The kids got gift certificates to the movies from their grandmother for Christmas. So we went to Arundel Mills and saw a show. Movie theaters have changed. Check out these seats. The matinee was clearly a popular time to go. We had a blast though. Saw Sonic 3. Gonna go back in a few weeks to see the new Marvel Captain America movie with the Red Hulk.
Jack and Luke off to a first day of middle school. 8th grade for Luke and 7th grade for Jack. Grammy picks them up in the morning and takes them every morning. It is special time for these young men to see their grandmother every day.
Lila started school for the first time this fall. And Maggie started a new school, Bryn Mawr. Noah started college at UMBC. And Eden off to her 3rd year, at UMBC. Liz is done with school!
On a Friday night, I took Jack to College Park to watch the Terps play basketball. One of Jack’s first Terps games, and it was against the #1 team in the country, the Purdue Boilermakers. We got there early and Jack got to rub Testudo’s nose, see the National Championship trophy, get some food and find our seats.
The vibe in the place was electric. Jack and I got into the cheering, M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D, Maryland, Fight, Win! Terps led for most of the game, even though they were playing against the 7′ giant, Zach Eddy. And the shortest guy on the Terps, the awesome Jahmir Young, led the Terps in all aspects of the game.
When the final whistle blew, the students stormed the courts. And why not follow. Jack and I pushed our way down to the court. He got on my shoulders, and we joined the melee. First time in my life to storm a court.
And after storming the court, we were fortunate to see some of the players close up, Juju Reese, Donta Scott, and Jahmir Young. Young took a picture with Jack.
As everyone knows, I bleed red, and am a lifelong Terp. This may ultimately go down as my all time favorite moment with MD Terps. Thank you, Jahmir Young, for making my day, and making Jack’s day.
On Saturday, Jack and Luke played their last game of the season. It was a joy to coach them all spring. Our team was not great. We went 3-7. We had several guys on the team who had never played lacrosse before.
We practiced every Tuesday and Thursday night at Spring Grove on the grass field. We practiced late, 7:30-9:00. It was bitter cold at the beginning of the season and seemed to rain all spring. But we did our soft hands. And we went to practice. And we got better and did it all together.
Jack was the smallest guy on the team. And Luke was the biggest. Neither one was afraid at all. Jack won more ground balls than most guys on the team. And Luke checked everyone who came near the crease. Jack played mainly attack while Luke played mainly defense. Each of them earned a game ball at some point during the season. Jack earned one the last game.
At the last game, we started the game man down. Some boys late and a lot didn’t post. Jack had to run midfield the whole game. He never complained and he fought for every ground ball. He hustled and had a great attitude and got two assists in the game.
They both had fun and want to play again this summer and next year. They are talking about playing RoughRiders like their older brother.
Jack and I went to a farm. It was shaping up to be a fun and normal Christmas adventure. We scoured the fields for the best tree. And Jack found the perfect one.
Once he selected the tree, he got out the saw and went to work. He had to get really low in order to cut the tree at the trunk. Lots of cutting. Again, a perfectly normal Christmas activity.
The tree was cut down, and we were ready to go. We got a cart and loaded up the tree on the cart. What fun! We were having a great time, just father and son. All alone in the field in the middle of nowhere. No other people in sight for about a mile. When all of a sudden …
A clown was right next to us. We did not see where he came from, but Jack thinks he came from the woods. He was hideously laughing and breathing heavy and telling us he was going to take that tree back to the woods.
We started to run, but Jack was afraid the clown would steal the tree. So he picked it up and started pulling it up the hill, so fast. We never looked back. We heard some weird voice, “I’m going to get that tree little boy.” We turned back and saw a whole group of clowns with knives so we ran as fast as cheetahs up the hill.
When we got back to the parking lot, we put the tree in the truck and drove away. Jack looked back and saw the angry clown gang chasing us. And then we finally got home and set the tree up.
What a perfect Christmas adventure!
It has become a Thanksgiving tradition since Liz was in 3rd grade. The Catonsville HS XC Turkey Trot. Liz is still rehabbing from ACL surgery. But wouldn’t miss Maggie’s first Turkey Trot.
And if there is an adventure, you know Jack is up for it. He came out in the cold to cheer Maggie on.
Maggie was ready. Poised at the start and ready to run her race.
Once Maggie ran away from the insanely large and scary clown, she came around the last turn headed for the finish line. One more hill to go, and Jack was there to cheer her on.
It was freezing cold, and Maggie was pretty awesome. It was great to have Jack and Liz there to support her. Happy Thanksgiving!
Such a fun Halloween celebration. Maggie and Jack were excited to carve pumpkins. Jack loved the Halloween decorations, so we scouted out the neighborhood the day before and picked the best house to trick or treat at. Luke was a plague doctor; the costume was HOT, so he bowed out from trick or treating after an hour or so. Jack went strong into the night and canvased a huge swath of the neighborhood. Somehow, Maggie got more candy though than him. Our littlest nugget, our avocado, didn’t make it out to trick or treat. She stayed at home on the front porch to hand out candy … and nap.
Brody was born in February. But, because of Covid and the fact that Bobby lives in New York, we had not met him yet. Until now. Bobby came in town for a Ravens game. And we all met up at the grandparents’ place. All of the cousins enjoyed getting acquainted. Lila got to meet Uncle Bobby and Aunt KC. And Brody got to meet all of his cousins and aunt and uncle. It was pretty special. Brody was so inquisitive.
Six With Sticks 