Game Day

We were all up early this morning.  Brett, Doug and Cam really wanted to see the new James Bond movie - Spectre - before the IU football game.  Meg and I went along with them while Cal stayed at Parce's and watched ESPN game day.  The movie was a little long, but still good, especially the opening scene.

After the movie we followed Parce to the stadium.  Cal was invited to the IU vs. Iowa football game by the IU Office of Admissions.  Everyone hung out at Parce and Chokey's tailgate before Cal and Doug headed to the IU one.  Pregame activities included some good food, tossing the football and playing ring toss.  I couldn't believe all of the Iowa fans that were there.  They are undefeated this season, so maybe that was the draw to come.  The game ended up being a good one and Cal and Doug enjoyed it.  IU dropped a fumble that could have put them in a place to time with less than two minutes to go.

Brett, Cam, Meg and I did not make it to the game.  Once it started we headed to the IU bookstore.  Meg and I bought "IU ugly Christmas sweaters" and Cam found a great deal on an IU t-shirt.  The mall was our next stop.  Meg and I picked out four large tumblers from Yankee Candle.  Brett and Cam did some shopping at Hot Topic.  After quite awhile they finally agreed on a Nightmare Before Christmas shirt for Brett and a dinosaur shirt for Cam.  Target was our final stop before we headed to the Union for bowling.  Brett had the best first round he has in a long run and almost doubled Cam and Meg's scores.

After the football game Cal and Doug walked through campus checking out the various dorms.  It sounds like a lot of the direct admit business students live in McNutt as it is close to the business school and also the rec center.  We picked them up at Mother Bears.  We were going to eat there, but it was packed.  Everyone wanted to try Bucceto's for pizza.  We got right in and it was very good.  Brett ran into several of his friends there.  We also saw Femi, IU's soccer great that graduated from Bethany Christian.

Cal went back to Parce's to watch the Alabama game while we went to Barnes and Noble.  We stopped for ice cream at Jiffy Treat on the way out.  After that we were all ready for bed.  It was a fantastic day, but totally exhausting.

End of the First Trimester

The end of the trimester did arrive yesterday leaving today as a teacher day.  I spent the afternoon getting my room ready for next trimester.  I did get a lot accomplished this week despite the stress of the workload.

I picked up Meg after I left school.  She spent the night at Kaitlin's.  They walked to McDonald's for lunch and then stopped by my Mom's.  Cal hung out here most of the day.  He went to the girls game last night.  He hasn't been feeling the best, but is relieved the trimester is over.  He ended up with an 11.0 which is the highest he has had in quite awhile.  Meg also finished well earning an 11.2 GPA.  I was thrilled with both of them.

We were ready to leave as soon as Doug got home.  The trip down was very easy until we got on 37 in Martinsville.  It has been under construction for quite some time and doesn't look to be anywhere close to finished.  It only slowed us up about ten minutes, however and we were at Buffalouies by 8:40.  Brett was already there waiting on us.  We found a table upstairs and everyone enjoyed visiting and catching up.  I appreciated the fact that all six of us were together for a meal.

Once dinner was over Brett was ready to head back to the dorm.  He made plans to go to see Goosebumps later that evening and we were ready to get breadsticks and hang out with Parce.  He was up waiting for us and we all talked, unpacked and enjoyed Pizza Express.  Cam was the first one asleep.  I can't remember the last time that happened.  No one usually beats Doug to sleep.

Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Words cannot describe how stressful this week has been and to top it off today may have been the worst day of my adult life.  It should have been a celebration of the end of the trimester, but instead it ended with a lot of tears.  I cannot change today or the circumstances that led up to it.  All I can do is hope for a better tomorrow.  All that said, I have given a lot of thought to my plans for next year.  I do not know that I can return to teaching.  I know for sure that even if I do, I cannot teach FACS and math knowing that I have five different classes to prepare for and two Warrior Times to support.  I hope that I will be able to sleep tonight and that this weekend is the much needed time with family that I would very much enjoy.

Tennis

Meg started back at tennis tonight.  She will be taking lessons on Wednesday night from 8 to 9 and also on Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30.  Doug was able to take her this evening and both were very positive about the experience.  Cameron will start on Thursday at the same time after Thanksgiving.  Doug decided that we would get a family membership.  That way he can use the exercise equipment and also schedule court time to hit with Cam and Meg.

Wednesdays will be busy for us as Cam has chess after school and then they are taking piano lessons that night as well.  Both Cam and Meg say that they like it that way.  Neither like going straight to piano after school as they feel rushed.  I am impressed with their dedication to it.  Meg hasn't played in awhile because of soccer, but she just loves it.  Cam is into classical music and so far likes Beethoven the best.  He realizes that I am a Mozart fan, so he plays that as well.  We will see if we can keep up this schedule.  Night one was a good start!

End of an Era

For the first time in fifteen years no one in the Heinisch family will be playing organized basketball this year.  There are times that I can't believe it and there are other times that I feel relieved.  It does make me sad that Cal will not be playing his senior year.  I can't help but blame the lack of support that he received from his coach for his decision not to return to the sport he loved.  It does make me feel better that he has found new avenues to play and enjoys those very much.  I am also thrilled that the coach that made his life miserable moved away.  I hated running into him as seeing him always left a bad taste in my mouth.

Meg also decided to move on from the sport that she had played since she was in kindergarten.  Her headaches and the commitment level required were more than she could handle this winter.  Eliminating one sport also gave her time for the two she really enjoys.  Doug and I were disappointed with the response we got from the coaching staff when he let them know that she would not be able to play.  She had worked hard at basketball and kept a program going at Milford when they didn't have much there for him just to dismiss her.  At least we know she made the right decision.

Cam was asked to play on the 6th grade team this year as a 5th grader at Bethany Christian.  He decided to pass on that this year and we were OK with that.  He has become involved in chess and will play tennis this winter and on their club team in the Spring.  We also thought with the extra time this winter we could take them skiing more often.  Cam may play next year, but for now we will enjoy a quiet basketball season and enjoy listening to Cal talk about IU basketball and his own intramural games.

Love This Weather

The weather this week is supposed to be beautiful, especially for this time of year. Meg and I decided to take advantage of it and go for a walk after school. It was the perfect night for it and we had a great time. I love catching up with all that she has going on and walking together is the perfect time to do that. We're both frustrated with the grade she has in Culinary arts.  Overall, this trimester however has gone a lot better then the last one in eighth grade.

Our walk was cut short tonight because of muscle spasms I have been having. Meg didn't mind however as she had soccer to get ready for and biology to study. Soccer went well for her and Doug.  There were 20 people there in total.  Cal had to work so Cameron and I were the only ones home. We watched some We Bare Bears and Simpsons Halloween.   The rest of the week looks as nice as today. We will enjoy that is all too soon it will be winter.

Leaf Season

This weekend Doug spent a great deal of time working on the leaves in our yard.  He cut down flowers and brought in a lot of the summer furniture as well.  Unfortunately for him, the leaf season at our house still has many more weeks to go.  We both love owning a wooded lot and having a multitude of trees on our property, but in the fall it does add a lot of work to his weekends.  I appreciate all that he was able to complete especially since he also had to cut up a tree that feel on Wednesday from our woods into the neighbors yard.  Fortunately, it did not produce any damage.

I spent a good portion of the day taking down the Halloween and putting out the Thanksgiving.  Jayce came out of the basement with Cal and said, "Oh man, that's sad."  Cam said the same thing when he saw the Halloween going into tubs.  We did not work all day.  I took Cam, Meg and Gabby to see Harvey at Amish Acres.  It was just like the one I remembered from Brett's high school days.  The girls had seen it back then as well, but didn't remember a lot.  They all really liked it although it got a little long.  Cam said that he was sure that Harvey was real.  Maybe he's right.

Cal let me take the rest of his senior pictures when I got back and before he left to play basketball at the elementary.  They looked great on my camera.  I haven't put them in the computer yet, but I know they will look nice.  Doug and I then went to Lowe's to look at washers.  We found the one I wanted with a built in sink.  I hope it works as well as I think it will.  They should deliver it next Tuesday and I won't have to fight with my current one anymore.  We stopped at Mad Anthony's for dinner.  It sure was dark on the way home, but well worth the time change as I will be able to drive to school in the light tomorrow.  I will appreciate that.