Look at That...Another Post

I just wanted to drop in and do a quick post for the last week. The weekdays were pretty much the same...running (also started getting on the bike a little bit more), cleaning, food prep, De Ronde prep, helping in school, soccer practices, football practices, dance, swim team, soccer games and football games, including the last flag football games for the younger three. They had fun with flag football, but I think they were ready to be done. And it will be nice having those extra few hours, although Lincoln's select soccer season has started which means an extra hour of practice each week and we just found out he is starting basketball practice next week. Jackson had his last away football game in Centralia on Tuesday. It was another win for his team and he had some good tackles. His team is now 4-0 with two home games left to finish out the season.

The twins had another soccer game on Thursday. It was Bennett's game this time as he scored several goals. Instead of congratulating his brother, Miles decided to pout that he didn't score any goals. We really need to work on that. Miles redeemed himself by scoring a touchdown the next day though. And Ellie and Lincoln played their games Saturday morning and it was a chilly one. We downed hot chocolate from the concession stand and bundled up. We always set our chairs out and only sit in them for a little bit because they have been playing at the same time the last few weeks, so we end up standing up and going between fields to catch them both.

Our weekend was full. The kids didn't have school on Friday, so they enjoyed a bit of a lazy day at home. After the football games on Friday, we had Andrew's family over for a little cookout. I had hopes that it would be a little warmer, but at least the fireplace was appreciated. The kids ran around playing various yard games we set out and on the ninja course, so they stayed warm. And it didn't go too long as some of them wanted to get to the high school game. We opted to stay home and warm up. Then the fun continued on Saturday. After the soccer games, Andrew took the boys out to the ranch and along with doing some cattle work, Andrew brush hogged the De Ronde course through the pasture. Ellie and I made our way up to Red Barn for her to do a couple performances. I felt bad for all the dancers in their little outfits while I was bundled up in my big coat and hat. My parents came up to watch her too, but I don't think they even looked at anything else just because it was a cool, dreary day. Although Ellie thought she didn't do well, I did. She did her clogging routine and her jazz routine. Then she changed at the dance studio (conveniently located right by where they danced) and we walked around for just a little bit and then bought a few slices of pizza from Pagliai's for lunch. Annie and Brad dropped off Lauren and we gave her a slice and then she and Ellie went to the Kid's Korner craft area where her 4th grade teacher was in charge of all the activities. She had asked Ellie if she wanted to help out and told her she could bring a friend. So they helped out for a couple hours (and spent part of that time walking around again mainly buying food-cupcakes, meat sticks, kettle corn...). I went home and did laundry  and worked on some race stuff before picking them up again.

Andrew and the boys got home and then we went over to my parents where some family was in town. It was Family Weekend at Truman, so Jim and Jane were back in town with Emma and Aiden for Grace. Then my Uncle Terry, Aunt Carol Ann and cousin, Joe, showed up and we all had dinner. We had all planned to go to the Truman game since another cousin, Jason, is the offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs. It looked like a storm may be heading our way, so we waited a bit to head out. Terry, Carol Ann and Joe went ahead and went early since that is what they usually do. We got to the game around 7:30 and it hadn't even started yet. We didn't even realize there was a delay in the game. It was a bit chilly, but not too bad since we had bundled up. It was a fun evening, but the kids weren't going to last too long. Andrew took the boys home after the half-time performance. Ellie and Lauren stayed with me and we rode with my parents back to their house a little before the end of the 3rd quarter. We stayed and talked for a bit before heading home. Ellie and Lauren heading to the basement and we all crashed.

Lauren went to church with us on Sunday and then went home with her parents. That afternoon, our whole family went to Heritage House to help pack meals for an organization called Kids Against Hunger. Leah's brother-in-law works for KAH and they brought everything to Heritage House and set up meal-packing stations and packed meals for 2 hours. The basic concept was preparing a bag with a vitamin mix, dehydrated vegetables, soy and rice and that one bag contains 6 meals. They were able to prepare 4000 meals. We were only able to stay for the first 1/2 hour shift though as Ellie and I had a basketball open gym. It was our first open gym for the MI team and my dad and I got to meet a few of our new players. We had a Truman Women's basketball grad assistant, Remy Davenport, lead the open gyms and are hoping it gives the girls a good foundation.

After we were done with that, I went by Andrew's office to pick up the boys and we went to my parents house. Lissy was back in town and we had leftovers for dinner. Andrew ended up going out on another mountain bike ride and thankfully made it home without any injuries.