Star Light Star Bright

The kids spent almost two full hours playing outside in the snow this afternoon.  Usually they play on the big snow pile in the cul-de-sac.  But today, I told them to stay in the backyard in case the plow came through again.  Blake was less than excited about this idea after seeing the mountain of snow in the front.  However, he couldn't get dressed fast enough when I told him the snow on the rink was up to Paige's waist.  The snow was so light and fluffy, they could almost swim through it!  It was so great  to see them "unplugged" and playing so well together for such a long period of time without getting bored.

It was a fun afternoon for them that ended in my favorite thing...a quotable moment!
We were in the garage getting their soaked gear off and hung up....
Mom - "Did you guys have fun?  You were out there for almost 2 hours!"
Blake - "Yes.  We made snow trails.  It was awesome!"
Paige - "If I see a star tonight, I am going to make a wish that our fort doesn't get wrecked.  Would that be your wish too Blake?"
Blake - "No, I would wish that I could shape shift."

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?