Hi guys…man, what a fast week this one was! It’s nice to finally have a few moments to quickly reflect on all that we’ve done. Monday started off with Matt’s basketball team kicking off its regular season at home against archrival North Decatur Chargers. The boys played tough but ultimately lost 18-13 in a game that came right down to the final seconds. We had the ball, down three, with 20 seconds to play. However, the in-bounds pass was stolen and that was the end of the game. Matt learned a lot that game in limited playing time, as he was in for about a quarter and a half. He was 0-1 from the floor with 2 rebounds and 1 assist. We left there and went to the last half of Abby’s tap class. She appears to be doing well, as is the entire class. This year’s tap class is again a competition class and she is excited to compete again this spring.
Tuesday night, we were back at the junior high again. This time, it was for Matt playing in the Pep Band during the 8th grade game. He did very well with the percussion instruments, but was disappointed he wasn’t behind the drum kit. He had a little blow up with the teacher afterward and decided he was ready to quit not only Pep Band, but band altogether. We encouraged him that he had to stick out band until the end of the 9 weeks, but could quit at that time if he still wanted to get out. Pep Band was something he was doing voluntarily and it was his choice to stay or go…but he had to give it ‘til the weekend before he made a final decision. As of today, he is OK with staying in band but is undecided with pep band. At halftime of the game, the local dance troupe (headed up by our babysitter, Brandy) had their first performance. Included on the dance team is Brandy’s daughter, Kayla, who often sits for Luke when Brandy is unavailable.
Wednesday, Ann went scrap-booking with the girls and got home late. The boys brought home their school pictures and the oldest ones brought home midterms. Abby has all A’s and B’s. Matt also had A’s & B’s with the exception of a D in (of all things)…band. Needless to say, we had a very long talk about band… On a brighter note, Matt is really starting to like basketball. He was unsure if he wanted to do b-ball or wrestling (even as recent as a couple weeks ago). But he’s now starting to get in to it. He’s at a funny age, as he doesn’t want to shower nude in front of the other boys; so he wears a swimsuit after games to shower. I can remember how awkward that age was and don’t envy him. I remember the showers at PE and football; the weigh-ins for wrestling…it was all quite terrifying. If you know Matt, you know that he doesn’t like to wear button- or collared shirts. However, for away games, they all have to wear nice clothes, so that has been an adjustment. Coach Green has done a great job of teaching the kids more than just basketball, as Matt is starting to become more responsible as well.
Thursday, we were back on the road again. As Grandma & Gigi watched Lukey and took Bu to her jazz / hip-hop class, Ann and I headed to North Vernon to watch Matt’s team take on the Jennings County middle school Panthers. Matt played center…and just as in football, he drew the guy a foot taller than himself! J He did better this game, making his only shot…but was called for traveling (doh!). He also had a couple rebounds and did well with his passes and picks. The team ended up losing pretty bad, 27-18. His coach is our neighbor, Dave Green. He has ridden with him a couple times to practices and has learned more about basketball this year already than he has in all his previous seasons of ball put together.
On Friday, I took the day off from CBC and taught Ann’s staff CPR. We had a great turnout. It was definitely the most fun I’ve ever had with a class! Those girls are ornery! J Ann & I went out to eat at Arni’s to celebrate, as I made enough that day to pay for most of our Christmas presents this year! Later that night, we surprised the kids by taking them to Columbus to watch the Q-Mix Christmas fireworks. Luke was sound asleep by the time we got home and didn’t wake up until about 8 am the next morning.
Saturday, we took down all the fall decorations and put up our Christmas stuff. This made Ann and the kids very happy. It turned in to an all-day event. Luke got to put on the first ornament, but Matt had the true honor this year…putting up the last one (an annual honor reserved for the ugly orange bulb)! J The kids really enjoyed decorating the tree, but we can’t believe the status of this stupid tree. We paid a good amount of money to Sears for a pre-lit tree (it was supposed to take the cussing out of Christmas!). However, the tree is only in its fourth season and late last year, we started having trouble with a couple branches not lighting up. This year, about ¾ of the tree won’t light. So, we ended up running three other strands to make it look presentable. We decided not to put out quite as much this year as we have in years past; but somehow less looks better… Lola isn’t quite sure what to think. She checked out the tree pretty heavily last night. She’s mad because the tree sets in the front window, where she would normally sit for hours each day, looking out at all the action from the back of our chair. She’s gotten a hold of two ornaments so far, not sure if they are for her or what… So, we may have to keep her in the kitchen while we’re at work…we’ll see…
All right, that’s our weekly wrap-up; now let’s turn on the Waybac Machine…
First up, we have a pair of pictures with one of his buddies, Bryce Logsdon. Matt has played ball with him at all levels in several different sports, including baseball, football, basketball and soccer since they were 4 years old. He is currently also on Matt’s basketball team. The first one is from the summer of 2003 at the Decatur County Youth Sports Complex. The second is from the fall of 2002 at the Washington soccer fields.
Next up are a couple from our last trip to Disney World in Orlando, FL.
Here’s Matt in 2003:
Next up are a couple pictures of Matt with his favorite sister. The first is from 2002 and the second is from 2001:
Here are a couple pictures of Matt with Grandma & Gigi. The first is from right around Christmas time in 1997 – an outtake from our first family portrait session, taken at Greensburg Camera. The other is from 1998 at his 2nd birthday party. What a thrill it was for us to have all 3 sets of parents in for the occasion!
Next up is a funny story. This was taken during out first trip to Holiday World. We had a great day; but just as evening was approaching, it began to rain. Then it began to storm. The thunder and lightning was awful. The parking lot was flooded with about 8 inches of water! Matt was so nervous that he actually puked outside the minivan! We were soaked to the bone. I drove home in nothing but my underwear and MaryAnn had to change out of her clothes, leaving a butt-print on the inside window in the back that is still visible to this day!! J We never laughed so hard in all our lives and had a rather enjoyable ride home; despite being cold and wet…this was in 2000.
Here is a cute picture of Matt at his 2nd Easter. This is at our current house when Grandma & Gigi were still living here in 1997.
Next we have a great picture of Ann with Lukey & Megan in 2005, as Megan screams at Luke for touching her balloon! She was so funny about her balloons…
Here is the first picture of Lukey in our home. We had just walked in the door from the hospital with him and the kids were so excited that they both wanted to hold him. So they took turns holding and entertaining him. This would obviously be in June of 2003.
Next is a picture of Daddy with his ponytail. This would have been during the summer of 1999 at Matt’s first year of t-ball out at the YMCA.
Next is another take of Bu’s Easter pictures from 2002; again at Kevin’s studio at Greensburg Camera up on the square:
Here is a great picture of th ladies on the Owens side of our the family. This one looks like it was taken at the Olive Garden in Greenwood in 2005.
We finish up with the final installment of Aunt Sharon’s pictures (I’m ready for more now, Shar!! J). This is also the first run of several photos I will feature in the next month, focusing on Christmas through the years. The first one is from the 1983 Bryan Christmas. This one was taken in their living room in Kokomo. The second one is from the 1998 Bryan Christmas at Vird & Belinda’s house in Indy. The third pic is from the 1982 Bryan Christmas at our Rockwood St. home in LaPorte.
We are looking forward to a long holiday weekend next week and hope everyone has a relaxing Thanksgiving. Happy Turkey Day, everybody…and go Cowboys!!