Tonight was Maya’s choice for Family Night. She choose candlestick bowling and ice-cream out.  Maya’s skillful performance earned very careful scrutiny from the scoring table. Maya finished ahead of her brothers and mother which made her quite happy.

Having finally completed a major reorganization at work, I was finally able to leave the office in time to catch one of Nicolai’s soccer games. Although Nico faces many challenges playing on crutches, there are many things he is able to do that others cannot. Opponents underestimate him at their own risk.

Nicolai made this freehand sketch today. I would say he has inherited some of his grandmother’s artistic talent.

Last night I worked until 1AM preparing for a big reorganization I will be rolling out later this week. I stayed at a hotel by work to pick up an extra hour of sleep before an early meeting this morning. When I got home this evening at 9PM, I found this note and custom blended spritzer from Nico waiting for me. I am a lucky man.

Friends forever.

Maya and friend Julie constructing an ice skating rink in the front yard.

I hate the new pigs. Maya used to wake up every morning and come to the bed of her parents for a little snuggling. Now she heads straight for the kitchen each morning and this is how I find her when I come downstairs. I knew the day would come when I would no longer be her favorite guy but I did not anticipate being replaced by a squeaky, furry miniature pig (yes, I know they are not pigs but that is what I call them).

We took Kyle and his soccer buddies out for pizza before their game. Not exactly the food of champions, but it did not stand in the way of another strong win for the team. Unfortunately, Kyle injured his knee (mostly a contusion we believe) and had to sit out for most of the second half. He was able to score 2 goals and had 2 assists before he left the game. I have had a number of conversations with Kyle cautioning him to be a little more careful with his body. His response: “Dad, I only have two speeds, on and off.” Sound familiar Earlier in the day, he had one of his best basketball games of the season with 2 steals and 6 points.

Please observe this idiot child of mine.  With sub-freezing temperatures, he deems nylon shorts an appropriate dressing choice. The fact that I stood outside in my bathrobe with a 500mm lens to shoot this image should be ignored.

Eskimo’s Marie and Sophia. Photo courtesy of my brother Mark, sent from their home in Minnesota.

Jeanine picked up a couple of live lobsters for dinner. Maya and I did some claw strength testing and can highly recommend keeping digits you favor out of range.

A close up of Shivers.

Nicolai coaches Kyle on the finer points of using the release mechanism. Maya is eyeing the bow as well. It won’t be too long before she gets into the act. Nicolai has been given permission to shoot chipmunks (they make for a tough target, and we would be happily rid of them).

Nicolai was able to put several arrows in the center circle from 20 yards. From 30 yards, he kept every arrow on the target. He ruined one of his new arrows when he shot the feathers off it with a second arrow (Robin Hood style).