Hoops, Hollywood and Hines

All is good in our world. Despite gross Ohio weather, we're having fun right now. Mike had a particularly good week last week as his basketball team went 3-0 (beat a conference rival Tuesday, an undefeated team Friday and a defending district champ at OSU Saturday). Then, of course, the Steelers put a butt-whoppin' on the Chargers Sunday to advance to the AFC championship game (with home field advantage, I might add. Titans, thank you very much for choking.) Mike and Jason will be headed back to Heinz Field to watch Hines and Ben take care of business Sunday.



Mike's hoops team is now 9-0 and ranked fifth in the state in the latest AP poll. They've been pretty impressive! Saturday was a lot of fun. We got to Ohio State a little early and I took the kids over to the Scholar house to show them where Mommy lived for five years. It was 11:30 a.m., but we had trouble getting in because everyone was still asleep. Some things never change, haha. Finally, a kid with tossled hair stumbled out with his dog (I assume the dog's bathroom needs were the only reason the guy was awake and moving) and let us into the building. Taylor thought it was pretty cool to see my old abode, even though it was really messy and kind of stunk. According to one of the nice Scholars that emerged from his room (wearing just PJ pants), they had hosted a party the night before. Plus, they've just built a new building a few blocks away and are preparing to move. I told him no need to apologize - I was there once, too.


Taylor and Michael posing on the bar in the Scholar rec room. Neither wanted to sit up there (Michael is whining and Taylor is faking it), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.)

The game was fun and I almost forgot how AMAZING (that's for you Lauri) the Schottenstein Center is. Both kids were on the big screen several times. One of the local photographers took a picture of Taylor on the big screen and it was in today's Wilmington paper. Too funny. She's a little celebrity. I keep calling her Hollywood. You can check it out at http://www.wnewsj.com/. Click on Electronic Edition on the left side and go to page B8. If will be there on Tuesday and you can still find it after that by clicking on archives (after clicking Electronic Edition).

People always comment on how good my kids are at the games. I have one word: snacks.



He's not really eating them; just holding them.



Don't you love his little shirt? Side note: he doesn't drink out of a bottle during the day anymore, but I left his sippy at home. That's one of the bottles Taylor uses for her dolls and it was in the backpack.

Not much else going on. I feel like Michael went through a time warp the last few weeks. He takes several steps now, eats almost all table food now, is off the formula ($$$$$) and is starting to become more verbal. He said "cookie" tonight while he was eating an animal cracker. Taylor and I had fun painting Valentines today (yes, in the middle of winter with nothing else to do, you start with the Valentine activities a month early). She is such a good little artist. I showed her one time how to make a heart and she was drawing them like a pro. She made an awesome Valentine for me and a Valentine with a picture of Hines (her idea) for Mike. Cute, cute, cute.

Alright, back to mommy time. Michael is sitting on my lap right now and I fear for the safety of the keyboard.



Until next time,



Mommy Kel

My Little Indian, Basketball and scUM

Hi everyone and TGIF!

I was so proud of my little girl last night! Taylor had her preschool program and it was just adorable. She and her classmates were Indians and let me tell you, the Worm makes a pretty cute little squaw. The older kids were pilgrims and the little 3-year-olds were turkeys. I laughed back when Taylor first told me her little friend Noah was going to be a turkey. "Mommy," she said in such a serious voice. "You can't laugh at the 3-year-olds or they won't wear their costumes." Corrected by your 4-year-old for being immature. Oops. :) She did great, as did all of the kids. I have to give props to the teachers. At one point, there were 92 preschoolers on stage!

Taylor had quite the following last night. Grandma Taylor made the 45-minute drive through blowing snow to be there and our friends Brown-Haired Donna (Taylor has always called her this) and her son Kody stopped by. Five of Mike's varsity basketball players also stopped by to see her. How sweet is that?

Taylor was soooo excited before we left!

My little Indian girl, dancing to the music when her scene was over.

Taylor, cheesing on stage. The red eye makes them all look like children of the corn.

Taylor and her preschool BFF.

Cute picture of Grandma and her grandkids. Doesn't Michael look really old here? I figured out that it's because he actually has a neck now. It's no longer his big bobblehead noggin sitting on his shoulders. :)

A rare picture of the four of us.

Michael, checking out his big sis on stage.

Short video of Taylor dancing after her part was over.

This weekend should be a fun one. Mike's team has their first scrimmage tomorrow morning and we'll head over for a little bit. I'm excited to watch them play. They should be really good this year. Plus, they really are a great group of guys which makes it even more fun to cheer for them.

Coach Daddy on Meet the Team night.

Hanging out on court with Daddy.

Of course, the big Ohio State/Michigan game is tomorrow. I hate Michigan/scUM. There's really no nice way to say it. I watched Ohio State play Michigan on Family Feud's College Rivalry Week last week and flipped the TV off like 10 times. Real mature, I know (Taylor was at school and Michael was napping). Taylor knows all about our beloved Buckeyes and the rivalry. She's looking forward to the game, too. Tonight I was putting her to bed and I mentioned that we get to watch Ohio State beat Michigan tomorrow. She got a worried look and asked, "But what if Michigan scores more points?" They won't, I reassured her. "Oh yeah," she answered. "We have Beanie."

Go Bucks! Michigan is kinda yucky!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

So Proud

Now that I'm home a few extra days a week, I feel I should really concentrate on educating my kids as well as playing with them. Taylor has really blossomed in one of my first and most important lessons. Brainwash them young, I always say. Taylor, Woody would be proud.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel