Big events!

Whew!  We've had a lot happen in the last few weeks, and each of us has had something pretty special to share.

We'll start with Kari who had a weekend she's been waiting for, well, for a longgg time. She went to American Girl Doll store in Chicago for lunch with Grammy Pammy and Dale. It's a special birthday present that Grammy has had on the schedule since she took her other granddaughters years ago.

Needless to say, the reality lived up to the hype created by our daughter. She got "Kate" this lovely blonde doll who now seems to accompany us every where. Complete with hair accessories and earrings (yes, they were pierced that day on the doll), Kate is a staple in the Keckler house now.

Kari also took her birthday presents from friends to a local charity as a donation. Lafayette Urban Ministry was thrilled to receive a clothes basket full of towels and homemade blankets to help out in this extended cold winter we've had. We're quite proud that Kari continues to come up with ideas like this instead of getting presents.

Bryce has had a loose tooth now for many weeks, but refused to let anyone so much as touch it. Daddy tried numerous times to pop it out like the first one, but it was a lost cause. Until this past week. I was gone on a brief overnight work trip when B said I could pull it out when I got home. Little did any of us know that chance would never occur.

As I went to pull it out the next morning before school, it was already out. He lost it in his sleep, which led us to believe he pushed it out while sucking his thumb - or even worse he might have just swallowed it in his sleep?

We looked everywhere before we had to leave to get to school, and found nothing. We looked again when we got home and nothing. We were then brushing teeth before bed and he felt something sharp in his tooth brush. What do you know? When he brushed his teeth before bed the night prior, it was stuck in the bristles!

Before you criticize, we have a second toothbrush he uses in the morning in the downstairs bathroom, thus he didn't truly find it for 24 hours. Anyway, we've got a two-gap space in the middle of this guy's mouth now!

One of the many fringe benefits I receive through my work relationship with Coach K's camp is tickets to a home game each year. I was specifically told 5 years ago to never ask or even hope for tickets to the game vs. UNC at Cameron Indoor Stadium... that even former players get turned down for requests.

Well, the request was never made, rather it was offered to me. The idea probably stemmed from me mentioning I wanted to bring Holly with me this year instead of a guy friend. To say we were beyond grateful and fortunate is an understatement.

The game was amazing. It started with a memorable moment of silence for the legendary UNC coach Dean Smith who recently passed away. Coach K and Roy Williams planned it before the game - both teams would gather at center court arm-in-arm and show that the rivalry will never be bigger than those who helped make it just that.

Once the game started, Duke went up by 10-plus points in the first half and the stadium was rockin. Carolina battled back and was similarly ahead in the second half. In fact, Cameron Indoor was rather sullen as the Blue Devils were trailing by 7 with just 90 seconds left.

But all of a sudden the home team stormed back, somehow forced overtime and ultimately came out on top in the extra session. It was an unbelievable game, experience and time with good friends/clients.

 Campus unusually covered in snow

Can you believe we were only feet away from the famous "Towel Guy"?