2012 Update

Me on the Warroad River.

So far so good for 2012!

Here's a quick update of the Kirby Krew.

-Hockey continues to go well for Emma and Logan. Emma had a hat trick in her last game and Logan scored two goals.  Does this mean that they are NHL bound? Not yet but pretty soon scouts are going to start dropping in....  Besides, Coach Daddy will only talk to the Wild at this point.  

-Kirby's basketball team beat BRAHAM this past week.  Yes, the tigers beat pie town on their own court.   Only one more game left in the season.....then Kirby is done with after school activities until next Fall. Yup, that's right, no umping this spring (taking a year off) so I will no longer be on kid pick up duty/supper duty/dog duty alone until he gets home. Wahoo! Looking forward to more time at home with all of us there. 

-I've got my first JO Volleyball tournament of the season coming up......Would rather be playing but I'll coach instead. It's a fun group of girls and I'm excited to see how they do. 

-Emma is moving up to the high reading class next week.  She is soooo excited!  She's been working hard and has been at the top of the middle group for a long time and the teachers finally decided it was time to move her.   In order to do so she has to catch up with that group and has 50 stories to read!  But, she's been working hard and is almost done... Great job Emma!

-Logan is doing well in preschool and it's fun to listen to him almost count to 100 on his own (just a few mix ups in the 80's) and start to sound things out as well.  He's been working on reading to me at bedtime which is the cutest thing ever AND  he continues to show his fellow classmates new dance moves during their music time.

-Tyler is in the midst of his basketball season AND just got his braces off.  He told me his teeth feel bare naked now.  

-Raider has just been signed up for obedience school.   It's not that he's a bad dog, he just needs to learn some manners.  So, on Tuesday nights for 8 weeks, he and I have a date night.  (If you have seen the movie Marley & Me where they take him to obedience class......don't worry, he's not that bad.)

-Next up.....Father/Daughter dance is coming up. Emma is so pumped to have a date night with her Daddy.  Pictures soon!

We hope all our readers are healthy and happy!

Hockey Mania!

This weekend was the first hockey tournament.

It was an outdoor jamboree for Mites in a nearby town. 

The kids were soooo excited to be playing 'real' games. 

And to tell ya the truth-it was exciting to watch!

Here's Logan pre-game.

Emma pre-game face.

The kids all took turns playing Goalie.  Here is Emma protecting the net.  She did a good job-being a goalie is a tough gig.

Some action photos...

Logan's turn in the net.

Emma in action...

The kids did AMAZING!!!!  

Really....they passed, knew when to play defense, made good plays and skated hard. 

Logan was great to watch...he's so defensive minded that he pretty much skated from net to net...either waiting for the puck to shoot or got back on defense to help.

Emma was one of three girls that we saw playing. She held her own quite nicely.  

 Great job Emma and Logan! 

You should be proud of yourselves like we are!

Everyone loves the Zamboni....

Thank goodness for the Zamboni.

These little skaters loved every minute.

If you're lookin' for a feel good story.....

Check this one out.

http://ecmpostreview.com/2011/12/21/christmas-for-cadence/

Merry Christmas!

What could be better than hockey and Santa?

Saturday we headed up to Duluth for some hockey and Santa.

Here is our little Boogaard.

Look! I really do exist! 

Here's a picture of me....on skates....10ft tall and bullet proof. 

Another picture just to prove I do exist....

Here's Papa Bear and his two cubs at Bentleyville. 

(Very cool-free light park in Duluth)

It was an hour wait...but well worth it to see Santa.

Happy Birthday Gunner!

Eight years old...

In dog years that's 45 years old.

I just can't gush enough about this dog.

He's Tyler first dog.
He was there when Emma came home from the hospital.
He was there when Logan came home from the hospital.

He's been tugged on, fur pulled, ridden like a horse....
He's been there for all holidays and birthdays and seasons.
He's as gentle as can be with the kids.

He's run off at time or two...threatened to eat the mailman on numerous occasions, the paperboy gets an earful every weekend and so does anyone else that 'looks' at our house in the wrong way.

He's there when I'm sad or need a hug.  He sleeps with my kids. He is on high alert when King Kirby is gone for the weekend or night.

Then the biggest testament to this dog is his patience to deal with this other dog we brought into our family named Raider.

For those of you who have younger siblings...you can relate to Gunner's position of being bothered and chewed on and yelled at for doing things you had nothing to do with.   Gunner is a saint for putting up with Raider and his childish ways.

But, the good news is, I think he kind of likes Raider now....

Happy Birthday Gunner!

We look forward to the next 8 years+ with you!

Next topic.

Um, well, hmmm, ya see.....

I'm not quite sure what kind of topic you follow up with on your FAMILY blog after the post that the hubby wrote.

So, I'm going to stick to the safe topic of HOCKEY.  Well, that is if you can call Hockey-safe.

We are well into hockey season.

 I have become an expert on putting on two sets of hockey equipment including skates and helmets in record time.

 I have witnessed Logan go from a skater falling down and struggling to get up to a speed demon on the ice.

I have watched my future volleyball player Emma become an enforcer on the ice and dangerous with a puck and stick.

I have frozen my @ss off on the bleachers and in the rink and have not complained once. (Well, maybe once)

I have come to respect the sport of hockey and realize that it's not an easy sport that just anyone can do as first you must learn how to master the art of skating.

I am starting to like hockey. Not LOVE more than volleyball as a recently hacked facebook posting stated. (Ah-hem Kirby stay off my FB account!)

My kids love it, there for, I am starting to enjoy it.

And, there is nothing cuter than seeing only your kids cute little faces staring at you through their helmets with a mouth guard in trying to tell you.... "Did you see  me? Did you see me do......xyz?"

Here's the two of them with their big pal TJ.

(thanks for the sock TJ!)

And here they are with Coach Kirby/Daddy. 

What a great opportunity for my kids to learn hockey from their Dad. 

This weekend I was a brave soul and got on the ice with them during open skate. 

I'm not a bad skater...if only I could learn how to stop.....