Winter fun

Joel's basketball team has finished for the year, but they had a great season - Go Chargers.  (Joel has the neon camouflage shorts on...so he can hide - no where!)  I would hate to be defended by him - relentless!

 A piece of Matthew's art was selected for an art festival - called Art Share at the local bank.  I realized in 6th grade art class that my math-science son had a hidden talent. (His art is the black and white drawing to the left of his head.)  He was able to squeeze in 2 art classes in high school.

 Anna's basketball team is still going strong - Go Ducks.  Her team (except for Anna and 2 others) could be re-named Ball Hogs.  When they get the ball they don't ever pass.  Anna doesn't seem to mind and always likes to go to practice and games, so it is just a mom-gripe!

Here she is making a shot, perhaps after a rebound.

 She is a good guard.

 Carolyn, Anna and I celebrated Matthew's 6th annual solo and ensemble festival.  In high school he has attended Perry Band Olympics, but even in 6th grade (when it was just at the middle school) we always went out after to enjoy some culinary delights.  There is an especially neat refurbished hotel in Perry that has this small, neatly decorated restaurant with excellent food.

 Anna has asked, since the dawn of time....I mean this winter....to go ice skating.  (She has gone twice before and loved it.)  Today was the day as temperatures were in the 50s.  Even after I ditched my skates (rental skates are like a blade on a tight piece of wood strapped to your foot), she continued to enjoy.  She might have stayed another hour or two if I was willing.  Carolyn was babysitting at church, Matthew pushing carts at HyVee and Joel and Ken -- see below.  That is why it was an outing for just the two of us!

 Troop 188 went just south of Minneapolis skiing.  I wasn't too hip on Joel going, but Ken chaperoned, so I chose not to worry and sent them off.  A good time was had by all and every bone stayed in one piece.

Valentines Day Climb

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Ken and I went rock-climbing and then mall-walking until dinner time!  This was followed by a delicious meal at BoneFish Grill...yum

 I thought the hardest thing was the pressure on my hands, then loss of strength when I got closer to the top.  (there was also a bit of fear at that point, although I wasn't scared I would fall - it just felt very high)

 

 Coming Down

 This is where I said, "I don't know where else to put my foot."....This also might have been as high as I reached.  I never touched the top.

 Ken always reached the top.

 We will definitely be back.  We will take the belay course (although Ken already knows how due to scouts) and then bring the kids.  I like Climb Iowa, where we went, because they have auto belay, which is what we used during our first outing.  If it was up to me, every place would have auto belay.  It feels so secure - because there can be no human error and it has 40 lbs of pressure, that also helps make things a bit easier.

Here is our Edible Arrangement, missing were all the chocolate covered strawberries that were eaten pretty quickly! (photo-bomb courtesy of Matthew)

It's a small world after all.

Today I was at a meeting and ran into a lady that I thought looked very familiar.  (I thought she went to my church.)  She didn't, but when we were discussing it, she meant to ask "Where do you live in Ankeny?", but asked "Where do you live in Newburgh?"  So then I said "Newburgh Indiana?" and we went back and forth.

She just moved from Newburgh 18 months ago.  She said her kids went to Sharron and I said we were in the Castle neighborhood.  Then I mentioned my street, Briarcliff, and she said - "that's where we built our house in 2000".  (Her kids were grown, so they didn't go to Castle.)  When I looked up her address on Google maps (satellite view) she lived 4 doors down on the opposite side of the road!  Cool huh?

It is possible, she just looked familiar because we attend meetings together, but I am sure glad we started talking.

Eagle Project - Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Clean-up

Matthew brought a crew to Chichaqua (A Polk County Nature Preserve) to clean an island of invasive species.  There were 6-8 scouts and 4-5 dads plus Anna and me.  Those scouts (and dads esp.) worked hard and created 4 gigantic piles of brush to dry out then be burned.  

 Joel pitched it.

Ken took one for the team on his face!  (thorns - nasty)

 I mostly didn't want Anna to get hurt or fall it the water, but she did a great job too.  (Carolyn had show choir practice.)

Here is Matthew at one of MANY (but probably under 10) trips to Chichaqua to get the project in order.  At one point he considered rebuilding a bridge (not the one in the picture obviously), but it would have required taking out and building a bridge WHEN weather permitted.  When we first investigated it was under water. Too hard and too much unknown for an Eagle Project

 Matthew has pretty much checked out of scouts of late, but he needs to finish 2 badges (Physical Fitness and Family.)  He has done the family project - just needs to jump through some hoops (figuratively) and ride his bike and do some sit ups (literally).  Go Matthew!

Joel just moved up in rank too!  He think he just got his Star rank - but I am not sure....plus I know he almost has all the requirements for the next rank - yeah!  I want him done before he is a busy Junior in high-school (which is when Matthew will hopefully be done!)

Caucus Time!

Last Tuesday, Ken and I proudly stood in line in the snow to attend the Iowa Caucus.  It was fantastic - really made you proud to be an American.  (Although I still think Iowa should hold a primary like the rest of the country.....we would get more turn out.  Although, that said, our part of the state turned out in droves.  It was fun to see the neighbors.)

Here is Ken holding his ballot!