Andrew Injured again!

This time it's the other leg, his ankle. He made a great play clearing a ball out-of-bounds, but the big guy fell on him. Andrew got up and tried to play, but came out right away, and we had to help him to the car after the game. So: He didn't get to go to the homecoming football game, instead spending the evening on the couch while Susy and I went on our big date to the Portland Art Museum.
At least they won the game, 3-2. Since it was at Beaverton HS, Rian and Calee were there to watch. Mali was Thrilled to see them. Here's a photo of a great header Andrew made, shortly before getting injured.


The art museum was great fun, as it always is. We sat with some nice people, and I even got Susy up and dancing to a very fun band. They played old covers in funked-up fashion with a drummer who played everything from xylophone to a typewriter. Susy enjoyed hearing Pink Floyd played with nothing but mandolin, bongos, and bass. They also mashed up the Rolling Stones and Beethoven in a very cool treatment.
The food was pretty good - the salads were incredible. Dessert was brightly frosted cupcakes, I think to go along with the artistic theme of the evening, which was the preview of the Chuck Close Prints exhibit. Once again we never made it to the exhibit - the reception was just too much fun. We will go to see it later, it continues through January 6th.

Poker, Guitar Hero, Soccer, Dale Carnegie

After their brief trip to the school, they came home and played poker. Calee showed up with her pillow and played for awhile, then I drove them to Calee's house where they played Guitar Hero all afternoon.
Susy picked them up at 5:00 and then took Andrew to see Susy's friend Nechama's boy's Dale Carnegie class, and I took Mali to soccer. Mali's team helped their coach teach all the new Microsoccer coaches some fun drills. Our neighbor's were there bringing Abbie to start her soccer career, and also Susy's old Girl Scout Leader partner was there with her daughter Mia.

Swimming Results, etc.

Monday night Susy and I were kid free: Andrew went to the Transformers movie again, this time with Rian, Calee, and Kyle. Mali spent the night at Zoe's. Susy and I went to Lamps Plus and bought two fans for the playroom. I will attempt to install them where the can lights were, but my expectations are not high, and we will probably find someone else to do it.

The kids just returned from swim practice. Mali is proud of her ribbons: a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in IM relay, backstroke, and freestyle. She's cleaning the kitchen now - it's her week and a disaster, since she was gone most of yesterday and last night. Afterwards, I'm making eggcakes, by request.

Monday

Andrew went to the water park up North of Fife for his friend Eric's birthday with Rian and Calee. Mali wanted to go but was stuck at home with her dear old dad. We went to Michael's and to Webber's Diner for lunch as a consolation prize.
Tonight we went to a dessert party at Dave and Gayle's for John's going away party - turns out he'll be here another two weeks getting his house (nextdoor) ready to sell.

Home!

I am home from Arkansas, woohoo! The trip went well.
The kids went to swim team this morning, and now Andrew is off at Rian's house. His job is to recover the backpack he forgot at Calee's house last week, so that I can read the book: The Titan's Curse - the book that follows the two he gave me to read on my trip. They were both good, but I also picked up The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett, which I loved. I will be hopping out to get the sequel to that one today or Sunday. (I also watched Legally Blond, and The Bicentennial Man while in Arkansas. There was not a lot else to do. Pine Bluff is sortof in decline. Next time I'll stay in Little Rock.)

Tomorrow we have a big day: a river rafting trip in Maupin, Oregon (map). The same one Mali and I went on last year, but this time Andrew is coming, and Susy may come too.