Points and pies

Mom sent me an e-mail this week saying she was looking at Michael's photo in the Lexington paper.  His photo was in the paper with the Scott County Wildcats basketball team, who won the state AAU Division II championship.  Go Wildcats!  Some very close games and then some not at all close games during that tournament.  A fabulous way to end the season.

Meanwhile, as part of a fund raiser for the Children's Miracle Network, I agreed to be pied in the face.  One of my favorite students paid $55 to pie me.  I didn't wear the hair net or the full body garbage bag covering which was perhaps not the best decision as I had to teach after receiving the pie and began to smell like souring dairy products.  I will try to attach the video (may not show up in internet explorer, try mozilla instead) that the student sent me afterward.  I kind of got the last laugh, as you'll see.

Sports weekend

 Michael played both basketball (in Georgetown) and soccer (in Cincinnati) this weekend.  The best part of the Georgetown tournament was that the team won; they went undefeated, 5-0, in spite of the fact that Michael wasn't there for three of the five games.

The best part of the Cincinnati tournament was that we got to hang out with Robin and her family in between the 2:30 and 8:30 games.  (The worst part was that Steven had to work, so he couldn't go.  Stephen spent the night with us the night before and drove up with us, so it was kind of the same.  Get it?  Stephen and Steven.  Ha ha ha.)  I love, love seeing her and her family.  Michael had a great time, too - he was upstairs with Jake and their friend from Ukraine, Anastasia, the entire time doing I'm not sure what, but we could hear laughing, so we assumed all was well. 

Elizabeth chose to stay at home, after spending the night at her friend Emily's house.  She spent hours reading One Direction "fan fiction", which is a new genre.  Fans of celebrities write fiction that feature the celebrity or celebrity group, post them on-line, add chapters periodically, and wait for fans to read their stories.  Elizabeth devours the stories that feature the five-guy band.  I love it that she spends so much time reading, even though some of the topics are rather dark (murder, stalking, etc.).  I want to protect her from the topics, but she's 12, so it's already out there in her brain.

And here are precious photos of Niki and Zoe.

Told you so

It's like I'm clairvoyant: Michael's team did indeen win the league tournament last night. Michael was the super star, once again scoring critical points during critical moments in the game.

Tonight he went to bed at 7 p.m. Success must be exhausting

Back to back championships

If you're a UK Wildcats basketball fan, you know I am most likely not referring to this year's men's basketball team.  Michael's Wildcats team, however, is a different story.  Two weekends ago they played in Frankfort.  Mom came to part of one of the games after driving him to the gym and then driving herself to Elder-Beerman.  Over the two day period, his team won all but one game, but then defeated that team in the championship game.  One of the other team's parents came over to us and said the kindest compliments about Michael's playing abilities.  We are always so proud to be his parents.  Lots of BIRGing.

Last weekend there was a tournament in Louisville.  I got to hang out with Kathy in between games; yay!  Angie and Rosemary stayed for all 3 games of the second day - Michael was such a superstar they just couldn't leave.  Smart decision on their part, as they got to see the Wildcats come back from a one-point deficit with 17 seconds left to go, when the opposing team had possession of the ball.  Specifically, they got to see Michael steal the ball on the in-bounds play, get hacked while attempting a basket, and sink a free throw to tie it up.  Then we stole the ball again and won the game.  Whew.  The other team's fans were mean and rude.  So many new and unfortunate words for the players to learn at these games.  But who cares, because in the end, the Wildcats reigned.  Michael was the unofficial MVP of the tournament. 

Those have been the past two tournaments of the travel select team he is on.  He is also on the Thunder, a team in the rec league.  Anyone who wants to play can play in this league, and it's just for Georgetown residents.  Everyone is guaranteed playing time, regardless of abilities.  Michael's team is undefeated for the entire season, which began in December.  Their first game?  They won 52-2.  Not a typo.  This morning they won 43-1 (Michael made 4 of 6 three point attempts).  There does seem to be a bit of an imbalance in terms of talent across the teams.  But Michael is unstoppable.  This afternoon, for example, he played less than 12 minutes of game time, yet scored 21 points (of a total 46) and had 10 steals.  That's a double double, for you sports fans.  Today began that league's tournament.  I think we all know what the outcome will be.  Go Michael!

The happiest time of the year

We LOVED Christmas with our families!  Oh, how we loved the holidays.  Bennett, Tiffany, Sam, Elise, and Parker Bennett (SUCH a great middle name!) arrived the last day of the kids' school semester, so it was the perfect way to begin the holidays.  SUCH well-adjusted, happy, loving kids, and what is up with Parker Bennett never crying?  Where does one even GET one of those kinds of infants?  (Not that my kids weren't perfect, of course, because they were.  So maybe it's genetic?)  GREAT conversations (we could stay up until the wee early morning hours of the night talking with B&T), great play times - Michael was in lego-heaven with Sam as a playmate, while Elise and Elizabeth disappeared to play secret games in E's room.  I love anyone who loves Fisher Price (thank you, Elise, and later, Kate).  We were sad when they left four days later, but we knew we'd see them on Christmas, so we held our tears in check.

  Steven's family came over in two waves on Saturday the 22nd.  Lots of food, gifts, memories, desserts.  No girlfriends this time, just the family members.  I really love it that Matthew is a student at GC and we have plenty of people to talk about!  Cozy and sweet.  Plus the guys got to catch up with some crucial (really?) football games.

Christmas Day was at Mom's.  SO familiar to be in that house on Christmas with the decorations and the gifts and the huge meal and fancy desserts and the Boggle victories.  Nick could not be more likeable.  I cannot imagine anyone NOT liking him.  Ever.  And he fixed a photo of mine within minutes, and I am all about efficiency, so I greatly admired him for that as well.  The long walk with just the girls was superb, even if we did run into Jim Tom.

Then glamorous Mary, yes-I'll-fix-your-computer-yet-again-without-complaining Mark, and their precious children Aaron and Kate visited us for several days.  It snowed, and according to Aaron, nothing has ever tasted so good!  Kate bravely sled down one of the hills behind our house by herself, and Aaron went down the huge hill on the golf course slope by himself.  The beloved Sprague-Rose family graciously drove to Lexington to watch two of Michael's basketball games - he never has anyone cheering him on besides his adoring parents, so I am sure he will remember that day for a long, long time.  It was good for EJM to be at the games as well, so others realize Michael's not an only child.  She definitely got a lot of texting and game-playing with Aaron done while seated in the stands.

I could write about all the specific events and experiences and activities, but I'll let the photos speak for themselves.  I was struck by the genuine joy and unadulterated laughter I kept feeling and witnessing during the holidays. And I will never foget how loving Sam, Elise, Kate, and Aaron were to Zoe and Niki.  Zoe and Niki are surely missing them so very much each day, wondering when their happy, playful, laughing buddies will come back and pet, feed, tickle, and entertain them again.

 There is nothing like family. 

Smarty pants Michael (and E)

Michael Bennett McKenzie was inducted into Junior Beta Club last month.  We were so proud.

  And let's focus on E's dead chicken mummy project one last time.  I was shocked to learn no other student completed the 150 bonus points project.  I guess the other students' noses aren't as tolerant as ours are.  Gotta love that hardy Sprague stock.

Other events

I was asked to be the women's basketball team's first honorary coach of the season.  I loved it!  The team was down by 15 in the first half, so I stepped right in, gave a few ideas (I had many ideas because I am married to Steven, who always has suggestions for how players can improve, trust me), and guess what?!  The team won in the last few minutes of the game.  Next time I'll charge a consulting fee.  I assume you didn't really believe me that I gave suggestions, and you should not have, but the rest is true - Steven always has excellent suggestions and the team did come back from 15 down to win. 

Our family was asked to light the Hope candle during GC's Hanging of the Green ceremony this year.  It's a long-standing tradition, involving musical organizations singing carols and leading the audience of about 800 in song.  There is a sermon.  There are four Bible passages, which are read by a staff member, the president, and two faculty, who each light the corresponding candle.  Elizabeth and Michael read the passage related to hope - they did such a beautiful job.  I was so proud of them (as always).  Several students later remarked how they could not believe their poise and lack of nervousness.  Because the Chapel is completely dark except for the stage, I don't think they realized just how many people were present.  The event definitely got us thinking about the upcoming holiday season.