Our family

Although we aren't together and it was an absolutely crazy day, this is the day we celebrate our family.  We hope we get to go out to eat in a couple of weeks, but since the Bengals made the Super Bowl, we'll have to see if restaurants (nice ones) will be open.  I am so incredibly grateful for my children and our family!

Amazing football playoffs

This year, the football playoffs have been more entertaining then I can remember them being in years!  I loved that the first weekend had six games.  The games last weekend were amazing...three last minute field goal wins and a TD in OT.  This week, another OT win and even the last game ended with the difference of just a field kicked with less than two minutes left.  They were incredible games!

So we are looking at a Bengals/Rams super bowl in two weeks.  Obviously, we are NOT Bengals fans, but the city is having such a blast!  The fun and excitement and is truly contagious, and we'll be rooting for the AFC North team in two weeks!

Another league title

Last night the league championship for swim was held.  It is not my favorite meet, although this one only required I be at the pool for 4-1/2 hours.  We've definitely had some that took longer and went later!  There was a lot of drama though, and that wasn't fun at all.  Unfortunately, because Andrew is an assistant athletic director, we can't avoid the drama.  It was memorable, but not for good reasons.

At the end though, our school won both the boys and girls titles!  For the boys, it was their 16th consecutive, and for the girls, they were able to reclaim after losing last year, and that makes it 15 out of 16.  Thomas's two relays both came in 5th place and he had an individual finish of 8th place, all of which earned points for the team.  I was particularly grateful that in the last event, his relay didn't finish last.  I didn't want that for his last swim at home.  He'll still have sectionals in a couple of weeks, but those are just about improving time.  We know there is no advancing, and that is okay.  I'm so grateful that my kids have been able to be a part of such a winning tradition, and I appreciate that they always felt they were a part of the team, no matter how much (or how little) they are able to contribute.  I'm so grateful it all ended with another league title! 

Wish this snow would amount to something

I am sitting here watching the flurries fall.  Sadly, they are absolutely nothing more than flurries.  We all NEED the snow to accumulate to something.  Our teachers are wound and need some down time.  Our students need some down time.  The administration needs some down time.  We are all hanging in there, but everything needs a surprise day off.  We take pride in being open, but we are exhausted.  Sadly, nothing in the forecast, nothing at all, is going to get us that day off.  I can wish though!

The little things mean so much

Before the holidays, we brought home an entire box of apples from the FFA fruit sale.  They've been kept in our garage, and they are nearly gone.  But the last two weeks, Andrew has so lovingly brought in an apple and placed it on the counter for me each morning.  He is grabbing his own apple, and thoughtfully grabs one for me.  He thinks nothing of it because he keeps saying he is grabbing his own, why not grab two?  But that apple sitting on the counter each morning fills my heart more than I can say.  It's not just about not having to go out and get my own apple.  It's not even that he is being kind.  It's that he thought about me.  It seems so little, but it truly is so big, and I'm so grateful.  This is just one example of so many.

I'm grateful to be in this marriage.  My most fervent wish is that each of my children can find a partner, not just a spouse but a true partner, who loves them as I am loved.

A fabulous football weekend

After I got home from the pool Friday, I had absolutely no where I had to be all weekend.  It was glorious to have the entire weekend to get things done and to just relax.  I was incredibly productive, but I was also able to watch the AMAZING football games that happened this weekend.  All four games were decided by a total of 15 points.  Only one game actually went the way I was rooting, but they were all such great games!  In fact, the Chiefs/Bills game last night might have been the best playoff game I have ever seen.  Amazing!

We are entering into a tough stretch of the winter.  It's cold, but no snow to make it fun (this weekend we were too far south), and no snow days.  Swim is at the end, and we have a very long meet on Saturday.  The end of January is a tough time, but I'm grateful for each day!

Last senior night at the pool

Last evening was the last senior swim night for our family (high school, anyway).  Catherine was home for the weekend because she is working, and since she was off at 5:00 she was able to be there as well.  I'm so glad this was able to happen!  Thomas only swam in three events, but he cut time off of all of them.  Swim has been a great activity for my kiddos!