Unwelcome Excitement Last Night, Weekend Update

First, I am very behind on posting the video and photos I have for you, plus I have a ton of new video to download from the birthday party this weekend, so I'll really try to get to that early this week. (Don't worry - I'll only put a few short video clips on the blog.)

Second, I am so, so, so far behind on posting my Kids Konnection articles from Orange County Jewish Life. I will do a post about that tomorrow (FOR SURE) with links to the various articles. I haven't posted the ones from June, July, Aug., Sept or Oct and I really love for people to read them and I know many of you enjoy reading them.

Third, we had some unwanted excitement last night - we were in a car accident. We're all fine. It was just Harrison, Michela, Midnight and I. We were driving to Harrison's soccer practice. (Marlon was picking Jacob up at dance in his own car.) We were at a complete stop, waiting to turn left into the soccer field parking lot, signal on, and this idiot ran right into us. He told the police "I just didn't see her." How could he not? Anyway, apparently the motorcyclist behind him couldn't stop in time, so he ran into him and flew off his bike. So although we weren't hurt and there isn't THAT much damage to our car, it was a pretty significant accident. I called 911 and within minutes we had three police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck there. The guy was ok, just banged up a bit. They treated him at the scene and of course we had to do all the witness statements, etc. The police officers said that the liability will be on the guy who hit me, the other two of us didn't do anything wrong. The police officer walked harrison across the street to his soccer practice and Michela and I stayed for all the cop stuff. She was a bit shaken up by it, but we're all fine. Now we just have to get the car bumper repaired....

Finally, a quick weekend recap. Friday night was Jacob and Michela's bday party and it was great. Kids are still talking about it and saying it was the best party they've ever been to. We had this guy who owns this company called The Game Squad come with huge screens that he set up for Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Wii and Dance Dance Revolution. The kids had so much fun for two hours. There were about 35 kids here. Marlon and I even got into the action and I got the highest score of the night on Rock Band vocals singing Eye of the Tiger. Woo hoo! After the video games, they watched a movie and had dessert. It was a "ten's" theme because Jacob and Michela turned 10 and the party was on 10/10/08, ending at 10 p.m. We had 10 things on the dinner buffet and 10 toppings on the frozen yogurt bar. All in all, the night was a TEN! :)

Saturday Harrison's soccer game was great - closer than usual, which made it more exciting. They still won 3-2, and are still the only undefeated team in Irvine. Michela's game was also exciting - they won 7 to 1 and Michela made one of the goals. Jacob didn't have dance this sat b/c the choreographers are all in New York previewing costumes, so he and Michela had a whole-afternoon-long playdate at a friend's house.

A friend from temple gave us her elyptical machine because she wants to turn that room into something else and it was taking up space. We got it saturday afternoon and it's in our bedroom. The whole family has been using it. I use it about 5-6 times a day, but only in 5 minute increments because that's about all I can do at one time. It's tough. But the time adds up to a lot of calories burned. And I can do it naked if I want! :)

Sat night Harrison went to hang out with friends and the rest of us were just home, playing board games.

Sun. we were at temple all morning from 8:30 to 2:30. Jacob and Michela had private instrument lessons with the band director and Harrison did homework while I did some actual work on my laptop. Then, while the kids were in religious school from 10:30 to 12:30, there was a meeting about Bar and Bat Mitzvah dates for Jacob and Michela's year (can you believe that?! We haven't even had Harrison's yet!) and a study session with the Rabbi about Israel. Then I worked some more while Harrison was at youth group and Jacob and Michela were at youth band rehearsal.

In the late afternoon, we went to Harrison's baseball game, then out to dinner at the Elephant Bar with a good friend of harrison's from the team and his parents.

The kids went back to school yesterday -- yay, I get my life back! I love having them home on break and spending time with them, but it's hard to get things done, so it's nice when they go back.

That's all for now. Check back tomorrow for the articles!