The last week or so

 Here's what been happening since the last post.

Last weekend Michael came to town and we had a nice visit with him, Grandma, Papa, and Aunt Susan.

This week we celebrated our 18th anniversary.  On Tuesday we got dessert at Kerbey Lane. and last night we went out to dinner at Sundancer Grill overlooking the lake.

Evan worked out with Dio on Tuesday and I brought Chewie along.  While he worked out, I took Chewie for a walk on the trails around the school.

Tonight Morry made smoked chicken.  While he was cooking the chicken a big thunderstorm passed through and it's still raining.

Here are some pictures from the last week.

We Have a Driver

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

Yesterday was Evan's 15th birthday.  We didn't celebrate much as Evan had school most of the day and baseball practice in the evening.

Today, Evan went with Rachel to ATA.  He had a workout with the trainer there.  Noah stayed at home with me. 

The day was fairly uneventful for most of it.  I had a bunch of meetings. Nothing noteworthy until work ended.

Besides the fact it's hard to believe that Evan is now 15, this birthday means that Evan was eligible to get his Driving Permit in the state of Texas. We had signed Evan up for a parent-led driver's ed last year so he had completed enough of it that he was eligible to take the written driver's test. The test can be taken any time from the day of his 15th birthday on at home.  So Evan took and passed his written driver's test yesterday. That meant today, we could go to the DMV and bring the proper paperwork and get his permit. He had a 4:55 appointment that we had booked back in November. 

The DMV was surprisingly organized. They were still running behind but it was well organized. We waited about 50 minutes or so.  Then the woman went through all of Evan's paperwork, took his picture, gave him an eye test and Evan walked out of the office with a permit to drive on the actual road.

He and I came home and picked up Rachel.  I drove us over to the Community Center and Evan got in the driver's seat and drove some.  This was literally the first time had driven. We hadn't had him drive even in a parking lot before.  He did ok.  We'll get back to it and keep working with him.  On his birthday next year, he can take the driver's test and get his license.  I'm thankful that he'll have a full year with an adult in the front seat with him.

For dinner, I grilled a tri-tip steak.  Everyone seemed to like it.

I just helped Evan with his computer science homework.

Until next time...

Professional Baseball Player

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

Today was a pretty standard day.  It had started to lightly rain when I got up.  Rachel came downstairs not too long after me because she was tutoring this morning.

The boys had school all day while Rachel went into teach at ATA in the morning.

I interviewed a person today for a job with us.  The 30 minute interview went for more than an hour so it was pretty good.

After I finished work, Rachel was tutoring some more.  I made a marinade for boneless chicken thighs and put it in the fridge.  Then Evan and I went to Marucci Clubhouse to get some hitting work in.  Evan's tryouts for high school baseball are Friday and Saturday.

When we got there, we look at the schedule on the monitor.  A guy who was drafted in the first round by the Mets from Lake Travis was going to be there at the same time as us.  Evan got very excited.  While Evan was practicing, we both took a peek to see how he hit and things like that.  It was pretty cool.  Evan said that the video game, MLB the Show, did a good job of making the video game version of the guy look like the real player.

When we got home, I grilled the chicken thighs.

Now, Evan and Noah are upstairs playing on the Playstation.

Until next time...

Marucci

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

As crazy as it seems, the boys only have one more week until Thanksgiving Break.  The school year seems to be going by quickly.  I think after that Thanksgiving, the boys only have three weeks until winter break.

This morning was a busy morning for me. I didn't have any meetings but there were a bunch of things at work I needed to complete.

The boys had school as normal.  One of Noah's teachers is dealing with family issues.  And in the new COVID world, they don't get substitutes.  The kids get an assignment to work on without any synchronous instruction. 

Rachel went into teach at ATA today.  At lunch, she met a mother from baseball who lives near there for a nice walk.

After school and work, I took Evan to a set of batting cages called Marucci Clubhouse.  We met Josiah and his Dad there.  For the first 30 minutes, Josiah's dad, John, pitched to the boys.  The second thirty minutes Evan and Josiah hit off of the pitching machine.  They have a thing there called HitTrax.  They also have it at TRPD.  John gave a suggestion to Evan to get his back hip around and Evan immediately set a personal best for distance a hit traveled and exit velocity of the ball.

We stopped at Simply Pho on the way home and got dinner.

The boys are new upstairs and Rachel and I will sit down and watch TV.

Until next time...

Backwards Baseball

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

I had a meeting early this morning.  The woman I was meeting with in Boston.  She showed me it was already snowing.  It looked like it was at least 2 inches. 

Fridays are days that Rachel teaches at ATA.  So she left later in the morning to go to school.

We had a handyman come by to patch the wall where the alarm keypad used to be.

Rachel and I went for a walk when she got back from school.

Every year around Halloween, Evan's baseball team has a special Halloween practice.  All the kids wear their costumes and rather than fully practice, they do what they call "Backwards Baseball".  Everyone throws with their opposite hand so of course the glove goes then on their throwing hand.  They have to bat opposite and they have to run around the bases backwards - third, second, first, home.  The kids look forward to this particular practice.  This year, Evan is dressed as Marty McFly.  Rachel and I dropped him off at practice and then went to have dinner at a restaurant where we could sit outside.

The restaurant we chose is called Artemis Mediterranean Restaurant.  We had never been.  It's something we've wanted to try but never had the chance, then the pandemic hit, so this was our first time.  Rachel and I both liked it.  It was nice getting out to eat together without kids.  It's been a long time.

On the way back to the field, we picked up a pizza at Jersey Giant Pizza for Evan and Noah.  Evan ate half of the pizza on the drive back to the house.

Evan and Noah are playing on the Playstation.

Until next time...

Almost a Long Weekend

Hello everyone, this is Morry

This morning, we went for a walk as the boys left for school.  Chewie acts as if he's never gone for a walk before, every morning.  We got home and I sat down to work.  Then Rachel and our neighbor Aileen went for a longer walk together.

I had a few meetings this morning and then one this afternoon. 

Rachel went into ATA to teach in the morning after her walk and then stopped at HEB on the way home.

Shortly after the boys returned, Rachel left to go tutor.

Grandma came over later and we were able to get her phone added to our phone plan so we could all get a savings for having 5 lines.  It worked out well.

I got dinner ready for the boys.  They had the smoked chicken I made last night.

When Rachel got home, she and I ate.

Rachel and Evan are working on Bar Mitzvah stuff right now.

The boys don't have to go to school tomorrow or on Monday.  On Monday, it's Columbus Day so they're off.  They have off tomorrow as their teachers have some training to do.

Until next time...

Rachel's Back to School Night

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

Both Rachel and I were able to walk Noah to school today.  I worked from home for a little while and then went into HomeAway.

Rachel left later in the morning to teach.

I had a meeting at HomeAway and could not get home in time to pick Noah up.  Just Rachel went to get him with Chewie.

I got home a few minutes before Evan got home.  Rachel was leaving around that time to tutor.  Noah and I took Evan to practice.  Then we went to a coffee shop during practice.

Rachel had tutoring and then she had to go to ATA for her Back to School Night.  I don't know how it's set up or how it works.

From there she went to tutor another student.

Evan, Noah and I went to Tucci's Southside Subs for dinner.

We're home now and the boys are upstairs playing.

Until next time...

Snow Day = Take your Kids to Work Day

Last night we got the notice that the kids' schools were closed today.  Since my school is a private school, I kept checking for an email or text but never got one.

This morning my school sent an email around 5:30am saying there would only be a slight delay and that students needed to still come to school.

Morry had meetings today, so the kids needed to come with me to school.

Evan and Noah played in the snow this morning before it was time to leave.

We left the house around 9am and had no problems getting to my school.  The roads were fine.  There was still snow on trees and grass which made for a pretty drive.

I was pretty sure the boys would like coming with me, but wasn't certain.  Evan and Noah told me they had a great time today.   They came to my two math classes and were invited to go to the robotics class.  We ran out to get some food for lunch from Einstein Brothers Bagels (their choice).  I asked if they wanted to eat there or with the students at school, and they said the wanted to eat back at the school.

After I was done teaching, the kids wanted to stay even longer.  There are lots of fields and courts there.  Finally, I told the boys it was time to come home. 

We got home around 3pm.

Then, at 5:30 we ate an early dinner at Taco Cabana and went to see the movie, Jumanji.  It was a cute movie.  We all liked it.

We took Chewie for a walk and now the boys are getting ready for bed.

Here are some pictures from today.

Zip Line

This morning we walked Noah to school with Lizzy. Evan walked to the bus stop from home.

Shortly after getting home, I went to Camp Gladiator.

I needed to be at ATA at 11:30 for day 2 of orientation.

We had a catered lunch from Thundercloud Subs and then went to Cypress Valley for zip lining.   What a nice job so far... catered lunch and zip lines!  I had a nice time. The kids seem really nice so far.

From there, I tutored.

While I was gone Morry picked up Noah from school.  Evan took the bus home.

On my way home I thought I'd get gas.  I hadn't been online today, so I was unaware of the gas crisis going on.  I stopped at H-E-B to get gas and all the pumps said the gas was sold out.  I thought that was weird.  Then, every gas station I passed had a long line stretching down the street.  I ended up going to a gas station near our house and waiting in line about 20 minutes for gas.

For dinner we had ribs.

After dinner, Evan realized he didn't have a composition book that was part of an assignment that had been due today.  Morry had to take Evan out to find one so he could complete the assignment.  First, they went to H-E-B, but they didn't have one.  Then, they went to Target.  From there, they waited in line so that Morry could get gas.  Evan finished his assignment while they were in the car.

They just got home.

Hopefully, Evan can go to bed soon.

Orientation

This morning Morry, Lizzy, and I walked Noah to school.  As we were close to home Evan was walking to the bus.   In the summer, Evan said he wanted to walk with us every morning to drop off Noah.  I was wondering how long that would last.  Not very long.

When we got home, I left for ATA. Today and tomorrow are the orientation for the students.  They have mixers and rotate to have short sessions to meet the teachers.  I met all of my students and it went well.    I did a math scavenger hunt with them and a brain teaser problem.  They seemed to like both.

I got home as Morry was walking to pick up Noah.  I quickly dropped my things off at the house and walked to meet them at school.  I got there as they were just leaving the parking lot, so I was mostly able to walk home with them.

Evan got home around 4:15.

Shortly after Morry took Evan to baseball practice.

They got home around 7:30.  

We had pasta and soup for dinner.

Evan's working on his homework now.

Working

This morning we walked with Lizzy to drop off Noah at school.  Evan stayed at home and walked to his bus stop when it was time.  We saw him waiting for the bus as we got close to home.  He came over to us to tell us goodbye even though we said goodbye at home.

Shortly after we got home I went to ATA (my school) for meetings and planning).  I was there until 11:30.

Morry and I walked to get Noah from school.

A little bit after getting home, I took Noah to Grandma and Papa's and then went to tutor.

Morry took Evan to Applebee's to meet his carpool ride for baseball shortly after he got home from school.

When I got home Morry and I ate dinner.

Then, we walked to pick up Noah.

When we got home from that, Morry left to meet Evan at Applebee's to bring him home.

They should be on their way home now.