Today I spent several hours completing our 2012 photo album. It has 90 pages in it and over 650 photographs. I had a lot of fun making it, and it gave me time to reflect on last year. It was a busy one in the life of the Heinisch family. Brett was actively involved in several plays, band and academic superbowl. Cal's life revolved around basketball, golf and soccer. Cam and Meg both played basketball and soccer while she added in volleyball and he joined chess club. We took several family trips - St. Louis, Bloomington, Illinois and North Carolina all had visits from the Heinisch crew.
Working on the album also made me realize how much I miss Brett being a part of the day to day activities in the Heinisch home. His role as Joe Scales was priceless in Cheaper By the Dozen and he was a constant figure at the home basketball games - top row with a baritone and a book. Life changes and I am happy for the new one that he has created in Bloomington. I will, however, enjoy Thanksgiving break even more this year as we catch up with him, and he is once again a fixture in our home.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Meg
Meg came home from Olivia's yesterday morning with a great story to tell. She said that they were outside after the football game playing. It was around 11 p.m. and they were having an awesome time, which was highlighted by Olivia's screams. All of a sudden a big flashlight shone on the group and everyone went silent. The police had been on a call at a home nearby when they heard the screaming. They thought that they would check to make sure that everyone was ok. Meg, of course, spoke right up to let them know that they were in a heated game of kick the can and all was well. The police explained that they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't check and for the girls to continue on (maybe a little quieter, however.)
I laughed when Meg told me this story. We have had the girls are at our home several times and yes, they can get quite loud. I was proud of Meg, however, when she said that everyone else froze and she had to be the spokesman for the group. It takes courage to speak up in those situations and not be intimated. It proves to me that Meg is capable of asking for help when it is needed and respectful of those in a position of authority.
Meg also got a chance to show that she is a leader today at mass. The middle school was in charge of the readings and Meg was the first one to volunteer to be a lector. Her reading was challenging with a few tough names to pronounce. She did a wonderful job. The art of public speaking is an important one, and I am glad that she is learning that skill early.
As Meg hung out with Brooklyn and Avery this afternoon, I thought of how much she has grown up in the last year or so. I loved the little girly girl that she started out as, and I enjoyed the tomboy age. This new stage of her young teenage life, however, is a lot of fun. I can't wait to see where life takes her!
I laughed when Meg told me this story. We have had the girls are at our home several times and yes, they can get quite loud. I was proud of Meg, however, when she said that everyone else froze and she had to be the spokesman for the group. It takes courage to speak up in those situations and not be intimated. It proves to me that Meg is capable of asking for help when it is needed and respectful of those in a position of authority.
Meg also got a chance to show that she is a leader today at mass. The middle school was in charge of the readings and Meg was the first one to volunteer to be a lector. Her reading was challenging with a few tough names to pronounce. She did a wonderful job. The art of public speaking is an important one, and I am glad that she is learning that skill early.
As Meg hung out with Brooklyn and Avery this afternoon, I thought of how much she has grown up in the last year or so. I loved the little girly girl that she started out as, and I enjoyed the tomboy age. This new stage of her young teenage life, however, is a lot of fun. I can't wait to see where life takes her!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Change of Season
I just love fall. It has to be the best season of the year. The colors are beautiful and the weather is usually wonderful. This fall has been great as far as the weather is concerned. We did not have one freezing cold soccer Saturday. I was able to wear shorts a couple of days this week and capris are still part of my teaching wardrobe so far. Who can complain when Halloween is right around the corner. Cam and Meg have already planned this year's costume selection with Brooklyn and Avery. Fall break is only a week and a half away with a planned trip to Bloomington. The only two drawbacks to fall are the impending arrival of winter and all of the leaves that it creates in our backyard - a small price to pay, however, for all of nature's beauty right now.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Homecoming
Tonight was the homecoming football game and the accumulation of a week's worth of activities. The King and Queen were announced at halftime, their class signs were on display, students wore their class t-shirts, the total of the week's competition between the grades was revealed and the student section was on fire. Cal had a great time with his friends. They cheered loudly and when the football team won, they all rushed the field after the school fight song was sung by the players. After the game, Cal went with his friends to a bonfire at the AD's house. He has a daughter in the same grade as Cal.
Meg was at the game as well with her friends in the middle school section. They loved the football being dropped from the helicopter and watching the convertibles driving the queen candidates around the field. After the game she went with her friends for a girls soccer slumber party at Olivia's.
I am glad that the Heinisch children enjoyed the game and homecoming week. Both were at the talent show with friends as well. I had to laugh, however, when another Mom posted on Facebook - "I just love participating in all of the activities of homecoming week." I do not romanticize about the years of high school and would never want to go back no matter how many homecoming weeks there are. For all of the fun times and bonds that are created, they can be pretty rough years, full of insecurities and difficulties. So, I will leave the festivities to the teens that they are created for. I will be happy for the students that are participating in the activities and watch from afar. My children would prefer it that way and so would we.
Meg was at the game as well with her friends in the middle school section. They loved the football being dropped from the helicopter and watching the convertibles driving the queen candidates around the field. After the game she went with her friends for a girls soccer slumber party at Olivia's.
I am glad that the Heinisch children enjoyed the game and homecoming week. Both were at the talent show with friends as well. I had to laugh, however, when another Mom posted on Facebook - "I just love participating in all of the activities of homecoming week." I do not romanticize about the years of high school and would never want to go back no matter how many homecoming weeks there are. For all of the fun times and bonds that are created, they can be pretty rough years, full of insecurities and difficulties. So, I will leave the festivities to the teens that they are created for. I will be happy for the students that are participating in the activities and watch from afar. My children would prefer it that way and so would we.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The End of Soccer Season
Tonight Meg and I went with our friends Gabby and Paula to the soccer sectional match in Plymouth. Paula's daughter, Alex, is a freshmen varsity starter. The girls had drawn Warsaw as their first game. Although they had beaten us earlier in the season, the team was enthusiastic about the game and hopeful about their chance of winning. They had played them tough during the season and have been practicing very well this week.
As the game carried on, it was obvious that this wasn't meant to be their night. They played well, but couldn't overcome Warsaw's attacking offense and lost 5-0. I enjoyed sitting at the game with Paula. I tease her about being my "cheerleader friend." Paula was a cheerleader all four of our high school years together and she is still a supportive fan of the Wawasee teams today. As Meg told her, "you are the only person I know who could yell out "You suck!" and it would still sound positive." I totally agree with Meg.
After the game, one of the older parents said to Paula, "This has been a long season." Paula looked at her funny and said, "No, it's been great. The girls have really improved and tonight they were attacking on offense and communicating. They couldn't do that in August." Paula is totally right and I hear this from Doug as well. Thus, if there ever was a coach or a team mom to have on an 0-17 soccer team, then they would be the two to have. They can find the positive in any situation. It makes it so much easier to be around them and helps the girls learn a very valuable lesson in life - Sometimes in life you will lose and it won't be fun. It is how you handle those loses that make all of the difference.
As the game carried on, it was obvious that this wasn't meant to be their night. They played well, but couldn't overcome Warsaw's attacking offense and lost 5-0. I enjoyed sitting at the game with Paula. I tease her about being my "cheerleader friend." Paula was a cheerleader all four of our high school years together and she is still a supportive fan of the Wawasee teams today. As Meg told her, "you are the only person I know who could yell out "You suck!" and it would still sound positive." I totally agree with Meg.
After the game, one of the older parents said to Paula, "This has been a long season." Paula looked at her funny and said, "No, it's been great. The girls have really improved and tonight they were attacking on offense and communicating. They couldn't do that in August." Paula is totally right and I hear this from Doug as well. Thus, if there ever was a coach or a team mom to have on an 0-17 soccer team, then they would be the two to have. They can find the positive in any situation. It makes it so much easier to be around them and helps the girls learn a very valuable lesson in life - Sometimes in life you will lose and it won't be fun. It is how you handle those loses that make all of the difference.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Students
Yesterday I had to go to Wal-Mart and buy the supplies for our sewing unit. Sewing is actually not a standard that is required in FACS anymore, but many of my students love to try their hand at sewing or making a tie pillow, etc. Thus, I have set aside close to three weeks for our classes to work on these projects. All sixth graders have to learn to sew a button in my class, so I start out by showing them a couple of examples of our felt/button projects from last year. Then then have to pick from one of three projects: a fleece tie pillow, a fleece tie and sew pillow or a table runner. This year's group had seen many of these from last year and the excitement started as they chose what they wanted to make and spent time deciding on whether they wanted to purchase their own supplies or buy from the "FACS stores."
This year's seventh and eighth grade classes were given the option of choosing from any of the projects that they we did last year or one of the three new ones that I introduced this year - a t-shirt cinch bag, a t-shirt pillow, or a pillowcase. This year they also had the opportunity to come up with their own projects. In order for it to work, they had to find the directions on how to make their project and a supply list. Thus, one of my eighth graders is making a dress and three of the boys are making hacky sacks.
My favorite student inspired project, however, is a ghillie suit. When the seventh grader, who is making it, emailed me with his idea, I had never heard of a ghillie suit. I had to Google the definition to find out that a ghillie suit, also known as a yowie suit, or camo tent, is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. I am not much of a hunter, so I would have had no idea what it was. My first reaction was - "There is no way we can pull this off." However, this young man has a mother with breast cancer and his world has been filled with anxiety this past month, so I decided why not try. It would give him something else to focus on these next few weeks.
He and I talked with his mother at conferences and she was ok with us trying it, knowing the supplies would be $15 (normally our projects cost closer to $6.) He gave me his supply list and I was off and running. I wasn't sure that our Wal-Mart would carry burlap and netting, but much to my surprise they had exactly what he needed. The woman working in the fabric department had not only heard of a ghillie suit, but could direct me exactly to where I could find the materials and called someone up from hardware to locate the twine. I do not know where this project will take him or how it will look in the end, but I drove home proud of my students for taking a risk and trying something new. That is the best part of being a teacher.
This year's seventh and eighth grade classes were given the option of choosing from any of the projects that they we did last year or one of the three new ones that I introduced this year - a t-shirt cinch bag, a t-shirt pillow, or a pillowcase. This year they also had the opportunity to come up with their own projects. In order for it to work, they had to find the directions on how to make their project and a supply list. Thus, one of my eighth graders is making a dress and three of the boys are making hacky sacks.
My favorite student inspired project, however, is a ghillie suit. When the seventh grader, who is making it, emailed me with his idea, I had never heard of a ghillie suit. I had to Google the definition to find out that a ghillie suit, also known as a yowie suit, or camo tent, is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. I am not much of a hunter, so I would have had no idea what it was. My first reaction was - "There is no way we can pull this off." However, this young man has a mother with breast cancer and his world has been filled with anxiety this past month, so I decided why not try. It would give him something else to focus on these next few weeks.
He and I talked with his mother at conferences and she was ok with us trying it, knowing the supplies would be $15 (normally our projects cost closer to $6.) He gave me his supply list and I was off and running. I wasn't sure that our Wal-Mart would carry burlap and netting, but much to my surprise they had exactly what he needed. The woman working in the fabric department had not only heard of a ghillie suit, but could direct me exactly to where I could find the materials and called someone up from hardware to locate the twine. I do not know where this project will take him or how it will look in the end, but I drove home proud of my students for taking a risk and trying something new. That is the best part of being a teacher.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
My Brother
Today would have been my brother's 50th birthday. Wow! Fifty years!! That seems so old, but yet I guess it is true as I will be 45 in November. I have written before that I worshiped my brother and followed him everywhere. I know I drove him crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. I had so much fun with him those eight short years.
Tonight Meg asked me what I thought our lives would be like if Bunk was still alive. I told her that it would be different, but I really can't say how. I don't know if we would have ever moved to Syracuse from Nappanee. Maybe I wouldn't have gone to IU or even met Doug. Bunk could have seven children by now or be a teacher at their school. I do know that Cameron and Cal would have had another uncle to play golf with, and I am sure that he would have attended all of the basketball games, musical programs and plays of theirs that he could. I could see him hanging out with Parce or visiting LaMarr in Raleigh for some fun tailgating opportunities. I wonder if he would have liked watching the Heinisch children play soccer. That wasn't a sport that was much discussed when he was alive in the 1970s. Everything seemed to revolve around football back then. I always was curious to know his thoughts on the OJ Simpson trial. He thought the world of him in the NFL. Amazing how much can change in a lifetime. I asked Meg what she thought, and she said that he probably would have moved away to get away from us. Too funny!
I have grown accustomed to being an only child. However, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't take him back in a heartbeat. There are times that I realize that I do not understand adult sibling relationships, because we never made it to that stage. I used to feel cheated. I have come to realize, however, that I was actually lucky to have known him. He shaped who I was as a young child and made me realize how precious life really is.
Tonight Meg asked me what I thought our lives would be like if Bunk was still alive. I told her that it would be different, but I really can't say how. I don't know if we would have ever moved to Syracuse from Nappanee. Maybe I wouldn't have gone to IU or even met Doug. Bunk could have seven children by now or be a teacher at their school. I do know that Cameron and Cal would have had another uncle to play golf with, and I am sure that he would have attended all of the basketball games, musical programs and plays of theirs that he could. I could see him hanging out with Parce or visiting LaMarr in Raleigh for some fun tailgating opportunities. I wonder if he would have liked watching the Heinisch children play soccer. That wasn't a sport that was much discussed when he was alive in the 1970s. Everything seemed to revolve around football back then. I always was curious to know his thoughts on the OJ Simpson trial. He thought the world of him in the NFL. Amazing how much can change in a lifetime. I asked Meg what she thought, and she said that he probably would have moved away to get away from us. Too funny!
I have grown accustomed to being an only child. However, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't take him back in a heartbeat. There are times that I realize that I do not understand adult sibling relationships, because we never made it to that stage. I used to feel cheated. I have come to realize, however, that I was actually lucky to have known him. He shaped who I was as a young child and made me realize how precious life really is.
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