Birthday Dinner

We made time between school and softball to celebrate Ron's birthday at the Japanese steak house last night. The 4 of us haven't been to a Japanese steak house since our cruise almost 8 years ago. We had a very nice time together, and the food was really good, too. The chefs were all joking with each other the way they do, and were throwing the shrimp tails across the room. As one tail went soaring past her head, Danielle very calmly reached up and snatched it out of the air. It was quite impressive. I guess Japanese steak house chefs are no match for a softball player. We had a very nice evening together. (We fit the cake in after softball.)

Library Sign

I stopped by the library tonight to get some work done while Danielle was at volleyball practice. This was the sign at the front of the building. Personally, I can't sit and read books at this time of year because I'll fall asleep, but I appreciated the sentiment.

Weekend Ball

Danielle's volleyball team had a tournament scrimmage on Saturday, and her softball team played in an indoor tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately she missed all of Saturday's softball games, but her team won all of their volleyball games. She got to play in one softball game today. She was a little disappointed because her fielding wasn't as flawless as usual, but she did pretty good. Both just made us eager for the seasons to start. The first official volleyball tournament is at the end of February. We are on the wait list for a softball tournament in mid February. If that doesn't come through, we'll have to wait for school softball in April.

Today's Pic

A Little Pep

Tyler volunteered to play in the basketball pep band this winter. They played at a couple games in December and go until sometime in February, I think. He had to play at 3 games this week. We went Wednesday night to listen to the band play and watch the girls play basketball. It's only a portion of the band, but they still sound amazing. I never get tired of listening to him play.

The Artist at Work

 

Our Ninja Warrior

Danielle's been taking a speed, strength, and agility class twice a week since the beginning of November. The fitness center where she goes is adding a couple more classes for kids. Tonight she tried the American Ninja Warrior class. They are still waiting on some of the obstacle course items, so tonight was a bare bones trial class...with way too many people. There were a lot of young kids who came to try the class. I think ultimately they are going to separate the age groups a little, so it will get better. There were 6 other kids Danielle's age, so they were split off from the "little" kids. If it fits into her schedule, I think she plans to keep going for awhile. Her schedule is pretty slow right now: hitting lesson once a week, SSA class twice a week, volleyball practice twice a week, softball practice once a week, and hitting league once a week. Have I mentioned that she doesn't like to sit still?

She didn't have any problem with the cargo rope. It will take a little work before she can shimmy from the floor up to the ceiling on the big rope, though, and she wasn't sure the warped wall was a good idea for someone who is concerned about broken bones keeping her from playing other sports!

Our Trumpet Player

Now that marching band is over, it's concert band season. All the band students had to audition so they could be placed in their appropriate "chairs". Out of 13 trumpet players, 10 of whom are upperclassmen to Tyler, Tyler earned 2nd chair! Only 1 student, a senior, scored higher than he did! He was convinced it was a mistake and that the order would change after Christmas break, but it didn't. He has to physically sit in the 5th seat, but he is 2nd chair. The trumpet parts for most of their songs are broken into three parts, so the top 3 students were each put into the first chair of each part so there would be strong players in each section. So, the 1st chair student is 1st part, 1st chair. Tyler is 2nd chair, which means he is 2nd part, 1st chair. The 3rd chair person is 3rd part, 1st chair. Then it repeats - the 4th chair person is 1st part, 2nd chair, 5th chair is 2nd part, 2nd chair, etc. Confused? The bottom line is that Tyler did really well, out performing kids who have been playing longer than he has. He has to help his section learn their music, including the senior drum major who is under him. He won't admit it, but I think he's a little proud of himself. We are really proud, too!!

Tyler in NY for the band Thanksgiving trip.

Heed the Signs

I meant to post these long ago. We saw these in the restaurant where we ate our Thanksgiving dinner on our trip home from Philadelphia. I took pictures of them to show Tyler because they are very much his sense of humor. I'd like to find that danger sign for his bedroom door. :)

Jumping for Joy

We received the correct box for Danielle's trampoline after dinner Friday evening, so Ron and I spent part of our New Year's Eve putting together Danielle's trampoline. It took us about 4 hours, but I think it would go a little quicker if we ever had to do it again.

Before

Putting on the springs. All 108 of them.

The ring, legs, and springs were the easy parts.

Putting the poles on for the safety net is what took forever!

It was worth it though. She was happy.



After. It's really not as big an eye sore as we thought it might be.
Also, for my peace of mind, there are 2 anchors in each leg. This baby isn't going anywhere.



Trying it out with her BFF.

This was another friend today.
Ron and I have observed that while trampolines are fun to jump on, they also seem to be the teenage girls' equivalent of a fort.

Happy 2017!

There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.

- C.S. Lewis