view from here

Grand Cayman

view from here

I am not ready

for this.

We ordered these graduation anouncements through school many months ago.

And they came in yesterday.

I am not ready.

end of season

After six fun, but very busy months, hockey is over for the season.

Jake’s season has been over for a few weeks now and Drew’s team played their last game on Sunday in the district tournament.

Sunday’s game was probably one of the best games the team played all and maybe the most exciting. They were losing 1-4 in the third period and came back with 3 goals to tie the game. And Drew scored the 4th goal that tied up the game!

The game then went into a 10 minute overtime. Neither team scored. They went into another 10 minute overtime. No one scored. They went into a 3rd overtime!!! The other team scored to end the game. Although Drew’s team didn’t win, they played their hearts out and we were so proud of them- and what a way to end the season!

Last night was the end of the year party for Drew’s team. These parties are always fun and a great way to wrap up the season.

The coaches (Pete and Tyler) got up and did a little speech that summed up the year and also had some very nice words to say about each player.



This is what they said about Drew:

“Drew has a very strong competitive spirit. One of the hardest working kids on the team. Drew has the ability to put himself in the right spots and understands his offensive and defensive responsibilities. Drew led the team with assists. Drew has truly pushed himself this year to becoming a stronger skater and a play maker. Drew had 18 goals, 16 assists, and 49 penalty minutes. He led the team in points and assists.”

Yes, Drew is a bruiser out on the ice and spent his fair share of time in the penalty box. This last picture is totally posed, taken before a game, but still maskes me laugh.

And now baseball, soccer, ultimate frisbee and spring hockey start. :)

Sadies?

Saturday morning, while Tyler was gone coaching a hockey game, his girlfriend came over to decorate his room to ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance.

Very cute and of course he said yes.

It is always so much fun to see all the different ideas that the kids come up with to ask each other to dances. They are so much more creative than when I was in high school when we just asked someone to a dance. :)

spring is springing

We have had some amazingly beautiful weather here in Minnesota these past few weeks. All of our mountains and mountains of snow have  finally melted. And we have been enjoying some unseasonably warm weather with highs in the 60's.

And yesterday, while I was doing some yard work, I peeked on my garden and saw that my chives were already springing up!

I am loving the spring weather!

I am from

Yesterday, at conferences, Drew shared with me a poem that he had written for one of his classes. The assignment was simply to write a poem that had at least 16 lines. I had tears in my eyes (in a good way) while he was reading this out loud to me. I thought it was such a beautiful poem and I could tell he had put so much thought into it and his choice of words. This poem completely sums up Drew and what is important to him. I LOVE it!

I am from

by Drew

I am from the smell of fresh painted rooms

And the trees in the woods

I am from golden fur and the loss of pets

I am from XBox 360 and PS3,

From the Black Eyed Peas and 3 Doors Down

I am from home made meals from every cultture

And tons of relatives

I am from metal in my arm

And broken bunk beds

I am from Busy Nights.

I am from Chicago

Where the B.... Family Tree lies

I am from Minnesota

Where the A.... Family Tree lies

I am from Hockey Sticks and Baseball Bats,

From Church every Wednesday and

Preschool at Hosanna,

From O... Elementary and

From a busy bus stop

I am from Golden Retrievers.

I am from Caribbean Cruises

And the scar on my arm

I am from a circle street

And a big back yard,

From walking my dog

And chasing her around

I am from a good life.

hockey question

With Jake's hockey season ending yesterday and Drew just having a few more weeks, I thought that it would be fitting to share this email that was circulating a while ago. I don't know where it originated, but thought it too funny not to share.

IS YOUR KID'S HOCKEY TAKING OVER YOUR LIFE???

- You base the next purchase of your new vehicle on whether it will hold six kids, six sticks, and six hockey bags.

- You know the location of every hockey store within a 400 mile radius.

- You relate directions to places by the nearest arena.

- Knows every single kid on every single team your child has ever played on... But doesn't have a clue who his school mates are.

- You feel lost when you have a free weekend.

- Your spouse waits until you decide where to sit and then chooses a spot on the opposite side of arena.

- You become a partner in a skate sharpening business to save money.

- Can justify complaining about someone who gives hundreds of hours of volunteer time to your son or daughter.

- You ground your kids for a week (except for hockey practice).

- Can rationalize spending $159 on a Synergy for a 9 year old but won't spend $5 on a Birthday card for your spouse.

- When someone asks how old your children are you respond, "I have a '95 and a '97."

- Has had to use a grandparent to take kid #1 to a tournament because Dad was in a different county with kid #2 at a tournament and Mom had kid #3 two counties away in a 3rd tournament all in one weekend.

- Has more miles on '08 minivan than a '66 Chevy

- Practices make up a very large part of your social life.

- You buy gloves according to how loud you can clap in them.

- You find yourself missing the parents of your child's team mates during the off-season.

- You refuse to make any plans with your friends until you check your kids' hockey schedule.

- Takes out a home loan to pay for all the equipment and expenses.

- Plans birth of next child so he has a good hockey birthday.

- New baby's first word is Zamboni.

- All computer passwords begin with "hockey" or contain child's number.

- Has been barred from more than one rink on more than one occasion

- Purchases new $135.00 stick because old one "didn't have any goals left in it."

- Knows a few 5 year olds that are good but "lack focus".

- Has had kids ask if Christmas is "home or away".

- Received a letter from AAA Automobile Club and called for more info about tryouts.

See you at the rink!