen Cal play.  It was a good thing for Doug that he was on Cal's team.  Cal then went golfing with my Dad.  They had a lot of fun together and were home in time to eat lunch.  Brett joined them there.  He had spent a good portion of his morning working on homework.  

After school Brett rode with me to Bethany to pick up Meg's truck.  I treated him and Cam to a Ben's pretzel before we headed for home.  Cal was there when we got back, but left shortly afterward to hang out with Hannah-Marie.  He wanted to take her to dinner for her upcoming 18th birthday.  They went to Cerulean's for sushi and both really liked it.  Brett wanted to see Ninjago while he was here and luckily it was playing uptown.  Dad, Cam and I all went with him and were surprised by how much we enjoyed the movie.  It was a lego version of the 1970s karate movies complete with Jackie Chan as Master Wu.

While we were all busy here Doug went to Argos to watch Meg's soccer game.  His Dad and Marina went with him.  The game was a close one and was tied at 0-0 until 20 minutes to go in the game.  Reminiscent of Cam's game on Thursday Argos scored and then turned around and scored again within a minute.  That was all they needed to get the W as Bethany was held to a shutout.  I met Doug in Milford so that he did not have to come all the way to Syracuse before taking his Dad back.  On the way home Meg told me that the game was pretty heated.  I was sorry to hear that.  It was their last game of the season.  They will play against Elkhart Christian on Thursday in the first round of the sectional.  Hopefully, that will be a little less tense.

Homeward Bound

We had a fantastic surprise at Cameron's game tonight.  Cal and Brett arrived to join our spectator group.  We knew that they were coming home this weekend, but didn't realize that they would make it to Bethany.  It was awesome having them there to support Cam's team and to catch up on their adventures at IU this past month.  They were full of stories and filled us in on their classes.  Both have been working very hard this semester and were proud of the grades they had earned.  Even the loss that Cam's team suffered didn't put a damper on the evening.  It did end Bethany's tournament run, but by the time we got to Chubbie's for $2 hamburger night he had already moved on.  Meg didn't get to see much of Cam's game as she had practice, but she did join us for dinner.  Everyone enjoyed their food, but the best part was listening to the converstations and knowing that we were all together again.

Some Times It's Hard

Today was disappointing.  I received some news in the morning that was frustrating and it took me all day to wrap my head around it.  Thankfully, I had Cam and Meg here after practice to keep me busy.  I had also texted Cal and Brett several times to check in about their plans for coming home tomorrow which helped me focus on something positive.  Later in the night Doug and I went out to dinner and before the end of the evening I was finally able to talk about my feelings.  I knew he would say something to make me feel better, but I had to be in the right frame of mind to hear it.  I couldn't get through life without his support or my children's love.  I am thankful for the five of them everyday and none more than today.

Cam's Last Game of the Season

Tonight was Cameron's last B game of the season.  He played a lot as a substitute on the A team this year, but was a starter on the B one and took several turns as captain.  Tonight's game was against Goshen and it was a tough one.  Their B team was good and Bethany had very few subs due to injuries.  Cam played the entire game at right fullback.  He did an awesome job and we were impressed with how much he had improved this season.  He has gotten faster, his stamina has increased, and his skills have greatly improved.  We watched him take several headers this year with one of his best ones occurring this evening.  Doug was impressed as he didn't start taking headers until he was in high school.  Although it was sad to see the regular season come to an end with a shutout loss, it was a great watching him play.

Senior Night

Tonight was senior night for the girls soccer team and the last home game of the regular season.  The girls played Lakeland in a close match.  Doug and I remarked several times that this was not the same team that Wawasee beat 7-2 last year.  The ball was back and forth the entire game and Lakeland had a goalie that was one of the best we had seen this year.  Meg played quite a bit at wing and did very well.  Her ability to find the open person and pass the ball to them was outstanding.  She held her position well and was in the right spot to get a rebound shot that sailed beautifully into the goal just out of the reach of the keeper.  Meg's goal would prove to be the only one of the evening for the Bruins which earned them a 1-1 tie with the Lakers.

After the game there was a potluck dinner in the cafeteria for the girls and the families.  It was nice and the girls seemed to really enjoy it.  We don't know a lot of people, but those that we have met have been very nice.  The best part of the evening for me was watching Meg interact with her teammates.  They laughed and shared stories the entire dinner.  We have been thrilled that her transition has gone so smoothly.  Being a part of the soccer team has definitely helped with that.

A Good Night For Croquet

We spent the day getting caught up on laundry and outside work.  The tree beside our deck had left a residue on it that was sticky and hard to clean.  Doug spent quite a bit of the afternoon scrubbing it.  I appreciated his work.  I had cleaned it several times, but he was able to put more elbow grease into it and it looked fantastic in the end.  I know we were both worried that the tree had ruined the deck, but not after today.  We haven't decided what we are going to do with the tree.  We were hoping that this was a one time incident as it had never happened before.  We will see what next summer brings.

To celebrate all of our hard work around the house this weekend and to relax a little before Monday arrived we invited my parents up for dinner with the enticement of a game of croquet.  We hadn't played in awhile and everyone but Meg was ready for a game.  She had spent the day catching up on homework and still had some to finish.  We got started later than normal as Dad and Cam played golf in the afternoon.  Between the setting sun and the leaves on the croquet field it became pretty challenging to see.  Cam proved victorious in the end and everyone had a wonderful evening of fun.  

A Fun Day For All

I picked Cameron up from Conner's at 10 this morning.  He had a fantastic time.  It was the perfect night for a pool party as this past week was in the 90s.  Cam said he went to bed around 2 a.m. so he did get some sleep.  He came home and rested before leaving for Evan's.  They had invited him over for the afternoon to go to lunch and play some chess.  He decided that he wanted to stay later than we originally talked about as Meg had a game that he didn't want to go to if he had other plans.  He made it home just before we did.

Meg's game was an easy one as they hosted the Westview JV.  Meg played a lot at center mid in the second half.  That was the perfect position for her as she was used to playing center forward for Doug.  She didn't score tonight, but she made some awesome passes.  Although it was disappointing to have to play a JV game, the girls rose to the occasion and ended up winning 7-0.

Homecoming Royalty

Meg, Doug and I were the only ones home tonight as Cam had a slumber/birthday party tonight at Conner's.  He was excited to be going and glad that practice got over early.  Mom and Dad picked him up and dropped him off for us, so I didn't get to see him before he left.  I gave him a lot of advice before he left - "don't run in the street, be careful around the pool, etc."  I got the usual "Mom, you are an idiot look" from him as I have gotten from the other three over the years.

The rest of us decided to try Sleepy Owl for dinner and were pleasantly surprised with how good the food was.  Each one of us tried a pasta dish and they were all excellent.  We were also able to get a table pretty easily which was a big plus on a Friday night.  After dinner Meg and I went to Jess' to see Molly.  We hadn't had time to stop by yet and enjoyed visiting all of the children.

Doug picked us up at 7:30 so that we could go to the Wawasee high school football game.  It had been a long time since we had been to a game, and I hadn't really missed it.  We wanted to go, however, to see Hannah-Marie.  She was nominated to the Homecoming Court.  Cal couldn't make it as he had a test schedule for tonight.  We were glad to go and to take pictures.  HM didn't win, but she looked beautiful in her red dress.  With all of the excitement surrounding Homecoming I have to believe that the highlight of the night was watching Mike drive her around the track in his convertible.  Every time he took off I was sure that he was going to throw her off the back.  Luckily, she was able to hang on just fine and had a wonderful evening as well.  

One Tough Match

Tonight Meg's team played Culver Military Academy and it was as tough as we expected it to be.  The girls ended up losing 6-0 and didn't have much in the way of scoring drives.  I asked Doug at halftime if this reminded him of his days at Wawasee.  He said, "No.  In those games I had to come up with a way to make it stop.  Now I can just be a spectator."  I am glad that he felt that way.  He has been swamped at work this fall.  It would have been tough to fit coaching in as well.  The game did, however, remind both Meg and I of the days with Wawasee and the lopsided loses.  It has been nice this season to only have one of those.  It was a lot easier to watch knowing that our next game would be against Lakeland instead of another 4A school.

Agape Bell Ringers

Cam has started Agape Bell Ringers once again.  We were pleased that he was interested in joining again as he enjoyed it so much last year.  Yesterday Cam was concerned that they wouldn't have enough participants as only three attended the first practice.  Thankfully, they had four more today and Cam was happy to report that Avery had joined their group.  Meg was relieved to hear that I would be taking him.   It will make for some early morning drives this winter, but it was well worth it last year and will be again this year.

Overtime Win

Tonight both Meg and Cam had soccer matches.  Mom and I did the traveling to Westview to watch Cam play.  The middle school had two games tonight as both A and B were in action.  Cam played almost the entire B game and did a great job at fullback.  It wasn't as hot as it had been and for awhile we thought that it might rain.  Thankfully it held off and we stayed dried.  Bethany played well, but fell short in the end losing 0-2.

Meg had a game tonight as well.  Hers was against Trinity Christian and was a much more dramatic game than Cam's.  At halftime Doug called to let us know that it was tied 0-0.  Soon after the break Trinity scored two quick goals to go up 2-0.  Bethany hung in there and finished tying the game with two of their own goals.  As it was a conference game the girls then went to overtime.  Bethany scored early and held on to the 3-2 lead through both overtime periods to win the game.  Meg said that it was so intense that one of the girls started crying on the sidelines.  I was bummed to have missed such an exciting game, but was glad that Doug was there to watch it all.

A Rare Night Off

Tonight was a rare night off from soccer.  Meg and Cam both had practice, but no games.  Cam enjoyed a quiet night at home.  Meg used her free time to hangout at Izzy's studying for a history test.  Izzy was in Meg's second grade class.  They were friends then and were happy to become reacquainted once again. The workload at Bethany has been quite a bit more than her time at Wawasee, but Meg has gotten used to it and still maintains awesome grades.  The best part, however, has been watching her transform into the happy, confident Meg that we knew from her middle school.

I was off from school this afternoon to go meet with Dr. Cutteback at Goshen Orthopedic.  He reviewed the MRI with me and then gave me two options - injections or surgery.  I talked to him about it for awhile and after our discussion he agreed to let me try physical therapy instead.  I have to wear the boot half days for a week or so and stay on the medication that Dr. Mohr prescribed.  I have to return to see him on October 16th.  I also scheduled an appointment with Joan's office and should start physical therapy a week from Friday.  It felt great to have a plan of action.

BMW Classic

Cam and Doug were out the door before either Meg or I were up this morning.  They had tickets to the BMW Classic in Chicago.  It was a beautiful day for a golf tournament and they spent six hours following the best that the tour had to offer including Phil, Sergio, Spieth, Day and more.  They also had access to a suite by the fifteenth hole.  There was plenty of food for them to enjoy and a great view of a 350 yard par four that most tried to drive, but few succeeded.  They left by 4:00 happy with their day of golf.

I had hoped to go with them, but my ankle wasn't up for the walking.  That worked out fine for Meg as I decided that we would try shopping again.  We dropped her friends off in Goshen before lunch and then headed to South Bend.  I wasn't able to do quite as much as I did before, but we still made it to Kohl's, Shoe Carnival, Target, and Yankee Candle.  Meg was able to shop in a couple of other stores while we were at the mall and also pick her favorite lunch spot - Noodles & Company.  It wasn't the day we had originally planned, but a wonderful one for all four of us.

A Morning of Soccer & An Afternoon of Fun

This morning both Cam and Meg had home soccer games.  That worked out well for us as we could sit in-between the two and watch both.  Cam played the majority of the game that ended with a tie.  He was proud to report that he had several shots on goal.  Meg's team had no problem with Culver Community Schools.  Meg played center midfield for a good portion of the second half and had several nice shots on goal converting on a perfect one.

The rest of the afternoon was fun for both.  Meg hung out with her friends at the boys game and then went with a group to Hacienda.  Jackie and McKinsy came back to Syracuse with her.  They hung out here for awhile and then tried Chubbie's for dinner.  They met up with Aaron at Syracuse Beach before getting ice cream at Joe's.  Netflix was on the agenda for the rest of the evening.  While Meg was having fun with her friends, Cam was at the golf course playing his own big cup tourney with Grandma and Grandpa.  They had a great time and Cam was able to redeem himself from the devastating score he had on number 16 last year.  Doug and I enjoyed a quiet dinner at home while everyone was out.  It was made even better knowing that the Heinisch children had such a spectacular  day.

Camp Friedenswald

Cameron left yesterday morning for Camp Friedenswald with the 6th and 7th grade at Bethany.  He couldn't wait to get there especially since the two hour delay changed their schedule a little.  Tonight when I picked him up he was all smiles and couldn't wait to tell me about all of the activities that he had participated in during the two day event.  While there they went orienteering, tied with the 6th grade at capture the flag, learned a new game called carnivores, herbivores and omnivores, played ultimate frisbee and took a turn at frisbee golf.  Cameron said that the food was excellent and he really enjoyed the ghost stories around the bonfire and the night hike on Thursday night.  Mr. Willems was his cabin chaperone and Cam got a kick out of how many times he heard him say, "Who's showering next?"

Doug and I really enjoyed listening to Cam talk.  A large part of the reason that Bethany takes these trips so early in the school year is to build camaraderie among classmates.  The seventh grade definitely walked away with a lot of shared memories and stories to tell.  When we decided to switch to Bethany we did not know about activities like Camp Friedenswald.  What a wonderful addition to his educational experience.

A Hug Says a Thousand Words

Watching Bethany beat Elkhart Memorial in a close game was fun. Seeing Meg score was awesome. Watching her jump into the arms of her newfound friends and teammates made my heart smile!!  I was so happy that Doug, myself and my parents were all there to see it.  We have all been so proud of how well Meg has done with the transition to Bethany.  When we meet with Wawasee's administration to build a case for Meg to be allowed to play sports at Bethany it was never about Meg scoring at soccer or being on a winning team.  Both of those could be fun, but the best part of high school sports has always been the friendships that are made.  We were so glad to see that Meg has finally found a team that she has bounded with and that have supported her through this new endeavor.  

A Long Week

I am not sure why, but this week feels very long at school.  A couple of other teachers had said the same thing.  Last summer at IU's freshmen orientation they said the fourth week of school was always the toughest to get through.  Maybe it's the same with middle school.

As my week felt long I decided that Cal's may have as well.  Although not a freshmen, he was still an undergraduate.  Thus, I decided to get a package ready to send him.  It wasn't full of much, but it did have several of his favorites including Sour Patch Kids.  I also spent a portion of the evening helping Cam get ready for his camping trip with the seventh grade.  Those two activities brought my spirits back and by the end of the evening I was ready to face another day.

More Than Just Wins & Loses

Tonight Doug, Mom, Dad and I met at Elkhart Christian Academy for Cameron's game tonight.  It was an easy win of the boys and Cameron played almost all of the second half.  He did well at fullback, made a lot of nice plays during the game and had fun along the way.  Meg also had a great evening with soccer.  After practice they went to a teammates home for dinner and then were off to the boys' game at Goshen.  Meg didn't get home until close to nine and had homework to do.  She didn't mind, though, as she had had a lot of fun as well.

My favorite part of the evening, however, occurred when Cam and Meg were talking to me for a brief moment before they headed upstairs.  Cam chimed into the conversation with "Hey, Mom, did I tell you that Samuel broke his thumb?"  Before I could answer, Meg replied, "I heard that.  Gabby told me."  From there they took turns relaying the entire incident first from Samuel's side and then from his sister's.  Of all of the benefits of going to Bethany that I had thought of for Meg, the best one never even occurred to me until recently.  Cam and Meg at the same school again has been the best part of the switch.  They have created shared memories and have become even closer than they were before.

Finally, A Plan

This afternoon I met with the ankle orthopedic specialist.  He was positive that my tarsal nerve was fine and that the pain I was feeling was from the old break and the scar tissue it left. The ankle along with the tendonitis in my achilles tendon were what he felt needed to be addressed.  The first options he suggested were injections or surgery.  After a thorough examination of my foot, however, he decided to let me try physical therapy instead.  I was glad to hear that as I have had really good luck with it in the past.  I will have to stay on my medication for the next month as well.  I will then meet with him again to reevaluate my progress.  I was so happy to have a plan that I drove right over to Joan's and made an appointment with her to get started with the physical therapy.

Meg was almost home by the time I got there as her practice was cancelled tonight.  She was very happy to have a break.  Even getting her meningitis shot didn't detour her mood.  I was glad that she was able to make it to the doctor as we have been trying for several weeks to get her in.  Practice and school had made that almost impossible.  After the doctor's Meg decided to drive with me to get my haircut.  I was excited to finally get it cut.  Although Meg wouldn't agree, my hair was pretty long for me.  It looked great in the end and we had fun catching up with Amanda as well.

A Gorgeous Fall Day

The weather today was absolutely beautiful for a Fall day in September.  The sun was shining for most of the day and the temperatures reached the mid-70's by afternoon.  I didn't spend as much time outside as I did yesterday, but I still enjoyed feeding the birds and watching Cameron water my flowers.  I noticed today that the birds have gotten a lot fatter than they were a month ago.  The squirrel feeders have also gone untouched since Friday.  That has left me wondering if we are in for an early winter.  I guess time will tell on that one.

Doug spent time outside working on the yard and Meg was in and out as well.  She cleaned out her truck in between homework breaks.  She also met Gabby at Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and ice cream at Joe's.  They had a great time and ran into one of their camp counselors there.  Cameron spent the most time enjoying the sunshine.  He had a golf tournament in Michigan that my parents took him to.  He lost his match, but enjoyed playing and felt he did well.  Couldn't ask for more than that.

Happy Birthday CrapPa

Today would have been my Grandpa's 95th birthday.  We celebrated his last birthday on this Earth ten years ago.  I think about my Grandfather almost daily and try not to dwell on his death.  He meant the world to me.  I spent half of my youth following him around learning how to fix anything and everything.  The stories he told while we were in his garage or finishing a project were always fascinating to me.  His youth and adventures in World War II were a constant topic and I could never get enough of them.

My grandpa taught me much more about life than just how to fix items.  He taught me to be patient and kind.  From him I learned that doing a job meant doing it correctly.  He stressed that understanding was imperative in all situations and hard work was a must.  These lessons have served me well in life.  The values he taught me helped me choose a husband and to raise the Heinisch children.

I wish that all children had a CrapPa in their life, a friend in their corner and a crutch to lean on.  Today I cried the same tears that I shed so many years ago when I heard he had died.  They were selfish tears. He had lived a good life and his body could no longer fight the cancer that ravaged inside of him.  Still I couldn't help but think that the stories had stopped.  The week before he died he had told me one about a baseball game in his army unit that I had never heard before.  As my tears dried and we headed out the door to a day of Heinisch children events I realized that the stories never really stopped.  My Grandpa's blood may have never run through my veins, but his love was ever in my heart and as long as I was alive his memories would be shared for years to come.

A Night Out With Grandparents

Cam asked my Dad if he could take him golfing after practice tonight.  Cam was invited to play in a golf tournament on Sunday and wanted to at least chip and putt before then.  My Dad agreed to meet him there and they were able to get in several practice holes before it got dark.  He said he didn't play his best, but had a lot of fun and felt good about Sunday.  After golf he and my Dad went to eat at Chubbie's and he enjoyed that as well.

Meg decided that since Cam was doing something with Grandpa that she would see if Grandma was available to go to dinner.  They thought about going to Hacienda, but decided on Steak N Shake.  Meg had a lot of fun visiting with her Grandma.  She also said that she ate a ton.  They stopped by Walmart afterward to buy some school supplies.  Meg had as much fun as Cameron did.  I was happy that they were able to hang out with their grandparents.  School and soccer have kept them busy, so they haven't been able to do that as much.

More Tests, More Answers

I started the morning early at the rheumatologist.  He was friendly and nice as usual and provided me with quite a bit of information.  He read the left knee x-ray to me which revealed that I had cartilage missing on the interior side.  With therapy, medication and injections the pain should improve, but it would always be an issue.  He strongly recommended using an elliptical or a bike once I was able to exercise again.  My wrist x-ray was normal so I won't need anymore follow up on that.  He felt that there wasn't a fracture in the ankle and that the main concern was the tendonitis, fluid and ligament damage.  He strongly recommended therapy for that along with the knee.  He was fearful that the orthopedic doctor would push surgery and he did not want me to have that.  We agreed to stay on the medication he prescribed and meet again in six weeks.  He was very hopeful that I would start physical therapy by then and see some positive results by then.

My next stop of the day was Dr. Szynal.  Joan had to perform nerve testing on my leg to check to see if the tarsal nerve was trapped in the ankle tendon tunnel.  I was so glad that she was doing the test.  We've know Joan since we moved here nineteen years ago and we had a lot to talk about.  That kept my mind off how painful the test was.  In the end she was able to inform me that the nerve was not trapped and instead we talked about therapy.  She agreed with Dr. Mohr that the ankle was severely damaged, but surgery would not be the best option.  I was relieved.

My last doctor's appointment of the day was with the dentist.  For this one I got to pick up Cameron at Bethany and take him with me.  We both needed a cleaning and once again good news was heard - no cavities.  Cam made it back to school in time for Bible and soccer practice - two of his favorites.  Meg had a game at South Bend Riley tonight.  With all of the driving I did today - South Bend to Goshen to Syracuse to Goshen to Syracuse again - I opted out of going to the game.  The weather deterred me as well.  It rained most of the day and only made it to the upper 50's.  Doug texted me several times from the game to give me updates.  Meg played wing for over half of the game had an assist.  The girls won 3-0 which puts them at 6-1.  Meg was pretty happy when she arrived home which was nice to see.

Hurricane Season

Last week Texas was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey.  Although the storm was terrible in its own right, the flooding that occurred afterward was absolutely devastating.  The storm did not affect us personally, but it did touch close to home.  Mr. Woodard was to return to Houston for chemotherapy on the day the hospital flooded.  As he had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer we were all concerned that this delay would drastically change his prognosis.  Fortunately, he was able to get in today and started treatments immediately.  We were glad to hear that the delay did not change his health status and will continue to send good thoughts his way.

This week another hurricane has made the news.  This one followed the alphabet to I and was named Irma.  It should leave Houston along this time, but threatens to make landfall on several Caribbean Islands, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.  Mass evacuations of Miami have already started and Meg said that one of her camp counselors has already made it from Southern Florida to Orlando to ride out the storm.  Bethany participated in a Hurricane Harvey drive this week.  Cam took in our diapers, cleaners, blanket and canned goods today.  I wouldn't be surprised if there was another drive next week for Irma.  The news reported that this could be the most horrific hurricane in United States history.  Hopefully, this will not be the case.  Thankful that they have had so much warning and with Hurricane Harvey fresh on everyone's mind I know that most in the path of the storm should take it seriously.

Feels Like Fall

It started storming yesterday afternoon which added to the somber mood of the end of a great weekend.  The rain also brought cool weather that lasted through today.  Sitting at Meg's soccer game tonight I even had to use a blanket to keep warm.  I didn't mind the lower temperatures as the heat and humidity bother my ankle and make the boot I have to wear feel even warmer.  It was strange, however, to be wrapped in a blanket on September 5th.

The wind has also kept the bees away.  I was worried about them in late August as we had more of them swarming our back deck this year than in the past.  We haven't seen any this week, but that may also be because the deck is no longer covered in sap from the cherry trees.  I had never seen that before either.  I scrubbed it clean many times in the month of August as well as the table and chairs that we use for dining outside. As sticky as it was I am sure that the bees were enjoying it.  Thus, I will be thankful for the cool, windy weather for a few days.

Labor Day Blues

Doug wanted to be on the road by 10 a.m. and we were up and out the door by then.  He had to mow the yard and get some work done in the afternoon.  Brett and Cal had plans to work on homework, so they were alright with us leaving early.  Meg got a lot of homework done on Saturday and Sunday, but still had quite a bit to do once we got home.  Cam was able to take it easy and play some golf with Grandpa Cutes.  He had played with Doug yesterday at Cascades as well and was glad for the chance to go out again.  It had been a fantastic weekend together as a family and it was hard coming home knowing that all that was left of the holiday was laundry.  Happy for the time together, however, no matter how sad the thought of it being over was.

Ninth Year and Counting

On the way to Bloomington we spent a lot of time contemplating how many years we had visited it for Labor Day weekend.  Fortunately, Facebook had several memories for me to look back on these past few days and we were finally able to figure out that we had been there nine years in a row.  Some of our activities had changed over the years (no more creek sliding), but each time we have come down we have had a wonderful time together as a family.  

Today's activity revolved around Garlic Fest.  We listened to reggae music and did some shopping at the art booths while Doug and Parce tried several different types of beers.  There were food booths, but we had had lunch at the winery again, so no one was too hungry.  Cam and I did check out the reptiles on display including a beaded dragon and several different types of snakes and turtles.  All told we spent about two hours there and were proud to claim that we had attended each and every one of the six Garlic Fests that Bloomington had put on.  

Hannah-Marie had never been to the Kroger by the mall and we wanted her to experience the cadillac of grocery stores.  Thus, we went there next.  Brett and Cal needed some groceries as well, so it worked out well.  She was impressed with the chocolate waterfall and the sushi bar.  Afterward she and Cal took Doug and Cam on in tennis.  Meg stayed at Brett's to work on homework while I rested and he organized his bookshelf.  It was Harry Potter weekend on Freeform, so I didn't mind taking a break at all.

After tennis we tried one of Cal's favorite restaurants in Bloomington - Aver's.  They had a pizza and salad buffet and Parce even agreed to meet us there.  Once dinner was over Brett got ready for mass and Doug, Cam and Meg decided to go to the IU soccer game.  The Hoosiers were ranked in the top ten in the nation and the game was packed.  I dropped them off and then took Brett to church.  He was once again the 9 p.m. mass coordinator.  I stopped at Parce's to visit with him for awhile since everyone was busy.  It was nice listening to his thoughts on class reunions and to get the itinerary for his upcoming cruise to Cuba.

After the game and mass we tried to get ice cream at Hartzell's.  The line was out the door.  Instead we stopped at McDonald's for sundaes and McFlurries.  It wasn't quite as good, but we saved a lot of time.  Cal and HM stopped by a friend of his before heading to Brett's.  The rest of us split up once again for the evening with Cam and Doug sleeping at Parce's.  It was another wonderful day and tthe weather even cooperated with temperatures in the 80's with sunshine.  We couldn't ask for anything more.  

Bloomington

We left last night for Bloomington.  Both Hannah-Marie and Meg had practice. so we didn't get on the road until after six.  That wasn't a problem as traffic was light and we were in B-Town easily by 9:40.  Cal wanted to eat dinner at Scotty's Brewhouse so that was our plans for the evening.  He picked up Brett and they met us there.  It was awesome seeing everyone together and listening to their conversation.  Brett and Cal have started off well this semester and we excited to have a three day weekend to relax.

After dinner we went to Brett's apartment.  Cal, HM, Meg and I all slept there.  Once we got the blow up mattresses set up, Doug and Cam headed over to Parce's.  He was in bed by the time they got there, but was up in the morning to talk with them before he headed to Gavin's game.  We didn't see him until the end of the day as he got back late from that and a trip to Columbus.  We spent the morning at the Farmer's Market.  We were impressed with how low the prices were and how many vegetables were available for purchase.  Doug picked up some peppers for home and got a cantaloupe for Parce.  The rest of us headed to the bakery booths for breakfast.  I got a big cookie for Meg as she decided to sleep in.

After the farmer's market we headed back to the Honda dealer.  The Civic's airbags were recalled and we wanted to get them fixed before the boys drove home again.  Our next stop was Cal's house.  He and HM decided that they wanted to do lunch on their own.  I had never been in his house, so we got a tour before leaving them.  It was a lot larger than I would have guessed, complete with four bedrooms and two living areas.  There was even a back patio area.  Cal's only complaint was that raccoons had gotten into their garbage one night.

The five of us decided that we wanted to have lunch at the winery.  We stopped at Noodles & Company for to go orders to take with us.  Doug also picked up some cheese and salami to go with it.  The bees wouldn't leave Meg alone, but other than that it was a perfect picnic.  Brett tried some apple pie wine that was delicious.  After lunch we met back up with Cal and HM for the 4th street art festival.  I bought a ceramic vase that I am going to enjoy arranging flowers in.  From the art fair we walked up Kirkwood checking out the IU stores and Urban Outfitters before driving to the mall.  Target had everything that we needed to get for Brett's apartment - extra towels, a long cable and a swifter jet.  Yankee Candle, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy were also on our agenda.

Cal and HM wanted to try dinner at Forest Quad before heading to his fantasy football draft, so we split up after shopping.   Doug and Cam played tennis near Brett's while I helped him set up his cable and Meg did homework.  Dinner was at Mother Bear's.  Doug tried a new pizza that was very good.  We stopped by Parce's after we ate.  He was watching football.  After catching up on his day Doug got breadsticks for the rest of us.  Cal and HM were back at Brett's by the time Doug dropped us off.  It was a wonderful day, but exhausting.  Everyone was ready for bed well before midnight especially since the Alabama game was a blowout.

She Shoots, She Scores!

Cameron had a soccer game at Lakeland yesterday and Meg had one at Whitko.  Cam was in charge of drinks for his game and Meg was scheduled for food.  It was a commitment to get the food and drinks all packed up and in coolers before the bus left, so I was glad that I had taken a half day off to go to the doctor yesterday.  It allowed me time to also get the food and drinks ready and drop them off at Bethany before my appointment time.

Doug and my parents wanted to go to Meg's game, so I told Cam I would be at his game as soon as my doctor's visit was over.  I was worried about being late to Lakeland, but made it just as the game started.  Cam's team defended  well at fullback and got to play almost the entire second half.  His team easily won 5-0.  My favorite part was listening to the Lakers coach yell at their own goalie "What were you doing?" when Allen put in a phenomenal shot early in the second half.  I knew what he was doing - watching one heck of a play.  Cam said his favorite moment was when five guys were guarding Allen and their coach yelled, "There are five of you defending him.  Someone take the ball!"  That made both of us laugh.  I asked Cam if there were enough drinks for everyone.  I put in extras as I wasn't exactly sure how many he would need.  Our grocery store had had a sale on the large size Powerades and he said the boys enjoyed them.  Some of them enjoyed them too quickly and at halftime needed to run behind the hill by the field.  That could only happen in a middle school boys sporting event.

I called Doug several times during Cam's game.  Whitko proved to be an easy opponent for Bethany and the girls jumped out to an early lead.  Doug said that Meg played very well and was in for over half of the game.  She had several shots on goal and finally put in a beauty with her left foot.  I was so happy for her.  I knew that if I didn't make it to her game that she would score.  That's happened so many times in the past.  Glad that she kept the tradition alive.  Maybe I should sit out the rest of her season.