Drink a few Beers, Bowl a few Frames

OK; let’s try this again…like a dumbass, I accidentally deleted the post I had worked on for several hours Sunday afternoon / evening. I’m literally and figuratively sick to my stomach as I write this…I can’t believe I just did that… So, although it won’t be as good as the previous one, here is my attempt to regain what I deleted. Too bad WordPress doesn’t have one of those magical *undelete* buttons!!
This week, a change in the season appeared as we were inundated with cooler weather, fog and lots and lots of rain this week. The two oldest kids received their ISTEP tests and midterms this week. I am pleased to say that we were quite happy with them on most accounts. As for ISTEP testing, both children scored high marks, with everything up near the coveted �pass-plus??? status and Abby actually achieving it math!! Way to go, Bu! As for midterms, we couldn�t get Matt to bring them home for several days (however, we are able to see them online anyhow). Matt had all B�s and a couple A�s. Abby had all A�s except for one B+�in math of all things!!
On Monday, we were back to the status quo�Matt in football, Luke in soccer and Abby in dance. That night, Matt & I (and Ann, although she won’t admit it!) enjoyed watching the Colts win on Monday Night Football. We were amazed at Payton Manning. He is a one-of-a-kind-type of player and he was incredible that night. He and the offense only had the ball less than 15 minutes…and they won! The game was on pretty late and the next morning, Ann was really grumpy! 😛 On Tuesday, Matt had a home game against the East Central Trojans. Although it had not rained much all day, when the eighth graders took the field, the skies opened up. Ann is still driving an aqua Grand Caravan, which is on loan from Acra�s who are STILL performing service on her Pacifica. Yes, they are still making repairs on that damn thing…they say it might be ready next week, but I�m not holding my breath. Anyhow, so she�s had this temporary van since before Labor Day; and because we don�t have her main car, we didn�t have any umbrellas either; they are still in the Pacifica from our trip to Cincinnati back in the summer. So there we were, sitting in the bleachers when it begins to rain. Thankfully, we have very nice friends and both Ann and I were able to secure umbrellas for the game. Ann�s anniversary presents had come in earlier in the day. She received accessories for our main camera, an Olympus E-500 SLR. I got her a replacement small lens (which I dropped and broke while singing happy birthday to Abby last week). She also received a lens she�s been wanting for over a year now. It is a telescoping lens that zooms to an amazing equivalent of 600mm! She also received a 2 gig data card and backup battery for her camera as well� The new lens made its debut at Matt�s game that night.
The Pirates have obviously not had much practice playing in the rain. We looked terrible. We couldn�t tackle to save our lives and we had no way to stop their end-arounds because we couldn�t keep outside containment. The defense did pretty good for about 80% of their plays�however, that other 20% accounted for 90% of their total yardage. They had 5 or 6 plays that were over 50 yards. We scored 4 TD�s; which would win most games�but we gave up 7. Matt did not have any penalties and no issues with the center exchange. Way to go, Scheu! The coaching staff continues to add in more long snaps; even with a slick ball, Matt did a great job of getting the ball to the QB in the rain.

On Wednesday, Ann and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. It was also Keith�s birthday, Grandpa Scheumann�s birthday and Aunt Sharon�s birthday! I called and left a message for Dad, but didn�t get a chance to call him back. Sorry, Dad! Ann spoke to Keith that night, but no one called Sharon. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to say, “Happy Birthday, Aunt Sharon!” 🙂 Ann took the day off to go with Luke on a class field trip to the apple orchard (High Point Orchard & Farm Market). Ann had fun chaperoning the kids and Luke loved being with his best friend Alex all day! Ann was supposed to go to Bunko with her friends that night, but wasn�t feeling very well and cancelled. That allowed me to go mow Mom & Gigi�s house real quick by myself. Matt went out with one of his buddies to a church function. Since the rain was holding off, I went ahead and mowed here at home as well. It was dark by the time I finished up but it felt pretty good to know I could still do both yards back to back.

On Thursday, both Luke�s and Abby�s practices were cancelled due to the foul weather. Ann found a website of a local photographer that has been taking pictures at various sporting events around town. His work is very, very good! We only found one of our children – Matt from last week; but we’ll keep an eye on the site to see if there are any put up that are must have’s! 🙂 You can see his site here. Lola has been a stinker this week. She is a little mean to poor little Molly, showing her who rules the roost, I think. Molly follows Lola everywhere – where ever she goes, Molly follows; when Lola barks, eats, runs, craps; Molly barks, eats, runs or craps. It’s funny to watch. Whenever the two of them get together in front of us, however; they end up having to be physically seperated. It always starts off innocently enough but inevitably turns in to rough horseplay on Lola’s part. On Friday, I received a call from Matt around 4 in the afternoon, from the practice field. It was loud and difficult to hear him. He was requesting to be picked up. I couldn�t understand why he was calling me until he said he had �jacked-up (his) shoulder.??? So, I called Ann who was already off work, scrap booking at Mrs. B�s with her friends. I left work and caught up with them at the new urgent care center. The doctor said that the x-rays were negative and that it looked like a bicep sprain. He was fitted with a sling, given some meds and an appointment with physical therapy. He�s a pretty tough kid and he really wants to play on Tuesday against Batesvillep, their rival. Ann and I don�t want him to further injure himself, but on the same note, we don�t want to hold him back if he wants to go. So, we�ll give it 72 hours (Monday afternoon) and see how he feels� Afterward, Ann went back to Mrs. B�s and I took the kids out to Acapulco�or whatever it�s called now. I new remember why we haven�t been there in a while. It wasn�t nearly as good as what it used to be. It is under new management and the menu has changed. This time, they had even began remodeling the inside. The front dining room was finished, but the bar was still under construction. We came home and played a game a Yahtzee before watching a movie. It was Luke�s first game ever and he absolutely destroyed us! He had 2 yahtzee�s and nearly had 4!! He ended with an amazing 396! I�ve never scored that high myself!! He was so excited to finally beat his siblings at something… 😛

On Saturday, we were up early again to get ready for a long morning at the Washington soccer fields. Abby was up first, as we hit the field against a very talented Sunman team (how many great teams do they have??). We were no match for them, as they were bigger, stronger and faster than us�and much more aggressive. They beat us to all the lose balls. Our kids were very courteous to them�obviously not a good way to compete. Abby gave up 2 of their 6 or 7 total goals at goalie. We only had the ball across midfield twice with no shots on goal that I can remember�

Next up was Luke. His team still looks like a bunch of kindergarteners, just kicking the ball as hard as they can and running all over the field. They are very cute and innocent. It just seems that we are lacking that on dominant player that the other teams seem to have� Like Abby�s team, Luke is also on a very young team. Abby is the only player in their second year of U10 and Luke only has 2 players in their second year of U8. Luke had two shots on goal, but could not get it in the net; nor did anyone else and they were shut out again.

We ended the long morning with the second game of Abby�s doubleheader. Abby got to be the captain for the second time this year. This time, they played against the team that Bu wanted to be on; which includes two of her good friends, Emma and Chloe. Abby and the kids played hard, but they were gassed. They held up fairly well until halftime. But by halfway through the third and all of the final quarter, we were too tired to keep up with them. Despite me subbing the kids in and out every 2 – 3 mintues, we got shut out again, 5-0; but we did improve a little over the first game. It hurt us that we weren�t able to practice this past week. We did make some progress this game. Abby didn’t only gave up 1 goal through the first half and we were in it. We simply ran out of steam in the second half… On Tuesday, our other coach (Matt) had to call practice due to lightning (something we didn�t see on the other side of town for whatever reason) and on Thursday, we had to call it due to the monsoon we received that day. At these games, they looked like they hadn�t practiced in a week and a half�I just feel bad that the kids don�t have a coach that can teach them more than I can and can dedicate more time to them than I can�which is why I didn�t want to take this position in the first place. However, I have achieved my own personal goals. I set out this season to have fun, allow the kids to experience playing any position they wanted, try to learn a little something, get in shape and keep enough enthusiasm within them to want to come back out for soccer again next year. The kids verified that for me after our last game. We did get pictures back already; which turned out pretty good this year, I must say�

After the games, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then Luke & I went over to Grandma & Gigi�s house to help them clean out their basement. Afterward, Luke & I spend a few hours pumping water off the cover of the pool from all the rain this week. There was easily 6 � 8??? of rain on it. Meanwhile, Ann took Matt and Bu over to the Parkside bowling alley for Abby’s third and final 10th birthday party. This one was for all of her friends. Ann ended up having to limit it, as she wanted to invite half the school! 🙂 Ann had a very cool cake made by her friend (Amy Ewing)�s mom. It featured bowling pins and a 3-D bowling ball. She ended up having about 2o friends out there with her. Abby had a blast with all of her friends; she even had a couple boys (for the first time) at this year�s party. When Bu came home, she had her friends Emma and Chloe with her and we ordered pizzas for supper. They ran around the neighborhood for a few hours before Emma had to leave. We had Chloe spend the night with her. They had fun sleeping out in the playroom and watching Monsters vs. Aliens (even though it isn�t officially released until next Tuesday). 😉

On Sunday, Abby played inside and out with Chloe and several neighborhood kids. They were back and forth all day. They did their makeup and nails, had a tea party, rode bikes and climbed trees. Ah, the life of a ten-year-old girl! Christi called shortly before lunch and Luke ended up spending the afternoon over at Alex�s house. He was so excited, he kept asking me every 5 minutes if it was �1 o�clock yet???? : ) Chloe�s mom picked up the girls later in the afternoon and took them to the Y to go swimming. However; when they got there, the pool was already closed. 🙁 They ended up going back to Chloe’s house for a few hours, until dinnertime. Matt had better range of motion in his shoulder at dinner and spent most of the day out of the sling, so it must be feeling better. Hopefully, he�ll be able to go for Batesville in a couple days, but only time will tell�

Here is a video for you Mom…wish you could be to the kids’ sporting events, but here is the next best thing:

I still haven�t had a chance to go through any photos yet, but I did get a few pictures from Sandy that she found while cleaning out the basement. In these pix, Abby is about 4 �; taken in May of 2004. Thanks Gigi!! If anyone has any older pictures they�d like to share, you know how to get a hold of me. All pictures are welcome…

Well that�s it for this week. Thanks for keeping up with us and we�ll catch up with you next time. Until then, have a good one. Later, Scheu