Friday, October 29, 2010

Hockey Weekends- Why we love the rink!

With Fall comes the return to the Hockey Rink.  For some the return is bittersweet.  Gone are warm days spent at the pool, sleeping in Saturdays, having feeling in your fingers and toes but there is a definite upside to the return of children to their regularly scheduled extracurricular activities. 

 The rink is a place where Dad is a hero on the ice teaching their child to skate.  They seem 10 feet tall and are as fast as a rocket on the ice.  Even if Dad needs as much help to tie his skates in the dressing room as their four year old. (Pat says in rec hockey they use the 'buddy system' for the first few games to undo their skates when they can't touch their toes do to being stiff and sore and a possible off season weight gain).  The rink is somewhere that our kids have forged lifelong friendships, they have learned about being part of a team, playing fair, sharing, sticking up for a team mate, respecing their coaches, officials and their competition and that rink burger, fries and a blue powerade are a better salary for a goal scored then a multi million dollar contract in the NHL. 

For me there is always someone to entertain the baby so I can watch for at least a minute or two.


 You can see that smile even through his mask.  The first two practices he laid on the ice the entire practice. He is quickly getting the hang of being upright.   
  
Wait, Who took my stick?  Going.....
 
Going......

Gone!

He'll be ok now that he has his stick back.  Pat and Car practiced at home how to use your stick to get up off the ice.  Pat has his own idea what dryland training is!

 Even better the coach gives Carson a speedy ride with his stick.  Thanks Coach!
 The famous rink Ham Egg and Cheese bun.  Not even  a bite fom Mom?
 A juice box for sissy.
 Just making ourselves at home.  The table and chairs here is a bit nicer than ours however. 
  Tim Hotons and Hockey- a pairing as truly Canadian as Bob and Doug. 


 Let's pretend we are talking so I can drink some of this coffee and catch my breath! 
 Like fish in a net! In you go Carson.



Look who is the last one out of the net.  Come on Carson catch up.  He still likes me to cheer for him where as the 14 year old has warned me on numerous occasions, "Mom, don't cheer for me at the game.  Serriously don't it is so embarrasing"  That's like telling a 4 year old, "Don't eat this bag of candy!"
Now just sit back and let Dad do all the work.  What a life! 
The funnest game in the dressing room is having your brother and sister punch you in the can and laugh cuz it doesn't hurt! 

 Good times at the rink.  Thank goodness becuase we have a possibility of 16 years left in minor hockey! And I know we will enjoy every minute!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Happy Born Day


I'm the baby gotta love me! Why yes we do. 
This week Ellie turns two.  I don't know why we call it a birthday because I was the one who gave birth to her so really it is my birthday and I have five in a year.  The anniversary of the day I gave birth.  I should get balloons, cupcakes, dollies and aquadoodles not her.  What did she have to do with it?  One minute she was warm and toasty inside the Uterus hotel and the next a quick water slide into the hands of an awaiting nurse!  In all actuality it is Ellie's second Born Day.  So Happy Born Day little missy.  We are blessed to have you here.

 After tons of family sessions I decided I better do one of my own kids.  It has been over a year.  So Sunday afternoon I drug everyone into the green space with camera and tripod in tow.  Pat was busily preparing Pork Scallopini, lemon potatoes, and salad with homemade cranberry dijon dressing so I was going it alone.  I have patience for taking pictures of anyone elses kids but not my own so this session lasted all of five minutes. 


Thankfully it was raining so no one was out there because I may have been yelling somewhat and I was wearing baggy Bronco sweats, Pat's old t-shirt and his brown dress shoes and my hair was begging for the mom bun.  Crazy mom on the lose.  I managed to get one before the crying and fighting and good thing because now we are covered with snow.
This was the end of the photoshoot.  After a big brother squeezed a little brother's arm.  You figure out who.







 Only those who were home and ready and didn't argue about what they had to wear got individuals. 

For the record, becuase I always think I am going to remember but don't.  Ellie still has her soother, she sleeps through the night in a crib.  Ellie loves her brothers and sisters and they are so good to her.  She always asks where everyone is. "Where Daddy Go?  She loves grapes and raisins really all kinds of food.  Especially breakfast she will eat with whoever else is eating.  She has a twinkle, she is someone special.  She loves to say,"HI People or Bye People" to crowds like at the rink.  She loves to get herself dressed, especially her snappy socks.  She insists on having a wipe at all times.  She loves her Grandparents, her babysitter Roxanne, her boyfriend Jake.  She hates being teased by her two Uncle Jasons.  I could go on but just a few things that stand out to me at this milestone so when she reads this she will know what she was like at two.  Oh yeah and sweet but stuborn. 

Boots too small, coat too big, mits don't match but at least she's warm!


Monday, October 25, 2010

200th Post-Our 10th Anniversary Trip

Our hotel in Vancouver was unbelievable.  The one whole wall opened up with patio doors and overlooked the habour.  

Pat is such an entertainer that even in a hotel room he can whip up something and invite over guests.  



An art exhibit outside our hotel.  Can you find Waldo?
Feels like giving birth.


 A Dragon sighting at the seawall in Vancouver.  Pat and I passed Jim and looked at each other and said, "That's Jim!"  I turned and said, "Jim!"  He turned and I was so excited,  I said "Hi Jim, It's us Pat and Corla from Swift Current we met you in Toronto in May."  I am sure he meets a million people but was so kind to stop and take a picture with Pat.  He looks like he could be Uncle Jim.  I am sure many people wouldn't recognize this owner of BPs and Mr. Lube but I spend most of my day thinking about Dragon's Den so it was easy for me!  What a great guy.

For those of you wondering if you have missed us on Dragon's Den, we have not been on yet but fingers crossed for just after Christmas.

I am waiting for the day we are retired and can go on a cruise and Pat and I will definitely be sporting the matching floral or tie dyed shirts.  Maybe for our 20th Anniversary.  Levi will be 24 so I have already booked him and his wife to watch the kids while we are gone on our cruise.

Our first night in Vancouver we walked half a block to the most fabulous restaurant called Cardero's.  Flat bread to die for, raw oyster, seafood chowder, and great BC wine to mention a few.  We sat up at the bar and watched the kitchen staff send out appys, meals and amazing desserts like Creme Brulee finished off with a blow torch.  Pat was in heaven.






 Here we are at the site of the Olympic Flame. Amazing at night.



 Pat having an idea.
 We set the camera on a bench with the auto timer, then ran and tried to jump in the air.




 Workers replacing the sails at Canada Place.  My nephew is so smart he told me that before I showed him the pictures.  I didn't know what they were doing.  

Our trip focussed a lot on food!  This was the guacamole from Don Guacamole's.
This is for our Ukrainian friend Lori who loves the Garlic!
Took the ferry to North Vancouver to the Quay market for sushi!
 
The first thing we saw when we walked into the Market.



I drank a LOT of coffee on this trip.  

This crepe looked good but int he middle.... a hair.  The only disappointment of the whole trip.  



The Toronto Raptors were doing PR on the streets and we enjoyed the displays that were set up.  



Some free souvienrs for the kids from the Family Channel.  We LOVE the Family Chanel and the t-shirts say, "Family- Never a Dull moment"  How true.







A market at Granville Island.


The Vancouver Art Gallery



I put my life in my husband's hands as we rented this scooter on a rainy Vancouver day.  

The guy assured me Pat seemed to know what he was doing.  

Please don't kill us.

Surprise! More food.  They claimed to have Vancouver's best cheesecake so I had to check for myself.  Yup pretty good.




 We took a few pictures during out stroll.
 What a good looking guy I am married to.
 Carson asked me why I was wearing a blanket when I left home with this one.  My mommy made it for me and I love it!

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to listen to and meet Hailey Wickenheiser.  Funny that we had to travel so far to hear from someone from Shaunavon.  

I have talked before about Moms that I admire.  Here is another amazing example.  A Saskatchewan Mom who is the best in the World at what she does.  My favourite part of her presentation was when she said she came home from the Olympics and winning a GOLD medal.  After training for four years and having a dream come true she wasn't sure what to do once she got home.  She sat on her front step for a few minutes then went into the house and did a load of laundry.  Even Olympic Gold Medalist Hailey does laundry!  Super mom for sure.

The ferry to Victoria Island.  A beautiful experience.  Pat gave up the fanny pack for a back pack this trip.  

Victoria!

Our beautiful hotel.  Thank goodness Pat is our travel agent or we would have been sleeping under the bridge.  




We told our concierge, that it was our 10th wedding Anniversary and he  recommended a romantic Italian restaurant called Il Terrazo.  Such a great night!! The food was amazing but it was too dark for pictures.  


Our Hotel in Victoria. Delta Ocean Pointe Resort.  Amazing View.
The Romance Package!
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant Lure.



Pat standing by the SS Beaver.  It is right across from Red Fish Blue Fish.  It is a waterside restaurant in a metal container.  Best Fish and Chips in Victoria.  We ordered wayyyyy to much food.  

A great Mexican restaurant in Victoria

Self Explanatory.  


Another Dragon's Den stop a block from our hotel in Victoria.  Wanna Waffle was featured on the show this year and the Dragons loved them.  I loved there story and now I can say first hand I loved their waffles.  They were actually in Toronto on the same day we taped and remembered our five kids!  We are all part of the club.  



One of the highlights of the trip was Whale Watching.  These are porpoises swimming under our boat.  We had a chance to visit with a nice couple on the boat and guess where they were from....Saskatchewan.


One of the guides was from Australia and asked if we would like a jacket or a warm hat.  We said, "YES"  wasn't sure what a warm hat would be but it was a fluorescent orange toque.
I think Pat would have liked to keep his "warm hat" since it said, "Rocky"!


The hour and a half trip out in the cold was worth it to see the Orcas.  
I'm the King of the World.  
Another great place to walk through.  Floating houses.  
 This guy lived there and you could buy fish to feed him.

It was beautiful down by the water.  
Red Fish Blue Fish.  No Miss K it is not a Dr. Suess Movie.  

One legged Willy.  How can you say no to this guy begging for scraps.

Mark one of my life list.  Have tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.  I heard my Grandmother talk about this for years and I have always wanted to experience it.


I am sure this will score Pat a lot of points with his rec hockey team the Chiefs.






This jam is currently in my purse.  I wonder how long it will stay there?


On the Ferry trip back to Vancouver Pat scouted out the First Class Lounge.  You pay $12 and get to sit in peace and quiet in a kid free zone with food and beverages.