My Boy.

Not good...

NOT good...

NOT GOOD.

The good news...while it is the same knee as before, this time he can put weight on it.  

The other good news...the trainer who worked on him immediately after does NOT think it is his meniscus or ACL or MCL (like last time) and that pesky kneecap (which was broken last time, as well as dislocated) is straight on.  

The even more good news...the season is over.  And not because of a knee.  One more non-league game on Friday and he wouldn't have played much anyway, since all the 1st stringers warm the bench during non-league games.

The not so good news...it was scary.  He went down and didn't get up.  I don't like that.  Not one bit.

The coach told him to 'get it all in order' cuz they need him on JV next year.

That's good news.

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Beavers New Coach

After a rough beginning...the Beavers have a new coach.

And they only lost by 1...which is a HUGE improvement!

The Beavers looked a lot less Bad News Bears-ish and a little more like an actual basketball team...so fun!

Brian rocked the boards and scored a couple of baskets...it's amazing what a pep talk from your big brother, I mean coach, can do!  

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Monday Break

The land of sunshine has had the most incredible cloudy skies lately...the kind where you don't mind getting stuck at every red light while driving.

In fact...you hope you do.

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After seeing The Pink Panther (funny...especially the beginning and the end.  Not sure about the middle cuz I took a little snooze!) and shopping for jeans, (praise God for Levi's 28X 35's for the tall skinny mutant in our family) the boys and I went to Strike for dinner and bowling.

But we didn't go alone!  We met up with friends to celebrate a big birthday for Katharine.  These boys have grown up together...and after umpteen travels and adventures, the oldest two are now roommates in college.

Scary.

But utterly, utterly cool.

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The middle guys are all sports and few words and the youngest two are all words.  All the time.

Love that.  Most of the time.

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They finally conquered bowling.  With bumpers, of course.

It cost a million dollars, but was so.much.fun.  It would be cheaper if we had left the hungry children (4 of whom are teens...and 2 are POOR teens, so they ate alot!) at home, but it was a blast.

Beyond a blast.

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Non-Stop

Friday night was an away game...and I'm pretty sure Alex never even broke a sweat.

Bummer.

He was in foul trouble within 2 minutes and it was a nail biter of a game...and Alex was stuck on the bench.

Yikes.  

He did play the end of the game...until he fouled out, which happens when you get triple teamed, but he was a good sport about it all.  

Saturday was a concert at Concordia called Super Music for Super Heroes and was so, so cool.  Tons and tons of young families, all with children dressed up in their super hero costumes.  So cute!  I sure am missing that kid...

Driving home was a sight we never see...and it was gorgeous!

Last night we went to a grown-up dinner at Ruths Chris with some good friends and spent 4 hours laughing and talking and eating and drinking.

And it was free...thanks to a gift card we got for Christmas.  

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M had an incredibly early morning as his choir was singing at a local church, so the boys and I followed them there.  

At a later hour, that is.

Our afternoon was spent inside on this cold, drizzly day...M napped, Brian built a K'Nex thingy he got for his birthday, Alex had friends over to play xbox and I watched 2 back to back Hallmark movies.

Glorious.

Supper was a true find.  Way in back of the outside freezer was a container of leftover turkey in gravy...not sure when I last cooked a turkey at home, but that doesn't matter one bit.  Anyway, made up some mashed potatoes, cooked some fresh green beans and warmed some hawaiian rolls and called the troops to the table.

Impressive, eh?

I even made up some chocolate cookie dough, so I'll bake a few for dessert.  The boys don't have school tomorrow...but that guy that I like does, so the boys and I and a bunch of their friends are going to the movies.  They all want to see the new Pink Panther and I am going to see whatever chick flick is playing around the same time.  Gotta love a plan.

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Long Time Away

Hey Alex...what is the book you are reading in English now?

I dunno...somethin' about a man and a mouse.  Sounds boring.

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I hadn't realized that it had been almost a week since I've written...but actually, I have.  I just didn't hit publish when I was done.

Can't share everything you know.

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BooBear had a basketball game on Tuesday night.  Bless his little heart...his team is just so adorable.  They just can't seem to squeak out a win...though they are getting closer.  This week the Beavers only lost by 20.  Poor things.

And this????  THIS is the REAL Housewives of Orange County.  (and we forgot to take one where I was in the picture because we were too distracted by all of Rosemary's stories!!!)

Anyway, these are my neighbors and the reason I will never leave my 1200 sq. feet.  Ever.  These are my people.

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What else has been happening?

Alex had a game on Wednesday, which meant a 6 hr stint at the snack bar for me.  While it is fun (I really like the person who I am doing it with) I am not sure I will miss it all that much.  Alex will be moving up a team next year, so my dues have been paid.

I do love the time with Alex...he has changed so much just in the last month.  Taller, more funny (not sure that was possible) and more sure of himself.  It is so fun to watch these boys grow up...wish I could take credit for it, but this is all God.  All God.

Last night was Pie Night with the girls...and once again I came home with a sore face from laughing so hard.

I met a girlfriend for breakfast this morning in the rain...glorious, glorious rain.

And said goodbye to the snowman....and I do wish she hadn't talked me into the flower.  But oh well.  It is cute and my toes are so much happier with pretty pink polish.

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Tonight is an away game for Alex, which we are all going to.  We'll probably grab supper out or to go because M has to be back on campus for a theater production.  

The boys and I will hang out at home in our jammies...probably battling it out on Dr Mario.

At some point I need to 'feed' my amish anti-friend bread and bake, bake, bake...which actually sounds yummy on this cold rainy day.  

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A Day of Nothing

Not much.

As in, that is what I've done today.

I ran to the grocery store for an odd assortment of things...milk, kosher salt, paper towels and chili powder.  I did buy Brian's valentines and carrots, too.  Just in case you were wondering.

Came home and thought about cleaning the house...in fact, I thought about it more than once.  I thought about it while watching Big Love.  I thought about it while adding 'stuff' to that strange bag of amish friendship bread starter....which, by the way, I passed onto a neighbor who had never done it before and thought it was 'neat'.

Just wait.

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Anyway, I even thought about it while struggling...and I mean struggling, through my new bible study, the Psalms of Ascent.  It is hard and at one point I just put my head on the table out of weariness...not sure a Beth Moore study has ever made me weary before.  But this one is and tomorrow I will go with my study guide only partially done.

I visited with not one, but two different neighbors today and then made a pot of so-so tasting chili for supper.  The boys really liked it but I think it was too much after super bowl sunday food, if you know what I mean.

Bored yet?

I kinda am.

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Tonight is The Bachelor, which will be happily TiVo'ing while that guy that I like so much is working and will be all ready for his viewing pleasure when he walks in the door.

Poor guy. I sure did marry well!

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Super Sunday

The guacamole is made.  The 7-layer dip is made.  Nacho's are ready to go.

Just waiting for the game to start.

I don't actually watch the game...but I do like the commercials and the stories about all the players, so I guess I do sort of watch the game.

I am reading a really good 'trashy' novel, so that'll be keeping me busy.  I also have old bread cubed and in a pan waiting to become bread pudding.  My garden needs to be watered, too...but other than all of that there is nothing going on.

But don't tell the people who invited us over for parties today.

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Today is a beautiful sunny day and we are home.all.day.long.

We did go to church, of course, and to In n Out...so, so, SO yummy, though for the 1st time EVER (and I am not kidding!) they got our order wrong.  For reals.

Alex is at a friends house for a super bowl party...a friend who I never met before.  I know lots of the kids who are there with him, but I still needed to do the 'call the mother' thing.

And he was appalled.

Oh well.  Someday he too shall become a parent of a free spirit child and I will smile as I rock in my chair.

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The mother, btw, was really grateful that I called her to ask about the party.  

So Alex is safe and sound at a super bowl party, Brian is on a bike ride to Sticky Fingers with a few of the neighborhood kids and one very, very nice dad and Matthew just walked in the door to watch the game.

I like that.

So if the snacks leave them hungry later, we'll order pizza and call it a day.  

Can't beat that.

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