{C} back in the game

It's been four days shy of a month that C has been out of commission because of his concussion.

Tonight he was finally able to suit up and play for the basketball team.  He was thrilled but he was also winded and tired, the effect of not being able to even practice for the last month.  He'll get back to playing form soon.

Thought I'd share a video of what his role has been for the past month....

{J & T} tough stuff

I wouldn't mess with this gang....

(J & T at a friend's paint gun party)

The group looks a little less intimidating sans weapons and with the addition of their smiles :)

Date with Brian Regan

Tonight Rich and I had a date to see Brian Regan, live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

(a Christmas gift for Rich from me)

Brian Regan is our favorite comedian and it was fun to hear some of his new routines!

Would highly recommend to anyone!

{C} Varsity Team Trip

C's high school varsity team had their team trip the first week of the year.  They went to to Ojai, California.  They stayed in a huge, resort home, they played two basketball games (vs. Nordoff = win 79-44 and vs. Fillmore = win 78-33), they went horseback riding, they went to Six Flags and they watched UC Santa Barbara play ball.  

When C got concussed (is that a word?) he was really worried that he wouldn't be allowed to go on the trip.  He was cleared to go but was not allowed to play in the games or even practice.  He was also supposed to sit out of the horseback riding and the rides at Six Flags.  He didn't play but didn't so much heed the other restrictions....teenage brain fail!

 I am glad that he was able to go since the trip really unites the team and he feels really close to this year's five seniors.  I'm grateful that, as a team, they have real friendships and that they genuinely support one another.  They really embody teamwork at it's best.

Last year the coaches wife went on the trip and I got hundreds of photos from her (literally hundreds). 

 This year, no wife = no photos. 

 I guess I'm grateful for the few that they took and shared.

Our New Year's Day "ICE" outing

T requested that we go ice skating during the month of December but finding the time in December was nearly impossible so we promised him that we'd make it happen on New Year's day.

J and T haven't been ice skating since they were 2 and 3 years old....so they've "never" been for all intents and purposes.  

Rich isn't an ice skating fan so he was our cheerleader from the side lines.  J &T started out slow and unsteady but we had the motto "It's okay to fall.  It's not okay to stay down" and they took it to heart!

Fall they did.  Stay down, the did not.  They got up time after time and it paid off.

In the end I think one would go ice skating again if the opportunity arises. 

The other would probably be busy (or stay on the sidelines with dad)

{J&T} New Year's Eve

In what feels like a blink of an eye my family has gone from celebrating New Year's Eve together (it is C's birthday after all) to having us go in multiple directions, probably to never go back to those family late-night celebrations again.

This year K and C both had 6:00 a.m. flights to catch the next morning (K was returning to Utah and C was headed out on his Varsity team trip) so late night parties were not on their agenda.  As K's ride to the airport, I was also not interested in seeing midnight.

Gratefully J & T had an invite to hang with friends.  J used his new ice cream maker to make a treat to share (chocolate base with a caramel swirl and brownie chunks - this kid is ice cream gourmet) and they spent the evening with friends playing games and ringing in the New Year.  I think a new tradition has become.

{K} Running out the old and Running in the new

This girl of ours ran 20.19 miles yesterday to celebrate the end of 2019.

(I'm pretty sure I could have eaten 20.19 cookies or done something a lot less painful)

What is as impressive as the distance is the time....a 9:12 average pace is remarkable.  

She is the distance running queen!!!

Today she said she needed to run in the new year but I'm pleased to report that her 2020 inaugural run was 2.020. 

That is my kind of run!