So Much To Do . . . So Little Time

We packed in as much as humanly possible today as this is a big festival weekend in Bloomington.  Cam and Doug began the morning playing golf at Cascades.  They started out slow, but by the end were pretty happy with their scores.  Once they got back the four of us met Brett at the 4th Street Art Festival.  We saw so many wonderful items as we walked through the booths.  I really wanted a glass water fountain, but wasn't ready to part with the money.  Instead Meg, Cam and I each picked out a beautiful matted celestial photograph that will look nice in our home framed.

We tried Nick's for lunch today and had a nice meal.  We debated, once again, the Heinisch children's choices for names for their own children.  There is always a debate when they are together.  It makes for a lot of fun.  After lunch Brett walked back to the dorm to read and study.  We walked with him as far as the Union while Doug went back to get the van.  Cameron found an awesome IU hat and the four of us headed to the IU vs. Marquette men's soccer game.  Cam and Meg were able to join a group of IU fans on the field to form a tunnel to greet the team as they ran onto the field.  It was a hot afternoon, but we did make it until halftime.  IU played well and ended up beating Marquette 1-0.

We picked up Brett and Parce after the game for a trip to Oliver Winery.  It was crowded and much to everyone's disappointment, they were out of bread.  We were still able to enjoy a picnic and Cam and Brett were able to get in a game of washers before we ate.  Brett did not have much interest in our next stop - garlic fest - so we dropped him off at the dorm.  Much as last year, the band was good and the crowd was interesting.  Once we had had our fill of the music and unique dancing, we picked Brett back up for a stop at Target and Barnes & Noble.  He needed a sleep mask and it was nice to be indoors for a little while.
Brett had to read at mass tonight and we were completely wiped out.  Thus, we grabbed breadsticks and were in at Parce's by 9:15.  Our routine was the same as last night only Cam and Meg discovered Gabby's See N Say.  I think "The Farmer in the Dell" was inbedded in our memories by the end of the evening.

We're Back!

This afternoon Doug, Meg, Cam and I headed down to Bloomington.  I know Brett didn't have a chance to miss us before we were there again, but we were all ready for a getaway weekend.  Meg reminded me that they hadn't been in Bloomington since February.  The trip took a little longer than normal, but we were able to pick Brett up by 7:45 from his dorm.  Parce was generous enough to offer a place for us to stay, so once we unloaded, the six of us headed to Buffalouies.

Everyone was chatty while we were walking.  Brett had just eaten lunch there yesterday with RUF, but he was more than willing to go again. We all enjoyed the food and company.  Brett is working on a book he checked out from the IU library.  He had a computer issue that we were able to help him solve, and that made him feel better.  

After dinner it was close to ten.  Doug and Brett headed to Pizza Express for late night breadsticks while we walked back with Parce.  He has such a great location to Kirkwood - not too far, but yet far enough away that the student noise is minimal.  Meg and I blew up the air mattresses.  Cam and Doug were ok with the floor.  We stayed up late enjoying the breadsticks and catching up with Parce.  It was a great way to spend an evening.  

Starting To Sink In

Doug said tonight that Monday was by far the saddest day since his Mom had died.  It was the day that it finally hit him that this is forever.  I felt terrible for him when he said this.  Doug is one of the strongest men I know, and I hate seeing him hurt.

This week there were so many Heinisch events that I wanted to tell Jeanette about - Brett's return to college, Cal's purple sweater and tennis victories, Meg's first goal, Cam finishing the 4th Harry Potter book and close to being done with the 5th, me hemming a sleeve with a whip stitch and Doug's tireless devotion to his family.  It was sad not to be able to call her.  I know she was very proud of her family and loved to hear of their accomplishments no matter how small.

Meg had a dream last night that we had to go to another funeral for her Grandma Heinisch.  She said she hated that part, but at the end Grandma was alive and well.  I told Meg that I had several dreams like that about Granny and Paw Paw in the weeks after they died.  I always chose to believe that it was their way of letting me know that they were alright and were still with me in spirit.  

I hope Meg finds comfort in her dreams and Doug's memories stay with him forever.  It has been a rough couple of weeks.  I think our trip to Bloomington this weekend will be a nice break.

Tennis & Soccer Dejavue

Once again this evening Cal had a tennis match and Meg had soccer.  This time I was able to attend both.  Cal's team played West Noble at home.  They had already scrimmaged against them and I thought it would be a good match.  It was for Cal at least.  He had never played against their number one before as at the scrimmaged his opponent played doubles.  Cal and he had a very similar style of play with a lot of rallies.  Cal was serving well and that frustrated the boy he was playing against.  Cal got down 2-4 in the first set, but then rallied to win 6-4.  Cal won the second set 6-3.  His opponent was so demoralized at the end that Dad said he called two out that were clearly in.  Nevertheless, Cal earned the win.  Unfortunately, his team did not fare as well losing all four courts.

I had to leave after the first set to make it to Concord for Meg's game.  Like Cal, Meg played well, but her team was overmatched.  Concord won 7-0 and Meg was only able to get one shot on goal.  The team has a hard time right now getting open for her to pass to.  I know it will be different next year and she is getting a lot of experience at forward right now.  I enjoyed watching her play and sitting with Preston and Logan.  We had some lively debates concerning DC vs. Marvel Super Heroes.  We have a break from both tennis and soccer until next Tuesday.  Looking forward to it.

Cats & Purple Sweaters

Cal had his school yearbook pictures yesterday and he decided to make it interesting by wearing a friend of his purple kitty sweater.  When I first found out I asked him if he was serious.  He was and Doug and I thought, "Why not!"  It will be one long remembered.  His picture was taken by most of the student body at WHS today and except for one annoyed Vice Principal almost everyone could find humor in it.  I even heard from the photographers today and they were still talking about it at lunch.  This only makes me wonder what he is going to do for his senior pictures!

GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!

Tonight was a very exciting night in the history of the Heinisch family.  Meg scored the first ever Wawasee Middle School girls soccer goal.  She was very excited and we were thrilled for her.  It came off a corner kick early in the game.  The girls went on to lose 3-1, but it is a step in the right direction.  Meg said they were screaming like they just won sectionals.  She had wanted to be the first to score.  I am glad that she did!!  All of her hard work this summer paid off.

My parents were there when she scored and were equally happy.  Cam and I were at Cal's tennis match where he won his second singles match of the year bringing his total to 2-2 on the year.  The team did well beating Central Noble 5-0.  Cameron has enjoyed going to the tennis matches.  This one was a little long, however, since they had to squiggy the court before they could start.  We didn't think they would get it, but they did.  Jayce and Alex stopped by to say hi and play the iPad with Cameron for awhile.  That and the fifth book of Harry Potter kept him occupied.

Doug did not fare as well in the Heinisch family sporting events tonight.  His soccer team lost 1-0 to Manchester.  He was disappointed, but is staying positive.  Concord will be tough on Saturday as well, but he should have all of his players back for next week's matches.

AHHHHHHHH!!!

I tried to remain calm all day today, but the hours just kept slipping by and there seemed like more and more to do.  I am nowhere near caught up from all of the happenings of the last two week.  I thought I was on top of everything, but as I paid bills and wrote thank yous, I realized that I was not even close.  It would be great to have another day or two off to catch up on everything.  So much of our life has been on hold this month.

Life doesn't wait however and from the email I received today about my math class, I realize that I had better be in bright and early tomorrow morning.  I appreciate everyone who said a kind word to us or helped in anyway (one of Doug's soccer mom's even bought Cam's drawing pencils for him when I couldn't find them last week.)  Soccer, tennis, library board, county council, laundry and homework are all calling and we will just have to come up with a way to get back to "normal."