Random News

Now that soccer and cross country have ended, I seem to be a little less sure of what to write about.  Life does seem a little less hectic than it did when we were trying to fit in two or three soccer games and a cross country meet (along with everything else) per week.  However, I think I've also gotten a little lax in keeping the grandparents updated on our lives.  I'm going to try to do better.

For the Record. . .

I had a birthday a little more than three weeks ago.  I turned 44.  Mike insisted on putting 44 candles on my cake.  I think he was sure this was going to be the year I couldn't blow out all the candles. I would like it recorded for posterity's sake, however, that I did indeed extinguish all 44 candles with a single breath.  Mike failed in this same bid starting when he was about 35.  I think he just wants to prove I have more hot air than he does.  I (and many others) could have told him that.

Halloween. . . on a Lesser Scale

I'll have to admit that we've gotten more and more lame as our nest empties out.  We aren't nearly as pumped up about the holidays as we used to be, but the boys still manage to have fun in spite of their stodgy parents.  They carved some cool pumpkins this year, and we had enough candy left over from trick or treaters that it was almost like they had gone trick or treating themselves.

I can't remember why Matt was wearing a headband that night, but I think he looks pretty stylish, don't you?  (I love that both of my boys are kind of goofballs.  I really do.)

Matt Goes to Sadie's

Matt went to Sadie's a couple of weeks ago.  There is a big group of guys and gals that he runs with, and inevitably, they end up mixing and matching for dances.  This time Matt went with Morgan, and they had a great time.  One of the favorite activities of the day was paintballing.  Seriously, the pictures they got were hilarious.  Maybe some of them will actually end up in the military someday?  From the looks of this picture, I kind of hope not.  They look pretty tough, but they are all just the nicest guys.  Oh, the guy next to Matt does play on the O-line and is getting some looks from Division I schools.  Maybe he could scare the enemy. . .

Besides paintballing, they enjoyed dinner at Texas Roadhouse, some fun at Wahooz, the dance, and probably some other fun activities that I'm forgetting.  (These all-day dates wear me out just watching them.)  I'm glad he had fun.  Morgan is a cute girl.

Cross Country Off-Season



Adam tried out for the freshman basketball team.  Adam likes basketball, but it certainly isn't his best sport.  Much to my surprise, I will admit, Adam made the hoops squad.  It completely wrecked a trip he had planned to Utah, but I think he will enjoy the experience nonetheless.  I suspect it will also be good for him to have to work hard in practice and support his teammates who are playing more.  That may help him be a better runner and be a better leader on the cross country team.

We did run into one problem.  He had to buy shorts and a jersey to practice in.  He got the smallest size they offered, and let's just say that it's a good thing that baggy shorts and shirts are in style.  It's also a good thing that his shorts have a drawstring.  His basketball shoes do fit, but I didn't make him put them on for this picture.  Preseason practices, as I recall, include LOTS of running, so he probably should just keep his running shoes on.  I'll be interested to see how this 5'2", 85-pound guard does in a high school basketball game.  It's not the size of the dog in the fight but rather the size of the fight in the dog, right? 

We are also being entertained by BSU football and Duke basketball right now.  I'll blog more about that soon.  I will just say this:  I'm finally going to get to see the Blue Devils play in person.  How cool is that?