New Year's Eve

Meg has had a couple of really busy days.  After Rachel's party on Sunday night, Jackie arrived and stayed until this afternoon.  They had a lot of fun together, did some shopping and ate at Portillo's.  Sarah visited last night as well.  They watched movies, played Mario Kart and shared their favorite videos on Tik Tok.  Thus, I was extremely thankful that she made time to help me finish cleaning the house today.  There was still some items to finish from Christmas and floors to be swept.  Cameron helped as well and once we got everything picked up, he even decorated for the upcoming Gatorbowl.   Doug left work early to help us get ready for New Year's Eve.  I appreciated him running to the store for our late night feast.

For the past several years Cameron has gone to Breece's for a New Year's Eve party.   He opted to stay home this year as he didn't want to spend the night.  Neither Doug nor I like driving on New Year's Eve, so we couldn't really pick him up at midnight.  He was fine playing games with all of us tonight instead and in the end was the big winner on the evening finishing first in every game that we played except for Scattergories.  Grandma and Grandpa joined us for all of the activities as well and took their lumps at cards.  Nick's family went to Canada for the holiday, so he spent the night at our home.  He and Meg had the run of the basement as Cal went to Indy with Jayce for the evening.  They worked on a puzzle, watched The Help, played games with us and hung out with us for the ball drop.  We heard from Brett briefly at midnight.  His friend Rachel came down to visit him for the holiday.  They went to Oliver Winery, shopped at the mall, played games, and had dinner at Big Woods.  Doug only made it up to 12:15, but that was alright with us.  He had had two extremely busy days at work with early morning starts and a stressful inventory.  Thankfully, all went well on that end and he could enjoy the break.  All in all we ended 2019 happy that it had been a wonderful year for all and looked for to 2020.

More Football

Today was probably my least favorite of Christmas break as I spent the majority of it taking down all of the decorations and putting them away.  I love the holidays, but it's such a chore to clean up afterward.  Doug took all of the tubs downstairs for me once he got home and offered to take Cam and I to dinner after he got home from work.  I really appreciated that, but unfortunately there was nowhere in town open to eat except the Frog.  I don't normally mind going there, but the food just wasn't up to par tonight.

The nice part was that I got to catch up on football with Cameron.  Illinois was playing in the Redbox bowl which kept us busy most of the afternoon.  For awhile we thought that IU would be invited to it, but as the standings in the Big Ten kept changing that theory went out awhile ago.  It would have been fun to go as the stadium was less than twenty miles from Doug's Aunt Rosey.  Unfortunately, the Illini lost to Cal, but it was a good game and a nice way to end the day.

Visiting Friends

Cameron and Bailee had tried to plan a day to get together all of Christmas break and finally were able to connect today.  Cam went to her house in the early afternoon.  They first exchanged Christmas gifts.  She loved the pig that he got for her and he appreciated the penguin and journal that she gave him.  Their family took them bowling which Cam really enjoyed.  Bailee had made up slips that had everyone bowling differently each turn.  Cam's favorite was bowling on his knees.  They had enough time to play Dutch Blitz before Nick and Meg arrived to take him home.

          


Doug and I spent our day taking down the outside Christmas lights and decorations.  It was a beautiful day to do so.  The evening was spent watching NFL football with Cal and Cam.  Meg and Nick went to a Christmas party at Rachel's.  Afterward Jackie came over to spend the night.  She had been in Alabama for the week, so Meg hadn't gotten to hang out with her very much.  They had a lot of fun watching Netflix, playing Just Dance and catching up on their holiday activities.  

Chicago

Meg, Nick, Doug, Cam and I spent our Saturday in Chicago.  This was the sixth year in a row that we traveled to the Windy City over Christmas break.  It was the first time that Brett had not been able to join us.  Cal and HM opted out as well as they had plans with Robyn and Mike in Fort Wayne.  

We started our day at the Museum of Science & Industry.  Doug, Cam and I had just visited it in September, but Meg hadn't been there in a year and Nick had never been to it.  We toured our favorite exhibits including the fairy castle, U-505 submarine, the farm area, the ice exhibit and the mirror maze.  The best part of our stop, however, was seeing all of the Christmas trees from various countries around the world.  

We spent the afternoon eating lunch at Giordano's and walking up and down Michigan avenue.  The pizza was great as always.  The crowds, however, shopping on the Magnificent Mile were absolutely incredible.  We stopped at Dylan's Candy Shop and could barely move around inside the store.  Nick was able to purchase a Lego that he wanted and Meg found something at the Disney store, but Cam, Doug and I gave up after awhile and watched football games at the Marriott instead.  We tried to meet up at the new Starbucks.  It took the place of the four story Crate and Barrel store and was advertised at the largest Starbucks in the world.  We couldn't even stand on the sidewalk outside of it due to the crowds.  Meg and Nick told us that there was a two hour wait to get inside.  That seemed incredibly to us.

The last stop of our trip was the Lincoln Park Zoo.  It was just getting dark and we thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas decorations, holiday music and light show.  The weather was gorgeous for late December and several of the animals were still out and about.  Everyone enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate while walking the zoo and by 6:30 we were all in the van ready for the trip home.  With all of the cars looking for a parking spot we were happy that we chose to come early.  It also gave us time to get home to watch the majority of the OSU vs. Clemson football game.  LSU had already destroyed Oklahoma, and we expected the same from Ohio State.  Even thought that didn't happened we didn't let a Buckeye loss ruin the fun day that we had had together.  

A Short Christmas Break

Today was Brett's last day at home.  He had to work this weekend and although we were disappointed that his time with us was so short, we were glad that he was able to spend Christmas in Syracuse.  We spent today together, eating lunch at Peterson's, going bowling and even playing Germany Ticket to Ride before he left.  My parents stopped by to see him and play a game of Clue with him as well before saying goodbye.

Tonight was a quiet one after Brett left.  Meg hung out with Nick, and Cal went out with his friends.  I was exhausted after our week of festivities and did not stay up too late.  Brett called to let me know that he had made it back well before 10 p.m.  He was happy with his time with us and thankful for an uneventful trip to Bloomington, so were we.

Star Wars Rise of Skywalker

Brett, Cam and I went to Warsaw today so that they each could get a new pair of shoes.  I thought Shoe Carnival would be packed, but we were the only ones in the store.  Brett bought a pair of black tennis shoes for work and Cam picked out a new pair of dress shoes as his had fallen apart.  The boys chose Panda Express for lunch and we all enjoyed it.  I brought half of mine home for Cal as he was busy this morning and couldn't go with us.  Meg had plans with Nick, so she did not join us either.  Brett, Cam and I played Exploding Kittens once we got home.  It was a lot of fun.

Tonight we met Doug at Linway to watch Star Wars Rise of Skywalker.  Cal had already seen it and wasn't quite sure what he thought about it.  We all really liked it, but could understand his qualms about the movie as the ending wasn't quite what we wanted either.  Doug, Cam and I headed home after the movie.  Brett met Grandma, Grandpa, Cal and HM for the 8:20 showing of Uncut Gems.  Unfortunately, it was not as good as everyone expected and Brett was the only one who could say that he enjoyed the movie.  That was too bad, but at least they all had fun spending the evening together.

Merry Christmas

It was a quiet Christmas morning in the Heinisch home until about 10 a.m.  That was the agreed upon time for opening gifts and enjoying the holiday.  Cal was the last one up as has become his standard Christmas morning routine, strolling down at 9:58.  We started with stockings as always and everyone was pleased with their array of candy, fast food gift cards and charger cords.   All of the Heinisch children took a turn at handing out gifts and each was pleased with their packages.  Cal got the Derrick Henry jersey he had been waiting for plus a Walt Disney book, clothes and multiple Bloomington gift cards.  Cam was more than happy with his new iPhone, Madden 2020, Tom Allen book and various IU items.  Meg and Brett each opened a pair of tickets to Anastasia on Broadway, the show that they had been anxiously waiting to see.  Meg also got a new Hydroflask, a giant Snorlax, Kohls gift card, sweater and Just Dance 2020.  Brett received multiple Bloomington gift cards as well, a Bob Iger book, several video games, Ticket to Ride Germany and Heathers on Blu-Ray.  I loved my new squirrel baffler, video doorbell, purple sweater,  IU plate and Snow White puzzle.  Doug hadn't asked for much with made buying his gifts a little bit more difficult than in years past.  He was pleased, however, with the assortment of food and whiskey that he received.  Meg found an IU Dad crewneck that was perfect for him as well and I was proud of the Michigan puzzle that I gave him.

Doug made a ham for lunch complete with potatoes, green beans and corn casserole.  My mom supplied the desserts.  Everyone opened their grandparent gifts before eating.  The Heinisch children were all extremely happy with their new weighted blankets and money for Disney.  The rest of the day was spent playing pool, board games and watching NBA games.  Nick was at our house for lunch before he and Meg went to his family Christmas.  Meg was pleased with all of the presents that she won during their annual spoons game.  Hannah-Marie stopped by later in the evening.  She had gifts for everyone and then worked on Cal's new Bears puzzle with him.  It was definitely a full day of activity in the Heinisch home, one that everyone seemed to enjoy very much.

                  

Christmas Eve

The Heinisch family Christmas Eve traditions continued again this year.  Christmas cookies were made with Dad, children's mass was attended, Godparent gifts were opened and It's a Wonderful Life was watched.  Cal even continued his newest tradition of wrapping gifts at the last minute as well.  For awhile we weren't sure that Brett would be able to join us at all today, but in the end he was able to finish work by 2:30 and was home by 6:30.  We were thankful that he was able to make the trip.  Since he hadn't received Godparent gifts in years, Brett brought along his own to open.  We all got a kick out of that and were happy to find out that he had finally found a bottle of Dan Aykroyd vodka complete in a skull container.  While Brett enjoyed his new "gift", Cal was happy with the money from he received from Dan and the Kroger gift card from Pam.  Meg loved her box of goodies from Godmother Jeannette, and Cam opened a Barnes & Noble gift card from Alexia and was thrilled with his I Love IU/I Hate Purdue book from Uncle Phil.  Everyone appreciated the Christmas money from Grandpa Heinisch with plans to use it at Disney World.  

Overall, it was a fantastic Christmas Eve.  I was incredibly happy that the traditions that we started decades ago still resonated strong with the Heinisch children.  As I listened to them talk about past Christmas Eves and recalling Father Hire's camel stories at mass, I couldn't help but smile.  We have been blessed with a wonderful family and both Doug and I appreciate the fact that we could share this special day with all of them.  

Love That Smile

Today was the day that Cameron had been waiting for since April of 2018 - no more braces!!  Although we had gone two weeks ago to get impressions for his retainers, we were both sure that there would be a reason why he would have to keep the braces on for another month or two.  Thankfully, that was no the case and by 4:30 this afternoon he was brace free and in possession of two new IU retainers.

I don't know who was more excited about Cameron's new smile, me or him!  We also loved the celebration poster that the orthodontist had given to him complete with treats to enjoy.  I had a pack of gum ready for his trip home and offered to buy him Moe's to continue the celebration.   He ate his burrito on the way home remarking several times how weird it felt to eat without getting food stuck in his braces.  He definitely thought it was worth skipping the last two holes of golf at Black Squirrel in order to get to his appointment on time.  I was just so pleased to have finished the process and loved the new smile that he was sporting.

                   

Christmas Preparations

Today was spent getting ready for Christmas Day as the rest of the gifts were wrapped, grocery shopping lists were made and last minute items were bought.  Doug took some time to work on leaves and burn all of the receipts that I had saved over the last month.  Cal enjoyed catching up on the Simpsons before watching non-stop NFL games after lunch.  Meg went to a birthday celebration of KeShawn's life and then to Nick's family Christmas.

Cam, Doug and I talked about going to Mad Anthony's tonight for dinner and then stopping by Center Lake to see the Christmas display.  In the end we decided to stay in town and use the Chubbie's gift certificate that we received from the Leininger's.  Doug was pleasantly surprised with the service, atmosphere and food.  He had not been in their new dining room which was definitely a step up from eating in the bowling alley.   Cal chose not to go with us, but enjoyed the hamburger that we brought back for him.   In the end we added Chubbie's to the short list of places in Syracuse that we would try again on a Sunday night.

Crossroads Classic

Mike had given Doug tickets to the Crossroads Classic every year that he had worked for him at Renegade.  Last year he surprised Doug with them again as a nice Christmas present for he and Cam. Doug called me several weeks ago to let me know that he was on his way to Bristol as Mike had once again thought of him as it came time to buy tickets to the tournament.  Doug and I both were extremely appreciative of this thoughtful gesture.  It was also a nice surprise for Cam when he found out that we couldn't go to the Gator Bowl this January.  

With tickets in hand the guys left early this morning for Indy.  They were there in plenty of time to find their seats and get  a snack before IU played Notre Dame at noon.  While they were gone, Cal and I went shopping in Goshen.  He still needed to purchase a few gifts and I had something to return.  It was fun spending the morning with him.  We made it home in time for Cal to watch the game with Grandpa.  It was an exciting game to watch.  IU jumped out to a big lead and then fell apart in the second half.  Notre Dame went up by five, but thankfully, the Hoosiers were able to make a surge and ended up winning on a last second three.  Cam and Doug left after the first half of Butler vs. Purdue game.  According to Cam, the Boilermakers looked awful and they were ready to leave.  

While everyone was busy in the afternoon, I worked on laundry, unpacked and logged in receipts.  I had just finished feeding the birds when Doug and Cam arrived.  They were more than pleased with their adventure.  Meg spent her afternoon unpacking, organizing and wrapping gifts.  Nick stopped by several times and the two of them went to Bethany Alumni night at the basketball tourney.  They enjoyed hanging out with their friends and even got free Culver's afterward.  Cal was at Hannah-Marie's for the majority of the evening.  The three of us at home debated about going out, but decided instead to order Sleepy Owl and play Oh Hell with my parents.  We ended the evening by watching Harry Potter and working on the Charlie Brown Christmas puzzle.  It was such a relaxing way to spend the night after a busy three days.

It's a Wrap

Brett and I were moving pretty slowly this morning, but once we got up and going we were ready to challenge Doug to one last game of 'Ticket to Ride.  Although I misread Salt Lake City for Santa Fe, it was still a close game.  Brett blocked Doug in a couple of key spots and in the end, won his first game in quite some time.  Once we were done playing, we headed to Oliver Winery for lunch.  Brett had to work at noon so we dropped his car off at the stadium.  It was a little chilly eating outside, but warmed up as the morning drew on.  Bloomington had gotten quite a bit of snow and ice earlier in the week.  The sun and higher temperatures today caused a lot of melting which led to loud booms on the overhang that we were sitting under as ice slid off the roof.  It made us jump several times while we were eating, but was more funny than annoying.

After we ate we took Brett back to the stadium and then did some shopping.  I had a few more gifts to buy for the boys, all of which needed to be purchased in Bloomington.  We also had time to make a Target run and stop at Yankee Candle.  We then stopped at the Tap for a few drinks before walking around campus.  Meg's final was not scheduled to end until 5:45 which gave us a few moments to tour the Christmas decorations at the Union.  She called just as we were leaving and reported that she thought she did well and was thrilled to be done.  We were happy to hear that.  As we had packed the Pilot earlier in the day and picked up breadsticks for the trip home, we were able to leave immediately.

I talked to Cameron several times on the way home.  He found out that he had a high A on his English final and an A+ on Geometry.  He thought that today's tests also went well.  My parents agreed to take him to Joey's Christmas party since we wouldn't be home in time.  He was looking forward to that.  Due to traffic the trip was longer than usual and we were all glad to get out of the car at 9:30.  Cal and HM were already here.  He had worked at Miso today and made it home in time to taker Hannah-Marie to Star Wars - Rise of Skywalker.  Nick picked Cam up for us, which we really appreciated after such long day.  Joey's party was as fun as Cameron had thought that it would be and everyone was happy to officially be on Christmas break.

Mother Bears & Ticket to Ride

Doug and I left for Bloomington at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.  Cam wasn't able to go with us since he still had finals to take tomorrow.  He said that he didn't mind as it was a short trip and didn't involve football.  He was happy instead to have done well on his English and Geometry exams and to have a 2:30 dismissal.  He planned on eating at Grandma's, playing Buck Euchre and taking it easy.  His cough had gotten better, but it hadn't left him completely.

We arrived at Brett's at 7:40 thankful that traffic wasn't quite as bad as we expected.  Cal wasn't up for going out with the three of us.  He had finished his finals earlier in the day and was out with his friends celebrating.  Meg didn't think that she would be able to go to dinner as there was a review session for Finite this evening.  By the time we got to IU, however, she had changed her mind.  She had studied all afternoon with a friend and felt decent about the final tomorrow.  Thus, the four of us had a big decision to make - where to eat.  We settled for our usual and tried Mother Bears.  The crowd was light and we were seated immediately.  The service was a little slow, but that gave us time to catch up with Brett and Meg.  We found out that Kylo Ren was from Mishawaka and also got the list of items in Brett's freezer.

Meg headed back to the dorm after we ate.  We made plans to meet her after lunch tomorrow to pick up everything that she was bringing home.  The rest of the night was spent at Brett's playing Ticket to Ride.  It was a different game without Cameron, but we still had a lot of fun.  We were glad that Brett had the evening off of work.  He hadn't asked for it, but it just so happened that they had scheduled him during the day.  It was a nice way to spend the evening in Bloomington.

IU Athletic Department

Brett started at IU Athletics right after Thanksgiving break.  He earned this position because of his work at the Union and several successful interviews.  Although the Union had worked out well for him, he was ready for something full time and with benefits.  The Union was also closing for remodeling on December 21st and Brett wasn't sure where he would be positioned after that date.  Thus, IU Athletics was the perfect opportunity at just the right time.

After three weeks into the new career move, Brett was happy to report that he absolutely loved it at his new job.  He had spent his time setting up for special events, working team meals and overseeing several parties.  Everyday has brought something new and the people that he works with have been great to him.  He finished filling out his benefits online this afternoon and although he will not need health insurance until the next enrollment period in November 2020, he was pleased to hear that he will received 10% in retirement benefits starting January 1st.  Indiana University had just changed their plan once again making the switch perfect.

As a non-sports fan in a sports family, the irony of Brett working at the athletic department has been not only funny to him but to all of us.  He now can keep up with Cam on IU football talk and hopes to one day give him a personal tour of the stadium - at least the area that he works in daily.  The benefits, the availability of overtime, twelve days of vacation and increase in pay, Brett decided that he's committed to Bloomington for at least one more year.  He turned in his application to stay at Woodbridge through May of 2021.  He hasn't dropped his dream of working in politics either and planned to run for state delegate and percent committeeman next year as well.

IU Finals Week

Meg has spent the last few days studying for her A100 final.  She met with a friend to go over practice tests, attended review sessions and has studied on her own.  She felt very good about it when she left for the exam this afternoon.  Meg called right after it was over and said that at first she was sure that she had flunked it.  She had had a hard time concentrating and started to get a headache.  Thankfully, the loud noises and distractions that made the first forty-five minutes of the test challenging ended.  Therefore Meg could focus and review the problems that she had already answered.  She was positive by the time she left that she had answered every question correct except for four of them.  She was very happy about that.  She took tonight off and went to the mall and Chick-Fil-A with her friend, Yatsiri.  Meg does not have a final until Friday, so she should have plenty of time to study for that.

Cal tested today that he was down to only two finals left for the week.  He was happy with how he had done so far, but was ready to have this week over.  His accounting classes have been very challenging this semester and with the job offer already finalized, it has made for a long thirteen weeks.  He's definitely looking forward to the holidays and our trip to the new Star Wars Land in Florida.

Bethany Finals Week

Last night Cameron went with Avery, Richard and Samuel to see Jumanji The Next Level.  He really liked the movie and said that it was a good sequel to the first one.  They went to Honey's afterward for frozen yogurt.  He had a lot of fun, but when he got home he wasn't feeling the best.  I originally thought it was the yogurt, but by morning we both realized that it was more than that.  His head was killing him and he had a slight fever.

Since this was finals week, he really didn't want to miss school.  I strongly encouraged him to try Mucinex and Ibuprofen if he planned on going.  Thankfully, there was a two hour delay today which made his time at school shorter than usual.  Once I dropped him off, I headed to the Wakarusa Dime Store where I hoped to pick up stocking stuffers for the Heinisch children.  Before I got there, I received a text from Cameron.  I figured that he wanted to go home, but instead he wrote, "Guess who took a volleyball to the crotch during PE?"  As soon as I read it, I laughed out loud, not at Cam's misery, but at the fact that I was now completely positive that I was the worst Mom in the world.  Not only did I encourage him go to school on a day when he did not feel well, but I also sent him in to get injured during gym class.  The good news was that he saved the ball from going into the goal giving his team the win.  He texted later than he had also studied for his English final and felt a lot better after lunch time.

While Cam was busy at school, I made my purchases at the candy store, did some grocery shopping and met Doug for lunch.  I had wanted to meet him last week, but he was busy.  Today worked out perfectly for both of us and I really enjoyed visiting with him during the midday hours.  We chose Tap and Grill for our meal and enjoyed it just as much as we had in the past.  Maybe I will branch out next time and try something new, but my usual turkey wrap was delicious as always.

I made it back home in time to unload groceries and exercise before picking up Cam at 3:30.  He was feeling a lot better, although he still had a cough.  We spent the time before Doug got home watching Gotham while Cameron studied for his health final tomorrow.  Cam took a break after dinner to play Madden.  Doug and I then watched White Christmas.  It had been quite some time that I had given it my full attention without doing something else at the same time.  It was even better with than I remembered.  Cameron checked in with us around 8 p.m.  His slight fever had returned and his whole body ached.  We encouraged NyQuil, Ibuprofen and an early bedtime.  He was alright with all of that and soon headed upstairs.  I was hopeful that tomorrow would be a better day for him, but worried that it would be a rough one.  Only time will tell.

One Tough Puzzle

We have been putting the puzzle table to good use since Doug gave it to me for my birthday.  We first used it to finish the Biltmore puzzle that we bought on our fall break trip.  This month we have been focused on IU's basketball stadium.  Both puzzles started off fairly quickly as the main areas had color schemes that made them easy to work.  After that, however, the degree of difficulty went up substantially and our progress slowed.  In fact I was concerned with both that we would not be able to complete them.  The white in the sky for the Biltmore felt like the polar bear puzzle that Brett joked about getting us and the faces in the crowd at the IU game were virtually impossible to distinguished.  Doug and I decided that nothing could be as hard as the Renoir that one he gave me several Christmases ago, so we stuck with them and today finished our second puzzle since adding the new table to our living room.   The Charlie Brown Christmas puzzle was next on our agenda, but we won't start that until Cal gets home as that was always his favorite.  Thankfully, it will be a lot easier than its predecessors.

A Day for Chess

Cameron played in the Goshen Chess Tournament today.  Last year he was in the reserve section for players ranked under 1200.  He had a fantastic showing then and finished in first place out of forty+ players.  He played just as well today, even though he was moved into the open section for the highest rated players.  Cam was one of the lowest ranked players in that grouping at 1257, but still did very well finishing 8th out of 15.  His two loses came against players rated close to 1900 and another at 1600.  Even in those matches he did not give up lasting an hour and forty minutes in the first and 60+ minutes in the second.  We celebrated his day with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  We all thought that it would be packed, but we were seated right away and had a great view of the professional bowling tournament on the big screen.  My parents met us at our house after we ate for a game of Oh Hell.  Cam was the big winner at that as well making it a great day for him all around.

Christmas Concert

Tonight was our first experience with Bethany's Christmas concert.  It was held in Sauder Hall at Goshen College which was a nice venue for the holidays and quite a bit bigger than Bethany's auditorium as it had a balcony.  All four musical groups preformed starting with the choir and orchestra.  The jazz band played during the offertory which may have been my favorite part as Christmas Time from Charlie Brown was the final piece.  Afterward there was a brief intermission where audience members were encouraged to stretch their legs and take Christmas pictures. 

The full band began after the break playing several cherished Christmas carols.  Once they finished the orchestra joined them on stage for one more instrumental song followed by an all inclusive singing of the Hallelujah Chorus.  Not only did the choir sing with the full orchestra, but those in attendance were encouraged to participate as well.  That gave my Dad the perfect opportunity to get up on stage with the rest of the Bethany community.  Everyone sounded wonderful and it was a fun way to end a beautiful evening.  

Love My Van

I absolutely love my Honda Odyssey.  We have had it for over seven years.  It is dependable, has a lot of leg room, travels well and has been the main mode of transportation for the majority of the Heinisch children's high school years.  We hadn't really put much money into it and had planned to keep it until Cameron earned his driver's license.  We had to think long and hard about that decision from the news that we had received today.   

Cam and I were on our way to tennis and the malfunction indicator light came on and stayed lit up.  While he was playing I read through the owners manual and tried some of the easy solutions to get it to turn off.  As nothing changed, we decided to take it into Monteith.  Unfortunately, it was not the inexpensive fix that we had hoped that it would be.  Instead we found out that the catalytic converters needed replaced with a total cost of $1800. 

Doug and I talked through the possibilities this afternoon of either fixing the van, purchasing a new vehicle or taking back the CR-V for awhile.  In the end we both agreed that fixing the van would be the best choice.  It would definitely be cheaper than buying anything and since we just got the Pilot we wanted to wait awhile before getting another new vehicle.  Cal needed the CR-V, so that was really never a possibility.  I still loved my van as did the rest of the Heinisch family and we had just fixed the brakes, so keeping it was the overwhelming decision.  As Meg said when I told her, "Mom, you are that van." 

He's Home

Doug left Monday morning for Santa Monica, California for a board meeting.  He has gotten used to traveling for these and has been pleased with how they have went.  This week's meeting was no different than those in the past.  He had written his reports, practiced his speech and was more than prepared when he left.  He reported that all went well and that he enjoyed the views of the Pacific Ocean from the walkway outside his hotel.

Cam and I have also become accustomed to Doug traveling as well.  With him gone we ate out both nights and watched our favorite television shows.  We added in some time to go Christmas shopping as well.  When we were at home, I spent my time working on Christmas cards, while Cam played Madden.  Although he stayed up late both nights to watch basketball, I headed to bed early.  With all of the activity I felt as though I barely had time to miss Doug before he was back home again.  Regardless, I was very happy to see him when he arrived this afternoon and was equally glad that he would not have to travel again until February.

End of a Good "Run"

I spent the morning at Dr. Freeze's office for my yearly check-up.  We have been impressed with her thoroughness and today was no exception.  She started with a finger prick to screen for immediate concerns and ended by taking five vials of blood for a more thorough workup.  The good news was that my cholesterol and sugar levels were fine, so no new medication was needed.  We discussed my unexplained weight gain and join pain.  After a complete exam, she felt that the first issue was due to water retention and I would have to return to taking furesomide.  She also wanted me to forgo the 10,000 steps a day and instead spend 150 minutes a week on the elliptical.  Although drawing blood took three tries, everything else went well and I left feeling happy about the new plan.  As proud as I was of my 18+ months straight of 10,000 or more steps a day, the daily goal had become daunting.  Plus it no longer felt as though it was making a difference.  I am nervous about the 150 minutes on the elliptical as it will be difficult for me to start, but I believe that I am ready for the challenge.  

Panda Express

Cam and I had talked for several months about trying Panda Express.  We had heard from several people that it was delicious, but we had never found a time to go.  Every other time we had been in the Warsaw/Meijer area we had picked Moe's or McAllister Deli for our meal.  We mentioned last week to my parents that we were thinking of going tonight since Doug wouldn't be home for dinner.  They agreed to ride along and shortly after we got home from school we headed out.  There were several panda jokes along the way and a lot of talk about trying a "panda leg."

The trip over was rainy and foggy and Cam and I talked about our hopes for a two hour delay in the morning.  We weren't quite sure what or how to order once we arrived, but the cashier was friendly and helpful and soon everyone had a plate of their favorite to enjoy.  My parents ordered the orange chicken and I got the string bean chicken.  Cameron tried two new dishes one with beef and the other with chicken.  He liked both of them, but preferred the chicken as it was a little bit spicier.  We each received a fortune cookie with our meal and we thoroughly enjoyed Grandpa's versions of Chinese fortunes instead of the traditional ones.  Until tonight, Cam and I never knew that your fortune cookie could read, "You have prostate cancer."  All in all, we were all pleased with our first trip to Panda Express, and hope to return again in the near future.

Pepperoni Pinwheels and Shopping

Doug, Cam and I had lunch today at Doug's favorite restaurant, New Holland Brewing Company.  It was our reward for making it to 8 a.m. mass where Cam was an altar server and Doug was a lector.  We thought that maybe it was closed when we first arrived as it was pretty dark inside.   Thankfully we were wrong.  The lunch crowd just hadn't arrived yet.  Doug ordered a few beers to try and I had my favorite orange flavored one.  We didn't even debate what appetizers to get as we all knew that we wanted their famous pepperoni pinwheels.  They were absolutely delicious and soon gone.  Doug and I learned from our summer trip that we wouldn't need much for lunch once we finished the pinwheels.  Thus, an order of soft pretzels was plenty.  Cam tried the pulled pork sandwich and although it was messy, he did enjoy it.

After lunch we walked to two of our favorite stores in Holland, but didn't end up buying anything.  Cam was looking for a gift for Bailee and I had hoped to find a wall clock to replace the one that died a month ago.  Doug did score big at the brewing company's shop buying a gift for someone and beer and bourbon for himself.  We drove to Saugatuck next hoping to find some items on our shopping list.  We were surprised with how little people were walking up and down the streets.  It had been crowded each and every time we had visited before.  We thought that either the weather or the time of year must have scared off the crowds.  We stopped in at all of our favorite stores and found a few items that we liked.  Unfortunately, Kilwin's was closed so we could not bring home any fudge.  I struck out finding a wall clock and Cam decided to hold off on his gift buying.  Even with less shopping accomplished than I had planned, the three of us still had a wonderful afternoon together.  

Hallmark Movies and Semi Formal

Last night Paula invited Mary, Betsy, Cherie, Wendy and I to her house for a potluck Christmas dinner and an evening of watching Hallmark movies.  Dinner was delicious with ham, a brussel sprout dish and baked apples.  I took Doug's corn casserole to share and was pleased that it turned out well.  We all enjoyed catching up while eating.  School was still a considerable part of the conversation, but our own children and holiday plans were definitely on the agenda as well.  

After we ate and cleaned up, we moved into the living room to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie that had just started.  Paula had printed off Bingo sheets for each of us and even had dobbers to use.  The squares had comments like "a member of Full House is part of the cast", "there is a scene in a Christmas tree lot", "the main character is a workaholic", etc.  We were supposed to check teach one off whenever we saw that scenario on the screen.  Although Betsy bingoed first, we all had a lot of fun debating which ones were valid and which ones we could assume.  I also enjoyed listening to Mary defend her Hallmark Christmas addiction.  I had brought fuzzy socks and peppermint bark for everyone to add to the viewing pleasure. 

The evening ended later than I had planned, but I didn't mind as Doug wasn't home from Bethany yet.  He was picking Cameron up from his first semi-formal dance.  I got to take pictures beforehand  and Cam looked very sharp with his new blue shirt and tie.  He had planned to go with Bailee, but she was at a Purdue volleyball game with her dad.  He didn't mind as most of his friends were going stag as well.  As a member of SGA he also had to set up before the dance and tear down afterward, so his night was a busy one.  Once he got home Cameron reported that he had had a lot of fun and when I asked him if he danced, he said "You could call it that."  I was happy that his first high school dance went well as was he.  

A Shopping Injury

Last Wednesday Doug took a step to run into Walmart and felt something pull in his left leg.  At first it was no big deal and only hurt a little bit.  In fact on Thanksgiving day he was walking completely normal.  That changed on Friday, however, as he started to hobble.  He had tried to exercise on the elliptical and couldn't even do a modified circuit.  

Over the weekend he had rested it, put ice on it and took Ibuprofen, but it didn't seem to get much better.  He had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor set up for next Friday with the hope that it would mend on its own.  Two days ago Doug decided that he couldn't wait and thankfully, he was able to see someone yesterday morning first thing.  The doctor reassured him that it wasn't his achilles.  That had been Doug's biggest fear.  It was the Soleus muscle in the calf that was causing his new gait.  The doctor gave him stretches to do, a band to use and a wrap to try.  In just the first two days of the new routine, Doug already had increased mobility in the leg and was almost walking normally.  That was a relief for both of us.

  

Tennis Lessons

Doug took Cam to Shipshewana last night for a tennis lesson.  He really enjoyed it and felt that he learned a lot.  The group has consisted of only Bethany players so far and has become Cameron's favorites of all the lessons that he has taken over the years.  Doug said that the indoor area that they played on was unique.  It looked like a court inside a storage shed.  Although the disorganization of it would probably bother me, it worked for what the coach and the boys needed.

Tonight I took Cam to a tennis lesson west of Goshen.  One of the area tennis pros built a tennis court inside his pole barn.  It was just light enough outside for Cam to see to navigate his way around the house into the barn.  There were quite a few more players at this lesson.  The Northridge coach was in charge and only two Bethany players were in attendance.  Cam said that it went well and although it was more crowded than last night's, he still enjoyed it much more than the ones that he took in Warsaw.  The lesson part at the Racquet Club was fine, but the players were not very friendly.  That was not the issue tonight making it much more preferable.  We're glad that Cam has had opportunities to play tennis this winter.  He would really like to be a part of the varsity team next year and hopefully the lessons and time on the court in the off season will help him reach his goal. 

A New Purchase

I never have liked cleaning, but with everyone home for Thanksgiving I knew that I had to get it done.  During my shopping spree on Cyber Monday I decided to purchase an electric scrubbing brush that said that it would make cleaning the bathtubs and stove top a lot easier.  As those were my two least favorite cleaning chores, the reviews were high and it was on sale, I decided to try it.  Cameron thought that I had completely lost it, but once I figured out the best way to use it, I was surprised with how well it worked.  I sent a video of myself cleaning the stovetop with it to Doug and the rest of the Heinisch children.  Although they probably completely agreed with Cam's assessment of it, they at least feigned interest in my new purchase.  The pumice stone was still my favorite cleaning find, but overall I would give my new scrubbing brush two thumbs up. 

Basketball Season

Even though Cameron decided not to play basketball this season, it didn't mean that he had given up on basketball completely.  In fact he left his whole night open this evening to watch the ACC/Big Ten challenge.  I was glad to hear that as last year had been a huge disappointment as far as the sport was concerned, especially with the Hoosiers.  Tonight's game was a good one to watch as IU dominated a ranked Florida State team.  Cameron's favorite Hoosier, Devonte Green, had a fantastic night scoring thirty points and hitting some NBA range three pointers.  The win put IU at 8-0 on the season.  We were all cautiously optimistic after the game as IU started off hot last season as well.  Hopefully, there will not be a repeat of that downward spiral.  Cal reminded me this summer that if IU does not make the NCAA tournament, his will be the only class to have graduated in four years without a March Madness bid.  That would truly be disappointing. 

Christmas is Complete

Mom and I went to Walmart so I could buy outside lights for the tree in the backyard as ours stopped working.  With that it took most of the day, but I finally got all of the Christmas up, the North Pole series out and the red and green tubs put away.  I was thankful to be done and glad that I didn't have to ask Doug to do very much.  His leg had not gotten much better and I didn't want him to hurt it by carrying everything downstairs.  Cameron was able to help as well which I appreciated.  Tonight he even decorated the Christmas tree.  He did remark that it was a lot better without Meg and Brett arguing about which ornaments went on the tree. I made that part easy for him by setting out just the ones that I wanted.  I tried to chose ornaments that we hadn't put up in awhile.  It looked wonderful when it was finished and I was glad to have it done.  

Today wasn't all about decorating.  I did spend quite a bit of the morning shopping as it was Cyber Monday.  This was the second year that I had done my Christmas shopping on line and was just as pleased as last year.  I not only purchased over 70% of our gifts today, but also saved money, earned Kohls cash and even ordered a shirt and tie for Bethany's semi-formal on Friday.  Mom and I picked it up when we went to Goshen today and was glad that Cameron approved of it.  I still have some shopping to do, but it was nice to have finished the majority of it today.  That combined with finishing the Christmas decorating made it an extremely productive day.  

And Just Like That, Thanksgiving Break Is Over

Originally, we had planned for Cal to take Meg back this afternoon.  With Jayce needing a ride and Cal having plans at Purdue, he asked HM if she could take her.  In the end it worked out very well.  Hannah-Marie was driving by herself and it gave her company on the trip.  The girls ran into sleet in Indy and traffic on state road 37, but still made it safely in less than four hours.  Meg enjoyed talking to Hannah-Marie and was glad to be back in time to meet up with her friends and unpack all of her laundry.  She even set up her Christmas decorations tonight.

Brett checked in this afternoon.  He had worked from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today.  He called as soon as he left to let us know that he absolutely loved it.  He spent his time setting up meals for the men's soccer team as they played in the second round of the NCAA tournament.  Unfortunately, they lost, but Brett said that his first day went well anyway.  We were so glad to hear that it was a success.  He definitely felt as though he had made the correct decision in resigning his position at the Union and moving to IU Athletics.  It will cut into his time at Bell Trace, but they have been very flexible with him and he should be able to still work both jobs.

With all of his siblings out of the house, Cam invited Bailee over for the afternoon.  They enjoyed playing ping pong, Mario Kart and several other games.  Doug started on the leaves late this morning.  We had quite a few come down over the week.  I offered to help as his leg was still bothering him.  Before I could make it outside, Roger showed up with a leaf blower and the John Deere.  We were so incredibly thankful for his help as they were done within an hour.  There will still be some to do, but overall the majority of the yard was finished.  I did get out more of the Christmas decorations today and Doug put up the outside ones this afternoon.  We made a lot of progress, but there was still some left for tomorrow.

Friendsgiving

This morning Brett was up early and out the door by 8 a.m.   He was scheduled to work at the Union at 2 and wanted to be home in time to unpack and relax a little bit before he went in this afternoon.  Much to his delight when he arrived at the IMU they said that they were closing at 2 p.m and he could take the afternoon off.  They did debate about having him work at the gift shop, but in the end they did not need him and he had the rest of the day to himself.  Needless to say, Brett was extremely excited.  He had not been very interested in working today as the Union was usually dead on Saturday nights and the fact that it was still Thanksgiving break, meant that it would be an even slower evening than usual.  Instead, he went shopping, did some writing and played a few video games.  Since he had to start his new job at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning he was extremely thankful for the down time.

Meg made plans today to host a Friendsgiving for lunch.  Several of her friends did not come home for Thanksgiving break, so the group was smaller than usual.  She didn't mind as she enjoyed those that were able to attend - Nick, Rachel, Alex, Kevin and Evan were all in attendance, each bringing a dish to share.  Meg wanted to make chicken pot pie, but Doug talked her into "turkey" pot pie as we still had quite a bit left from Thursday's meal.  She said that it was delicious.  They visited, ate and caught up on the Freshmen year in college all afternoon.  We were glad that it worked out for them to meet.

Cal talked about going to the IU vs. Purdue game in West Lafayette. Doug and Cam had thought about attending it as well.  In the end both groups changed their minds due to the weather forecast - thirties and rain.  As they watched the game on television they were pleased with their decision as the weathermen were 100% correct.  The afternoon was spent watching the game in the warmth of our home instead.  IU jumped out to an early lead and it looked as if they were in command of the game until the fourth quarter when Purdue tied the game on a couple of botched IU runs.  It was an intense double overtime for all of us watching, but thankfully the Hoosiers held on and won their eighth game of the season making #9windiana a strong possibility.

Cal stayed until 7 p.m. leaving shortly after the LSU game.  He stopped at Purdue for the night.  Most of his friends were already there and he needed to pick up Jayce for their return trip to Bloomington tomorrow.  Jayce's car was totaled this fall and Cal didn't mind being his chauffeur.  It gave him a chance to hang out with everyone.

With Cal and Brett gone and Meg on a date with Nick, it was a quiet evening at home.  We brought all of the Christmas upstairs.  I worked on a little bit of it, but in the end we decided to play cards instead.  I was glad for that.  I love having the Christmas decorations up, but setting up in one day can be overwhelming.

Black Friday Changes

For the first time since I could remember we did not go shopping as a family on Thanksgiving night.  I did not miss the crowds or the drive to South Bend.  Cal and Meg kept me abreast of what they bought, however.  That way I felt like I was still a part of it, but without the hassle.  They were happy with their purchases and I was glad to hear that.

This morning Meg took Jackie to Glenbrook.  She wanted to find a dress for Bethany's semi-formal.  While they were gone, Cal, Brett, Cam and I watched all three Garfield holiday specials. We enjoyed each of them, although we disagreed on which one was the best.  As usual Doug declined our invite to join our watch party.  

Typically, we have spent the Friday after Thanksgiving getting out the Christmas tubs and setting up the tree.  We decided to wait this year as we had invited the Lamles over for lasagna tonight.  They had wanted to go to an Italian restaurant in Fort Wayne, but we knew that would be challenging for us to schedule this week.  We'll definitely try that with them another time.  Doug's meal was delicious and we all enjoyed the dirt pudding that Hannah-Marie made.  Right after dinner everyone headed straight to the pool table.  Mike and Cameron finished the night at 5-0.  They were proud of their record.  The rest of the night was spent playing Disney Scene It and Euchre where Meg finally dethroned Brett as the trivia champion and Cam and Mike continued their winning streak at cards.  All four Heinisch children told us tonight that they had a a lot of fun tonight.  I was happy to hear that as we did too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had decided earlier in the month to hold our Thanksgiving dinner during the late afternoon today. Brett wasn't sure of his schedule at work and both Nick and Hannah-Marie's families planned to eat at 1 p.m.  Therefore we chose 4 p.m. for our family feast and were extremely thankful that everyone could join us.  

In the end I actually preferred the late dinner.  It gave Doug plenty of time to prepare the meal and watch the Bears game.  We even got in a game of Catan before everyone arrived.  It was by far the most relaxing Thanksgiving afternoon that I could remember.  Last year Doug wanted to try lasagna for our main dish, but returned to turkey this year.  We all liked the lasagna, but thanks to Bell Trace Brett brought home a twenty-one pound bird for us to enjoy.  That along with mashed potatoes, noodles, green bean casserole, homemade bread, apple pie, and apple dumplings made for a wonderful meal.  I didn't even complain about the oyster dressing and was impressed that both Cal and HM tried Doug's favorite dish.  I in turn surprised everyone when I tried a piece of turkey.  I hadn't had the Thanksgiving staple in over twenty years.  It was definitely better than I remembered.

After dinner everyone except for Meg, Grandma and I played pool.  We used the time to clean the kitchen.  Cal and HM were the first ones to leave as they had plans to go "Black Friday" shopping with Robyn and Mike.  The rest of us then had time to play Disney Scene It before Meg and Nick headed to Glenbrook as well.  Oh Hell was next on the agenda and then a three way match of Ticket to Ride between Doug, Brett and I.  A fortunate block of the path from Portland to Seattle and we finally found a way to beat Doug.  It was a fun way to end a wonderful day!

A Day Off for All

Doug took today off joining the rest of us already on Thanksgiving break.  Cal and Brett started their day off with flu shots.  Both found it interesting that it took more time to fill out the paperwork than it did to get the shot.  They were home by lunch time and Doug fixed paninis for all that were interested.  Meg also got a flu shot today, but added in a visit to the doctor for her cold sores.  Either the stress of midterms or the weather at IU had aggravated them this fall and she's had more than normal.  The doctor was able to give her medication that should help.  Grandma and Grandpa went to lunch with her afterward.

Cal spent his afternoon working and hanging out with HM.  He had broken his phone last night, so that put a minor glitch in his day.  Thankfully, we still had Meg's old one and I was able to set it up for him by the time he left.  Brett, Cam, Doug and I played Catan this afternoon.  Meg spent her time after lunch at Nick's and the evening with Sara.  I had done some early Black Friday shopping this morning, so after our game we went to Target to pick up my deals.  We ate dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and then came home to play cards and set up our new purchases.  Cal was asleep on the couch, but was glad to hear that we now had a coffee maker in the Heinisch home.  We ended the evening with a game of Ticket to Ride.  Not sure why we keep playing as Doug has been routinely destroying us all.  Tonight was no different, but it was a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Grandma Jane

Tonight we were all home to celebrate Grandma Jane's birthday.  She had already gotten her main gift from Grandpa - a new sectional couch.  Cal tried it out for them last night and completely approved.  We ordered pizza for dinner and had cheesecake for dessert.  Each of the Heinisch children gave her a small token of their affection:  an  IU ornament from Brett, a weighted blanket from Cal, an IU scarf from Meg and a new bird feeder from Cam.  My Dad had also purchased a robotic vacuum for her as well.  Needless to say, Grandma Jane was extremely pleased with all of her gifts.  After dessert several games of pool were played as well as a round of Oh Hell.  It was a wonderful way to show our appreciation for all that my Mom does for our family and I was very happy that each of the Heinisch children were able to attend the celebration.

Three Heinisch Children Are Home

Cal arrived around 4:30 this afternoon for Thanksgiving break happy to be home.  He had to work at Miso today so he spent the night at his friend Evan's in Speedway yesterday.  That way he only had a short drive to Carmel this morning.  Jayce's car was totaled recently so he rode along with Cal and hung out at their friends until he was done working.  Cal had enough time to bring in a load of laundry and grab the buffalo chicken dip out of the fridge before heading to Hannah Marie's for the night.  He did make a point to stop by Grandma and Grandpa's this evening before returning home.  He absolutely loved their new couch thoroughly enjoying the cushioned ottoman.  Tonight he and Cam played pool and alternated between watching the Ravens game and IU basketball.  There was an ongoing argument about the $10 that Cal owed Cameron.  He promised to pay tomorrow, but we'll have to see which one gives in first.

Meg enjoyed her day at home.  She and Nick went to lunch at Maria's before he drove back to Purdue for a night time flight.  While he was gone Meg hung out with Jackie and Sarah.  They worked on essays and other homework at Starbucks before going to Culver's.  Meg ran into two of her former classmates - Jonah and Angel.  She really enjoyed catching up with them.  She dropped Jackie off at her house before coming back to Syracuse.  Nick stopped by late in the evening.  They hung out and watched movies in the pool table room for awhile.  We were all sound asleep when he arrived.  They have definitely adopted college hours which we have grown accustomed to over the years.

The Yard has Never Looked Better

Since we came home last night Doug had all day to rake leaves.  I know that it wasn't his favorite activity, but I appreciated it very much.  There weren't a lot of leaves, since our neighbors picked up a large batch of them in early November.  The ones we had, however, were spread throughout the yard and it was definitely a time consuming project.  When Doug and I left for dinner tonight he said that our yard had never looked better during this time of the year.  I couldn't have agreed more.

While Doug was busy with leaves, I unpacked everything from our trip to Bloomington.  We had a lot of wet items, but that didn't compare to how many I had left in Brett's Civic.  I got Meg's laundry done as well and still had time to meet her and Jackie at Bethany to watch Pride and Prejudice.  It was entertaining, just a little long.  The play cut out a lot of the plot, but kept the wordy dialogue.  I enjoyed that, but it was confusing to the girls, so I was glad that I was there to interrupt the speeches.

Cameron kept himself busy today with homework and watching football.  He was successful with both as he finished what he was working on and both the Bears and Patriots won.  We asked him if he wanted to go to dinner tonight, but he wanted to stay home.  He was ready for cards when we got back, so we called my parents up for a game of Oh Hell.  Cam absolutely destroyed us and my Dad took the Angry Bird back to his house.  It was a relaxing way to finish an exhausting day.

IU vs Michigan

Our day started off great.  Doug got up early and met Cal and his friends for breakfast club.  He had a lot of fun playing pool, introducing everyone to Guinness and drinking his early morning Bloody Mary.  Once he got back to the apartment we all sat down to a game of Ticket to Ride.  Doug was finally dethroned as champion and we decided over Thanksgiving Break that we might switch to Catan for family game night. 

We debated about going to tailgate as the rain started around 11 a.m.  Doug said that it was supposed to be light, so we decided to give it a try.  Unfortunately, for us the skies opened up as soon as we set up at the grass lots.  Thankfully, the tent held up and we could still enjoy spending time with Jackie, Meg, Brett and Cam.  We were extremely happy that Sharon, Jayce and Andy could join us as well.  Cal bailed on everyone as he said it was "too cold and wet."  He was correct, but that didn't mean that we let him off the hook.

About an hour before game time, we decided that it was probably best if I sat this game out.  Everything was soaked and one of us needed to transfer the wet items to Brett's car, clean up the dishes and dry out as much as possible if we were going to leave tonight.  The girls also talked about leaving at halftime due to the weather.  I told them that I would pick them up and take them back to the dorm.  Doug agreed that this was the best plan as well.  I had no problem getting out of the tailgate.  The crowd was definitely lighter than previous Saturdays.

The rain let up a little bit by the time the game started.  The first half was an awesome one for IU as they scored the first touchdown and led most of the way.  Even though the game was close the girls still decided to leave at the half.  They were soaked and wanted to shower before we left for home.  I used my time to put all of the wet items in Brett's Civic as well as several of Meg's possessions that she wouldn't need before Tuesday.  That would give us a lot more room in the Pilot on the way home.  I was also able to clean up from the tailgate as much as possible and be ready when Doug and Cam wanted to leave.

I was impressed that the guys stayed until the fourth quarter.  It was definitely the coldest and wettest game that they had been to this season.  The real disappointment, however, was not the weather, but the game itself.  Michigan gained momentum in the second half and took control.  IU never scored after the second quarter and lost 39-14.  Cam and Doug were pretty dejected by the time I picked them up. They rebounded well, however, and were glad for dry shoes and socks and a chance to change before we left for home.  The girls were ready when we arrived at Read.  We stopped to get breadsticks on the way out of town.  It was a fun ride home, complete with Disney songs, a lot of conversation and updates of the night games.  Thankfully, it was also a quick trip and we were all unpacked and relaxing in the Heinisch home well before midnight.