Great weekend

I seem to be in a pattern of updating on mondays and thursdays, so I figured it was as good a time as any to do a post right now. Jacob and Michela are at a writing workshop with several of their friends this week - just Mon, Tues and Wed for 1 1/2 hrs each time. They're writing their own mystery stories. Harrison is working on an extra credit project for social studies. I must admit, he's not self motivated to do all the extra credit work that he does. Let's just say it's "highly encouraged" by me. I'm trying to instill in him the DESIRE to want to do all the extra credit, but right now it's very much that I tell him he should do it. Once he gets into a project, he enjoys it, but he doesn't always take the initiative.

We had a great weekend of just normal activities, but nice family time. Friday night was family services at temple and all three kids played in the youth band. I took some video snippets so hopefully I can post that tomorrow. It was a nice service and we enjoy talking to our temple friends after services and the kids hang out in the youth lounge, which is a privilege for the 4th-12th graders.

Saturday Harrison had his soccer game and it was the battle of the undefeated teams and his team won 5 to 0, so that was great and very exciting. After their 5th goal, the ref came over to the coach and said something like "enough's enough, have the kids pull back." They DID pull back and didn't play hard after that, but the other team still couldn't score. Michela also had her game and they won SIX to 0. Michela got one of the goals and was an integral part of several of the others, so lot's of good soccer fun.

Jacob was at dance for his usual 6 hours on saturday. He loves being there, though, and it is a very social place. He hangs out during his couple of breaks with all his dance friends and says there isn't any place he'd rather be. I feel bad that he spends so much time there at the studio, but he really and truly loves it there and is as happy as he can be.

Harrison had a friend over sat afternoon/evening and they hung out and played and then we all had dinner together when Jacob got home. I made a nice dinner of lasagna with homemade fresh bread and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Both were extremely difficult to handle and smell, but I did it. I feel like I can't deprive the family completely. :) After dinner, we played some board games, then we watched College Road Trip which was a great movie even though it was rated G (and our kids tend not to like G movies anymore.) I highly recommend it, even for adults. Very funny.

Sunday, the kids had hebrew school and then youth band rehearsal. Then we had a Chavurah (small friendship group from temple) event at a nearby park, which was really low key and fun. The adults talked and ate and the kids played soccer and on the playground. There are a lot of kids in the group so they were able to have a full soccer game and one of the dads who coaches a team had pennes and cones in his car, so they had a real game going!

When we got back, Jacob and Michela rode bikes with their friend Gaby who lives on our street, ended up at her house, got invited to stay for dinner and didn't come home until 10:30 p.m. (remember, we're still on break!) Harrison and Marlon enjoyed watching the Angels/Red Sox game that went on for hours. I decided that it would be a good opportunity to work, so I worked for about 4 or 5 hours, even though it was a sunday evening!

That's about all that's new. I'll post the video tomorrow and then another update on Thursday. Thanks for checking in and let me know what's going on with YOU.