Hockey- Truly a Family Sport

A little background here... Growing up in a small town, where hockey didn't exist and the only youth sport was Pee Wee basketball, really left me clueless to the world of youth athletics. Pee Wee basketball was a simple program that grades 4-6 got to participate in on Saturday mornings over the course of 8-12 weeks. This included practices and games. The only gear you needed to have was a pair of tenny runners and shorts...oh yeah and for the girls a sports bra too ;-) Minimal commitment, but soooo much fun!
So here I am now as a Hockey Mom half way through my first season of Mite 1 Hockey (4-7 yr olds) and its just ridiculous. My kids are 4 yrs old and the commitment on their level and ours is INSANE!! They practice Tue & Thurs, with games e/o wknd. The dads flood the outdoor arenas one night a week (Monday) along with misc ice maintenance throughout the year. And the moms yearly commitment includes, 4 shifts in the concessions stand, and chaperone 2 elementary school dances (fundraiser). Not to mention all the other little fundraisers, and special events or help that is needed.
Let me give you an example of what our last 2 weeks have looked like with the hockey schedule.
Mon Jan. 5th Brad floods rink
Tues Jan 6th Boys have practice
Wed. Jan 7th Katie works concessions
Thur Jan 8th Boys have practice
Sat Jan 10th Boys have 2 games & Brad misses runs the clock
Sun Jan 11th Boys have 1 game & Katie works concessions
Mon Jan 12th Brad floods rink
Tue Jan 13th Boys have practice
Wed Jan 14th Katie takes boys for hockey pics (Brady in tow, cuz Brad is @ work)
Thur Jan 15th Boys have practice
Just a tally here for you... Our family was at the hockey club 10 out of 11 nights. Now that is ridiculous!!

All the bundling up everyone needs to do because its outdoor hockey doesn't help either. Thankfully the kids seem to be enjoying and so I go along with it. I just to keep my complaining out of ear shot and mumble under my breath lugging everything and everyone out the door on hockey days. Hopefully with a little conditioning I'll get used to it... cuz I guess I'm in it for the long haul.

P.S. now you know why I am falling behind with my blog.

The littlest things can make you laugh

One afternoon back in December, Brady sat in his highchair enjoying a little snack of "Kix" cereal when along comes his big brother Dylan. The little sphere's sparked and idea...Dylan decided it would be fun to blow the cereal across his little brothers highchair tray. Hop, skip and whoosh they fly across the tray. The end result... over 5 minutes of squealing, laughing fun. Although he sits off to the side, Riley cheers them on. Mommy finally grabs the camera to catch the tail end of this goofiness to share with all of you.
(Click on the arrow > under the picture above to see the video)

Another one bites the dust...

2008 has blown past us, so here we are at start of another year. Looking back over the past year, I'm certain that we set some records or something... How many BIG life changing events can you encounter in 12 months? Lets see for the us it would be...
Said goodbye to our family Dog (Bauer)
Brady (Child #3) was born
Brad took a new job in another state
We packed up a house and moved, all in 3 weeks
Sold a house in 30 days
Katie took a new job
Boys started a new daycare
Bought a new van
and the best for last we got a FANTASTIC house
... and all the stuff in between.
I think just 2 or 3 of the above would have been enough for the year, but instead we got all them all... and one right after another!

Its easy to get wrapped up in all the craziness of 2008, but I'm thankful that we all left it in one piece... Healthy and Happy. I just worry that 2009 will be a little boring compared to what we've just gone through?!

I guess as long as we are still young, why not spend 2009 diving into more new things and chasing after our healthy boys... ok maybe a little less chasing and some more quiet moment enjoying. I'm really looking forward to moving into our house, meeting new neighbors and really "SETTLING IN" to our home. Its weird how even after 7 months of living in this townhouse, it just doesn't feel like home. Renting just doesn't give you the same home cozy feeling like owning a home does... add that onto a new city, and I still feel like a transplant and not a true Duluthian.
I look forward to the kids running around the roomy house and yard- finally having tons of space to play, Brad puttsing around his new workshop-doing projects for me, and me making the house our home with a little painting and decorating- oh, yeah and then a little relaxing in my Jacuzzi tub :-) Once all that kicks in I'm certain I'll be feeling right at home.