Regular basketball season has come to an end.  Jacob (Varsity) will have divisional tournament next weekend and then if they win 2 or 3 games they will go to state. They are currently 3-12.  Their last game was a one point win against a cross town rival - so very exciting.  He got a lot of playing time on JV and scored double digits several games.

Joseph finished his 8th grade season with his team getting second place in final 8th grade tournament.  A couple of nail biter games too!  All in all they both did really well and enjoyed their seasons.

Jacob has been doing a lot of work with his billboard vinyls and some welding, painting projects with the vinyl guy Matt.  It has been a good little gig for him.  He has also made a connection with a landscape guy, so he is hoping once that starts, to get lots of weekend hours and then four 10s during the summer.

Joseph is still plodding along at the taco place.  He is already talking about the summer and if he wants to pick up more hours or a different/second job.  

The weather is warming up and doesn't look like much snow on the horizon.  Makes me happy but will mean a very dry summer.

Ben is still doing his thing and comes around occasionally.  Not sure what is on the job horizon for him.

My job plods along.  It seems very cyclical, in dealing with employee retention.  Lose a few, then hire a few.  Have a great group of gals right now and gearing up for a busy spring/summer with regular work and some big construction projects.

The high school started a tradition last year where any senior that wanted to, could participate in a game.  It runs for the school year and it costs $5.  The last one standing wins the money.  The rules, the seniors are randomly listed from 1 to whatever and it is your job to eliminate the person below you.  Then you have a new target.  You don't know who is out to get you.  They can only get you out via water gun and it has to be recorded and then end with an elimination hand shake.  You can't get someone out on school property or at a school sponsored event.  The big catch, if you are wearing swim goggles, they can't shoot you.  So it is fun to see all the seniors around town with goggles on their eyes.  Can't wait for Jacob and his classmates to participate next year.

Few pictures -Two of them are pictures of welding projects that Jacob brought home that I think are really cool!!!

Basketball and work has been keeping me busy.  Between the two boys, there are three nights a week that they are playing.  Jacob's team is 1-12 and Joseph is 4-3.  Needless to say, my boys have learned how to be good losers.  We have 2 more weeks of basketball and then business will grind to a halt.  

On a good note, the school has hired a new football coach and there is a lot of excitement.  Jacob has stepped up and taken a leadership role among the football players and it is so good to see.  The new football coach has started early morning workouts and both boys have been going.  So excited that Joseph has decided to.  I don't really care if he ends up playing freshman football or not, but excited for him for the workouts, discipline and getting around other kids.

This past week JR and I finally bought tickets to Kauai.  We have been invited by the pastor that married us, along with another couple, to join the pastor and his wife at their time share late April.  We will be gone 7 nights.  Turns out neither of us are real into all the tourist things, but more the cultural and just seeing the sights.  The younger two will stay home alone, which will be interesting and good for them.

Things have been really busy at work.  Our construction projects have started kicking off.  My boss has bid on about a dozen other projects.  I am learning so much about that industry.  Given all the growth here, lots of job security.

Joseph and I recently went out to shoot pool and bowl.  Always great when I can get out with the kids and get them off their devices.  We had a good time and afterward, Jacob met us at the university campus and we ate at one of the dining halls.

JR has finally started to move snow.  Winter is here.  Thankfully it is February, so spring weather should be arriving in 4 weeks.  Below is a picture that I took one night outside our window.  It was one of those -30 degree nights and unprompted, Jacob convinced Joseph to go across the street and shovel our neighbor's driveway.  Love the serving heart of my boys.  I keep telling them one day I will be older and they would hope that a younger neighbor would take care of our driveway.

That's it!  Just a quick check in