{"id":161,"date":"2008-12-24T16:32:58","date_gmt":"2008-12-24T20:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scheumann.us\/blog\/?p=161"},"modified":"2009-05-31T17:02:39","modified_gmt":"2009-05-31T21:02:39","slug":"over-the-river-and-through-the-woods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/?p=161","title":{"rendered":"Over the River and Through the Woods&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>This week started off nicely, as I won again on the Y-106 Buzz McKay morning show?s ?<\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.y106.com\/mornings.asp\"><font size=3>Lyrical Nonsense<\/font><\/a><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3>.??? <span>&nbsp;<\/span>The trivia question was, ?What Queen song mentions Peter Pan and income tax????<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The answer of course is Bicycle Race.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>This was the fifth time I?ve won in the last year!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>We got movie tickets with popcorn and sodas to boot!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>At school, Matt?s homeroom was involved in a kickball tourney this 9 weeks, as they play a weekly game against the other homerooms at school.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>His class made it to the finals on Monday and won by a landslide to gain the title of kickball champs of Greensburg Jr. High!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>I think he was more proud of that accomplishment than his two basketball victories last week.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Abby lost another tooth and is working on getting another one out as I type this entry.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Luke was so excited about his Christmas party at pre-school.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>He talked about it the entire week!<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>The weather continued to be really crummy, as it again precipitated each day again this week.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The worst part was that we still don?t have any snow accumulation yet.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Instead, we got freezing rain and lots of ice and wind.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>You can?t sled on freezing rain!!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>It got so bad in the middle of the week that they cancelled classes on Wednesday due to the poor road conditions that had deteriorated greatly during the overnight hours.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Lukey was upset that he couldn?t go to school?but Matt and Bu were thrilled to go to Grandma?s house for the day!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>It was a little tricky driving; but nothing that I couldn?t handle ? thanks to my days of driving in those cold LaPorte winters.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>You know, if it?s going to be this cold, we could at least get some snow so we could go out sledding?<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>Thursday night, Matt had a home basketball game vs. <\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/sunmandearborn.k12.in.us\/sdms\/\"><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>Sunman-Dearborn<\/font><\/a><font size=3><font face=\"Times New Roman\">.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The kids were in it through the first quarter, as a three-pointer at the buzzer went in to tie the game at 9.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>At halftime, they trailed by five.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>By the time the fourth quarter started, they were out of it and the game ended mercilessly with the Pirates getting beaten by around 20 points by the Trojans.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The 8<sup>th<\/sup> graders also got the beat-down in the second game of the night, as Sunman just hammered both teams.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Matt had limited playing time as again the A team sent down an extra three players for the game.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Matt played well as he went 0-2 (one was actually a travel, where ?I jumped, but just forgot to shoot!???<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span>J<\/span><\/span><font face=\"Times New Roman\">)<span>&nbsp; <\/span>from the field with two rebounds, another steal and 1 foul that saved an easy basket in about six minutes of floor time.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=3><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=MattBballSun1 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun1.jpg\" width=500 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=MattBball2 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun2.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=MattBballSun3 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun3.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=MattBballSun4 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun4.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=MattBballSun5 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun5.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=MattBballSun6 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun6.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=MattBballSun7 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun7.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=MattBballSun8 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun8.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=MattBballSun9 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBballSun9.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=MattBball10 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/MattBball10.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=3><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><span>&nbsp; <\/span>We woke up Friday to cold, wet weather which netted over another inch of rain.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>It started off in the high twenties at 6 am.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>By noon, it was in the low 60?s with wicked wind advisories that caused us to lose electricity briefly a few times at work.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>By the time we woke up Saturday morning, it was again in the upper twenties.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Friday night, Matt attended a dance at the armory and was all smiles when he got home.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Ann and I thought it was funny to hear all the Jr. High drama Matt talked about.<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span>J<\/span><\/span><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><span>&nbsp; <\/span>He was a bit coy about meeting a girl but received numerous texts after the dance and again on Saturday.<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span>J<\/span><\/span><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><span>&nbsp; <\/span>While Matt was away, we had family night with pizza and a movie.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>This week, we chose to watch Dr. Seuss? <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0060345\/\">How the Grinch Stole Christmas<\/em> <\/i>(which is one of Ann?s faves!).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>On Saturday, Matt had practice and then joined Luke and I at cleaning the house as the girls went to Greenwood to p\/u last minute Christmas gifts and to exchange the Wii Guitar Hero World Tour at <\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bestbuy.com\/site\/olspage.jsp?skuId=8872437&amp;st=guitar+hero+would+tour&amp;type=product&amp;id=1210377485124\"><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>Best Buy<\/font><\/a><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3>.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>This time the drums worked!!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Matt is really good at the drums portion of the game (go figure!).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Abby had her friend Megan over for dinner that night and all 4 of the kids enjoyed playing together ? as Ann bought an additional guitar while she was up there!<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>Sunday we got up early and headed north to my old stomping grounds in Lafayette. <span>&nbsp; <\/span>It was good to go home and see everyone.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>We first went to Grandma &amp; Grandpa Scheu?s cabin on Wildcat Creek.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, this has become merely an <em>annual<\/em> pilgrimage.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>When we were younger, we?d make it up there several times a year.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>However, for the past few years, it seems we?ve only gotten busier and busier?<span>&nbsp; <\/span>It was so freakin? cold the entire day.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>It was 5? in Greensburg when we left town and by the time we got up to Tippecanoe County it was 2?.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Up at the cabin, it was an even zero; with a wind chill of -26?!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>We tried to walk around the property, but it was a short tour.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Barb made her patented egg casserole and we chatted for a long while before opening presents.<span>&nbsp; Luke was the present tattler, as he whispered in Grandpa&#8217;s ear what he got before he opened it!&nbsp; <\/span>Dad showed me a picture from his 60<sup>th<\/sup> birthday.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Uncle John held an event at one of his <\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.coyotecrossinggolf.com\/\"><font size=3>golf courses<\/font><\/a><font size=3><font face=\"Times New Roman\"> and invited Fuzzy Zoeller and John Daly!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Dad?s photo is of the three of them&#8230;towards the end when they?d all had a few cocktails.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The kids were wild and since they couldn?t play outside, we decided to head over to John &amp; June?s house for the Scheu family Christmas party a little earlier than anticipated. <\/font><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span>J<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=3><img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=PapawScheugolf1 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/PapawScheuGolf1.jpg\" width=500 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas1 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas1.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas2 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas2.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas3 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas3.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas4 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas4.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas5 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas5.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas6 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas6.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas8 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas8.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas9 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas9.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas10 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas10.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas11 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas11.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas12 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas12.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas13 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas13.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas14 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas14.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas15 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas15.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas16 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas16.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas17 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas17.jpg\" width=500 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=Scheu18 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas18.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/font><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><font size=3><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><span>&nbsp; <\/span>As usual, we had a blast.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>?and even though several folks were absent this year; it was a lot of fun to see those that did brave the elements.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>John and June had celebrated their 40<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary via a surprise party the previous night, so everyone was a little more reserved than usual!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Uncle John (looking quite svelte) made Dad &amp; I homemade Bloody Marys&#8217; when we got there and we chatted and snacked while we waited for the others to arrive.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Aunt Juney had lunch catered as she, ?Didn?t feel like cooking on my 40<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary.???<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><span style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings\"><span>J<\/span><\/span><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><span>&nbsp; <\/span>Lunch was great and there was so much food (as always).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>The kids and I enjoyed playing downstairs against various cousins in foosball, ping pong and pool.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Dad and I especially enjoyed spanking Chris and Daniel in a game of doubles pool!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>I couldn?t help but think back to the days (30 years ago) when Dad first taught me how to play pool at the K of C?s on Sunday afternoons (except this time, I was carrying him!).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>This year?s party was actually much tamer than in years past, especially compared to when they were held at John &amp; June?s old house on Lingle Ave.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Those were crazy times with 30 little kids ripping open hundreds of presents down in the basement!<span>&nbsp; <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>The highlight was, of course, seeing Granny Scheu.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>She was very lucid and had a great conversation with Ann and I.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Although she?s wheel chair-bound these days, she still looks great as she heads for another birthday next month (93 I believe?)!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>As for who attended this year ? let?s go in order of the oldest to youngest in the old farts? club:<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Sue didn?t make it up from Texas, but we had Vicky, Daniel &amp; Seth (missing Jackie and her family &amp; Billy &amp; Blancha).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Chuck &amp; Cindy were absent as well, as Chuck had a health scare.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Dad said he is doing better, but we sure hope he gets back to his usual, ornery self soon!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Also missing were Kathy &amp; Tom and of course David and his family.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Dad, Barb &amp; the five of us were there.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>John &amp; June, Barney &amp; Steph (and their 3 kids ? Haley is as beautiful as her mother and Nick &amp; Ryan are both over six feet and still growing!); Kimmy (who?s now the loveliest grandmother I?ve ever met) and her 5 boys (missing Chuck); Lindsey (up from Raleigh, NC) and Olga were also there. <span>&nbsp;<\/span>Sally &amp; Scottie (who looked great?) and Chris &amp; Trisha (&amp; their 4 kids) were there (missing Jason &amp; Erika and their children again).<span>&nbsp; <\/span>?And Mary &amp; Bob (and their boys) were unable to make it up from Florida this year.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Uncle John has the NFL package through Dish TV, so we were able to flip through all twelve games throughout the afternoon which was very cool!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>On our way home, I couldn?t help but take the long way, going through the old neighborhood, including a drive-by of our old house on Shortridge St. (which looks better than it has in the past decade), <\/font><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lafayettejeff.org\/build_the_future\/scheumann.htm\"><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>John B Scheumann Stadium<\/font><\/a><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3> and the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.geocities.com\/tomsparksidedeli\/The_Parkside_Deli.html\"><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>Parkside Deli<\/font><\/a><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas19 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas19.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas20 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas20.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas21 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas21.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas22 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas22.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas23 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas23.jpg\" width=500 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas24 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas24.jpg\" width=500 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas25 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas25.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas26 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas26.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=ScheuXmas27 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas27.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=ScheuXmas28 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/ScheuXmas28.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3><\/font>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3><span>&nbsp; <\/span>Let?s turn on the Waybac machine ? Christmas version?<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>First up, we have a picture of Christmas morning 1985-ish in LaPorte.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=WayBackMachine029 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/WayBackMachine029.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3><\/font>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>Next up are a couple more pictures from ?72 at Granny?s house on Highland in Lafayette. <span>&nbsp; <\/span>I especially like seeing a picture of David!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>Nice pants Kathy!!<span>&nbsp; <\/span>You think Mary?s proud of that Spitz poster??<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=WayBackMachine189 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/WayBackMachine189.jpg\" width=300 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" height=400 alt=WayBackMachine190 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/WayBackMachine190.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/p>\n<p><span><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3><\/font><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>Here?s a picture of Matt and Gigi, here at our house when we first moved in, circa ?01.<span>&nbsp; <\/span>We still have that old hockey table around here somewhere?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=WayBackMachine217 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/WaybackMachine217.JPG\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3><\/font>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3>And we finish up this week?s round with a classic picture of Granny in her kitchen on Highland.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" height=300 alt=WayBackMachine192 src=\"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/BlogPhotos\/WayBackMachine192.jpg\" width=400 border=0 alt=\"Image\" \/> <\/p>\n<p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=3>&nbsp;<\/font><font face=\"Times New Roman\"><font size=3>&nbsp;We want to thank Uncle John &amp; Aunt June for another great Christmas party and we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope its warmer where you are!<span>&nbsp; (Or that you at least have some snow!!!)<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<p><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; This week started off nicely, as I won again on the Y-106 Buzz McKay morning show?s ?Lyrical Nonsense.??? &nbsp;The trivia question was, ?What Queen song mentions Peter Pan and income tax????&nbsp; The answer of course is Bicycle Race.&nbsp; This was the fifth time I?ve won in the last year!&nbsp; We got movie tickets with popcorn and sodas to boot!&nbsp; At school, Matt?s homeroom was involved in a kickball tourney this 9 weeks, as they play a weekly game against the other homerooms at school.&nbsp; His class made it to the finals on Monday and won by a landslide to gain the title of kickball champs of Greensburg Jr. High!&nbsp; I think he was more proud of that accomplishment than his two basketball victories last week.&nbsp; Abby lost another tooth and is working on getting another one out as I type this entry.&nbsp; Luke was so excited about his Christmas party at pre-school.&nbsp; He talked about it the entire week!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; The weather continued to be really crummy, as it again precipitated each day again this week.&nbsp; The worst part was that we still don?t have any snow accumulation yet.&nbsp; Instead, we got freezing rain and lots of ice and wind.&nbsp; You can?t sled on freezing rain!!&nbsp; It got so bad in the middle of the week that they cancelled classes on Wednesday due to the poor road conditions that had deteriorated greatly during the overnight hours.&nbsp; Lukey was upset that he couldn?t go to school?but Matt and Bu were thrilled to go to Grandma?s house for the day!&nbsp; It was a little tricky driving; but nothing that I couldn?t handle ? thanks to my days of driving in those cold LaPorte winters.&nbsp; You know, if it?s going to be this cold, we could at least get some snow so we could go out sledding?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; Thursday night, Matt had a home basketball game vs. Sunman-Dearborn.&nbsp; The kids were in it through the first quarter, as a three-pointer at the buzzer went in to tie the game at 9.&nbsp; At halftime, they trailed by five.&nbsp; By the time the fourth quarter started, they were out of it and the game ended mercilessly with the Pirates getting beaten by around 20 points by the Trojans.&nbsp; The 8th graders also got the beat-down in the second game of the night, as Sunman just hammered both teams.&nbsp; Matt had limited playing time as again the A team sent down an extra three players for the game.&nbsp; Matt played well as he went 0-2 (one was actually a travel, where ?I jumped, but just forgot to shoot!???&nbsp; J)&nbsp; from the field with two rebounds, another steal and 1 foul that saved an easy basket in about six minutes of floor time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; We woke up Friday to cold, wet weather which netted over another inch of rain.&nbsp; It started off in the high twenties at 6 am.&nbsp; By noon, it was in the low 60?s with wicked wind advisories that caused us to lose electricity briefly a few times at work.&nbsp; By the time we woke up Saturday morning, it was again in the upper twenties.&nbsp; Friday night, Matt attended a dance at the armory and was all smiles when he got home.&nbsp; Ann and I thought it was funny to hear all the Jr. High drama Matt talked about.&nbsp; J&nbsp; He was a bit coy about meeting a girl but received numerous texts after the dance and again on Saturday.&nbsp; J&nbsp; While Matt was away, we had family night with pizza and a movie.&nbsp; This week, we chose to watch Dr. Seuss? How the Grinch Stole Christmas (which is one of Ann?s faves!).&nbsp; On Saturday, Matt had practice and then joined Luke and I at cleaning the house as the girls went to Greenwood to p\/u last minute Christmas gifts and to exchange the Wii Guitar Hero World Tour at Best Buy.&nbsp; This time the drums worked!!&nbsp; Matt is really good at the drums portion of the game (go figure!).&nbsp; Abby had her friend Megan over for dinner that night and all 4 of the kids enjoyed playing together ? as Ann bought an additional guitar while she was up there!&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; Sunday we got up early and headed north to my old stomping grounds in Lafayette. &nbsp; It was good to go home and see everyone.&nbsp; We first went to Grandma &amp; Grandpa Scheu?s cabin on Wildcat Creek.&nbsp; Sadly, this has become merely an annual pilgrimage.&nbsp; When we were younger, we?d make it up there several times a year.&nbsp; However, for the past few years, it seems we?ve only gotten busier and busier?&nbsp; It was so freakin? cold the entire day.&nbsp; It was 5? in Greensburg when we left town and by the time we got up to Tippecanoe County it was 2?.&nbsp; Up at the cabin, it was an even zero; with a wind chill of -26?!&nbsp; We tried to walk around the property, but it was a short tour.&nbsp; Barb made her patented egg casserole and we chatted for a long while before opening presents.&nbsp; Luke was the present tattler, as he whispered in Grandpa&#8217;s ear what he got before he opened it!&nbsp; Dad showed me a picture from his 60th birthday.&nbsp; Uncle John held an event at one of his golf courses and invited Fuzzy Zoeller and John Daly!&nbsp; Dad?s photo is of the three of them&#8230;towards the end when they?d all had a few cocktails.&nbsp; The kids were wild and since they couldn?t play outside, we decided to head over to John &amp; June?s house for the Scheu family Christmas party a little earlier than anticipated. J<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; As usual, we had a blast.&nbsp; ?and even though several folks were absent this year; it was a lot of fun to see those that did brave the elements.&nbsp; John and June had celebrated their 40th anniversary via a surprise party the previous night, so everyone was a little more reserved than usual!&nbsp; Uncle John (looking quite svelte) made Dad &amp; I homemade Bloody Marys&#8217; when we got there and we chatted and snacked while we waited for the others to arrive.&nbsp; Aunt Juney had lunch catered as she, ?Didn?t feel like cooking on my 40th anniversary.???&nbsp; J&nbsp; Lunch was great and there was so much food (as always).&nbsp; The kids and I enjoyed playing downstairs against various cousins in foosball, ping pong and pool.&nbsp; Dad and I especially enjoyed spanking Chris and Daniel in a game of doubles pool!&nbsp; I couldn?t help but think back to the days (30 years ago) when Dad first taught me how to play pool at the K of C?s on Sunday afternoons (except this time, I was carrying him!).&nbsp; This year?s party was actually much tamer than in years past, especially compared to when they were held at John &amp; June?s old house on Lingle Ave.&nbsp; Those were crazy times with 30 little kids ripping open hundreds of presents down in the basement!&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; The highlight was, of course, seeing Granny Scheu.&nbsp; She was very lucid and had a great conversation with Ann and I.&nbsp; Although she?s wheel chair-bound these days, she still looks great as she heads for another birthday next month (93 I believe?)!&nbsp; As for who attended this year ? let?s go in order of the oldest to youngest in the old farts? club:&nbsp; Sue didn?t make it up from Texas, but we had Vicky, Daniel &amp; Seth (missing Jackie and her family &amp; Billy &amp; Blancha).&nbsp; Chuck &amp; Cindy were absent as well, as Chuck had a health scare.&nbsp; Dad said he is doing better, but we sure hope he gets back to his usual, ornery self soon!&nbsp; Also missing were Kathy &amp; Tom and of course David and his family.&nbsp; Dad, Barb &amp; the five of us were there.&nbsp; John &amp; June, Barney &amp; Steph (and their 3 kids ? Haley is as beautiful as her mother and Nick &amp; Ryan are both over six feet and still growing!); Kimmy (who?s now the loveliest grandmother I?ve ever met) and her 5 boys (missing Chuck); Lindsey (up from Raleigh, NC) and Olga were also there. &nbsp;Sally &amp; Scottie (who looked great?) and Chris &amp; Trisha (&amp; their 4 kids) were there (missing Jason &amp; Erika and their children again).&nbsp; ?And Mary &amp; Bob (and their boys) were unable to make it up from Florida this year.&nbsp; Uncle John has the NFL package through Dish TV, so we were able to flip through all twelve games throughout the afternoon which was very cool!&nbsp; On our way home, I couldn?t help but take the long way, going through the old neighborhood, including a drive-by of our old house on Shortridge St. (which looks better than it has in the past decade), John B Scheumann Stadium and the Parkside Deli.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; Let?s turn on the Waybac machine ? Christmas version?<\/p>\n<p>First up, we have a picture of Christmas morning 1985-ish in LaPorte.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Next up are a couple more pictures from ?72 at Granny?s house on Highland in Lafayette. &nbsp; I especially like seeing a picture of David!&nbsp; Nice pants Kathy!!&nbsp; You think Mary?s proud of that Spitz poster??<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here?s a picture of Matt and Gigi, here at our house when we first moved in, circa ?01.&nbsp; We still have that old hockey table around here somewhere?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And we finish up this week?s round with a classic picture of Granny in her kitchen on Highland.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;We want to thank Uncle John &amp; Aunt June for another great Christmas party and we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope its warmer where you are!&nbsp; (Or that you at least have some snow!!!)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9vDKm-2B","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}