There is a season

Basketball finished up today with a pizza and awards ceremony. Such as it was. Libby reports that everyone got exactly one piece of pizza, and the coaches gave out the awards to their own team. Very low-key, in the extreme. Everyone got the same mini-trophy; it's all good as far as Briggs is concerned. He had a good time, though, and that's the main thing. They also received their team photos. He really liked his coach. They had sign-ups for baseball this morning too. Practice starts next Saturday. Reminds me of the line by Sinbad, "man, I won't sleep 'til June!" Last week Libby reported that Briggs commented on the lawn under the goal at home, "Mom, why is the grass missing here under the goal?" Go figure, son.

A car is born

A pine wood derby car that is.

Pack 50 had its Pine Wood Derby last week. It went very well. Briggs asked that his car be designed like it was for both NC State (in honor of Bud and Greg) and Duke (iho Libby). He assisted all along the way. I weighed it at the church at 5.0 ounces; when we got to check-in, they registered 4.7 oz. Arrgh.

We were still in the midst of a lot of sickness around the Folly. Briggs had missed four days of school and his last basketball game on the morning of the derby. A flu-like bug had eased somewhat, only to give rise to some sort of eye infection that caused his eye to swell. Hence the odd features on his face. But he was determined.

In the first three of his heats, his car came in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. He blew by me at one point after the third race and stated quite certainly that in his next, and final heat, his car would place first. I wasn't holding out much hope. But Briggs was certain. And of course he wound up being correct. His last heat, his car came in first.

Birthday

Calvin turned three last month. Everyone was busy and had been sick off and on for a week, so it was all we could do to mount an effort. We also managed to enjoy a version of Mid-Winter Love Festival : 14 February - Libby's Birthday). The theme this year was snacky treats from around the world, concluding with a bottle of chocolate wine. It's still sitting on the counter.