The Wheeler Version of March Madness

To many people March Madness only refers to a basketball tournament that comes along once a year and those who never watch a college game all year will fill out a bracket and even wager a small amount of money at the office. At the Wheeler home, March Madness is way of life that we experience every year at this time which includes, but is not limited to the popular NCAA Basketball Tournament.
We love to watch the college boys and fill out our brackets just like everyone else. Jeff has even devised a complex point system to determine the final winner in our home, who will receive their favorite candy bar and soda as a prize. However, this is only a small part of what March Madness means to us. March seems to be the month that both of our children have activities that overlap. Basketball is winding down while baseball, softball and track are gearing up.
Last Thursday began a string of eleven games that Alex played in seven days. He played in two basketball tournaments and had two nights of double header baseball games. On top of that Rachel had track practice every night and a school field trip. I know that sounds extreme. We are not the type of parents that push our kids--the scheduling just happened to work out that way for some reason. Believe me, we were dragging by Friday and I was looking to being at home so badly that was all I could think about.
It is now Saturday and I have yet to really be home. Kay is probably beginning to think we have moved back in! Since we do not have television reception, cable or dish, we decided to watch the tournament at Larry and Kay's Friday night and we haven't left yet. Not true, we did go home and sleep! That was until I had to get up and get Rachel ready for a softball practice and track practice.
I don't know how Alex could possibly be moving, but he has been shooting hoops between the games in which he is most interested. I don't know how he has the energy. Rachel even took a nap and last night I had to lie on the couch for three hours just to rest up enough to make my two mile drive home! Today is easier on my body, but I haven't stayed at home. We're back to watch more of the tournament and since I'm not at my house to be reminded of what all needs to be done, I've had time to relax all day and blog this evening. The kids have been able to enjoy their grandparents and they are sneaking off to other televisions occasionally to watch some other shows they don't have the opportunity to see.
I think my body is recuperating and next week is looking pretty good. Since everything just happened to fall last week, this coming week's schedule has really cleared out. Only 1-2 practices every night and two track meets--not too bad. Jeff and I think it sounds great especially when we realized that last year in the middle of all of this activity we were building a house, putting in hardwood floors until wee hours of the morning, and moving besides working all day! Whew! It's good thing the Madness is only for one month.