Nicolai’s indoor soccer team won the Division 1 title for his age group today. Nicolai and his friends formed this team and have coached themselves throughout the season. It has been interesting to watch as they argue over strategy and vie for playing time and favorite positions. At the end of the day they were able to work through these challenges and produce a championship team.

Maya appears to have acquired some of her grandmother’s artistic talents. She glazed this ceramic cat at a friends birthday party and then cooked it.

Miss Maya having her oatmeal this morning trying to rebuild her strength after the workout she endured last night. The boys had her kiss the Colts door mat (for good luck) on every 3rd and long situation with results that speak for themselves. Our new Super Bowl champions have this little girl to thank for their good fortune. On very important plays, Kyle also kissed the mat (in order to be effective you have to kiss in the middle of the horseshoe). Nicolai and Kyle also employed a secret handshake after particularly good plays. Neither boy has yet revealed the significance of this gesture.

Kyle drives for 2-points against Beverly. Most of the team having attended the Battle of the Bands last night arrived semi-comatose and were down by ten points in the first few minutes of the game. The score improved in our favor as the boys woke up, and the team finished with a solid victory.

Exterior work on the sun porch, deck, and shed is nearing completion just as the first snowfall arrives. To say that Jeanine is excited about the sun porch would be a huge under statement. This will most certainly become her sanctuary. As I type, she is out there planning for furniture placement. I on the other hand am already organizing the shed (located under the deck).

Nicolai was in action this evening and had a fantastic game. He continues to improve and holds his own with his peer group. He had several assists and a goal as his team cruised to victory.

Nicolai took this photo of me this evening. In thirty years of playing soccer, it is the only one that exists of me scoring a goal (despite having scored hundreds over my lifetime). I received a nice pass in the middle of the field and crushed a full volley into the lower left corner. You only need one shot like this every couple of years to keep you wed to the sport. That perfectly timed shot, struck with authority, that finds the back of the net in the air. Click on the photo for a larger view.

I just returned from a 2-day Avid meeting held in Manchester, NH. After introductory comments from our CEO and new GM to the entire organization, teams of 30 attended 45 minute breakout sessions. My presentation covered Engineering and I gave it a total of 16 times over the 2-day event. I normally do not talk this much in an entire month and will need about that long to rest my vocal chords.

Maya was in charge of breakfast this morning and prepared French toast for the family. She has turned into quite the little chef.
Later in the evening, her father prepared pork loin cutlets for dinner using the “Baby Bam” mix she made last week for seasoning.

At one point, Kyle juggled the ball in the air and off-his head traversing 2/3 of the field before laying off a pass.

Kyle’s indoor soccer team was in action this evening and turned in a very one sided victory.

Nico was quite dapper sporting a button down shirt (tucked in, after a very long discussion about whether this was stylish or not), cranberry tie and nice sweater.

This evening, we enjoyed hearing the 6th grade Concert Band, in which Nico is one of the percussionists. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of him while he performed because the drummers are behind so many of the other musicians. Nico’s performance was flawless and the band has reached that point where you actually enjoy the music.

Maya looks through the trivet she made for her mother’s Christmas present.

Jeanine has recuperated sufficiently to make her first excursion from the house today. Her crutching techniques are no match for Nico and she wisely chooses to go up and down the stairs on her backside.

For those wondering how the Colts could come from behind to defeat the Patriots in such dramatic fashion they need only study this photo for the answer. At crucial moments of the game, Kyle would pause to kiss his Colts door mat which he places strategically in front of the TV. Each kiss was followed by a Colts touchdown or Patriots turnover. The Pats got their early lead because Kyle was attending his Owl program and did not start watching the game and making out with his carpet until the end of the first quarter.

Nicolai rips his entry during diving practice. I have a feeling Nico could become a very serious diver if he stays with the sport.

Maya hanging with her crew at basketball practice this morning.

The screened in porch area of the deck project is starting to take shape. As you can see we had a small amount of snow last night although it is not expected to last.

Jeanine had her second bunionectomy (left foot) this morning. Having forgotten her own reading material she was left with the magazines I had brought along. Here she is reading about how to build your own scroll saw while we wait for the antibiotics to be administered.

The kids did not have school today in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Jeanine took them all (for the first time) to the Ikea store where each one purchased something to embellish their room with. Maya chose this chair and helped with all aspects of its assembly.

It has been a while since I took a portrait of Kyle. He sat for exactly one photo and only because I was setting up for a photo of one of his classmates for a school project.

Today I completed this built-in bookcase for the family room in the basement. It has taken me some time to get to the project, but I was able to finish it rather quickly now that my shop is set up.

Sarinnagh. Harper was also here but left before I could get her photo.

Lydia.

Allison.

Maya had a mock slumber party with her friends this evening. She planned the event (American Girl theme) and designed her own invitations earlier this week. The girls were all giggles for most of the evening pausing for a few photos at the end.

Nico took this picture of his friends gathered around the piano.

This evening, Nicolai hosted a star-gazing party for members of his class. Our field offers excellent viewing conditions and the weather was perfect. Nicolai prepared hot chocolate and all kinds of post viewing treats. The party was a great success and his classmates and science teacher were very appreciative. Nico seemed a little taller after all was done.

Nicolai constructed this diorama for a class project about a book he had read.

We played Rummikub while the casserole baked. Kyle started the OWL program at First Parish this evening and could not join us for what turned out to be a delicious meal. The OWL course, which I attended as a teenager at the Unitarian church in Schenectady, is a comprehensive program covering all aspects of human sexuality.