The Insanity that is our Life

So, our lives have been even more busy and hectic for the past few weeks and it is starting to wear us out.  The Wind Ensemble from Northwestern High School was asked to perform at some music teacher thingy in the middle of February.  Chris has been attempting to help them prepare since they are playing really hard music and a lot of it, so he has been staying late after school on M, W, & F to help with rehearsals.  On Tuesdays, Chris has to go to class (the one required by the school district in order to renew his teaching license - ask him how he feels about this), so Beki and Owen either take the 1.5 h bus ride home or hang out at Pizza Hut until Papa is done.  On Thursdays, Owen has basketball practice and Chris is a coach from 6-7:30 pm.  On top of all that Beki is working with a new parasite at work that takes a lot of babysitting, so she has to go in everyday to check on them and coddle them so they don't die (ask her how she feels about this!).  So, we are getting home at ~6:30 pm M, W, F and after 7:30 pm on Tu & Th.  Needless to say, we don't have time to do anything that is worthy of picture taking.  Here are a few pictures from Owen's game on Saturday.  He played two of the four quarters and did pretty well.

At the beginning of each half, everyone gets to shoot a free throw.  Here is one of Owen's attempts.

Some shots of the boy's dribbling and passing skills, with a pretty good pass that would have been an assist if the other boy had made it.

Beki's Lab Bowling Party

For the past three years Beki's boss has hosted a Holiday party/Bowling competition between Beki's lab and the neighboring labs.  The first year, there were only two labs, but the next year a new lab moved in next door and we had three labs now to compete for the coveting bowling trophy!  Beki, of course, is in charge of planning these parties.  This year, she decided to go duckpin bowling instead of transitional bowling to see if that would level the playing field (Beki's lab won the first two years).  This year the competition was a lot closer, but Beki's lab still won.  Only 4 people from each lab were on the team that would compete and Beki made the team again this year. 

  

Proof that Beki has bowled a 100 in duckpin bowling.

Memebers of Beki's lab. 

There were cupcakes this year - bowling themed! 

The Andrews Lab Bowling Team.  

From left to right: Beki, Norma (the boss), Andrew, Danilo, & Thiago.  

Victory!!!!

Owen showing off with the trophy!  (Designed and assembled by Beki and Chris).

deer

One of the great things about our house is that it is right next to a forest.  The deer wonder into our yard all the time and we love to watch them.

They even make it the front yard to eat the grass.

Here is a clip of Chris and Owen observing the deer.

SNOW and SLEDDING!!!!

This past week we got not one, but TWO snow storms.  So we had a late start on Thursday and then an early release on Friday.  Both Chris and Owen were pretty excited.  Owen finally got to do some playing in the snow on Friday afternoon.  He played until is was too dark to see.  All the kids on the cul-de-sac came out and had a blast.  First he helped Papa gather some firewood and kindling so we could have a nice cozy fire while it was snowing outside.

  

Then he got distracted (squirrel) and made some snow angels.

Yes, even one face down! 

When the work was done, he was free to play.  He went and got all the kids on the street and his sled.  He was VERY excited to use the sled that we had purchased 4 months earlier in anticipation of some snow this winter.  

Then they all headed to the back yard for more fun.  Mommy found a rope and tied it to the sled so they could pull each other around - instant hit!!!  Owen even took turns pulling people.

Because it had snowed on Friday evening, all the basketball games for Saturday morning were canceled, so we were able to have a lazy Saturday morning.  It was really nice to have some time this week to have a little fun!!!!

"Science" and Basketball

For Christmas, Owen received some "science" kits from his cousins.  He wanted to do one the other day, so we decided to grow some "crystals".  You add these blue cubes to the water and then wait.  It took a while for them to grow, be we keep observing them every day.

We finally drained the water to get a closer look at them.  They were more like gel cubes then "crystals" and the kit didn't even explain what was going on.  Owen enjoyed them, but I don't have the time at this moment to rant about how these kits are NOT science (Beki writing here).

Owen had his second basketball game and it went pretty well.  Here papa and he are watching the other team shoot their free throws before the first half.

This is Owen's free throw that went it and of course I was not taking video, but the picture is pretty good.

DEFENSE!!!!

Bounce pass!

DEFENSE!!!

Playing point guard.

Little clip of Owen shooting one of his free throws that didn't go in.

Papa is well pleased with Owen's progress so far this year.  He has made a free throw in each of his games now and is quite good at playing defense.  Papa said that he "shut down" the other teams big player for this game.   

LEGO Heroica and First Basketball Game

Our house has a long time addiction to LEGOs.  So it was natural that we were going to buy the "board" games that LEGO developed called Heroica.  There are a few different sets that you can put together to make one large set, and you can make the game "board" into anything you want.  Owen and Chris really enjoy playing it.  In this picture, Owen has made a tower of bad guys that you battle during the game.

Owen wanted to play basketball again this year.  We were not too excited about it since last year was not the best experience for us, but since he wanted to we figured we would give it another chance.  This year there are only 1st and 2nd graders on the team (PreK and K are in a different league).  Chris is assisting this year, and Beki was looking forward to sitting in the bleachers, but she ended up running the scoreboard for this game (hence no video).

Owen played for two quarters (8 min each).  He didn't make any baskets during the game, but he made a few when we were warming up.  He is pretty good a dribbling and passing.  He didn't whine AT ALL the whole time (really impressed).  He seemed to have a good time too.  This year I hope will be better then last year.  Last year things were WAY too competitive for 4-7 year olds; when the parents are screaming at their kid to steal the ball from the PreK little girl because she isn't good a dribbling, things are not fun anymore.  There are a grand total of six games this year and everything will be done by mid-February.  

Owen was sick all week

Not much happened this week because the boy got sick last Saturday and was down for the count for 4 days - right through New Year's Eve and New Year's Day - so there was no partying like it was 1999!  We did venture out on New Year's Day to start a new family tradition - breakfast at IHOP in our pajamas (courtesy of Uncle Kevin this year - THANKS!!!).  The place was packed, but it was worth it.  We then took down all the Christmas decor and packed it away for the next 11 months.  Our house looks bare and empty, but we are adapting.  Chris headed back to work on 2 Jan - yes, cruel.  Beki and Owen were home for 2 more days getting Owen back on his feet and not coughing so much that he couldn't sleep.  Finally on Friday, everyone headed back to school, even though no one wanted to. 

Owen opening his late Christmas present from Weston - he was pretty happy!  Thanks Weston!!  Now we have few more books to read on the way to school every morning.

This is how our door looked right before we took down everything on New Year's Day.  We are truly blessed to know so many wonderful people.

Hope you all had a good New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.