Mid-summer pic of the kids...at an ice arena.
We weren't able to sign the kids up for many activities this year because our beginning of the summer vacations cut into most of the available recreation programs. It is probably a good thing since we have had something scheduled nearly everyday.
Paige geared-up for her first hockey game!
Paige decided that she would like to give hockey a try. So Henry and I decided that a good way to test the water was to send her to hockey camp with Blake. For their age group, it was a day camp conveniently located about 10 minutes from our cabin. They absolutely loved it! I must say that I was a little apprehensive about the lack of supervision, at first. You must realize that level of supervision is rather subjective in nature. Coming from the compulsive head counter, they were pretty much on their own. Blake and Paige were at camp from 7:30 until 5:00 Monday through Friday with ice time on Sunday and games on Saturday, an entire week.
Hockey Huddle
(Paige is #4 with the pink tape on her stick)
I experienced one of those parental bitter-sweet "moments" with Blake on the first full day of camp. The kids were in separate groups, with Blake finishing before Paige. When I arrived to pick them up, I found Blake in the pro shop trying to decide what to buy. They each got some money in an account at the beginning of camp, and they both went a teensy bit overboard on their first day of freedom...slushies, ice cream, candy, powerade (the only restriction we gave them was no pop). I walk in the room and get a casual "hey Mom". He is hanging out with some friends so I try not to impose. A couple minutes later he bellies up to the snack counter. It is supper time so I head over to check the situation out. All cool and casual, "Can I getcha' anything?". Well, he does have his own account money. "No thanks bud. What are you getting?" "Ah, I was just going to get a pizza." Delicate situation here. It is supper time but I don't want to squash the tiny bit of independence he seems to have acquired in the last 9 hours, "Well, it is supper time as soon as Paige gets back from ice time.". In retrospect, I guess my response could be interpreted differently than intended by a 7 year old. I walk to the doors to check for Paige's van. As I turn around I hear Blake asking about small versus large pizza, both in terms of cost and actual size. Needless to say, our supper was pizza in the pro shop, compliments of my baby boy.
I was so unbelievably proud of my munchkins that week. Blake was able to spread his wings, a little. He is generally shy and uncertain in new situations, just like me, so it was great to see him have to fend for himself. Paige is more like Henry when it comes to personality and she put it all to good use that week. She was the only girl in her group and the only kid that was not already involved in hockey. This meant she was the slowest, slowest, slowest skater in her group. From what I saw, she never gave up and never took shortcuts. I both envy her and am infinitely proud of how she handled the situation. She is a firecracker!
Now where is that darn puck?
The realization has now fully sunk in that hockey is, in fact, a year round sport. Regular season runs from October to March, Spring League from April to May, Hockey Camp in July, and Fall League from August to September. What, we missed a month!
Two kids worth of gear...you can identify the kids
by smell that don't air out their gear...nasty, nasty, nasty.
Blake also played Baseball this summer from June through July. I know, everyone thinks we are insane. I am really glad that we are able to provide our kids the opportunity to try out different sports. I never had that chance and can't even hold my own in backyard pick-up games. I hold no illusions that Blake is going to be a superstar athlete, he takes after me remember. I could be wrong, we'll just have to wait and see. Regardless, it is a great chance to learn some valuable life lessons. And my favorite part is how amazing Henry is with all of it. He coaches every chance he gets, cheers from the stands, and holds practice session in the backyard and driveway. He is such an amazing Dad, so involved and loves every minute of it.
Complete focus.
The Team
The camera refused to focus on anything but the fence.
It is kind of artsy, I guess.
Which present should Daddy open first?
