It was another cold day at the Heinisch Home. We woke up to -20 degree air temperature with close to -40 degree windchills. Thankfully, we never lost power and besides going a little stir crazy we weathered the Polar Vortex pretty well. Cal and Brett's windchill warning lifted this morning, so they were able to return to class. It was a cold walk, but Brett said that long underwear, two pairs of gloves and a scarf really helped. Cal was fortunate enough to catch the bus. Ours warning was still in effect until 2 p.m., but the weather never really got above zero degrees until late in the evening.
We did get out of the house a little bit today. I made it to Amanda's to get my hair trimmed. It was nice as always to visit with her and her clients. Doug ran to get a big pop this afternoon and afterward agreed that we could go to Sleepy Owl for dinner. He wasn't up for anyone traveling out of town, however, and did not let Meg go to practice. Since it was not an elearning day, Meg, Cam and I were able to catch up on some Wii Party playing time.
We went to dinner early. There weren't a lot of people out. By the time we got home we had heard that Bethany had called a two hour delay. The icy roads and predicted snow caused many schools to follow suit. No one here was disappointed with that news.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Never Left the House
In all of our years of living at our home this was the first day that Doug had ever spent the entirety of it inside. That was what he reported to me at ten o'clock tonight. He didn't even go out in the garage. I knew he was serious about bunkering down when he told me to buy a two liter of Diet Coke yesterday as he didn't plan on making any big pop runs until at least Thursday.
If there had to be a day to completely stay inside, this was it. The windchills fell to over -40 degrees below zero and the actual temperature hovered at -19 degrees. I don't remember a colder day since we moved to Syracuse over twenty years ago. We were fortunate as we had plenty of time to prepare for the frigid temperatures. We had plenty of food and I bought extra water just in case. We turned the fireplace on last night and kept it running so we would have a source of heat if we lost power. Thankfully, that never happened here.
Cam and Meg spent their morning and early afternoon working on their elearning assignments. Doug was able to dial into work and kept in contact with everyone that way. I finally had time to list all of the valuable Sports Illustrated magazines on Ebay. We were thrilled to find out by the end of the night that we already had bids or offers on five of them totaling $86. With a day at home we also had time to finish the Peter Pan puzzle, play Wii and watch IU lose to Rutgers. I do not love winter, but today worked out well. We spent quality time together and accomplished a lot as well.
If there had to be a day to completely stay inside, this was it. The windchills fell to over -40 degrees below zero and the actual temperature hovered at -19 degrees. I don't remember a colder day since we moved to Syracuse over twenty years ago. We were fortunate as we had plenty of time to prepare for the frigid temperatures. We had plenty of food and I bought extra water just in case. We turned the fireplace on last night and kept it running so we would have a source of heat if we lost power. Thankfully, that never happened here.
Cam and Meg spent their morning and early afternoon working on their elearning assignments. Doug was able to dial into work and kept in contact with everyone that way. I finally had time to list all of the valuable Sports Illustrated magazines on Ebay. We were thrilled to find out by the end of the night that we already had bids or offers on five of them totaling $86. With a day at home we also had time to finish the Peter Pan puzzle, play Wii and watch IU lose to Rutgers. I do not love winter, but today worked out well. We spent quality time together and accomplished a lot as well.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Old Man Winter Hits Hard
The predicted record low temperatures rolled in earlier than expected today. I was thankful that I got up early and made it to the grocery store and library before it became unbearable. I was even able to get the end of the drive shoveled out from the massive mound that the snowplow left us while I was out. Cam and Meg had an elearning day and spent the morning working on homework. I had let them chose a place for me to pick up lunch as I knew that we wouldn't be going anywhere tomorrow. They decided on Penguin Point and by noon I was prepared for a quiet day at home.
The rest of the day was spent working on the Sports Illustrated magazines, playing Balance Boat with Cameron and catching up on Gotham. Doug left work at 5 tonight. Champion opted to close tomorrow and Thursday due to the cold. They were one of many companies that made that choice. He said that the roads had started to drift and the last half of the trip was a tough one. Thankfully, he made it home without incident. After he exercised and made dinner, we worked on the Peter Pan puzzle and watched Silver Linings. Although it was about mental illness in a dysfunctional family, we both really enjoyed it.
We talked to Cal and Brett this evening. There had been a big debate on Twitter all day about the Bloomington campus closing tomorrow. IU finally followed the rest of the state and cancelled classes for Wednesday. I was glad to read that. Cal planned to spend the day off studying and reading Game of Thrones. Brett was thankful to be able to work in his pajamas. He was still able to usher for Rent tonight. He wasn't a fan of the show, but was happy for the opportunity. He said that it was a cold walk home and was glad that the SRC was open so he could warm up half way there.
The rest of the day was spent working on the Sports Illustrated magazines, playing Balance Boat with Cameron and catching up on Gotham. Doug left work at 5 tonight. Champion opted to close tomorrow and Thursday due to the cold. They were one of many companies that made that choice. He said that the roads had started to drift and the last half of the trip was a tough one. Thankfully, he made it home without incident. After he exercised and made dinner, we worked on the Peter Pan puzzle and watched Silver Linings. Although it was about mental illness in a dysfunctional family, we both really enjoyed it.
We talked to Cal and Brett this evening. There had been a big debate on Twitter all day about the Bloomington campus closing tomorrow. IU finally followed the rest of the state and cancelled classes for Wednesday. I was glad to read that. Cal planned to spend the day off studying and reading Game of Thrones. Brett was thankful to be able to work in his pajamas. He was still able to usher for Rent tonight. He wasn't a fan of the show, but was happy for the opportunity. He said that it was a cold walk home and was glad that the SRC was open so he could warm up half way there.
Monday, January 28, 2019
An Awful Day All Around
This morning we woke up to the snow that was forecasted all week. I was surprised that when I saw that Bethany didn't have a delay. I then noticed that no one in Elkhart County did, which seemed odd since everyone south of US 6 had delayed or cancelled. I called Doug to see what he thought of the roads. He said that they weren't too bad when he left for work at 6 a.m., especially the trip to Bethany.
Thus, we decided that I would take Cam and Meg. At first it didn't seem too bad, but as we got within three miles of Bethany the roads became almost impassable. It took us almost fifteen minutes to make the trip from CR 29 to Bethany on State Road 15. Normally, we would make that in two minutes. Not only were the roads horrible, but Meg was really mad about having to go. As Wawasee cancelled, Cam and Meg technically did not have to go to school today. They were late, but we made it safely. I thought the day would get better after that, but it didn't.
The trip home was worse as the snow began to drift. I was relieved to pull in the garage. I did have to go back out for physical therapy. There was an accident in the middle of town, but at least their roads had been plowed. The county hadn't touched ours. Once I got back I decided that I had better start shoveling the driveway. The snow was wet and once I finished a few rows, I realized that it was going to take a lot longer than I originally thought.
The rest of the day was a tough one. I spent over three hours in total today on our driveway. While I was out there, Doug called to let me know that Bethany was releasing early. I was surprised as it was actually better than when they went in to school. I left to pick up Cam. The roads were still awful, but we made it without incident. I was glad that Cam was home to help me finish the heavy parts of the shoveling.
Doug picked Meg up at 4 from practice. Her day had gone from bad to worse. I was sad to hear that. I wished that I could have started the day over and let her stay home, but since we couldn't do that we did our best to made the most of the evening. By 9 p.m. she felt a lot better. I think it helped to learn that Bethany had cancelled school for the next two days due to snow and cold temperatures. Nothing wipes away the blues better than a snow day!
Thus, we decided that I would take Cam and Meg. At first it didn't seem too bad, but as we got within three miles of Bethany the roads became almost impassable. It took us almost fifteen minutes to make the trip from CR 29 to Bethany on State Road 15. Normally, we would make that in two minutes. Not only were the roads horrible, but Meg was really mad about having to go. As Wawasee cancelled, Cam and Meg technically did not have to go to school today. They were late, but we made it safely. I thought the day would get better after that, but it didn't.
The trip home was worse as the snow began to drift. I was relieved to pull in the garage. I did have to go back out for physical therapy. There was an accident in the middle of town, but at least their roads had been plowed. The county hadn't touched ours. Once I got back I decided that I had better start shoveling the driveway. The snow was wet and once I finished a few rows, I realized that it was going to take a lot longer than I originally thought.
The rest of the day was a tough one. I spent over three hours in total today on our driveway. While I was out there, Doug called to let me know that Bethany was releasing early. I was surprised as it was actually better than when they went in to school. I left to pick up Cam. The roads were still awful, but we made it without incident. I was glad that Cam was home to help me finish the heavy parts of the shoveling.
Doug picked Meg up at 4 from practice. Her day had gone from bad to worse. I was sad to hear that. I wished that I could have started the day over and let her stay home, but since we couldn't do that we did our best to made the most of the evening. By 9 p.m. she felt a lot better. I think it helped to learn that Bethany had cancelled school for the next two days due to snow and cold temperatures. Nothing wipes away the blues better than a snow day!
Sunday, January 27, 2019
One Tough Week of Winter
The reality of the upcoming week started to sink in this afternoon. The four inches of snow that we received last night was just the tip of the iceberg. Tomorrow we are forecasted to have four to six more inches followed by bitterly cold temperatures the rest of the week. In fact the current prediction stated that our temperatures would drop to the coldest ever recorded.
Because of the impending doom, today felt like the calm before the storm. The roads were clear enough for us to go to mass and buy groceries. The rest of the afternoon was a relaxing one for all. Nick was over to visit Meg, and Cam spent his time watching basketball and playing Madden. Doug and I finished another movie that I had rented from the library and worked on the Peter Pan puzzle. It's been tough spending so much time indoors already this January. I am hopeful that this will come to an end soon.
Because of the impending doom, today felt like the calm before the storm. The roads were clear enough for us to go to mass and buy groceries. The rest of the afternoon was a relaxing one for all. Nick was over to visit Meg, and Cam spent his time watching basketball and playing Madden. Doug and I finished another movie that I had rented from the library and worked on the Peter Pan puzzle. It's been tough spending so much time indoors already this January. I am hopeful that this will come to an end soon.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
State Chess Tournament
Today was Cameron's individual state chess tournament. We were happy that they had chosen Elkhart Central to host the event this year. For the past few years, the tournament has been in Indianapolis. It made for a nice weekend in Bloomington for Meg and I, but a long Saturday for Doug and Cam.
Cameron started the morning with his most difficult match of the day. It was a two hour round in which the clocks were brought out. It was extremely close, but one that Cam came out on the losing side. He wasn't disappointed in the loss, but the round seemed to mentally drain him. It took him awhile to recover and cost him a loss in the second game of the day. In the end Cameron finished ninth overall. We were extremely proud of his effort.
Doug spent the day in Elkhart as well, checking in on Cam after each match. His office was only two minutes away and he was able to work while Cam was playing. He also finished Meg's FAFSA and ran to the grocery store as well. When Cam started his fourth round he came back to Syracuse to get Meg and I. We had made plans to take Cam to Antonio's after his tournament ended. The snow picked up on our way there and we missed the trophy presentation. Cam didn't mind. He was glad to have finished his ten hour day of chess and ready for pasta. Dinner was delicious and we enjoyed Meg and Cam's conversation. Cal and Brett were at Mother Bear's with the Lamle's tonight and texted while we were eating. It almost felt like we were all together.
The drive home was the only stressful part of the day. The snow continued to fall while we were eating and the roads were covered. Thankfully, traffic was light and Doug drove slowly. I heard him exhale when we reached Syracuse. He said that it was definitely the most treacherous drive of the season.
Cameron started the morning with his most difficult match of the day. It was a two hour round in which the clocks were brought out. It was extremely close, but one that Cam came out on the losing side. He wasn't disappointed in the loss, but the round seemed to mentally drain him. It took him awhile to recover and cost him a loss in the second game of the day. In the end Cameron finished ninth overall. We were extremely proud of his effort.
Doug spent the day in Elkhart as well, checking in on Cam after each match. His office was only two minutes away and he was able to work while Cam was playing. He also finished Meg's FAFSA and ran to the grocery store as well. When Cam started his fourth round he came back to Syracuse to get Meg and I. We had made plans to take Cam to Antonio's after his tournament ended. The snow picked up on our way there and we missed the trophy presentation. Cam didn't mind. He was glad to have finished his ten hour day of chess and ready for pasta. Dinner was delicious and we enjoyed Meg and Cam's conversation. Cal and Brett were at Mother Bear's with the Lamle's tonight and texted while we were eating. It almost felt like we were all together.
The drive home was the only stressful part of the day. The snow continued to fall while we were eating and the roads were covered. Thankfully, traffic was light and Doug drove slowly. I heard him exhale when we reached Syracuse. He said that it was definitely the most treacherous drive of the season.
Friday, January 25, 2019
A Quiet Start to the Weekend
It was a cold day today, but the weather didn't change any of our plans. Several of the schools in our area had delays due to low windchills, but none in Elkhart County were on the list. Thus, Meg and Cam were out the door early as usual. I spent the day cleaning and finished just as Meg and Cam pulled in from school.
Meg was glad for a night off from practice. She and Nick made plans to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to start the weekend. Cam spent his time preparing for the IU vs. Michigan game. Doug was home early as well, so he and I had time to go dinner before the game started. Huntington Street was filled with a loud crowd this evening as others must have decided to get an even earlier start on their Friday night activities. Service was fast, however, and we were able to make it back before tip-off. The first half was horribly boring as IU played awful. They didn't even score for the first ten minutes. It did get better, but IU still lost by more than twenty points.
Once the game ended we broke out the "Oh Hell" game. I finally redeemed myself from the horrible hands of Euchre I had played all week. We talked about playing Pass the Pigs afterward, but Cam and Meg challenged each other to a round of Wii Party. It was a great night for all.
Meg was glad for a night off from practice. She and Nick made plans to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to start the weekend. Cam spent his time preparing for the IU vs. Michigan game. Doug was home early as well, so he and I had time to go dinner before the game started. Huntington Street was filled with a loud crowd this evening as others must have decided to get an even earlier start on their Friday night activities. Service was fast, however, and we were able to make it back before tip-off. The first half was horribly boring as IU played awful. They didn't even score for the first ten minutes. It did get better, but IU still lost by more than twenty points.
Once the game ended we broke out the "Oh Hell" game. I finally redeemed myself from the horrible hands of Euchre I had played all week. We talked about playing Pass the Pigs afterward, but Cam and Meg challenged each other to a round of Wii Party. It was a great night for all.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Last Game
Tonight was Meg's last game as a JV player. This year she didn't play in every one of their games, but when they needed a Varsity player to fill in due to injury or illness, Meg was the first one asked. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about being a senior and playing JV, but in the end she was glad to have helped out her team. Before the game started her coach told everyone that this would be the last time that they would play together as a team. When the girls realized he was talking about Meg, they all hugged her and told her how much they would miss her. What a nice way to end to her playing time with Brent. She has enjoyed getting to know him as a coach and teacher and will miss him next year.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
An Ice Day
We woke up to a two hour delay this morning for ice. None of us were surprised after the weather issues of yesterday. Within a half hour of finding out about the delay we received a text letting us know that it was changed to an elearning day. We were one of many schools that made that decision and both Cam and Meg were happy with it. They spent a good portion of the morning and part of the afternoon working on their assignments. I ran to the library to pick up a movie for Cam and I. Penguin Point was their lunch choice, so I stopped by there next.
Meg had practice at 3, so she asked if she could go to Nick's beforehand. As the rain had stopped and the temperature had increased, I had no problem with it. While she was gone, Cam and I watched "The House with a Clock in its Walls." It was a little strange, but worth watching on a free afternoon. Afterward we went to Mom and Dad's to play Euchre. I was the big loser on the day.
Cam stayed at my parents while Doug and I went uptown for dinner. It looked as though we were going to have another evening of freezing rain, but the precipitation stopped by early evening. I was glad as Meg got home without having to fight icy roads. Once we got back Doug and I watched a horrible movie, "Black Swan." It had been highly rated, but we thought it was terrible. Cam kept us updated on the Big Ten scores throughout the night which we appreciated. He was still hopeful of IU's chances of doing well in the conference. The rest of us weren't quite so sure.
Meg had practice at 3, so she asked if she could go to Nick's beforehand. As the rain had stopped and the temperature had increased, I had no problem with it. While she was gone, Cam and I watched "The House with a Clock in its Walls." It was a little strange, but worth watching on a free afternoon. Afterward we went to Mom and Dad's to play Euchre. I was the big loser on the day.
Cam stayed at my parents while Doug and I went uptown for dinner. It looked as though we were going to have another evening of freezing rain, but the precipitation stopped by early evening. I was glad as Meg got home without having to fight icy roads. Once we got back Doug and I watched a horrible movie, "Black Swan." It had been highly rated, but we thought it was terrible. Cam kept us updated on the Big Ten scores throughout the night which we appreciated. He was still hopeful of IU's chances of doing well in the conference. The rest of us weren't quite so sure.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Winter Weather
All day long they had called for freezing rain to hit this afternoon. I made sure to run errands after physical therapy, so I didn't have to go out later. We got a text around 2:45 letting us now that all after school activities for Bethany were cancelled. Meg was thankful for a night off from practice so she could work on some items at home. Cam was disappointed, however, to miss an afternoon of chess. They made it home safely by 4:15 p.m.
Doug left work at 5:15. He said that the parking lot was a sheet of ice, but the roads weren't terrible. He just drove slower than normal. His meeting at the church was postponed to next week and for the first time ever tennis was cancelled. My Mom called before Doug got here to let us know that Dad had fell walking out to get the paper. He cut his head and already had a goose egg started. Doug offered to take him to urgent care, but they wanted to wait and give it some time.
We ended the quiet evening at home by watching IU vs Northwestern. It was an ugly game and one that left all of us disappointed once again. Cal texted to let us know that he was converting to a Rutgers fan. I think after tonight we may all join Cam in supporting the Scarlet Nights.
Doug left work at 5:15. He said that the parking lot was a sheet of ice, but the roads weren't terrible. He just drove slower than normal. His meeting at the church was postponed to next week and for the first time ever tennis was cancelled. My Mom called before Doug got here to let us know that Dad had fell walking out to get the paper. He cut his head and already had a goose egg started. Doug offered to take him to urgent care, but they wanted to wait and give it some time.
We ended the quiet evening at home by watching IU vs Northwestern. It was an ugly game and one that left all of us disappointed once again. Cal texted to let us know that he was converting to a Rutgers fan. I think after tonight we may all join Cam in supporting the Scarlet Nights.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Birthday, Braces & Senior Night
Today was a busy one for all of us. Thankfully, Cam and Meg had the day off of school for Martin Luther King day, so we could handle all on our agenda. First, Meg and I went to the orthodontist in Warsaw so that she get her braces. It took awhile, but they looked good in the end. She was happy to get the process started and it didn't hurt as much as she thought it would.
When we got back Cam and I went to Peterson's to celebrate his actual fourteenth birthday. It was fun spending time with him and catching up on Big Ten basketball. He remained optimistic that IU would finish the season strong. Cam opted for the all you can eat fish which he made the most of ordering an additional helping. I stuck with the one trip to the salad bar. We both enjoyed it and made it back before Meg and Nick returned from Maria's.
The fun continued once we got home with a few games of Wii. Cam and I mastered Balance Boat while Meg won on Wii Party. My parents came up to play cards. We started with partner Euchre which ended with a three way tie between my Mom, Cam and I. My Dad was the big winner in Buck Euchre, so we decided to call it an all around tie on the day.
Tonight was Meg's senior night at basketball. She left at 3:30 for their team meal. Doug was there to help serve, which I appreciated. My parents and I arrived at the end of the JV game. It was crowded for a girls game and it was fun watching the boys cheer complete with "SENIOR" written on their chests. We were all happy to see Meg start. She played well against a tough Fairfield team. At the end of the game the juniors all talked about the seniors individually. They then gave them each a scrapbook of team memories and a rose. The seniors took turns thanking the coaches, parents, fans and practice partners. It was a nice ceremony. I personally appreciated hearing all of the wonderful words shared about Meg. She came late to the program and it was nice to know that she had made some awesome connections.
When we got back Cam and I went to Peterson's to celebrate his actual fourteenth birthday. It was fun spending time with him and catching up on Big Ten basketball. He remained optimistic that IU would finish the season strong. Cam opted for the all you can eat fish which he made the most of ordering an additional helping. I stuck with the one trip to the salad bar. We both enjoyed it and made it back before Meg and Nick returned from Maria's.
The fun continued once we got home with a few games of Wii. Cam and I mastered Balance Boat while Meg won on Wii Party. My parents came up to play cards. We started with partner Euchre which ended with a three way tie between my Mom, Cam and I. My Dad was the big winner in Buck Euchre, so we decided to call it an all around tie on the day.
Tonight was Meg's senior night at basketball. She left at 3:30 for their team meal. Doug was there to help serve, which I appreciated. My parents and I arrived at the end of the JV game. It was crowded for a girls game and it was fun watching the boys cheer complete with "SENIOR" written on their chests. We were all happy to see Meg start. She played well against a tough Fairfield team. At the end of the game the juniors all talked about the seniors individually. They then gave them each a scrapbook of team memories and a rose. The seniors took turns thanking the coaches, parents, fans and practice partners. It was a nice ceremony. I personally appreciated hearing all of the wonderful words shared about Meg. She came late to the program and it was nice to know that she had made some awesome connections.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Birthday Celebration Part 2
Although tomorrow will be Cameron's official fourteenth birthday, we decided to celebrate it today. Meg has senior night for basketball then and we knew it would be challenging to do both. Cameron debated all week about where he wanted to go for his birthday dinner - Biaggi's or Mad Anthony's. In the end the weather made the decision for him. With the wind chill advisory set to start in the afternoon and the cold temperatures this morning, Doug thought it was best that we stay close to home. He also made the decision to switch from a dinner to a birthday. Thus, at one today we headed to Warsaw to start our celebration of Cameron.
Lunch was a lot of fun and we enjoyed the food. Cameron ended up with a chicken flatbread, but had a hard time choosing his meal. There were just too many items on the menu that he liked. He was pleased with it and the Scooby snacks as appetizer. Meg switched from a plain hamburger to meatballs which she also enjoyed.
Once we got home Doug, Cam and I played a couple of rounds of pool. Doug showed no mercy, even though it was a day for Cam, and beat us in two out of three games. We talked Meg into a game of Mario Kart before Nick arrived. I finished in twelfth as always, but had fun just the same. My parents arrived in time to watch the end of the Saints and Rams game. Everyone was disappointed that a blown call ended New Orleans' season early. Afterward Cam opened his gifts. He was thrilled with his new Northwestern shirt, IU shorts, and IU Lego. The most interesting gifts of the evening were a bucket of coleslaw from my parents and The Donner Dinner Party game from Brett. Since we had cake on Friday, tonight we sang to Cameron around a big cookie. The rest of the evening was spent playing Euchre and watching an intense Patriots/Chiefs game. It was a good night for both as Tom Brady once again led his team to victory and Cam won at cards. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Another Saturday, Another Snow Day
The snow that they had predicted all week finally arrived today. Thankfully, it was pretty light in the morning, so Doug was able to take all of the boys home without too much difficulty. Cam said that he had had a great time last night. The only down part was having Joey leave early due to illness. Overall, it was an easy party for us to manage. I had the basement picked up and back to normal by the time he and Doug returned from Goshen.
The snow increased in intensity after lunch and the winds became stronger. Thus, the rest of the day was spent at home except for when Doug and Cam went to my parents to shovel their drive. Meg had been working on a project and I was thankful for a free afternoon to help her. We were able to watch Dumplin' while we were working on it as well. We had wanted to do so since Christmas, but hadn't been able to find time. It was just as good as Meg said it was.
Doug and Meg made dinner tonight. Doug's choice was minestrone soup and Meg picked macaroni and cheese, one of her favorite recipes from Mrs. Fick's class. After dinner Meg decided to watch more Netflix. Breece invited Cam to play in a PS4 Rocket League tournament. Doug and I used the quiet evening to work on my Peter Pan puzzle and watch the final movie that we rented from the library, Sully. At the end of the evening I realized that I had watched six movies since last weekend's snowstorm. All were interesting in their own right, but I think that The Hangover was probably my favorite. I would have never guessed that, but with the comedy and Bradley Cooper starring in it, I really did enjoy watching it.
The snow increased in intensity after lunch and the winds became stronger. Thus, the rest of the day was spent at home except for when Doug and Cam went to my parents to shovel their drive. Meg had been working on a project and I was thankful for a free afternoon to help her. We were able to watch Dumplin' while we were working on it as well. We had wanted to do so since Christmas, but hadn't been able to find time. It was just as good as Meg said it was.
Doug and Meg made dinner tonight. Doug's choice was minestrone soup and Meg picked macaroni and cheese, one of her favorite recipes from Mrs. Fick's class. After dinner Meg decided to watch more Netflix. Breece invited Cam to play in a PS4 Rocket League tournament. Doug and I used the quiet evening to work on my Peter Pan puzzle and watch the final movie that we rented from the library, Sully. At the end of the evening I realized that I had watched six movies since last weekend's snowstorm. All were interesting in their own right, but I think that The Hangover was probably my favorite. I would have never guessed that, but with the comedy and Bradley Cooper starring in it, I really did enjoy watching it.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Birthday Party #1
Tonight was Cameron's 14th birthday party. He had planned it for weeks, and for awhile we thought that it would have to be postponed because of the impending snowstorm. Doug and I talked at lunch, however, and decided that we go through with the party and buy extra food in case we had to keep them all longer than planned. The thought of that reminded me of the weekend that Cal's friends from the high school basketball team woke up from a night at our house to nine inches of snow. They spent thirty-six hours together, buried Alex's car in the snow and made some of them favorite high school memories.
Doug met the boys at Bethany at 5:45 tonight. They had stayed for the middle school girls game. Mom and I had decorated the house, so it was ready when they got home. Once they arrived the Play Station, pool table and basketball hoop became a focal point of activity. I ordered pizza for them from Meg's game. When I got home I was happy to hear a lot of screaming, yelling and laughing coming from the basement. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Cameron and Avery as his 14th birthday was actually today. The boys enjoyed cake and ice cream and then headed outside a several games of Ghost in the Graveyard. I thought it was cold, but Cam and Breece said that they didn't notice because of all of the fun they were having.
Meg and Nick were here for a little while after her game. She was happy with her playing time and proud of her five points. It was a lot of fun watching her have success. Their game was cancelled already for tomorrow, because of the storm brewing. That will give her time to work on a couple of projects. I should have time to help her, so it should go a lot quicker.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Another Day Indoors
After walking outside almost everyday since June, I have had to get my steps indoors this week. I appreciate having a big basement as I can still get my 10,000 daily steps doing laps around the rooms, but I have to say that it just hasn't been as much fun. I have thought about going to the community center in North Webster for something different, but I haven't as I would still be indoors. I was probably the only one excited that it snowed today, because at least I was able to get outside to shovel. I not only got some fresh air, but was able to add 2,000 steps to my daily total. This weekend the snow won't even help get me outside as we have extreme windchills coming in behind the predicted storm. Thus, I will just have to get used to being inside for the next couple of weeks or so. Thankfully, December's weather was mild. That helped break up the long season and delay the winter blues.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Typical Wednesday Schedule
Today was a typical Wednesday in the Heinisch home. Cam and Meg had hoped for a delay, but only schools south of theirs received one. I spent my day at home working on Sports Illustrated magazines, walking and doing laundry. I was happy to receive an offer on one that we posted on Ebay. My goal when we started was earning a $100 on them. I'm interested to see if that happens.
I heard from both Brett and Cal this afternoon. Brett had not received any updates from his job interview last week in Shelbyville, but was happy to report that the mayor's office of New York had emailed wanting to interview him next week for a policy position. That was impressive. He will know more next Wednesday. Cal has decided to drop the 3/2 master's program and instead earn his four year degree in accounting, finance and analytics. It will change his career path, but still make him highly employable in the business world. He has to meet with his counselor tomorrow and verify the changes. Both Doug and I supported that decision.
Tonight Cam and Meg had piano which they both enjoyed. Afterward Meg went to Nick's for dinner. Her mouth was still hurting so she was happy to see that macaroni and cheese was on the menu. Nick found out yesterday that he was accepted into the flight program at Purdue. That was impressive as they only accept seventy students. Needless to say he was very happy.
Cam spent the rest of his evening watching Big Ten basketball. Doug and I went to dinner in town. We made it back before the end of the Penn State game. Cam kept us updated throughout the night. I had picked out several movies from the library, and Doug decided on The Post for this evening. It was interesting and not as anti-Nixon as I would have thought. I was glad that we finally were able to see it as it had been on our watchlist for quite some time.
I heard from both Brett and Cal this afternoon. Brett had not received any updates from his job interview last week in Shelbyville, but was happy to report that the mayor's office of New York had emailed wanting to interview him next week for a policy position. That was impressive. He will know more next Wednesday. Cal has decided to drop the 3/2 master's program and instead earn his four year degree in accounting, finance and analytics. It will change his career path, but still make him highly employable in the business world. He has to meet with his counselor tomorrow and verify the changes. Both Doug and I supported that decision.
Tonight Cam and Meg had piano which they both enjoyed. Afterward Meg went to Nick's for dinner. Her mouth was still hurting so she was happy to see that macaroni and cheese was on the menu. Nick found out yesterday that he was accepted into the flight program at Purdue. That was impressive as they only accept seventy students. Needless to say he was very happy.
Cam spent the rest of his evening watching Big Ten basketball. Doug and I went to dinner in town. We made it back before the end of the Penn State game. Cam kept us updated throughout the night. I had picked out several movies from the library, and Doug decided on The Post for this evening. It was interesting and not as anti-Nixon as I would have thought. I was glad that we finally were able to see it as it had been on our watchlist for quite some time.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
A Quiet Day
It was a quiet day here in the Heinisch home. Cam and Meg had school and Doug was busy at work. I went to physical therapy first thing this morning and then spent the rest of the daylight hours working on Sports Illustrated magazines and walking in the basement. My arm did feel better and I was able to sort through a decade of magazines and to walk 8000 steps before I had to pick up Cam from chess club.
Tonight was busier for all. Doug went to Meg's game at Concord high school. It was a tough one for the girls with the ending score being a twenty-seven point difference resulting in Bethany's loss. Meg said that it was intense one for Bethany. She was happy with her playing time, however, and even more excited to report that she was not hurt during the game. Her team has been plagued with late season injuries and she has wanted to avoid one.
While they were at the game, I took Cam to tennis. He was glad to be back on the court. I ran to Walmart while he was playing, but made it back in time to watch the end of his session. I was impressed with how well he hit his backhand. He had switched to a heavier racket which made his shot even harder. He told Doug he was rusty last week, but it sure didn't look like it tonight. Tennis season has always been my favorite. I can't wait for it to start for both Meg and Cam.
Tonight was busier for all. Doug went to Meg's game at Concord high school. It was a tough one for the girls with the ending score being a twenty-seven point difference resulting in Bethany's loss. Meg said that it was intense one for Bethany. She was happy with her playing time, however, and even more excited to report that she was not hurt during the game. Her team has been plagued with late season injuries and she has wanted to avoid one.
While they were at the game, I took Cam to tennis. He was glad to be back on the court. I ran to Walmart while he was playing, but made it back in time to watch the end of his session. I was impressed with how well he hit his backhand. He had switched to a heavier racket which made his shot even harder. He told Doug he was rusty last week, but it sure didn't look like it tonight. Tennis season has always been my favorite. I can't wait for it to start for both Meg and Cam.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sports Illustrated Collection
Over Christmas break Doug pulled his Sports Illustrated collection out from under the basement stairs. There were well over a dozen boxes and forty years worth of memories stored there. It took him several weeks to organize them all, but he finally finished on Sunday.
Today I started my work on them. I decided to check each one on Ebay. If it was worth the time and effort to list it, I would set it aside to do that. If it wasn't then it would be boxed up for the garage sale. As I began I became overwhelmed at first, but in the end I felt good about my progress on the first day. I don't have a lot on my agenda until Friday. Thus, I am hoping to put a good dent in the project this week.
Today I started my work on them. I decided to check each one on Ebay. If it was worth the time and effort to list it, I would set it aside to do that. If it wasn't then it would be boxed up for the garage sale. As I began I became overwhelmed at first, but in the end I felt good about my progress on the first day. I don't have a lot on my agenda until Friday. Thus, I am hoping to put a good dent in the project this week.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Notre Dame Girls' Game
Today Doug, Cam, Meg and I went to the Notre Dame girls basketball game against Wake Forest. The Knights had offered members tickets and we were appreciative of the chance to see the #1 women's team in the nation play. From the start the Irish controlled the game and for awhile Cam thought that we might be witnessing a shutout. Wake Forest did score, eventually, but overall it wasn't very competitive. We didn't mind as we enjoyed the experience. Meg even ran into a few of her Bethany classmates. They were there for a birthday celebration.
After the game Meg and I dropped Cam and Doug off at Buffalo Wild Wings. They wanted to catch the end of the Patriots game. She and I took the opportunity to do some window shopping at the UP mall. When we returned to pick them up, Doug was happy to report that Tom Brady had won. Our next stop was Papa Vino's. Doug chose an Italian pizza for dinner and the rest of us tried a pasta dish. All were excellent and we enjoyed our day out after the snowstorm yesterday.
After the game Meg and I dropped Cam and Doug off at Buffalo Wild Wings. They wanted to catch the end of the Patriots game. She and I took the opportunity to do some window shopping at the UP mall. When we returned to pick them up, Doug was happy to report that Tom Brady had won. Our next stop was Papa Vino's. Doug chose an Italian pizza for dinner and the rest of us tried a pasta dish. All were excellent and we enjoyed our day out after the snowstorm yesterday.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Snowed In
All week the weather forecasters predicted snow. Since it wasn't coming from the lake it was easier for them to track and at 11 a.m. just as promised the snow began to fall. I was glad that I walked early as it did not stop snowing until close to midnight. Thankfully, it did not effect Cam's chess tournament. Doug was able to get him to Goshen and back without incident. Cam was happy to report that he finished 1 and 1 on the day which put him in a tie for first. With the tiebreakers calculated, he not only qualified for the state tournament in two weeks, but also finished in first place at Regionals. We were impressed.
Since the snow was pretty heavy by late afternoon, Doug told Meg that he would take her to Bethany for tonight's game. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Meg got a text letting her know that the game was cancelled. With that information we decided to just enjoy a quiet night at home. Doug made chicken curry for Meg and minestrone for the rest of us. We played several rounds of Mario Kart, watched Big Ten basketball and the NFL playoffs, finished La La Land and started my Peter Pan puzzle. It had been quite some time since the four of us hung out together on a Saturday night and we all enjoyed it very much.
Since the snow was pretty heavy by late afternoon, Doug told Meg that he would take her to Bethany for tonight's game. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Meg got a text letting her know that the game was cancelled. With that information we decided to just enjoy a quiet night at home. Doug made chicken curry for Meg and minestrone for the rest of us. We played several rounds of Mario Kart, watched Big Ten basketball and the NFL playoffs, finished La La Land and started my Peter Pan puzzle. It had been quite some time since the four of us hung out together on a Saturday night and we all enjoyed it very much.
Friday, January 11, 2019
End of the First Week Back
The first week back to school for everyone went by quickly. Meg realized that her last semester in high school would be relatively easy compared to the previous seven. She not only has two study halls, but also will be an office assistant during the morning. She does have AP Government, AP English and Spanish III that will keep her challenged, but overall it shouldn't be too bad. Cam adjusted to not having basketball practice pretty well. He was happy to add art to his schedule and has adjusted to a new English teacher (his fourth in two years) as well.
Cal and Brett both had good first weeks at IU. Cal's was pretty quiet overall. Brett learned about his CAPS project at the Bustard Chumley which he was excited about. The best part of the week for him, however, was a job interview as a Deputy Director for the town of Shelbyville. He felt it went well and was optimistic about it afterward. It would be a great first position and in the perfect location for him. He will have to wait until next week to find out if he was selected to move on in the application process.
I finished cleaning the house this afternoon. It felt great to be done. With everyone home for the holidays it took a little longer than normal. Doug had a successful week at work. He had been given a raise in appreciation of all of his hard work. That was nice to hear as 2018 had been an expensive year for the Heinisch family with Bethany and IU's tuitions and several other expenses that had arisen unexpectedly. Tonight we enjoyed a dinner out at Kelley Jae's. We hadn't been there in quite some time and had a wonderful time.
Cal and Brett both had good first weeks at IU. Cal's was pretty quiet overall. Brett learned about his CAPS project at the Bustard Chumley which he was excited about. The best part of the week for him, however, was a job interview as a Deputy Director for the town of Shelbyville. He felt it went well and was optimistic about it afterward. It would be a great first position and in the perfect location for him. He will have to wait until next week to find out if he was selected to move on in the application process.
I finished cleaning the house this afternoon. It felt great to be done. With everyone home for the holidays it took a little longer than normal. Doug had a successful week at work. He had been given a raise in appreciation of all of his hard work. That was nice to hear as 2018 had been an expensive year for the Heinisch family with Bethany and IU's tuitions and several other expenses that had arisen unexpectedly. Tonight we enjoyed a dinner out at Kelley Jae's. We hadn't been there in quite some time and had a wonderful time.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Physical Therapy
In December I started physical therapy for my back. I had been having pain in between my shoulder blades that I couldn't get rid of on my own. It was also difficult to sleep, so I knew I needed to do something. I realized last week that the treatment that they had been doing on my back and the exercises I had done at home had finely relieved the pain. Except for sitting in the bleachers, I hadn't noticed any type of back pain lately and that included my time shoveling the driveway yesterday.
What hadn't changed over the past month was the pain in my elbow. The doctor was able to tell me that the nerve was trapped, but wasn't sure where without extensive testing. He suggested therapy first to see if it would help. Since it hadn't helped so far, the physical therapist knew that it couldn't be trapped in my spine or shoulder. Thus, she started treating just the elbow this week and I have finally noticed a difference. It hurt while they were working on it, but was worth it to have some relief later.
I got to test out my elbow and back tonight at Meg's game and they did pretty well. I was glad that I was able to sit through it as Meg played almost half of the game. It was fun to see her have success and to enjoy it. The girls beat Blackhawk Christian fairly easily which should bode well for sectionals.
What hadn't changed over the past month was the pain in my elbow. The doctor was able to tell me that the nerve was trapped, but wasn't sure where without extensive testing. He suggested therapy first to see if it would help. Since it hadn't helped so far, the physical therapist knew that it couldn't be trapped in my spine or shoulder. Thus, she started treating just the elbow this week and I have finally noticed a difference. It hurt while they were working on it, but was worth it to have some relief later.
I got to test out my elbow and back tonight at Meg's game and they did pretty well. I was glad that I was able to sit through it as Meg played almost half of the game. It was fun to see her have success and to enjoy it. The girls beat Blackhawk Christian fairly easily which should bode well for sectionals.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Cleaning Day
I started the end of break cleaning today. I would have begun earlier in the week, but both Monday and Tuesday were busy with appointments and obligations. I decided this time not to try and do it all in one day. Thus, today's agenda included the bathrooms on the main level, the kitchen, the floors and laundry. Since it snowed, I was glad that I did not tackle the basement and upstairs as well today. That way I had time to shovel the driveway.
Tonight Doug and I went to dinner. Meg had plans after practice and Cameron wanted to watch the Rutgers and Ohio State game. We were surprised to find out that Huntington Street was back open with its original owner. The deal in December fell through. Thus, we headed uptown once Doug got home. The menu was limited, but everything else was the same. We were glad to hear that they had no plans to try and sell it anytime soon. There aren't a lot of good places to eat in Syracuse, so it was nice to still have one of our favorites on the list.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Spelling Bee Memories
When I visited my old Warrior Time class before Christmas break they had asked me to come back for the spelling bee. One of them was a finalist and I knew it would mean something to her if I showed up today. Thus, after my physical therapy this morning I headed to Milford to cheer on the contestants. It definitely brought back a lot of memories from Meg's spelling bee days. It was easier to sit in the crowd as a spectator than as a parent. I was still nervous, but I didn't have much vested in it. I felt bad for those who missed a word, but overall had fun with my former students watching the drama unfold. In the end we were all happy that a seventh grader won even though we were tired of sitting through the fifty-eight rounds.
The rest of the day was a quiet one. I took a walk as soon as I got back from Milford. The weather was perfect for it. Cam had chess and tennis this evening, so I did not see him until 8:30. He really enjoyed both. Meg came home for a brief moment to change before driving back to Bethany for the boys' basketball game. She was happy to report that the boys won.
The rest of the day was a quiet one. I took a walk as soon as I got back from Milford. The weather was perfect for it. Cam had chess and tennis this evening, so I did not see him until 8:30. He really enjoyed both. Meg came home for a brief moment to change before driving back to Bethany for the boys' basketball game. She was happy to report that the boys won.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Back to School
I was very sad last night as I thought about Christmas break ending and the Heinisch children all returning to school. Doug didn't quite understand, I had just so enjoyed our time together and didn't really want it to end. The Heinisch children weren't quite ready for break to end either, but overall their first day went well. Cal had even recovered from the one point Bears loss last night knocking them out of the playoffs.
Once I woke up this morning I felt better about it all. I was happy that everyone had fun together and knew that they needed to get back to the real world. It helped that I had to take Meg to the orthodontist and had something to keep me busy. The news we got from Dr. Aron didn't damper the day like I thought it would. Meg easily accepted that she needed to get braces and realized that sooner would be better. There will be logistics issues with her being in Bloomington, but we liked his treatment plan for her missing teeth and protruding front tooth. She goes back next Monday to get the process started. Figuring out payments for that and scheduling the upcoming appointments kept me busy all afternoon. By dinner time I had stopped feeling sorry for myself and had a list of projects on my agenda to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.
Once I woke up this morning I felt better about it all. I was happy that everyone had fun together and knew that they needed to get back to the real world. It helped that I had to take Meg to the orthodontist and had something to keep me busy. The news we got from Dr. Aron didn't damper the day like I thought it would. Meg easily accepted that she needed to get braces and realized that sooner would be better. There will be logistics issues with her being in Bloomington, but we liked his treatment plan for her missing teeth and protruding front tooth. She goes back next Monday to get the process started. Figuring out payments for that and scheduling the upcoming appointments kept me busy all afternoon. By dinner time I had stopped feeling sorry for myself and had a list of projects on my agenda to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Ann Arbor
Several months ago Doug, Cam and I sat down and looked at buying tickets to an IU game. All that were left at Assembly Hall were ones for games during the week. We knew that making those would be challenging for us. I suggested that we look at Big Ten teams closer to us - Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern or Purdue. After a little bit of research we were pleased to find tickets for the IU vs. Michigan game in Ann Arbor. They were in the top row, but we didn't mind.
As today was game day we left at 10:30 for Michigan. Doug's old boss had made several lunch suggestions for us to try. We decided upon Haymakers, which was a local brewery in downtown Ann Arbor not too far from campus. We were pleased to see other Hoosier fans there eating lunch, so we didn't feel out of place. The appetizers we ordered were fantastic and we enjoyed talking about all of the other Big Ten campuses that Doug has visited over the years. This was his first time at the University of Michigan.
We walked around campus after lunch. The weather was extremely mild for January. The campus reminded us of Purdue's with brick buildings. We found several bookstores to look through and Cam actually bought a Michigan t-shirt. The stadium was close to campus, but it took us some time to find a parking spot. We were still there in plenty of time to catch the pre-game. It was Star Wars night and we found all of the videos and such on the big screen to be extremely entertaining. Even though our seats were in the top row, we could see everything perfectly.
The game was a close one. I was happy about that as Michigan was rated number 2 in the nation and I was afraid it would be a blowout. Juwan Morgan was impressive to watch especially inside. Even with an IU loss, we all had a great time. On the way home Cam and Doug talked about other stadiums and Big Ten campuses that they would like to visit next year. It was the first time that I had ever really thought about life in the Heinisch Home with just the three of us. It will definitely be different.
As today was game day we left at 10:30 for Michigan. Doug's old boss had made several lunch suggestions for us to try. We decided upon Haymakers, which was a local brewery in downtown Ann Arbor not too far from campus. We were pleased to see other Hoosier fans there eating lunch, so we didn't feel out of place. The appetizers we ordered were fantastic and we enjoyed talking about all of the other Big Ten campuses that Doug has visited over the years. This was his first time at the University of Michigan.
We walked around campus after lunch. The weather was extremely mild for January. The campus reminded us of Purdue's with brick buildings. We found several bookstores to look through and Cam actually bought a Michigan t-shirt. The stadium was close to campus, but it took us some time to find a parking spot. We were still there in plenty of time to catch the pre-game. It was Star Wars night and we found all of the videos and such on the big screen to be extremely entertaining. Even though our seats were in the top row, we could see everything perfectly.
The game was a close one. I was happy about that as Michigan was rated number 2 in the nation and I was afraid it would be a blowout. Juwan Morgan was impressive to watch especially inside. Even with an IU loss, we all had a great time. On the way home Cam and Doug talked about other stadiums and Big Ten campuses that they would like to visit next year. It was the first time that I had ever really thought about life in the Heinisch Home with just the three of us. It will definitely be different.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
And They're Off!!
After debating all week about what day and time they would leave today, Cal and Brett finally decided that 1 p.m. this afternoon would be best. It took most of the morning to get them packed. Brett had quite a bit that he wanted to take with him. Thankfully, Doug was able to rearrange the backseat and move some of the heavy items around. In the end they got everything in the Civic except for Cal's puzzle that he framed. They even had room for a bag that Jayce needed them to pick up on their way out of town. I know they were both ready to get back to Bloomington, but I was sad to see them go. It was a wonderful three weeks with them at home. We've made plans to get together for Brett's birthday, so it won't be too long until we see them again.
The rest of the afternoon was a quiet one. Doug worked outside as the weather was wonderful today. Cam helped rake leaves and then watched basketball and football. I had time to take a walk, cut hair and do a little cleaning. Meg left early for her game as they were having lunch at Mariah's beforehand. Since Meg had to play two quarters of JV tonight, Doug and I decided to split the games. I went to the first one and enjoyed watching her play. She did a fantastic job at point guard, earned a few assists, rebounded well and held her opponents scoreless. When the first game was over I headed to Kohl's to return Cam's robot. Doug and my parents arrived early for the varsity game. They were happy to see Meg play two quarters in that as well. She hit a nice three at the end of the third to bring to girls to within five of Bremen. The Lions did end up winning, but it was a good game for the Bruins.
Meg stayed in Goshen after the game as the boys had a match-up with Bremen as well. Doug and I went to dinner at Constant Springs. It was a nice night out. My parents brought Cam Penguin Point to eat and we all met up later to play Oh Hell. Doug was finally dethroned as champion leaving Cam tied for first. We finished just as Meg returned. She was glad to hear that we all enjoyed her play tonight. It was her best game of the season.
Friday, January 4, 2019
Rocket Fizz
After the IU game last night Doug, Cal, Brett and I watched The Gran Torino. Ever sine we took them to The Mule on Saturday, we had wanted them to see it so they could compare movies. Both boys liked it as much as we did and felt it had a lot of similarities to The Mule. They found the last half hour as intense as we did and in the end agreed that both were excellent movies, with a slight nod given to The Gran Torino.
Today Brett, Cam and I went to Warsaw to check out Rocket Fizz. I had heard from Mary that it was a lot like Wakarusa Dime Store and we wanted to see what they had to offer. They definitely had a lot of candy, although most were normal ones that we could buy at a typical candy store. We did find a few older ones to try and picked up something for everyone. The pop selection was outstanding. The bottles lined the room and it was hard for us to decide which ones to purchase. We finally settled on Grape Crush for Meg, Moxie for Brett and Cal, a new root beer for Cam and kumquat flavored Martian soda for all to try.
Doug made dinner tonight for everyone. Brett and Cal picked chicken curry and Cam and I asked for chili. Meg went ice skating with Mariah and Emma, so we didn't see her until later in the evening. Mom and Dad came up to play games. We started with Oh Hell and Trumpet and moved on to Apples to Apples once Cal got back from exercising. Everyone also tried the Martian soda. It was actually worse than Sweet Corn soda. Cam said that we'll have to try Grass soda the next time. That sounded interesting.
Today Brett, Cam and I went to Warsaw to check out Rocket Fizz. I had heard from Mary that it was a lot like Wakarusa Dime Store and we wanted to see what they had to offer. They definitely had a lot of candy, although most were normal ones that we could buy at a typical candy store. We did find a few older ones to try and picked up something for everyone. The pop selection was outstanding. The bottles lined the room and it was hard for us to decide which ones to purchase. We finally settled on Grape Crush for Meg, Moxie for Brett and Cal, a new root beer for Cam and kumquat flavored Martian soda for all to try.
Doug made dinner tonight for everyone. Brett and Cal picked chicken curry and Cam and I asked for chili. Meg went ice skating with Mariah and Emma, so we didn't see her until later in the evening. Mom and Dad came up to play games. We started with Oh Hell and Trumpet and moved on to Apples to Apples once Cal got back from exercising. Everyone also tried the Martian soda. It was actually worse than Sweet Corn soda. Cam said that we'll have to try Grass soda the next time. That sounded interesting.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Aquaman
Today was the day that the boys and I had been waiting for since Cal let us know many years ago that there was talk of an Aquaman movie. This afternoon we were finally able to see my favorite superhero on the big screen and the four of us thoroughly enjoyed it. We had read a lot of reviews before going and we were happy to see that it was just as outrageous as everyone said it would be. At the end Cal looked at me and said, "Mom, they made Aquaman look as cool as you always said he was."
Cal was completely correct. Every since I was a preschooler Aquaman had been my hero in the comic book world. I even had an Aquaman doll that hung out with my Barbies, and I'm sure he married one or two of them over the years. I believe that my fondness of the orange and green "fish man" that lived under the sea started when I used to beg Bunk and Billy to let me play with them. I was the annoying little sister that wanted to do everything with them and it was one of the few games that they would let me in on. I thought I was really cool dressing up as Aquaman or Robin. It wasn't until years later that it dawned on me that they always got to be the lead characters - Superman, Batman or Spiderman. I was just the sidekick or the "lame" superhero as Doug informed me when I told him stories of my childhood. I didn't mind filling in the lesser roles. I was just happy to be included.
Over the years I had told my own children about Aquaman and his adventures. We had watched the 1970s Super Friends episodes and read his comic books. Cal wore Aquaman shirts during his high school years and Meg even made me a paper mâché A painted green and orange in middle school art class. Thus, watching Aquaman with Brett, Cal and Cam today was a lot of fun. Even if the story was told a little different than what I had read in my youth, the added parts of selfies with Bikers and over-the-top fight scenes were the perfect way to introduce everyone to what I already knew - without Aquaman the land and the sea could not coexist, and thus, there would not be a world worth saving. How could any other superhero be cooler than that?
Cal was completely correct. Every since I was a preschooler Aquaman had been my hero in the comic book world. I even had an Aquaman doll that hung out with my Barbies, and I'm sure he married one or two of them over the years. I believe that my fondness of the orange and green "fish man" that lived under the sea started when I used to beg Bunk and Billy to let me play with them. I was the annoying little sister that wanted to do everything with them and it was one of the few games that they would let me in on. I thought I was really cool dressing up as Aquaman or Robin. It wasn't until years later that it dawned on me that they always got to be the lead characters - Superman, Batman or Spiderman. I was just the sidekick or the "lame" superhero as Doug informed me when I told him stories of my childhood. I didn't mind filling in the lesser roles. I was just happy to be included.
Over the years I had told my own children about Aquaman and his adventures. We had watched the 1970s Super Friends episodes and read his comic books. Cal wore Aquaman shirts during his high school years and Meg even made me a paper mâché A painted green and orange in middle school art class. Thus, watching Aquaman with Brett, Cal and Cam today was a lot of fun. Even if the story was told a little different than what I had read in my youth, the added parts of selfies with Bikers and over-the-top fight scenes were the perfect way to introduce everyone to what I already knew - without Aquaman the land and the sea could not coexist, and thus, there would not be a world worth saving. How could any other superhero be cooler than that?
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
A Quiet Day for All
Meg had practice this morning. We met her afterward at Mrs. Meek's for piano lessons. Brett went with us so that he could say hello to Mrs. Meek as well. He hadn't seen her in quite some time, but stays in contact with her on FaceBook. Once the lessons were over and we caught up on everyone's holiday activities, Brett, Meg, Cam and I headed to Hacienda for lunch. We enjoyed our time together and had fun laughing at the fact that they gave Brett the margarita he ordered, but brought him a kids' quesadilla instead of his food choice.
After lunch Brett and I took a walk. It was quite chilly, but we got our steps in by the time we were done. He, Cam and I then finished our Disney Villainous game. For a brief moment I thought that I was going to be the victor, but in the end Brett won as we would have predicted. Cal played basketball this afternoon and then hung out with friends. Brett and I also found time to watch The Grinch, Frosty and Mickey's 90th Birthday Party.
This evening Nick came over to visit Meg as he had just gotten back from Canada. Cam and Brett went to trivia night with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Cutes. They were proud of their third place finish. Once they returned Cam went straight to his room to watch Big Ten basketball. He was more than anxious for the conference season to start and had talked about it non-stop today. Brett, Doug and I watched American Hustle. It was based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s and we found it very entertaining. Of all of the days of Christmas break, this one was probably the most laid back. I definitely appreciated the down time.
After lunch Brett and I took a walk. It was quite chilly, but we got our steps in by the time we were done. He, Cam and I then finished our Disney Villainous game. For a brief moment I thought that I was going to be the victor, but in the end Brett won as we would have predicted. Cal played basketball this afternoon and then hung out with friends. Brett and I also found time to watch The Grinch, Frosty and Mickey's 90th Birthday Party.
This evening Nick came over to visit Meg as he had just gotten back from Canada. Cam and Brett went to trivia night with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Cutes. They were proud of their third place finish. Once they returned Cam went straight to his room to watch Big Ten basketball. He was more than anxious for the conference season to start and had talked about it non-stop today. Brett, Doug and I watched American Hustle. It was based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s and we found it very entertaining. Of all of the days of Christmas break, this one was probably the most laid back. I definitely appreciated the down time.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
New Year's Day
All of the cleaning, organizing and such left me absolutely exhausted today. It didn't help that I stayed up late last night and woke up at my usual time this morning. I did get up and tried to power through, but I was more than ready for a nap most of the day. Brett and I took a walk in the mid-afternoon, however, which really helped. He, Cam and I also set up his Villains game today and that kept my mind moving. While we were doing so, Doug made a huge dent in organizing his Sports Illustrated magazines. It was fun to hear what he found in the boxes. He was happy to report that there were no mice mixed in with them, just cards, pictures and magazines.
Meg spent the day shopping with Kaitlin, Gabby and Preston. She then ate dinner at Grandma Jane's. Brett and Cam decided that they were ready for a quiet nice at home, so we ordered pizza for them. Doug and I made time to go to The Frog for dinner. It had been awhile since he and I had done anything together and I enjoyed catching up with him. His workload will increase greatly soon, so I really appreciated it. Cal got home shortly after we got back. He had really enjoyed the time with his friends in Chicago. Doug, Cam, Cal and I had just enough energy to play pool before calling it a night. It was a great start to 2019 for the Heinisch family.
Meg spent the day shopping with Kaitlin, Gabby and Preston. She then ate dinner at Grandma Jane's. Brett and Cam decided that they were ready for a quiet nice at home, so we ordered pizza for them. Doug and I made time to go to The Frog for dinner. It had been awhile since he and I had done anything together and I enjoyed catching up with him. His workload will increase greatly soon, so I really appreciated it. Cal got home shortly after we got back. He had really enjoyed the time with his friends in Chicago. Doug, Cam, Cal and I had just enough energy to play pool before calling it a night. It was a great start to 2019 for the Heinisch family.
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