A Day Off

Doug took today off so that we could spend the day together.  We decided to use it to go Christmas shopping and to finally use the Ruth Chris gift certificate that he received last year.  Many years ago he would always try to take a day off to go shopping together in November and December.  During Doug's tenure at Renegade we just hadn't been able to pull it off.  I was glad that we were able to work it out for today as we had a wonderful time together and accomplished quite a bit.

Our first stop of the day was Target.  We found quite a bit that we needed for Christmas including stocking stuffers and gifts for the Advent calendar.  I was glad to put our 20% off to good use.  From there we headed to Kohl's.  Doug needed shoes and I wanted some workout pants.  We also found a few Christmas presents for Meg, Cam and Cal.  I didn't have to look for anything for Brett as I did all of his shopping on Cyber Monday.  Once again we had some nice coupons to use and were happy with what we found in the end.

Doug wanted to go to lunch after our first few stops, so we went to Ruth Chris next.  It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch.  Doug had the lobster macaroni and cheese and I tried the stuffed chicken breast.  Both were delicious.  It was nice to spend some quiet time together reflecting on our shopping trips of years past.  Doug remarked that our path had changed since those times.  He was right as our first stop back then was always Toys R Us where we loaded our carts with the best Christmas deals. This year we did the majority of our shopping online and we used this time to find the speciality items.

After lunch we went to Pier One where I found some beautiful decorations.  We then stopped in the wild birds store and the popcorn store.  Both had some great novelty items, but nothing that we needed today.  Doug did need a suit for work, so next on our agenda was Jos. A Banks at the University Park Mall.  While he was being fitted for a suit, I used the time to pick up some items at Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle.  We met at the food court and then walked through the mall together, stopping at Macy's, JC Penney's and Barnes & Noble.  We didn't buy a lot, but I was able to get in my 10,000 steps without any problem.

We left South Bend in time to get to the second half of Cam's game.  They played Wawasee tonight and made it a lot closer than I would have guessed.  Meg stopped by the game to quickly pick up a portable charger before heading to Bethany's 80s dance sponsored by the student council.  After the game Doug and I made one more shopping stop at Walmart.  While we were there Cam and Avery went with my parents to Ponderosa.  We all met back at our house this evening to enjoy a quiet night at home.  It was a great way to end a perfect day off.

A New Place to Walk

This morning I had a haircut appointment with Amanda.  Afterward I decided to check out the North Webster Community Center to see if they had areas for walkers.  The weather yesterday turned me off of being outside and I like walking different routes in new areas.  They did have a walking path and the cost was right - free.  After I filled out my liability form I joined in with about a dozen other walkers doing laps around the old North Webster school.  It was a great alternative for me and in the end I finished eighteen laps which according to their calculations was two miles.

I stayed in North Webster a little while longer stopping to buy items for the food drive at Bethany and to get gas.  Circle K not only had my favorite Polar Pop, but they also offered gas at $2.09 a gallon which added to the positives of the morning.  On the way out of town I bought a poinsettia at Clayton's.  I decided to go with pink this year.  All in all my short trip to North Webster was a positive one.  I may have to try a morning there next week as well.

The afternoon was a quiet one at home catching up on Christmas shopping and organizing the packages that had already been delivered.  I was pleasantly surprised when one of the items I bought from Amazon was replaced free of charge as it arrived damaged.  They didn't even have me return the original.

Tonight my parents and I drove to Cam's game at Bethany.  It was a late one as the C and B teams both played before his did.  It was worth the wait as Cam and his team played well and easily won the game.  Cam was in for the majority of it and even took a few shots.  The highlight of the night for him was blocking one of Trinity's shots down low.  Joey went nuts from the bench and once Cam was subbed out we all enjoyed watching their newfound cheerleading skills from the pine.  Doug did not join us as he went to Meg's game at Prairie Heights.  It was an rough one for the girls and a late night for them as Meg didn't walk in the door until ten.  Thankfully, tomorrow will be the end of the week and she will be able to sleep in this weekend.

A Day Out of the House

I had an appointment this afternoon in Goshen with an orthopedic doctor.  Due to the frigid weather forecast I decided to head over early so that I could walk indoors at the Concord Mall.  I was better prepared for the walk this time bringing tennis shoes and a sweatshirt.  I was glad to get in 5000 steps before I had to leave.  I was also able to do some shopping finding a great deal on Christmas decorations for my front porch at Hobby Lobby.

My doctor's appointment went well.  He confirmed the degenerative disc disease diagnosis in my back and scheduled physical therapy appointments for that.  He also diagnosed my arm pain as Cubital Tunnel Syndrome which he explained as carpal tunnel of the elbow.  Before today I did not realize where the pain in my arm was coming from until the doctor pushed on the nerve by my funny bone.  I almost jumped off of the table.  He did have a plan to help that as well.  I will have to sleep with an immobilizer on my elbow to keep my arm and nerve straight.  That should cut down on the pain, tingling and numbness that I have been feeling.

In between walking and going to the doctor I also had time to do run some errands.  Besides my stop at Hobby Lobby, I was able to wash and vacuum out the Pilot, pick up guinea pig food at PetCo and get groceries at Walmart.  After all of the running around I picked Cameron up at school for piano lessons.  Meg met us at Mrs. Meek's and they both worked on Christmas songs.  Doug beat us home and helped me unload the Pilot.  We then headed uptown for dinner.  It was nice to catch up with him as there has been a lot going on these past few weeks.  Once we got home I realized that I had been out of the house today for almost ten hours.  That was definitely outside of my daily routine, but enjoyable just the same.

A Clean House

I spent the majority of today working in the house.  Since I quit my job, I do have to say that our home has been a lot cleaner.  By keeping up on the day to day chores we no longer have the daunting task of spending weekends completing household tasks.  By the time I left this afternoon to pick up Cam and Meg from basketball practice I had washed all of the bedding, made all of the beds, picked up the entire house, cleaned all five bathrooms and thoroughly scrubbed down the kitchen.  I even had time to wash and fold all of the dirty laundry in the house and set up a Roku in our bedroom.  My Mom helped me finish my to-do list by coming up with an extension cord and an ice scraper for us to use.  The only unresolved item of the day had to do with DirectTV.  Although they could help me reset our receiver, our online ability to watch our favorite channels was still non-existence even with two hours of troubleshooting.  

By getting everything done during the day I had plenty of time to watch the Big Ten/ACC challenge with Cam while Doug was at a church meeting and Meg had a friend over.  There were a lot of close games today and in the end the two conferences were tied at 4-4.  Unfortunately, the marquee game between IU and Duke did not live up to the hype with Duke destroying IU in the first half.  The Blue Devils ended up winning by 21 which was actually better than we first thought the score would be.  Either way, Cam had a lot of fun watching all of the games and couldn't wait for the six scheduled for tomorrow.

Cyber Monday

I have never been able to take advantage of Cyber Monday, but decided to try it today.  At first it didn't seem like that big of a deal, but as I checked more websites and compared items from our Christmas list, I was floored by all of the money that I was able to save by shopping today.  It started with my Christmas cards from Shutterfly.  I had created them yesterday and thought about ordering them then.  I was glad that I waited as today I received an email code for an extra 25% off which save me an additional $62 on my total order.  I also found great deals at Kohl's, Target, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  I even ended the day with getting an ok from Doug to order a futon for the basement.  The Heinisch children had asked for one and I had spent several hours researching sites and reviews before I found one that I thought that everyone would be happy to have.  It was even red in color and would match the basement perfectly.  The best part was that it was quite a bit cheaper than it was listed at yesterday.  I was pleased with my first Cyber Monday and already had ideas on how to save even more next year.

While I was shopping online I also spent time working around the house.  We had a snowstorm today, so I wasn't able to take a walk outside.  Instead I would shop for awhile and then get up and walk around the house completing projects.  I was impressed that I was able to get in 10,000 steps that way, plus I was also able to set out the North Pole Christmas houses while getting up and moving.

Cam's game was cancelled today as West Noble didn't have school.  Since both gyms were scheduled with high school practices he had a free afternoon.  He and I decided to use the extra time to visit Grandma Jane on her real birthday.  She appreciated that and was up for playing some Euchre.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

End of a Fantastic Week

Cal left this morning at 10 a.m. to go back to IU.  Hannah-Marie rode with him.  I was glad as that would make the ride more enjoyable for him.  I was sad to see Cal leave, but realized that he was ready to get back to a routine.  He had finals the week before Thanksgiving, so he needed a break, but ten days were plenty for him.  The only bad part about the return trip was finding out that the truck wouldn't start when he went to pick it up from Brett's.  Thankfully, he and Jayce were able to jump it.

Since we had a free afternoon, I decided to finish the Christmas decorating.  All that I had left at the end of the day was the Christmas houses to put out.  Doug helped me and worked on some other projects as well.  Cam spent a quiet day here watching television and resting from a long day yesterday.  Meg invited a friend over.  They watched movies and played pool.

After dinner we took Mom her birthday gifts.  She turns seventy-five tomorrow, but we decided to celebrate today since Cam had a basketball game after school on Monday.  Doug made carrot cake which was delicious.  We gave her a canvas print with photos of our family in Bloomington and some apple butter from our trip to Saugatuck.  The big surprise, however, was a new television for her living room.  They had wanted a larger one and we got a good deal on one at Target's Black Friday sale.  We spent the rest of the time setting it up for her.  I was glad that they liked it.

We ended the evening watching a movie with Cam.  It was a thriller from 1987 that I had never heard of, "House of Games."  It was better than I thought it would be with a surprise ending.  None of us were ready for the weekend to be over, but at least Christmas break was just around the corner.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

This morning Cam and Doug were up early so that they could make it to Bloomington for the IU vs. Purdue football game in time to tailgate before the noon kickoff.  My Dad had given them tickets to the game with access to a buffet.  Brett left with them. He had enjoyed his week at home, but was ready to get back to IU.  I had thought about going with them, but realized that it was easier if I stayed back and worked on the Christmas.  Cal and Meg were home today, so it also gave me a chance to hand out with them.

The day ended up being a great one for all.  Doug and Cam had an awesome time at the game and were pleased with their seats and the food.  IU lost, but it was a good game and the weather was nice which made it more enjoyable.  They made it home in time for Doug and I to go to dinner and for Cam to watch the Notre Dame game with Cal.  Brett used his free time today to do some shopping and to walk around campus.  He had a lot of homework to complete while he was home and was pleased with all that he had accomplished.  Meg worked on an essay for the Kelley Business School and then went to practice.  Afterward she went to dinner with Sarah at Buffalo Wild Wings and then came back here for the night.  They decorated Meg's Christmas tree in her room and also played Wii U.  There was a lot of laughter from the basement and several videos posted on SnapChat from their evening.

Cal and I had a fun day together and were productive as well.  I packed up the Thanksgiving while he took it all downstairs for me.  Once I got the house dusted, he then brought up the Christmas tubs so that I could start organizing it all.  While we were decorating for the holidays we had plenty of time to watch football as well.  The games started at noon with IU vs. Purdue and Michigan vs. Ohio State.  It ended at 12:45 a.m. with an exciting seven overtime thriller between Texas A& M and LSU.  At the end of the game we realized that every team that Cal favored lost today.  No matter the outcome of the games it was a lot of fun spending time with him.

Black Friday

Since we had gone Black Friday shopping last night we didn't plan to do any today.  We did stop at Martin's after we dropped Cam off at practice to get groceries for Brett to take back to Bloomington.  We also ran to Target, but only to pick up the items I ordered yesterday.  Unfortunately, their computers were down and it took a lot longer to get our items than normal.  It was frustrating, but thankfully we got it sorted out in the end.  Doug tried to buy shoes at Kohl's while we were there, but the line to check out was ridiculously long and we gave up.

Meg had practice as well today.  Afterward she went with a friend from Bethany to the mall.  Before she left the house for the day we had time to set up and decorate the Christmas tree.  Everyone pitched in to help with Doug putting it up, Cal and I stringing the beads and Brett, Cam and Meg hanging the ornaments.  It looked fantastic when it was done.

Tonight we took the boys to dinner at Mad Anthony's.  I thought it'd be packed, but it wasn't at all.  We enjoyed visiting with everyone and the food was delicious as always.  Cal had friends over afterward.  The rest of us talked about watching a movie, but Brett wanted to finish a game on his XBOX.  That was ok with Cam and Doug as they wanted to get ready for their trip to the IU/Purdue game tomorrow.  It was nice to have a quiet night at home after a busy week.

A Relaxing Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving Doug decided to change up our menu by replacing turkey with lasagna.  Meg, Cal, and Cam were happy with that decision.  Brett was the only turkey vote.  He wasn't too disappointed, however, as we still had corn, mashed potatoes, homemade bread and noodles.  Doug talked about making oyster dressing as well, but decided to hold off on that until Christmas.  No one was disappointed by that.  Mom and Dad joined us for dinner.  They brought pies, a butterscotch dessert, cookies and gherkins.  It was a wonderful meal which we all enjoyed.

While Mom and I were cleaning up, the guys watched the Bears game.  Meg helped us in the kitchen and Brett finished one of his video games.  Once everyone was ready we played several rounds of pool in which my Dad came out on top.  The big competition of the afternoon, however, was a family ping pong tournament.  Doug made a bracket and drew names for the tourney.  The first round saw Meg lose to Cam, Cal defeat Grandpa Cutes, Brett bowing out to me and Doug finishing off Grandma Jane quickly.  Cam gave Cal a run for his money in the second round, but lost in the end.  Doug easily destroyed me which left he and Cal playing for bragging rights.  It wasn't as close as Doug would have hoped and Cal earned the gold paddle of the day.

After pool and ping pong Doug, Meg, Brett and I decided to join the early Black Friday shopping crowd.  In years past, we would have stopped at Target on our way to University Park Mall, but they opened too early for us.  Plus, last year the crowds were incredible and it was challenging for us to locate what we needed.  Today, I woke up early and was pleased to find that I could order what we wanted at 5 a.m. from Target, so we really didn't need to stop anyway.  Therefore, the four of us only spent time shopping at the mall which worked out perfectly.  Meg found several items at Hollister, Forever 21 and Bath & Body Works.  She and I walked out of American Eagle as the lines were too long for me.  We actually got a better deal ordering the same item online which we were happy about.  Brett found a pair of Vans at Journeys and a book that he had wanted.  I ended the shopping trip with a stop at Yankee Candle stocking up on Christmas candles.  My parents met us back at our house when we returned to play cards.  Leftovers were eaten by most of us with a lot of talk about what we have been thankful for this year.  For me I was most thankful for the time that we have spent together as a family in 2018 including days like today.

Thanksgiving Break for All

Today Doug, Meg and Cam officially started Thanksgiving Break.  I was glad as Monday and Tuesday had been busy with appointments, school and basketball.  Today was a lot more laid back.  Meg used her time off to catch up with friends.  Last night the girls basketball team went to Westview to watch Bethany's boys' first game of the season.  It was a tough one to go to as they lost 81-7, but Meg said that she had fun.  Afterward she went to Jackie's to spend the night.  Today she made it back in time for a haircut and a quick lunch before heading back to Goshen to hang out with Jackie, Sarah and Preston.  They ended up watching Ralph Breaks the Internet and eating at Hacienda.

Cal woke Cameron up when he got back from Nick LeCount's so that he could help rake leaves.  I wanted him to finish making a blanket for BINGO at the nursing home instead.  Cam was more interest in that and was able to get it done  before he left to work BINGO this afternoon.  Mom said that all of the residents were happy to see him and that he was a big help.  I was glad to hear that and was also able to add two hours to his service hours for confirmation.

Doug wanted to go see The Widows this afternoon and Brett and I were happy to go with him.  The movie was fantastic with several plot turns.  All three of us really enjoyed it.  Cal had talked about going with us, but decided to watch the rest of Game of Thrones instead.  After the movie we stopped at Martin's to buy more pop and Target to pick up the TVs I ordered.  We have needed a new one in the basement bedroom.  Brett and I were able to set it up and he got a lot of use out of it this evening with his XBOX 360.  Doug decided to make appetizers for dinner including buffalo chicken dip, meatballs, and nachos.  My parents joined us and we spent the rest of the evening playing games.  It was a great day for all.

Last Day of Appointments

It has been a busy couple of days here in the Heinisch home with commitments to complete before Thanksgiving.  This morning Cal had to go to our original doctor to get a flu shot as he had to cancel with the new doctor yesterday for an interview.  Meg went to a new doctor this morning to hopefully find help for her migraines.  I took her to the visit and it seemed to go very well.  Brett made an appointment to give blood today.  As there was a drive in New Paris they schedule him there.  I was home from Meg's in time to take him and spend the time walking while he was there.  It was cold, but I did get in close to five thousand steps before he was ready to go.  

Cam did not have an appointment today, but he did have a game against Goshen.  Mom, Doug and I were able to go to  it.  Out of all of the middles school games that we have gone to this season it was definitely the most intense.  The Goshen fans were out of control yelling at the refs.  Eventually, their players joined in earning two technicals during the game.  Bethany could have won easily, but struggled at the line making the game a lot closer than it should have been.  The Bruins did hold on in the end winning by five which we were happy to see.  It was a great way to start Cam's Thanksgiving break.  

A Thankful Post

Every year in the month of November Brett posts a daily post of what he is most thankful.  I was honored today to see that spending time with me made his list.  It has been very nice to have both he and Cal home this week.  They add excitement to the Heinisch home in different ways which is appreciated by the rest of us.  With them here there is always something going on or someone to talk to about all sorts of topics from movies, to the Bears, to memories of days gone by, to thoughts of the future.

Today was a fun day with Brett.  We were able to knock a few items off of our to-do list and have fun along the way.  I really appreciated that he and Cameron went to see Crimes of Grindelwald with me.  I know that I was the one who wanted to go and thankfully, the movie was better than we expected.  Cal had an interview this afternoon and then hung out at my parents and Hannah-Marie's, so I didn't get to see him until after the movie.  I was glad for the time we had while watching the Bears and picking on Doug for falling asleep on the couch.  That seems to be our two favorite activities together.  He made staying up to finish the laundry a lot more enjoyable than it would have been.  I truly appreciate that both boys still enjoy hanging out with us while home from college or on our visits to IU.  I hope Cam and Meg feel the same way when their turn comes to head off to college.

A Day Trip

I had asked the Heinisch children in October if they would keep November 18th open so that we could take a trip to Michigan to celebrate my fiftieth birthday as a family.  I was glad that everyone was able to make time to send the day with Doug and I.  Cal invited Hannah-Marie as well and we all enjoyed a wonderful trip to Michigan.

The first stop of the day was Saugatuck.  I love walking up and down their streets browsing in their shops.  We were surprised at how many of the stores were closed for the season, especially Kilwin's as their fudge would make a perfect holiday gift.  We did, however, find a lot of shops still open including several favorites such as The Butler Pantry, American Foods and Glik's.  The girls bought jewelry that they really liked and I purchased a cream and crimson striped sweater perfect for IU games.  Brett didn't find anything, but Doug, Cam and Cal were happy with the pumpkins salsa we took home.

Lunch was eaten at New Holland Brewing Company.  Everyone enjoyed the pepperoni pinwheels as an appetizer.  Meg even made them her main course choice.  Cal was excited at first as it looked like they were going to let him partake in the Bloody Mary bar, but in the end they carded him ruining his fun. After lunch we walked through Holland window shopping.  HM was on a mission to find an ornament for her mom and with Meg and Cal's help she got a nice one.

Our tour of Michigan led us to Grand Rapids next and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.  Doug and I had wanted to take Brett there ever since our first visit several years ago.  They had added on to it since we had been there including a wing on Betty Ford's life.  The museum was interesting and everyone took their time walking through the exhibits.  My favorite were the stairs leading to the  helicopters evacuating those stranded during the fall of Saigon.  Brett and Doug both first thought they were the stairs that Ford fell down which was recaptured many times over in gag bits on SNL.

Our last stop in Michigan was Founder's Brewing Company.  Meg wasn't hungry, but the rest of us ordered something small to sample.  Cam kept us all updated on the IU vs. Arkansas game which unfortunately ended with the Hoosier's first loss of the season.  The drive home was an easy one, just dark.  My parents met us once we returned, so that we could enjoy cake and ice cream.  I also opened my birthday gifts appreciating the jewelry, Mickey Mouse sign, pajamas, bird feeder and sweater very much.  It was a wonderful way to end a week long birthday celebration.

Bleacher Butt

Today was a tough one on my back as we had four basketball games to sit through.  Cam played in the Central Noble tournament this morning.  They won their first game fairly easily which put them in the championship round at noon.  Thankfully, there was an hour time period in between games so I could walk.  It was cold, but I had brought warm clothes so it wasn't too bad.  It was also a nice break for my back.  Cam's team didn't fair as well against West Noble, but Cam wasn't too disappointed with their second place finish especially since he saw the B team get beat by over fifty points.

We were home long enough to get a few items checked off our to-do list this afternoon including Doug's haircut.  Brett went to Huntington's for lunch with us and we enjoyed his conversation.  He was bummed, just as we were, to find out that it had been sold.  Meg spent her afternoon working on a paper.  She had two games tonight as well along with senior basketball pictures.  Thus, she had to be at Bethany fairly early.  We headed over around six and watched the Bruins win both games this evening against South Bend Clay.  Although my back was definitely ready for a break from the bleachers I did find the Colonial fans entertaining and finished seventy-five pages in Phantom of the Opera.  We played cards again once we got home.  Meg went out with Preston afterward and got home a little later than we did.  She was happy to have him back for Thanksgiving break.

Home and Flown

It was cold today, but I was able to meet Doug for lunch as there were no school delays.  I had not been to Champion before and appreciated seeing his office and taking a tour of his work environment.    We had lunch in downtown Elkhart at 523 Tap & Grill.  It was very nice and had a delicious lunch menu. Doug stuck with his usual Caesar salad.  I tried the turkey and avocado sandwich.  I enjoyed spending an hour with him during the day.

Once I dropped Doug off at work I decided to check out the Concord Mall.  I had hoped to get my steps inside today while shopping, but Martin's and Walmart didn't quite get me as many as I had hoped.  I was surprised to see how few shops were open in the mall, but I was able to get in over 5000 steps by doing laps around the perimeter and touring JC Penney and Hobby Lobby.  I wasn't the only person using the mall for exercise, but I was the youngest.  It was great to walk inside and I really liked Hobby Lobby.  I hope to go back soon.

I had enough time when I got back to Syracuse to unload groceries and pick up the house before Brett and Cal arrived.  I was very happy to see them and they were thankful for a break from school.  We had fun catching up and I was able to get a load of laundry in the washer before Doug and Cam got back from his basketball game at Westview.  It was definitely the most laundry that they had ever brought back.  I didn't mind and got enough done that they at least had clothes to wear for the rest of the weekend.

Cal surprised us all when he said that he had made plans to go with Jayce to Purdue tonight to see Cameron.  Purdue still had class Monday and Tuesday and they wanted to hang out in West Lafayette tonight and tomorrow with their friends.  We didn't mind at all.  I was just shocked as Cal hates being in the car and I knew that would make for a lot of driving today.  He said he was up for it, so after visiting with all of us and eating dinner he left.  The rest of us spent the evening playing "Oh, Hell!" It was a great start to Thanksgiving break.

Wow, 50 Years Old!!

Well, today was the day.  After talking about it for quite some time I finally turned fifty.  The number didn't really scare me.  I looked upon it as an honor, a milestone in life that not everyone reached.  I had big plans for today, and although a snow day cancellation changed them, it was still a wonderful birthday.

Originally, I had planned to meet Doug for lunch and to do some shopping this afternoon. The ice that arrived early this morning quickly changed that.  I did have time to get my walk in before it became too slippery, but driving to Elkhart at noon was out of the question.  I was disappointed at first as I hadn't met Doug for lunch more than once in the past seven years, but thankfully, he cleared his schedule for tomorrow so I could meet him then.  Cam, Meg and I decided the next best plan was to have Dairy Queen for a birthday lunch.  That quickly changed as well when we found out that they were out of hot dogs.  Fortunately, Penguin Point was not.

Meg had a project to work on this afternoon with a group from English and practice as well.  She left around 12:30.  My parents came up at the same time so that we could have an afternoon of Euchre.  Cam was the big loser on the afternoon, but he didn't seem to mind.  I ran him to practice once they left and Meg brought him home.  Doug arrived just before five and said that the roads were clear enough to go to Fort Wayne for dinner and shopping.  I was super excited as I wanted to go to Yankee Candle and Cam and Meg were more than interested in eating at Biaggi's.  We all had a wonderful night and enjoyed a delicious dinner.  It wasn't quite the day I had planned, but it sure was a special 50th birthday.

A Night Off

There were no basketball games for Meg and Cam tonight which was nice with a full schedule this week.  Meg didn't even have practice which she appreciated as that gave her time to go to dinner with her friends.  She has been having a lot more migraines than she has had in years, so the break will hopefully help with that as well.  Cam did have practice and they both had piano this afternoon, but overall it was an easy evening for both.

Doug and I went out to dinner once he got home.  We made it back for the IU vs. Marquette game.  They hype was big for that game and for the Michigan/Villanova rematch from last year's championship game.  Neither game lived up to the hype with Michigan destroying Villanova and IU winning easily.  Doug, Cal and Cam were all happy with that and remained hopeful for a successful season for the Hoosiers.  Cal said he planned on going to quite a few games this year and Doug and Cam were already looking for tickets to see a game over Christmas break.

Home Again

Doug spent the past two days in Toronto at a board meeting.  He had several presentations to give and had worked very hard this past month to get ready for it.  He was pleased with how they went and was also thankful for the great food that they had at the dinner and lunches.  He let me know that several members of their group were happy to see that they had Fresca to drink.  He knew that I would share that opinion.

The only part of the trip that was frustrating for him was his return flight.  It was delayed almost an hour from the airport in Canada.  Then he had to wait fifteen minutes for his bag as other luggage was stuck in front of it.  While waiting he just missed the shuttle to pick up the Pilot and had to wait another twenty minutes.  In the end it took him an extra two hours to get home.  Although annoyed by the delay, he was happy in the end with his trip and glad that the important parts went well.

Once Doug got his car he drove straight to Cameron's basketball game at Lakeland.  As the B game ran late, he only missed the first half.  It was a tough game to watch as the Lakers ended up winning by thirty-six, but Cameron played a lot and even had a three point shot hit the rim and fall out.  Once the game was over we all headed to Albion for Meg's game against Central Noble.  As her game started at six and we wouldn't be there before eight, I was hoping that maybe we'd only have to watch half of the game.  Central Noble were state champions last year and had two college bound players returning to their lineup, so we new it would be a tough game.  Unfortunately, the JV game also ran late with Bethany winning in overtime.  I was glad for the girls, but not sure that I could sit in the bleachers for another hour or more.  I did survive, however, and was glad to see Meg play in the fourth quarter.  It was another rough game, but Meg did well even in a thirty-seven point loss.

A Fun Night After a Busy Day

I got up at 4:15 a.m. this morning to call Doug.  He was afraid of oversleeping and missing his 6:30 a.m. flight.  He was up and ready for my phone call, which I knew he would be, but was glad to help out.  Once Cam and Meg woke up I found out that our water heater was out.  Thankfully, it was only the pilot light.  I called the plumber, but Dad was able to relight it before they arrived.  While I was waiting for the hot water to be resolved I was able to get in my steps.  It actually was pretty nice this morning which made my walk a lot more enjoyable.

I spent the afternoon with Meg at our new family doctor.  Dr. Freeze was able to resolve several health issues for her.  She also recommended follow up which hopefully will also help Meg.  The worst part of the visit for Meg was getting her Hepatitis A and flu shots.  Once I dropped her back off at school I returned home to finish laundry and start on a photo project.  I then headed back to Bethany for Cam's game against Bremen.  We weren't sure what to expect as Bremen was rumored to have three boys six feet tall.  Thankfully, none of the gossip was true and Bethany easily handled the Lions winning by fourteen.

Tonight was also Bethany's Hacienda fundraiser.  Thus, after the game Cameron and my parents headed there.  As it was after 7:30 when we arrived there was zero wait time which we appreciated.  Meg and Jackie were just leaving as we were seated.  They had arrived earlier for a team dinner.  The four of us had a great time highlighted by a Hacienda sombrero and the birthday song to celebrate my 50th.  Cam instantly put the hat on and headed over to Joey's table.  It was a great way to end a very busy day.

A Day of Rest

With a late night last evening we all decided to take it easy today.  I slept in which was nice.  Meg got up early to see Kaitlin off and then headed back to bed.  Doug even took a short nap after going to mass and taking Cam to religion.  The rest of the day was filled with putting dishes away, raking leaves, taking a walk, watching IU soccer win it's thirteenth Big Ten conference tourney and getting Doug ready for his board meeting in Toronto.  Meg had time to visit Grandma Jane and get her homework done.  Doug took Cam on in pool and then the three of us played Qwixx.  Cam and I ended the evening playing Euchre with my parents.  It definitely was a relaxing day after a busy Saturday.

An Early Birthday Party

Doug decided a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to throw me a 50th birthday party.  I wasn't sure at first that we'd be able to pull it off with all of the basketball games and an early Thanksgiving holiday.  Thankfully, we had tonight off and Doug was able to host an awesome 50th birthday party.  Our guest list was short and we were thrilled that so many of those invited could come.  The Browers brought Evan over to hang out with Cam which he appreciated.  Meg and Kaitlin decided to avoid the whole affair and got to dinner and a movie.  She enjoyed that as well.

My Mom helped us make food for tonight complete with a Texas cake.  Everything was delicious.  We hadn't hosted an adult party in almost a decade, so it was fun to make brandy slush, crab dip, and queso.  Doug tried a dessert cream cheese ball as well.  It took a couple of tries, but in the end it was wonderful.

Besides the Brower's, Jen, Paula, Sara, the Sweatlands, Rachel Horsmon, the Lamles, my parents, and  Wendy Busse all joined us for the evening.  It was such a nice to group to catch up with as I haven't really seen any of them very much since I quit teaching.  The conversation flowed all night and everyone enjoyed my new "birthday" glasses from Robyn.  A couple of groups left before ten as they had early morning wakeup calls, but many stayed well past eleven with Jen being the last to walk out the door at 11:20.  Just as Doug and I started cleaning up the kitchen we heard a knock on the door.  It was Jody.  She had to work late and was hoping that we would still be up.  We were glad that she stopped by.  It gave us a chance to hear all that she had been up to this past year, and it made cleaning up a whole lot more fun.

The First Snow

The first sign of winter came this morning with a light snowfall.  It looked pretty on our grass, but I wasn't quite ready for it.  Thankfully, the roads were dry, so Meg had no problem getting to school.  The snow continued off and on all day, but didn't alter our plans except for the time I walked.  It was definitely cold when I headed out at 10:30 with windchills in the mid-twenties, but it was dry.  I was happy to get my steps in before it snowed again.  With all of the cleaning I did today and the exercise time it was actually pretty easy to get my 10,000 in before I left for Meg's game.

Since Cam and Meg had games at different schools we had to divide our support tonight.  Doug and I went to Meg's game at Elkhart Christian Academy.  My parents went to Cam's at Bethany against ECA.  It was the first game that Meg was eligible to play in, and she did get in at the end.  It made for a long evening on the bleachers for us, but she said that she had fun with the team.  Cameron's team did not do as well this evening as everyone thought they would, but Joey was out with a broken finger which changed the dynamics of the game.

We met my parents back at Bethany at the end of his game.  They drove our van home, so that Doug, Meg, Cam and I could go out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  It had been awhile since we had done that.  The evening started off a little rough, but ended well.  Everyone was thankful for the chance to sleep in tomorrow.

Cheer, Cheer for Old Milford High

Tonight Cameron's basketball team played at Milford.  I was excited for the game as it gave me a chance to see some of my former students.  I also thought that this would be the year that Bethany would finally triumph over Cameron's former classmates.  The first part on my agenda was easy to accomplish.  As soon as I walked in the gym a huge crowd of my 6th graders came running over to give me a hug.  It was nice to see them and to catch up a little.  I checked in with several of my Warrior Time students and was pleased that they were doing so well this year.

My second wish for the evening did not come to fruition, however.  I knew that the Bruins B team would not beat the 7th graders from Milford.  They were out manned from the beginning.  Having their point guard on the bench made it challenging for those on the court to beat the press.  My hopes for the A team were quickly dashed as well.  Bethany started off slow and the Milford 8th grade were on fire offensively.  Within two minutes Cam's team was down 8-0.  They did tie it up in the second quarter, but just never overcame the opening draught losing 43-33.  Cameron did have a lot of fun playing against his old Milford friends and did very well defensively.

The best part of the night for me happened as we were walking out of the door.  One of the 7th graders that I had taught for two years came up to me as I headed to my car and said, "So will you come back now?"  I gave him a hug and asked him what he meant.  He said that he and his teammates had talked.  They were sure that if they beat Bethany I would come back and teach at Milford again.  He wanted to know if it worked.   It made me tear up a little and I did promise to come back for a visit.

Where Does the Time Go?

When I quit my teaching position last Spring I truly thought I would have all kinds of time to read, learn to crochet and to just have downtime.  That actually hasn't been the case.  I have been able to read more, but I have to actually schedule time for that.  Even though I completed all of the projects that I planned to before fall break, I still have felt my days growing shorter and my to-do list longer.  It dawned on me today that I didn't truly retire as I still had children at home that needed my help.  I am not complaining at all as I truly enjoy helping the Heinisch family.  I have just been busier than I expected to be.

Today was no exception to that. With Doug's busy schedule I have taken on all of the household duties that I physically can.  That has freed him up to not only stay on top of work, but to also relax at the end of the evening.   As we decided to host a gathering here on Saturday, I knew that I had to start cleaning today.  I wish that I had the stamina to completely clean the house all in one day, but it would be too hard on my back and legs.  Thus, I split the cleaning into three sections - upstairs, basement and main level.  Today's cleaning was all upstairs.  It was easier than usual as I have kept on top of their rooms and bathrooms this fall.  By the time I left at 1:30 to take Meg her newly laundered basketball clothes all rooms were dusted, tubs were scrubbed and clothes were put away.  

Election Day

The midterm elections were today.  As Brett, Cal, my parents and I had all voted via absentee ballot during the month of October, we were more than ready for this day to come.  Doug did make it to the polls when they opened at 6 a.m. this morning.  Normally, my parents would be there to greet him, but they decided to take a break from election work as it made that day too long.

Doug's name was on the ballot again for county council.  He was running unopposed, so we weren't too nervous for him.  It was nice to see all of the votes that he did get.  The local race that surprised us the most was Wawasee's school board.  For years we have been hearing that the administration and others in the community wanted to replace Mrs. Dixon.  There were two well known locals running against her, but it did not matter.  She still won.  The margin was small, only 126 votes, but she got enough to propel her into her fifth term.

Indiana's Senate race made national news tonight.  The long standing Democrat Joe Donnelly was up for reelection against a newcomer and Trump supporter, Mike Braun.  It was said to be a close race that few newscasters believed Braun would win.  In their words they felt that Donnelly's win would show Trump that the Republicans were on a downslide.   Brett had told me a week ago that he felt Braun would win.  I was skeptical as Donnelly has a huge following in Indiana, but I knew that Brett's predictions were usually correct so I believed him.  In the end Brett was not only correct about Braun, but also in regards to the Republican Senate winner in Florida.  In fact by the end of the evening the Republicans had lost the House, but had actually gained seats in the Senate just as Brett had predicted.  As most television analysts believed that the Republicans would lose the Senate as well, tonight was actually an overall victory for Trump and the Republican Party.  For me personally, I was glad that Brett had outsmarted the majority of political analysts, but more importantly I was thrilled that the political ad season would come to an end.

Basketball Commitments

This week we will fulfill all of our basketball commitments as parents until senior night in January.  Tonight we had to take snack and drink for the middle school boys team.  Tomorrow we will provide a meal for the girls team and Doug will also take tickets at the varsity game.  Thursday night I will keep the scorebook for the boys and we will officially be done helping.

It has been a strange phenomenon for me as a parent having to provide food for teams.  None of Cal's teams requested meals or sack lunches when he was in high school.  There were times that we could order Subway, but for the most part Cal just made sure that he had something to eat after school.  Brett was busy enough with the plays, academic super bowl and band, but once again he just packed extra food or bought something.  Mrs. Dixon would also make them meals, but that was because she wanted to do so.  It gave her a chance to worry about Brett being a picky eater.  Cal's tennis team would have us bring pizza or something once a year, but that was it for our commitments.

Since Cam does not eat before games and Meg only likes to have a sub or something small, I have to say it has been an adjustment for our family.  The expense and the time to make sure that we have food for 25+ people, keeping track of allergies and individually wrapping snacks has been challenging.  Thankfully, my Mom and Doug have been available to help, so it has not been as overwhelming as it could be.

At Wawasee we also did not have to work the games.  Ticket takers and those keeping the book or running the scoreboard were paid as that was how a lot of hourly employees made a little extra money.  I appreciate that Doug has offered to be a ticket taker this year.  Being an introvert, talking with countless people that I do not know can be overwhelming.  In saying that the one part of our commitments that I will enjoy this week will be keeping the book on Thursday.  Bethany plays Milford and I will know all of their players.  I will root for the Bruins, but it will be nice to see some of my former students.

Mass & Amish Acres

Today was a typical Sunday in the Heinisch home.  The only difference was that Jackie and Joey joined us for our adventures.  Last night the time changed which gave us all an extra hour of sleep.  Cam was especially appreciate as he did not have religion class due to a catechist meeting.  I used my extra time to walk this morning before mass.  It was forecasted to rain the rest of the day and I wanted to make sure that I got my steps in before it started.

Meg was a lector today and Cam was an altar server.  Since Doug had to usher, Joey and Jackie sat with me.  Mass went well and we were thankful for a short homily.  Doug made lunch for everyone before we picked up my parents for "Lend Me a Tenor" at Amish Acres.  The first act was funny, but really long.  I thought that maybe Jackie and Meg would head out at intermission, but they decided to stay.  The second act was definitely shorter and everyone left laughing.

Tonight Doug made dinner for my parents, Cam and I.  Meg went out with Carlos and Nick.  Our food was great and we had fun playing "Oh Hell" afterward.  I was the big winner once again, which Cam did not appreciate.  It was fun, however, and we finished the game in time for Doug and I to watch the end of "Pit and the Pendulum" before Meg got back.  She had had a great evening which we were happy to hear about.  All in all it was an awesome way to end the weekend.

A Weekend of Friends

Last night Joey came home with Cameron to spend the weekend at the Heinisch home.  Both boys talked the entire drive about the fish fry and Cam's lack of fish eating ability.  Joey was smart enough not to even try.  Doug and I both told Cam that he would end up getting sick (he did) which turned into stories of all of the "throwing up in the toilet" lectures that Doug had given everyone over the years.

The boys stayed up late last night watching the IU pre-season basketball game.  This afternoon they played basketball, took a walk, and watched college football.  Doug and I had to run errands this evening, so the boys talked my parents into taking them to Chubbie's for dinner.  Everyone really liked it and Joey was up for coming back another time.  After they ate they went to the girls' basketball game at Bethany.  We met them there in the third quarter to take them back to Syracuse.  They spent the rest of the evening watching movies and listening to music.

Meg spent all of yesterday and last night with her friends at the fish fry.  She decided to sleep in this morning.  She left for the basketball game early and brought Jackie back afterward.  They watched a new series on Netflix while Jackie worked on her driver's ed.  It was nice to have them here.  Meg's been a lot happier this week which has been great.

Cal spent his time this weekend by first going to Indianapolis with Jayce and several of his friends last night.  Today they drove to the University of Illinois to see their roommates band play in a bar.  In Champaign anyone over nineteen could get in, so Cal could actually participate in the fun.  They also toured campus while there first shouting "ILL" to everyone that passed and waited for them to yell "INI" back to them.  They were disappointed that only a few did.  Brett was busy with homework today, but did make time to go to dinner with friends last night.  He had been swamped with papers to write and work to do these past few weeks.  It was nice that he had time to go out.  In fact I was glad that everyone made time to enjoy their friends this weekend.  We had been going at a breakneck pace this past month.  It was wonderful to have some down time for all.

Fish Fry

Tonight was the senior fish fry for Meg's class.  Although she said that she did not try as hard, she did sell quite a few more tickets this year.  I believe it was the product of knowing more people at Bethany as Sarah and Jackie both had avenues for Meg to sell tickets.  Instead of making pies for the night I ordered them once again.  It was a lot easier than trying to bake nine pies and getting them to school on time.  In the long run the fish fry only cost us a total of $179.50.  Since it has been the only fundraiser that Bethany has required us to participate in, I haven't minded it.

Doug worked table set up along with Meg.  They were busy all night long.  Doug was impressed with how hard the students worked.  Meg liked the underclassmen that she was paired with, Caroline and Anna.  She went with her class to Culver's afterward and told me when she got home that she actually really liked working the fish fry, except maybe the breading part.

I did not have to help since he could work, so I took Cam over for dinner.  He made plans to meet up with his friends there.  Cam had talked all fall about the amount of fish that he would eat tonight.  Last year Conner ate twelve pieces and Cam wanted to top that.  He did not eat all day in preparation, but even so he couldn't keep up.  He had to stop at eleven pieces of fish and one piece of pie.  Conner not only had twelve pieces, but also two slices of pie, thus, ending Cam's record setting hopes.  Guess there's always the spring fish fry.

Let the Games Begin

Cameron's team started off the season well this evening with a victory over Concord.  Doug had to work and my Dad had a meeting, so only Mom and I were there to see him play.  I was very impressed with how well he did tonight.  He was the sixth man and the role fit him perfectly.  He was aggressive on defense and made several nice passes.  He did have a chance to score, but the free-throw rolled out.  He ended up playing about half of the first three quarters and only set out the fourth one so the guards could control the ball and keep the lead.  It was fun to be a part of the action and Cam was very happy when we drove him home.

Meg's season started tonight, but not for her yet.  She was supportive of her teammates and enjoyed being a part of the team bonding experience.  The girls lost decidedly to West Noble which was not a huge surprise to Doug and I.  Meg has been playing against their starting five since she was in 4th grade.  The Chargers were good then and have only gotten better.  One of their players had already committed to Purdue to play volleyball.  Meg said that her coaches were frustrated with their play, but we realize that it was early and they should improve from here.