The first official day of Spring

It snowed today.  Gotta love the first official day of spring!  It was really just very, very light flurries as we were doing dismissal, but it was cold and icky today.

When I leave work tomorrow, I will officially be on spring break.  I'm not quite as excited about it this year as Andrew will still have to work.  And because Catherine works in the public schools also, she will also have school as well.  I'm looking forward to quiet time though.  And I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping in.  Maybe do a puzzle?  Work on photos?  Honestly, it doesn't feel as though there will be enough time to do all the things I'd like to do.  And Andrew has a doctor appointment one day so that means I won't have the day alone that day.  Andrew and Catherine have the week after me as their break.

Last weekend we had a really nice family dinner.  My mom came down, and the kids were here.  It was fun to have six of us around the table.  I find hosting to be stressful, but I greatly appreciate that Andrew is willing to make nice meals for all of us.

Andrew has really been looking for a new dog.  I keep telling him not until June!  We will be going on vacation in early June, and although Abby was a wonderful traveling companion, we have no idea the temperament of our next pup.  And to be honest, I'm not ready for another pup.  I'm not looking for something else I need to take care of.  I still miss Abby terribly, and when Andrew pulls up a video, it brings tears to my eyes.  In fact, just sitting here typing this has brought tears to my eyes.

This is the weekend of basketball madness that I love so much.  I'm not really into it this year though.  I'm not entirely sure why.  Maybe because Dayton didn't have a great year.  Maybe because there is just so much else happening that this seems unimportant.  Maybe it is because Andrew isn't home.  I have it on, but it just isn't as exciting.  

I am grateful for the extra sunshine this time of year!

Spring break 2024

Spring break has been over for two weeks, but I wanted to make sure to record some memories before I completely forget them!  This is the last year that Andrew and I are going to have the same spring break for awhile.  At one point I had thought it would be a good time to make a less expensive trip to the ocean, but there is too much going on in life for that to be an option.

The break began with one of my favorite weekends of the year...the men's NCAA basketball tournament.  There were some decent upsets in the first round, but as is generally the case, they didn't make it out of the first weekend.  Monday-Wednesday of the week brought household work and some work at school just to keep things going (and to earn a bit of a paycheck...I don't get PTO!), but there was lots of time for relaxing as well!

The best part of break was the day we headed to Columbus.  We were able to get a great rate at a motel, and stayed at Easton, where everything is walkable.  We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, went to a movie, had some drinks at a pub, and took advantage of having HBO Max to watch the Friends Reunion episode from a couple of years ago that we had never seen.  With Matthew Perry having passed away, it added to my emotions as I watched it.  I've watched that show and laughed with friends, with my husband, and even with my children and mother-in-law during our Thanksgiving tradition.  That show has brought some laughs during some really rough times.

Friday morning we got up and drove over to get my mother-in-law and bring her back for Easter and an extended visit.  We had a lot of fun while she was here.

As with every break, it flew by too quickly.  But the good news is that I really like my job!

Dayton can't catch a break

Although the city of Dayton isn't my hometown, I'm a Daytonian.  I've never lived further than 50 miles from the city, and around here, that means I have lived in the Dayton region all my life.  I currently live where we can choose either Cincinnati or Dayton local stations from our stream provider, and we chose Dayton without thinking twice.  My husband went to college at University of Dayton.  It's who we are.

And the city can not catch a break.  In February of 2019, they suffered a water main break under the river.  Water supplies were shut off to the entire city, and even parts beyond the city into the county, for over 24 hours.  Next came a hate group choosing to demonstrate downtown, and legally the city could do nothing to stop it.  The safety response costs were staggering.  At the end of May, the north and northwest end of the city was struck by EF-4 and EF-3 tornadoes.  Nearly ten months later, the rebuilding and recovering is ongoing.

As if that wasn't enough, the city was the site of a deadly mass shooting in August.  Nine lives were lost in the Oregon District shooting, and countless more were changed forever.

Through it all, the region came together.  In fact, FEMA reported they had trouble getting people in the region to file claims to which they were entitled, because neighbor was caring for neighbor.  And starting in November, we had the Dayton Flyers to cheer about.  They ended the season as the #3 team in the country with an undefeated league record, and overall 29-2.  Those two losses were both overtime losses, and one was against highly ranked Kansas. 

This is the greatest team in Dayton history.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime team.  Special doesn't even begin to describe them.  The city of Dayton was looking forward to all March was going to bring...not just for the team but for the city.  Dayton hosts the NCAA "First Four", which pumps millions into the local economy.

And then the virus struck.  Not only did the best team in Dayton history lose out on the chance to show the nation just how special they are, and not only did the fans lose the chance to cheer them on, but the Dayton economy suffered a significant financial blow with the cancellation of the tournament.

We all get it, we all understand the seriousness, and I'm not complaining about the situation or the decisions.  I just wish Dayton could catch a break.

Not so much madness this March

My favorite weekend of basketball has come and gone.  To be honest though, it wasn't "all that".  First of all, the only time I could really just sit and watch for hours was Thursday late afternoon into early evening.  It didn't really matter to me though, because there were only a few games where the underdog was really competitive in the game, and even fewer where the underdog knocked off the better seed.  Saturday evening, I even got to where I decided to put in a video rather than watch the games that didn't interest me at all.  Yesterday, Andrew wanted to turn on a baseball game that was just an exhibition rather than watch a basketball game that we didn't care about.  I found the tournament to be disappointing this year!

The rest of my Saturday

After I last wrote, I headed to church to get some work done.  With the end of the year/beginning of the year, I got pretty behind.  I think I'm finally all caught up though.

This afternoon, Andrew, Thomas and I headed to the high school for the girls' game.  It was senior day, and I wanted to be there to support the kids.  There are three senior basketball girls, and they are lovely young ladies.  Our girls have only won one game this season, but they were playing a team with a similar record.  In fact, we had lost to them by only one point at their place earlier in the season.  It was a very close game, and we ended up winning on a foul shot with five seconds left.  Honestly, I was way too emotional about it and thought I would cry for these girls if they didn't win...but they did!

I am hoping I can get some sleep and regain my emotional equilibrium!   Andrew is having dinner with friends, and I am waiting for Catherine to get home from her swim meet.  A quiet evening at home is exactly what I need.

Didn't leave the house all weekend

I'll be honest, I didn't leave the house the entire weekend.  I got home Friday by 2:00, and I was HOME.  Lots of basketball to watch, and we had frozen pizzas and salads.  Andrew brought Robert and Thomas home from track practice, and Robert had to work.  There was basketball and more basketball.  Robert came home from work...still basketball!  Robert and Thomas went to bed, but Catherine stayed up and watched history with us...basketball history!  UMBC, as a 16th seed, knocked off #1 Virginia.  It was a fabulous game!  I had contemplated going to bed early, but I'm so grateful I stayed up to watch it.  It was awesome!

Saturday morning we all slept in.  Robert went on a date that afternoon, then worked that evening.  He had to work until close and was very tired when he got home.  Andrew had to teach Sunday School yesterday morning, but we decided that the rest of us were going to stay home.  None of us had anywhere to be, and other than going outside to take care of a few things, I didn't leave the house again.  Our family enjoyed a board game and of course, there was more basketball!  It was a great weekend!

It isn't the same this year

This weekend is the first (and best) weekend of the basketball tournament.  It just isn't the same this year.  I know part of it is that the Flyers had a pathetic year, and we knew there was no chance they were going to play after losing in the conference tournament.  I didn't get to see many of the conference tournaments this year.  For the last five years, Andrew has taken personal days for the first round so we could enjoy all 32 games in the first two days.  With next week being spring break, the timing didn't work as well.  Not only is he working, but weeks ago I had agreed to take a job for tomorrow.  I had thought that I would stay home today and at least enjoy most of today, but I received a text last evening asking if I would work.  I'm not going to say no to being in a class I enjoy when I am specifically asked.  And it isn't like I am "ruining" my whole day because we have the swim banquet this evening that will take several hours...so not much basketball this evening either.  It also keeps us from ordering our traditional Thursday night March Madness pizza.   The kids didn't even fill out brackets this year, and I'm not sure they really are concerned about it.  It is what it is though, and life goes on.  Hopefully the Saturday and Sunday games will still be pretty good!

Our basketball weekend

I wasn't overly in love with this basketball weekend.  I loved the time with my family, but while the games were mostly pretty good games, there isn't really a Cinderella team to root for.  I'm thrilled that Wisconsin knocked off Villanova, but it's not like Wisconsin is really a Cinderella team!  Even in the games where I was rooting for the higher seed (Duke), the game didn't go the way I wanted.  I enjoyed so much time together as a family though, and I enjoy watching the kids watch the games!

Making their picks

We have arrived at one of my favorite weekends of the year!  I just love the 32 games in 36 hours, and then another 16 games on Saturday & Sunday.  We just love these games.  So far we've enjoyed the Notre Dame games, but we are looking forward to some upsets!  I'm especially hoping that Bucknell can find a way to pick off West Virginia and East Tenn St can take out Florida.

The kids picked their teams last night.  The bracket I had printed out didn't have records on them, so Robert actually got on-line and researched.  Catherine was marginally indifferent, but she filled out her bracket based entirely on seeding.  In other words, she has no upsets at all, and has all #1 seeds going through to the Final Four.  Thomas took the "Thomas approach", and I always love his optimistic heart.  His final game has Notre Dame taking on Dayton, and he just couldn't pick a winner between his two favorites (as an aside, I don't think he is going to have to).  With the exception of the games involving those two teams, he decided to put on the lines (which were rather short) the teams that could easily be abbreviated and would therefore fit on the line.  He always makes me smile!

No basketball this year

We received the official word earlier in the week.  The rec league doesn't have enough to form teams in Thomas's age group, and there will be no basketball for him this year.  Originally we had hoped they would do what they did with Catherine two years ago and put him on a grades 5/6 team, but it didn't work out that way.  When I told Thomas the other night, we could see how much it hurt him all over again.  He is such an emotional kid, and so much like me in that regard.  Our excitement and enthusiasm is high, and therefore the depths of things are pretty low as well.  It breaks my heart to see my kids hurting, but I know they have to learn to cope with disappointment...that is life.  I'm going to miss watching basketball this year, but Thomas is planning to do some running with an after school club.  I'm glad he wants to stay busy!

Just as awful as we thought it would be

Thomas has been home about 25 minutes from basketball tryouts.  It's just as awful as we thought it would be.  His heart is absolutely broken about the results, and of course as parents, our hearts break right along with his.  This is one of the toughest parts of parenting, and Andrew and I can't put into words how much we wish we could take away the pain.  I'm looking forward to his big sister getting home from her band competition so she can give him a hug.

I'm not looking forward to what is going to happen

This weekend is tryouts for the middle school basketball team.  Thomas is not going to make the team.  We have absolutely no doubt about that.  Last year in his rec league he was the worst player...in the entire league.  However, Thomas wants to tryout and we are not going to be the people who tell him he can't.  We have to let him face the disappointment that is about to happen...and that is really, really hard.  It's also part of life and I know it is part of my job as a parent.  Part of my job is to teach them to cope with disappointment, but it sure isn't the part of my job that I like.  I know there are going to be tears, and I strongly suspect I'll be crying right along with my little guy.  I'm ready for this particular event to be over.

Favorite weekend

I am trying to focus on the things I am enjoying (my icky head cold is not among that).  Life is very, very blessed, and I have faith we will all get through the current trials.

And I'm not about to forget this is my favorite weekend!  All basketball, all the time!  I get to watch 32 games in 36 hours.  Andrew took his annual personal days for today and tomorrow and we enjoy the days together, and the days to enjoy the madness!  We enjoy watching the underdogs compete (and hopefully win) and we'll be cheering on our Dayton Flyers tomorrow at Noon.  Go UD!

The kids filled out their brackets last evening.  Robert and Catherine have pretty legitimate winners going through, but Thomas follows his heart.  I love it!  He has three of the #1 seeds losing in the first round, and his final four teams consist of Austin Peay, VCU, Notre Dame and Dayton.  He just couldn't bring himself to choose a winner between the ND/UD semi-final so that's as far as his bracket goes.  How thrilled would this house be if that could happen???  I can tell you though, that when it comes to basketball, Andrew and I would have no trouble rooting for our Flyers!

All basketball, all the time

We are six days into March.  I can't tell you the number of basketball games that I have watched this week.  I love the tournaments of March...more than I can tell you.  Last evening I sat there and cheered on Austin Peay over UT-Martin because it was such a fabulous humanitarian story (the coach's granddaughter just underwent surgery this week for cancer treatment).  He's been the coach for 26 years, and their record is just at .500...and yet it wasn't that close of a game.  Then we watched Dayton come back from an early 11-0 deficit to win on a game winning shot with 16 seconds left.  Today is more basketball, and I'm looking forward to even more this evening.  Next weekend are the big tournaments, and then my favorite weekend of the entire year...32 games in 36 hours.  It just doesn't get better than that!

Champs again!

Thomas's team played their final games of the season this past weekend in the year end tourney.  They were the #2 seed having won all of their games except the two they played against the undefeated #1 seed.  Both times they had played them in the regular season, it had been the second part of a double header so there was definitely some fatigue.  There was also some really lousy officiating as well, especially in the one the prior week.  Both teams won their first game and met in the championship game that evening.  After an intense 2-0 deficit in the first quarter, the boys really got rolling.  Our team ended up being victorious 28-16!  This is the second time in three seasons (both times with the same coach) that Thomas has been able to be a part of a championship team.  God love him, he is the worst player on the team (and possibly the league) but he loves the game and was so happy to be finishing the season on such a high note.  I am so grateful that while my children are far from star athletes, they have had opportunities to be a part of such fabulous experiences!

Heartbreaking loss

Last evening's Dayton loss was heartbreaking...but not because I love that team.  I DO love that team and am not sure I've ever seen a team with more heart than those seven young men.  I truly believed they were going to win, and I know they did as well.  The heart breaking part was Thomas.  He was tired, and as the final buzzer rang he buried his head underneath the blanket and began to cry.  He simply could not be consoled that the team he believed in so deeply that he had them winning it all had busted his bracket and it was over.  He cried so hard it made me cry!  The complete innocence of his broken heart was heartbreaking to me as well!

Flyers are flying again!

Our Dayton Flyers have had one heck of a season.  Due to a variety of circumstances, they are playing with only seven players...but those seven players have more heart and tenacity than most fully stocked teams!  After having been projected to be safely in the tournament as an 8 or 9 seed, they were not only downgraded to an 11, but were forced to play in the First Four!  As it turns out, they were the LAST team in the tournament...meaning one conference upset somewhere and they were out.  After playing three games in three days last weekend, the First Four meant an extra game just three days later.  On the upside, they did get to play at UD Arena...an amazing venue in which to watch a basketball game!  They were down most of the game Wednesday night against Boise St., but pulled out a victory at the end.  Another game just two days later, but in a very friendly Columbus location...and another victory against Providence!  Unfortunately, the game didn't even begin until 11:00 last night, and we are dragging today.  Andrew and I were the only ones still awake when the final buzzer sounded after 1AM this morning, although Catherine made it until Midnight (she is still asleep as I type this now).  Thomas made it until about 11:30, and he and Robert (who has been fighting a bad cough and went to bed at 10:30) had to be up at 7:30 this morning for a scouting function.  There will be another game at a more reasonable time tomorrow evening, and we will all be rooting for our Flyers!

Our family evening of basketball

We had such a great evening last evening.  In fact, Andrew and I both mentioned that we kind of wished the kids didn't have to go to school today.  We had a blast watching basketball games with them.  It was especially fun in some of the really close games where the kids hadn't picked the same teams, and therefore it was a "broken" house.  The cheering was all respectful though, and there was no trash talk happening.  There was TONS of laughter and it was a great evening.  It also helped that nearly every game was close and there were some great games yesterday!

Bracketology

If you've been reading my blog during this time of year before, you know that this weekend is just pretty much my favorite.  Andrew has taken two personal days again for the next two days so that we can be watching the madness.  It really began Tuesday and we love watching the first four, and having the Flyers in it last night made it all the more interesting (and dramatic and nerve-wracking) to watch.  They pulled it out though, and the 32 games today and tomorrow make me love these days.

As always, I had the kids fill out brackets.  Robert really studied his and had listened to some analysis of the brackets, and his is relatively straight forward (I must note though, that all three kids have #14 Albany ousting #3 Oklahoma St in the first round).  Catherine's is more of a mix between what she wants to happen and what will most likely happen.  And then there is the magical heart of my youngest.  His final four includes Notre Dame, Ohio State, Dayton, and Gonzaga.  Three of this choices are clear if you know our family.  And Gonzaga?  When I asked him, he said it was just fun to say.  I absolutely love his magical heart!

I must note though, that Dayton almost completely busted his entire bracket (he of course has them as champs) last night!

How I plan to spend my day

Tomorrow is going to be a really, really long day.  I will be up by 6:30 and will be lucky if I'm home by 11:00 tomorrow evening.  I don't mind terribly...for the most part it will either be very productive or lots of fun (depending on which activity I'm at).  Today the house is pretty much picked up, and there is some really good basketball on.  I plan to hang out, watch the conference tourneys (while folding laundry) and enjoy my day until I have to head out this evening.  Sounds like a great day to me!