Blake the Squirt

Blake has already played 6 games this season...with many more to go.  He is having a great time hanging out with friends and playing hockey.  This is his first year as a Squirt level player.  Squirts is the beginning of real games.  They play full ice, keep official score, and call penalties.  I love the names for youth hockey teams (Termites, Mini-Mites, Mites, Squirts, Pee-Wees, Bantams).  The all-girls teams have less creative names (8U, 10U, 12U, 14U...U get the picture).

Blake plays center, which is the position he was hoping to get.  It is an offensive position and the player that takes part in the face-offs.  I am so proud not only of how he has improved as a player, in terms of skating and stick handling, but also as an athlete.  He is hugely competitive but is also learning the importance of being a good sport and a team player.  He even has a hat trick under his belt which is really cool!  Of course, that took place at the one game I missed this year.

Win, Lose, or Tie, I have been proud of the way the entire team has played their hearts out.  I look forward to the rest of the season.

Rink of Dreams

The kids have been waiting patiently since last week for their backyard rink to be ready for skating.  After lots of time out back with a garden hose, it was finally ready for some skating action.  Mother Nature made the inaugural event a little messy, but it is exciting none the less to see our little dream come to fruition.

We have been talking about putting a rink in the backyard for a couple years but didn't want to wreck the grass.  We also lamented the fact that our driveway is too steep for a basketball hoop.  This past spring, we finally found the solution to "big kid" year round outside entertainment!

The heavy snow interfered with the photos I was hoping to take, but I'm sure there will be many other opportunities.  I did get the chance to try every single setting on my camera...this was the best I could do!

The summertime view. 

Who says white men can't jump?  I think Blake is impressed.

Paige gave b-ball a shot.
So far Henry is the only one in the family with any skills on the court.  Period.

Blake shot over 10,000 pucks this Summer.

Roller hockey is fun too.  Well, fun for Blake and Paige...I love rollerblades, but they scare the crap out of me.

We even used the Sport Court as the backdrop for a group picture.
These are four college roommates worth of offspring!
Blake, Paige, Louis, Mabel, Luke, Isaac, Grant, Rowan, & Blake (the newest addition, Sierra, just arrived in November).

Geez, isn't it crazy how green everything can be?  It will be back in about 5 months time, and I'm sure that by then we will be more than ready!  Until then, let's enjoy the snow.  Geez, isn't it crazy how easy that is to say in December?  Ask me again about my opinion of snow in 2 months!  

Hat Trickster

I used to be jealous of this relationship.
Now I just admire it.

We have been going to Husky hockey games since the days when I would waddle to our seats with Paige in my belly.  We now have season tickets and go to every game.  There are a few guarantees at each SCSU hockey game we attend: malt cups, roasted almonds, too many trips to the bathroom, and the kids making us laugh and smile.  Paige is hilarious.  Let me say that again, HILARIOUS.  And Blake really KNOWS the game.  He never fails to amaze me.  Henry of course knows everything one would need to know.  I'm sure I've mentioned before how my husband is great at everything he does, so of course he knows all the rules.  I watch and try to learn, but I only have the basics down: goals, off-sides, and really obvious fouls.  I'm sure to figure it out eventually considering how much of our time is hockey related.  I must say it is very cool to be able to spend so much time together as a family (and often times with friends) doing something that everyone enjoys.

Well, about 2 weeks ago we were spending some of that quality time together at a game.  The Huskies were playing really well, especially one of Blake's favorite players, Ben Hanowski.  

Blake (with much enthusiasm) - "If Hano gets a hat trick, I'm going to throw my hat on the ice!"  

(A hat trick is when a player scores three goals in one game - even I knew that one.)  

Me (in no uncertain terms) - "No you will not."

(Do you know how much hats cost?  And I really like that hat.)

Henry ("solving" the problem)- "If he gets a hat trick, you can throw my hat."

(Henry's not sincere but it doesn't matter because what are the odds of Hanowski getting a hat trick?)

Fast forward to the 3rd period.  Ben Hanowski gets his 3rd goal of the night.  It is the first time the Huskies have had a had trick in almost two years.  Without a second of hesitation, Blake reaches over, grabs the hat off of Henry's head, and throws it onto the ice.  The officials skate over and pick up the hats and take them away.

Paige (looking at Henry's hair) - "Great.  Way to go Blake.  Now Dad won't take us out to eat."

It was just an all around classic moment!  Henry did make Blake go ask for the hat back after the game.  There was some hesitation because, of course, you are not supposed to throw objects on the ice.  They must have thought the story of the over excited kid throwing his dad's hat was classic too because they did find his hat and return it.  And yes, we got to go out to eat after the game.

The next night back at the National Hockey Center...

Paige (using her Husky hat like a magician's hat) - "Dad, check out this hat trick."

(Told you she was funny.)

2006 Blake-looked-goofy-so-we-had-to-superimpose-a-new-head
Christmas card picture.
Go Huskies!

Fall Back

As I look out the window and see the blanket of snow on our yard, it is obvious that Fall has come and gone.  The last couple months have flown by at a crazy rate so I thought I would give a little recap.

Back to School
The kiddos got back to school in September.  Blake is now a 3rd grader and Paige is a 1st grader.  I was dreading my little gal going to school full-time for a couple years now, but it hasn't been as bad as I anticipated.  Like I said, the last couple months have gone by so fast that I haven't had time to reflect on my daytime empty nest.

1st Day of School

Notice the photography that captured this cold, wet, and windy moment.  I don't exactly recall but I'm sure it was preceded by "Quick get up on the steps so I can take your picture.  Why do you think, because we take your picture here every year.  Come on, let's go, quick, hurry, you're going to miss the bus!"

"Run, run, run!  Love you!"

Blake's Birthday

My baby boy is in his last year of single digits.  Half way to 18.  Wow.

Blake requested a hockey cake for his birthday.  I found amazing recipes for chocolate cake and chocolate frosting and chocolate glaze.  He loves chocolate.  He wanted chocolate.  He got chocolate!

I love when you capture a "moment" on camera.  For example, this is the exact moment that Blake realized those are trick candles on his cake.

Henry's Birthday
The kids were so excited for their Daddy's birthday.  They really love to give him gifts.  Hey look, we were wearing Vikings attire.  Henry's birthday fell on a Sunday this year,  a Sunday way back in September when we still had hope for the men in purple.

Halloween

Here we have the annual photo of Henry eating pumpkin guts.  The kids think this is hilarious.  I'm pretty sure this is what they will remember most about pumpkin carving from their childhood.

While we were working on the pumpkins, Jack was sitting outside with his nose pressed against the patio doors looking like he really wanted to come in and join the fun.  He never never never gets to come in the house, but he looked so cute that we had a moment of weakness.  Blake and Paige wanted to have their picture taken next to Jack in the house since it is such a rare occurrence.  How great is it that you can actually see the gentle giant licking Paige's ear...and of course seeing the giggle on her face!

Costume requests were very simple this year.  Blake wanted to be "something scary" and Paige wanted to be a werewolf (Blake's costume from last year...loooove to recycle costumes).  It took me a while to find a cape, but I completed that mission with a day to spare.  The cape and white face paint is all we bought for outfitting costumes this year.  Paige has already mentioned that she wants to be a girl vampire next year.  Yippee!

"Cotton Candy"

A group of friends and acquaintances of mine dress up for halloween on a massive scale every year.  This is the first year I joined them after some prodding from my hubby.  I will say that I was getting a bit apprehensive as Saturday approached.  I knew this was going to put me out of my comfort zone, but I wasn't about to back out.  Well, it turned out to be a super great time with just a little (ha ha ha) liquid courage and a great group of girls.  How could 14 identically dressed girls wearing hot pink wigs not have a good time?      

Just You Wake and Ski

Self-Portrait of Pure Happiness

We have been fortunate to have beautiful weather the last couple weekends at the cabin.  This has given us plenty of opportunity to get out on the water.  We have a constant rotation of double passenger tube, water skis, and wake board behind the jet ski.  Two weeks ago, I tried to ski for the first time in my life.  I failed.  Last weekend, I tried again.  I failed.  I tried both youth skis and adult skis.  I'm claiming that I am too heavy for the youth set and too short for the adult set so I'm holding out for the in-between junior set.  However, it is quite entirely possible that it is not the skis but rather the skier that is the hindrance to success.  But I did try...repeatedly.  I tried until I felt like my hip and shoulder were going to come out of their socket.  Then I figured, that was enough trying for one day.

Blake has learned how to ski, but what he really loves is wake boarding.  Henry bought him a board at the beginning of the summer.  Blake was beyond excited.  And then he tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, but could not get up.  And once he got up, he wiped out, and wiped out, and wiped out.  He begged for us to buy him the wake board which means he was not allowed to give up.  Henry kept asking around for advice on how to both get up and how to pull someone up.  After many attempts, they both figured out what they needed to do.  Now, Blake is tireless out there cutting through the wake and even getting a little air.  I am so happy that he kept trying because it is so great to see him out there grinning from ear to ear!

Paige is our little 'Ski Cat' and has improved greatly since her first attempt earlier this summer.  She did not get up the first time she strapped on skis, but our fearless little dare-devil didn't let go of the rope either.  I'm sure it was only a second or two that she held that rope in a death grip, but for a mother watching helplessly from the dock, it felt like an eternity.  I doubt she could hear our screams of "Let go of the Rope!  Let go now!" while her head was submerged under water and still being pulled behind the jet ski.  It would have actually looked quite humorous had it not been my baby girl.  So did this deter her from giving it another try?  This is Paige we are talking about, it didn't even phase her.  It has only been a month since her first attempt, yet she pops right out of the water with ease, waves as she sails past the dock, and cuts back and forth through the wake.  So awesome!  

Life is Good!

9th Inning Stretch

Baseball season ended last week for Blake.  It was a great season and he is pretty excited for next summer when he moves up to the next level and the game structure is more true.  Blake knew most of the kids on his team from school and activities.  They were a great group of kids that tried their best and had a great time.  I love watching Henry and Blake play catch in the backyard and to see how much he has improved since last summer.  And is there a better way to spend a summer weekday evening than watching a youth baseball game?  Notice I clarified weekday...

...because this is how I like to spend the weekends!  The kids had the chance to play a handful of backyard games this summer and always have a fantastic time.  This is a game from last weekend when we had 18 people (10 kids) up at the cabin.  We have officially changed gear to whiffle balls and plastic bats to make it more friendly since the kids range in age from 3 to 13.  This welcome change also greatly reduced the number of times we had to go lost ball hunting in the trees.  Paige said she wants to give softball a try next summer.  We may have to have a little conversation about appropriate attire/uniform!

4th Time is a Charm?

I have had the opportunity to go to 3 Twins games in the new stadium.  I have also been rained on at 3 Twins games in the new stadium.  Don't get me wrong, I see the big picture...a beautiful day, 75 degrees, the sun is shining, a cold beer in my hand, watching the Twins win big.  I guess I am just going to have to wait to experience it!  This fair-weather fan just needs a little fair weather.  I'm sure I'll get to at least one more game this season...here's hoping that the fourth time will be the charm. 

Game #1 - wet and freezing!

Game #2 - really really wet, game was canceled.

Game #3 - chilly and a few sprinkles, guess I can't complain!

Summer Time!

Just got off the bus on the last day of school!

The kids began counting down the days 'til summer vacation in the beginning of May.  Paige even made a chain of paper loops to help keep track.  It was bittersweet for me, as usual.  The realization hits that the kids are another year older.

It was a wonderful school year for both of the kids.  Blake was a rock star at reading and math.  He made it to the highest AR level that they have for the elementary school kids and was making awesome progress on his times tables.  He also earned the Presidential Physical Fitness Award which is pretty cool.  Paige is starting to get the hang of reading and likes to read out loud, but still loves being read to.  I had the greatest time volunteering in her classroom every week.  I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to stay home and experience this part of their childhood.  It goes by so fast!

Summer break is now here and so begins the new routine.  We have a schedule jam packed with activities, many of which are already in full swing.  Our activities include softball league, golf league, baseball, soccer, tumbling, golf, park activities, swimming lessons, and hockey camps.  The summer will also be filled with friends coming over here and the kids going to a friend's house.  It is nice for them to be able to play with other kids and stay busy.  Yesterday, there were 5 kids here and it was definitely more calm than with just the two!  Today the kids are at a friend's house for the day, and I get a little time to catch up on the blog.  One week into summer vacation and I'm lovin' it! 

Love Is All You Need...or is it?

While at Disney World, I had to stop at the United Kingdom in Epcot to get another Beatles coffee mug (despite the torrential downpour).  I love my Beatles!

The first morning I was drinking out of the mug at home, Blake walks into the kitchen, picks it up, and examines it for a minute.  He then looks up at me and says, "Mom, they spelled hockey wrong."  Pretty quick wit for an 8 year old, and he kept a straight face the entire time.  It sure made me laugh out loud.

Super (patient) Cat

Yesterday I was in the kitchen when Paige came around the corner and "Mom"ed me for the umpteenth time.  "Mom look!  Isn't this cute?"  I didn't look (I know...bad mommy moment) but responded as though I had looked.  "Yep, super cute.  Please let me finish what I am working on here."  As she turns to walk away, I see she is holding her cat Charlotte.  This gets my attention considering she just asked me how cute I thought something was.  I turn my head and see that she has dressed her cat up as a super hero using some doll clothes...and YES, Charlotte is wearing the matching cape too!

Charlotte models tutus, as well.  Paige claims she loves it.

 Ringo sometimes falls victim too.  Paige printed this costume from a website.  I also caught her trying to put a matching collar on our nearly 100lb. yellow lab, Jack...but he wasn't havin' it.

Spring Ahead

It was time to change the clocks ahead this weekend which has resulted in some pretty tired, let me emphasize t i r e d, kids at our house.  The drag only lasts a couple days, thankfully.

In addition to the time change, we also had a change in weather which means no more snow in the yard!!!  We brought out the scooters, bikes, and helmets from storage on Sunday so all the neighborhood kids were ready to hit the cul-de-sac after school yesterday.  It didn't take long for one of the kids to acquire the first road rash of the season.  Paige was doing tricks on the scooter and wiped out.  It happens.  A quick spray of cleaning solution and a massive band-aid and she was ready to hit the pavement again...well, a little less literally this time!

So in addition to being tired from the stolen hour of sleep, they were now extra tired from running around, biking, riding scooters, playing cul-de-sac hockey, digging in the sandbox, and using the swingset.  Blake and Paige decided it would be a good idea to relax and watch a movie after they came in the house.  When I called them up for supper, Blake sits down and casually says that Paige is sleeping in the duck box (our family room blanket storage/coffee table).  "She's sleeping in the duck box?"  To which he replies, "Don't worry Mom, the lid is open."

Oh, I wasn't worried, but I did need to get a picture since this is, quite unbelievably, the first time one of the kids has actually fallen asleep while playing in the duck box.

Blake "The Puck"

River Lakes Stars Mites - Blue Team

To say that Blake loves hockey would be an understatement.  He loves to watch hockey, play hockey, talk about hockey, write about hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey.  And the neat thing is that he is pretty good at it too!  This makes me happy because I was never even remotely good at any type of athletic activity.  I tried, I had fun, but I was never good.  So it is great to know that even when he decides that he has had his fill of organized hockey, he will be one heck of a skater forever.

A game at the Hutchinson Jamboree.

This past weekend was the final jamboree for both Blake and Paige. Paige's games were on Saturday and Blake's were on Sunday.  We stayed overnight at a hotel with several other hockey families on Saturday.  The kids swam in the pool, ate pizza, ate snacks, played Wii, watched movies, and stayed up way too late.  We parents watched the kids have fun while having a few beverages and stayed up even later than the kids.  Everyone had a great time hanging out, getting to know each other better, and telling some ridiculously funny stories.

Hanging out between periods.

It was a genuinely good time with friends, family, and a super group of kids.  It was a hyped up end to a fun-filled season which included home and away games, lots of practices and skills nights, playing a mini-game between periods at an SCSU hockey game, backyard games, outdoor rink games, basement shinny games, and just a few games of Big Buck Hunter at Grizzly's and Buffalo Wild Wings!

The team waiting semi-patiently to get on the ice.

Paige "The Stick"

Game Face?

The regular youth hockey season officially ended last weekend. And, I must admit that I am a little sad.  I won't have to wait long for the next hockey related activity to begin (about 2 weeks) but this season just seemed to fly by.  Blake has been playing for River Lakes for three years, but this is Paige's first year.  My super fantastic husband did the majority of the work since he was a coach on both of their teams.  I will emphasize that driving them to practice and the occasional game is no small task given that between the two hockey players there was generally practice 4 days a week.  Also, since we live nowhere near the rink, a 1 hour practice takes nearly 3 hours from the time you start getting gear ready to the time you get back home.  And I know that non-hockey families think we are just about as crazy as you can get, but we love it.  What a great way to spend time with your kids!

    

                            

She even gets the puck on her stick from time to time!

Paige went from looking like Bambi out on the ice to being a pretty good little skater.  She never complained or whined when it was time to go to practice.  And, she put her own gear on, minus the helmet and skates, from day one!  I have said it before, but I'll say it again, I can't get over what a great attitude our funky monkey has.  I am so excited to see where that go-getter spirit is going to take her.  

This picture makes me laugh.

Odds are that the puck will make it into the goal, eventually.

Their were a total of five girls on her team so it was fun to see the interactions that resulted from the sudden influx of pink tape, pink laces, and ponytails on the ice.  My favorite was when I walked into this serious conversation between Paige and "the girls" and Joshua (one of her teammates) and "the boys".  

Paige - "Girls go to Mars to get more candy bars and boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider."  

Joshua - "And then at our next practice, boys go to Mars to get more candy bars and girls go to Jupiter to get more stupider."

Paige - "Yep."

Joshua - "Ok."

Then they all turn and head out on to the ice.  So cool.

Who knows...maybe a goalie?

Here I go again...

Well, I must say it has become incredibly apparent to me that intrinsic forces are much more motivating for me than extrinsic.  My wonderful family and friends of both the immediate and extended varieties have been giving me a hard time about not keeping up with my blog the last several months (perhaps an understatement).  Yet, I still couldn't bring myself to get back in the saddle. 

One thing that I realized about my blog, shortly after I started writing it, was that I was doing it more for me and less for you.  Huh?  I love to write.  It is therapeutic and fun and gives me a chance to really think about the silly little things that happen in our lives.  It also happens to be great to have people that like to share the journey by reading my entries.  It isn't that we haven't had a ton of experiences to write about since last summer; in fact, I have a backlog in my brain of stories to share.   So, I can't say why I haven't been keeping up. 

Wait, actually, I can.  Since I feel like I do this for myself, I feel guilty taking time to sit at the computer, peruse pictures, write, and edit.  And when I say time, I mean time.  It takes me at LEAST twice as long to complete any given task than it should take an average human being (being a perfectionist has some major drawbacks).  Henry will readily confirm this as completely true and can include some colorful examples as well.  That being said, I am ready to take some "me" time and give "you"/"me" the blog back.  Clear as mud? 

Thanks to all my family and friends for the gentle prodding!