Spring

Elizabeth is driving!  No need to avoid the streets; she is super careful and obeys all laws at all times.  Steven is her eager driving coach, and they venture most days around the neighborhood and the school parking lots.  To the left is the photo of her as she conducted some last-minute studying before taking her permit test; to the right is her photo after earning a 93% on the test her first try!  Happy Sweet Sixteen indeed!

On her actual birthday, as all awesome parents do, we convinced Elizabeth we had found a very special cake recipe on line for her birthday  Mashed potatoes is the primary ingredient.  While she does love mashed potatoes, she was rather unconvinced but kindly, mostly tried to hide her disdain when we brought it to her.  Soon after, we brought out her actual birthday cake, Boston crème cake.  She was much happier.

Steven is once again the Free Throw Champion for all of Production Control at Toyota.  While I am sure he wishes peace for all of you, the two fingers represent his winning 2 years in a row.  All these years after high school and college ball, he is still so amazing at basketball!  Also still an amazing painter; our downstairs walls are now gray.  Steven convinced me that according to the home shows he watches, gray is the new hot color.  It does look fabulous!

As for Michael, he worked super hard on his National History Day project; General George Washington was his selected topic.  His 9th grade high school team won another championship. 

And as his middle school career winds down, I wanted to post the blanket he was presented with after the 8th graders' last basketball game.  When he stands next to it, he almost looks short.  That is the only time he ever looks short anymore.

Finally, I gleefully submitted resignations for all three chair positions I hold.  Here is a sampling of the post-its I joyfully tossed (recycled) after our last faculty meeting of the year, during which the faculty gave me a standing ovation for all my service. 

Happy Spring indeed.

Morehead, KY

It had been a while since our last pig-out night, so we decided it was time for another, this time in Morehead, KY.  We took a self-guided tour of MSU, which involved stops inside both Breckinridge Hall and Rader Hall. 

Michael wanted a picture of himself (under the Lucille Little arch) to post to Instagram and you can see Elizabeth's efforts to prevent that from happening.

Michael also wanted to check out the MSU basketball court.  He's about 5'10" now, so the huge gym and court didn't dwarf him like it did when he was younger. 

Wal-mart was our stop for pig-out night food (the usual donuts, chips, drinks, even a Boston crème pie; don't be too worried, I think Steven did drink a wee little bit of milk at some point).  Our overnight at Comfort Inn was lovely.  The next morning we were back at MSU for a tour of ADUC; unfortunately, the bookstore was closed due to spring break, so Michael didn't get the bright yellow shirt he was eyeing, although Elizabeth found a Fuzzy Duck sweatshirt that we have seen quite a bit since our trip. 

Steven and I showed E&M where we had our wedding reception. 
Elizabeth insisted on a photograph.  Actually, I think it was I who insisted.

Steven met Terry for lunch at Pasquale's, the restaurant Steven always chose for his birthday meal while growing up; Mom and I planned to have lunch together at The Bakery but ended up at Pasquale's as well.  Mom's former chess club friend Stephen was working behind the register so I got to meet him.  The children alternated between sitting with Terry and sitting with Grandma.  Mom and I talked about Wrightsville, among other things, and now we are considering going to Blockade Runner this summer.

Michael made the 9th grade summer basketball team and has two-hour practices most days.  They participated in two tournaments so far, earning the championship in one of them.  Steven and I are trying to get used to cheering for the "red team," after the red-uniform Scott County was our greatest rival for three years of middle school!  
Elizabeth continues to amaze us with her even-keeled personality and acceptance of pretty much everyone.  She and I recently attended a lecture on campus by a Notre Dame religion professor, who wrote a book on restorative justice and prisons in America.  I tried to get her to leave after an hour because my stomach was growling and my attention was waning, but Elizabeth insisted on staying the full 1.5 hours!  I love her love for equality and justice.  For her to have learned such an important life lesson at such a young age makes us so proud.

Jam-packed February

Regina left the 80 degree weather of San Diego to spend six days in sub-freezing Georgetown!  It was so good to see her again.  At one point she said, "I am never more comfortable than when I am with you.  I feel like I can do and say whatever I want and I'll be accepted."  I concur with her regarding how I feel and am amazed at how many topics of conversation we had during her trip, with plenty remaining on the list when she left.  Regina will serve as the next Board Chairwoman for the Girls Scouts of San Diego, an organization with more than 40,000 girls and volunteers.  Her daughter, Maya, is 10 and plays flute in a symphony. Shea continues in sales and frequently flies around the country and world for business.

I had to work while she was here, so she came to work with me!  She
attended three of my classes (and learned oh so much about heuristics, social cognition, as well as dysfunctional and healthy forms of communication) and worked on her laptop when I had meetings.  Doug had lunch with us; he and Regina talked about their experiences interviewing prospective students for Yale (he's class of '64).  We played a prank on a religion professor that involved hangars.  We leafed through our 25-year reunion Yale book and laughed like lunatics reminiscing.  We got to hang with the Fro-Jo bear twice and tried a third time but they were closed due to the blizzard.  Regina taught us a card game, Phase 10, that we played every night with Elizabeth.  Zoe was quite taken by Regina, while Niki remained her skittish self!

We spent most of the weekend she was here at the Kentucky Basketball Academy (KBA) in Lexington. It was the 8th grade state championship tournament.  Guess what?  Michael's underdog team made it to the Final Four of 68 teams in the gold bracket (there are 2 brackets).  They just kept winning and winning.  It was U N B E L I E V A B L E.  Michael had spectacular games, in terms of scoring, defending, and ball handling.  There are typically a few hours in between games, so Regina became very familiar with Meijer (next door to KBA), Fayette Mall, and of course the above-mentioned Fro-Jo bear. One of our last games was against Shelly Wells Walter's son's team (we won in overtime).  It was good to see Shelly again, although we both felt slightly odd when rooting for our son's team and not our friend's son's team!

Before the tournament, Michael celebrated 8th grade night (final home game of the regular season) with his basketball team; to the left is the poster Steven and I made for Michael, which hung in his school's hallway; to the right is the sheet with information the emcee read as Elizabeth, Steven, and I proudly walked out onto the court with him.  His advice to others was "Always trust your teammates."  Granna came to his final away game, this time traveling to Harrison County with us to watch him.  His team won by 30!

It has been a wonderful month, and I think all 6 of us (even skittish Niki) still miss Regina.  I know I sure do.  What a beautiful, 29-year friendship we have.

Winter

Happy 2016 to each of you!  For us, it's so far, so good.

Steven and I loved how much time we got to spend as a family of four over Christmas break, while Elizabeth and Michael loved all the time they spent with their friends.  :)  We all loved all our gifts, including Michael's latest UK wear (Elizabeth explained to us last night what it means to list BBN on a social media profile: Big Blue Nation).

I completed a jigsaw puzzle, which was almost as much fun as being Elizabeth and Riley's chauffeur on New Year's Eve at Fayette Mall.

We had a celebration with Terry, Linda, and the Huffs in Morehead.  It was the first time I had ever seen their home.  Elizabeth and I dropped by Mom's on that visit for 1.5 hours.  Mom said no pictures, though.  We also had the Huffs and Rosemary over for a gift exchange and lasagna meal.

 

E got a faux nose ring and a container of about 100 cookies.  Steven is still adjusting...to the faux nose ring, not to the cookies.

Michael continues astounding us with his basketball abilities.  Doug Griggs came to one of his games, Granna and her granddaughter Cammy (who grew up with E&M at Granna's) came to another.  So kind of them.
 

No school in Scott County the past 4 days; no school for Georgetown College today.  Even Toyota shut down their plant. Hope all of you are warm and safe.

Michael's magical touch!

In case you thought I was exaggerating when I've described Michael's basketball skill, please see clips below.  He played four games during the past 7 days - Doug Griggs came to one of them! - and continues averaging over 20 points per game.  Opponents know he's amazing, so they double team him often yet it just doesn't matter.  I missed some of his shots, especially during the home game, because Steven and I are in charge of the scoreboard, score book, and buzzer.  These clips all show Michael shooting (I didn't include free throws because those take a while), but please know he is a gifted ball handler and defensive player as well.  He is always watching to see if his teammates are open, in which case he quickly passes them the ball so they can score as well.  Sometimes I am simply stunned by his abilities - most of his 3 point shots, for example, are from the NBA or beyond range, not the middle or high school 3 range.  You'll see.

 

 

 

   

 

 

Only 1 month passed this time!

Mary and I presented at the international Lilly conference on teaching.  That conference has so many panels, workshops, keynote addresses, networking opportunities, etc.  Wow!  The perfect conference for anyone serious about improving teaching strategies.  Our research poster was a smashing success and only a few attendees were smashed while they discussed our findings with us (Lilly had an open bar during our session).  She flew into Kentucky only for the conference, but I insisted she stop by my house just to say hello to Steven, Elizabeth, and Michael and pose for a silly picture.  Because I was driving, we took a super quick detour on our way through Cincinnati to 2374 Madison for probably the last time.  Mary and I already have an idea for our next collaborative research project!

Elizabeth performed in her first piano recital.  She was so very poised, kept an even tempo, and knew exactly when to play forte v. pianissimo.  Her teacher constantly compliments her abilities and gives her more and more difficult pieces every month.  The next day she took a very cool selfie, although she may have been mocking my big hair a bit.  :)  Yesterday she and I went to The Nutcracker (do you see us waving at you?) in Louisville.  Afterward she and I commented on the multiple differences between the Lexington and Louisville performances.  Louisville won, hands-down.

We realized Michael has grown about 6 inches in 4 months.  His middle school team took second place in a central Kentucky tournament this weekend (the team is looking a little rough in the photo).  Michael was ON FIRE - the true MVP.  At one point, his team was down 0-14 and they came back and WON - Michael made multiple three pointers from almost half court.  He had 20 points in the second half alone and scored the game-winning basket while being triple teamed.  Crazy.  Steven was asked to step in and coach one of Michael's games when one of the coaches had to leave.  Steven gets my vote for MVP coach.  Such a happy weekend. 

 Thanksgiving was spent in Shelbyville.  Beautiful weather, so we took a walk in an attempt not to fall asleep after too much delicious turkey.  Now our home is decorated for Christmas and we are so excited to have time together as a family without work and school.  Hope you have a beautiful holiday season as well.

 

Happy Holidays 2015!!!