HOCKEY SEASON!!!

 Once more into the breach! We have exploded into hockey season, a little bit more reluctantly this year (at least on Dad and Mom's part). Our first week back we had both girls at a 7am practises at separate arenas; and we have one car.

 It's not that we don't love hockey or anything but it's almost a part time job keeping two kids in it (actually a part time job with money is sounding good right about now too). I can't imagine what it will be like when we have three kids in the sport (maybe they will start to like something less time consuming by then, ping pong anyone?). The girls on the other hand are over the moon about the season starting, particularly Noli who is finally old enough to join her big sister in the fun.

Before the season started we tried to justify quitting the league altogether and only going to shiny occasionally but their enthusiasm trumped our feelings once again. I do foresee some difficult choices about it all as it is clearly on a collision course with church activities. We have promised ourselves to not miss church on account of hockey so God hold me to that. For now we are doing are best to keep up with all the practises and games and clinics and tournaments (God help us,,). Seeing the older girls at the arena is always a good motivator for us to keep them in the sport. It really seems to give girls a sense of confidence. They know they are unique for playing such a "manly" sport.

Introducing Evie on the Ice Pandas (she was extremely unhappy about the name of her team and I admit I sort of agree with her).

 Introducing the rookie team mate Noli on the Frosties

Here we go. 

Well I guess I'm 34

Last week was my birthday. I am now officially in what I would categorise as "mid thirties". Unlike being in you're mid twenties this stage of life seems to be marked mostly by mild physical problems like having sore knees. Despite the annoyances of ageing I am feeling very blessed this birthday. Our lives are falling into a nice fall rhythm and everyone is doing well. Life is good. With the recent bus tragedy in Ottawa it is easy to appreciate the fragility and fleeting nature of life, and how amazing it is to actually be alive and healthy. 

We are all anxiously awaiting new life this weekend, as my sister and brother in law are about to have their first child. I will be blessed with another wonderful niece or nephew (I'm thinking niece but I have no scientific proof for this). I am praying for a safe and easy delivery and that both Mom and Dad keep their strength up and find time to rest in the next few restless days of waiting. 

Happy weekending everyone!

Kingston Day Trip

On our way 

Hey look its RMC! I can see your room Kath!

Fort Henry waterfront

We found a lot of apple trees around Fort Henry

Ahh Kingston

Fort Henry entrance

FOOOOOTBALLLL!!!

Go QUEENS Go!!!

"I sure do love Queens",,,OK she may not have said that exactly

Bye Bye Kingston

Ryan's Birthday- A Mama Post

I am once again hijacking Ryan's blog, but my intentions are honourable, and I will try not to embarrass him. Today is my wonderful husband's birthday. Thirty-four years ago today my sweet Mother-in-Law Sirpa gave birth to the best man in the world. I've told her before that she really should have had more boy children (although her daughters are pretty nice too).

I had meant to get up early this morning to make breakfast for Ryan but I slept in... I had also planned to at least make up is coffee for him, buuuuut I was too sleepy to get off the couch...my bad. Instead my sweet husband made my coffee for me and also made our oldest daughter Evie breakfast. I know what you might be thinking (at least I know what I'm thinking, what a crappy birthday morning that was) but don't worry I promise I will make a decent birthday cake sometime today and if I'm extra prepared I will even get him a present (although he requested no presents - don't tell him yet).

Despite my lacklustre efforts this morning Ryan was his usual contented and peaceful self. My favourite part of being married to this man is the lack of drama he exudes. He rarely gets mad, rarely does anything wrong and rarely gives off any type of vibe except calmness. This is why he is perfect for me. Although I am indeed charming at times, I run a wee bit high on the drama/anxious/angry scale. He has given my almost 8 years of peaceful happy marriage.

Today is a very happy day of the year for me. The best present I could ever know came into the world 34 years ago today. Happy birthday Ryan! I love you.

This was too funny not to post

Our Garden

 This last spring we decided that our front yard, which gets the most light, should be turned into a vegetable garden. Although this may seem like a strange idea, in our neighbourhood it seems to be getting more and more common. I think it speaks to the economic times we find ourselves in these days. We all want good organic food that isn't covered in DDT or who knows what else, and most importantly we want it cheap. There's nothing cheaper than finding wood on the side of the road building raised beds and planting seeds (also cheap) to grow food.

We generally use our back yard for entertaining and having a place for the kiddies and our dog to run around; however our front yard was merely for looking at. I only used it when I needed to mow the lawn. There is still a bit of lawn and flower garden left but that will be further diminished this fall when we build some more raised beds with the salvaged wood we keep coming across (usually on date nights,,,what could be more romantic than garbage picking?? I have no idea).

Not all of our plants this year were a success. Lettuce was pretty bitter, the oregano never took off, our cucumbers had beautiful flowers that never really turned into anything and I really overestimated the amount of parsley our family could eat (or that 3 families could eat). Some things that did go well were our raspberries, swiss chard and our tomatoes. We have not had to buy tomatoes all summer and I will soon be missing these summer days when I have to start buying them in the store like all the other suckers.

The garden has given the girls a wonderful view of how food is grown and harvested. Miriam loved picking tomatoes with me even though she doesn't understand why she is not allowed to pick the green ones (a source of great frustration for her). Evie's favourite thing to do was look for grasshoppers that like to eat the swiss chard. She carefully transported them to Mommies flower garden, to eat the hydrangeas instead. Noli was happy with every part of gardening this year, and has also been a big help in pulling up a few tiny carrots (I can't figure out why there so small,,
more space maybe?).

Hopefully we will get to enjoy our veggie patch a bit longer before fall. We are already making plans for next year about what and where we will put things. Hopefully we can find room for one more apple tree.

First Day of School

Well, we survived yet another first day of school and we now have two kids in school!!  I know it's totally cliche and you think we all would be used to how quickly time seems to slip by but WOW!!  I can't believe Evie's already in grade two and Noli is officially a kindergartner!!  Life truly does fly by.

I remember dropping Evie off on her first day of school three years ago, turning her loose and watching her settle in on a blue circular rocking toy (horrible description I know).  Funny thing is that Noli was naturally drawn to the same toy yesterday on her first day.  Both girls did wonderfully this year despite some nerves and initial chaos due to the school trying a new way of "organizing" the kids into their classes.

Sometimes we don't give kids enough credit for the bravery that they must summon up on a pretty regular basis.  Despite their small size and limited sample size of life and experience we toss them into the world and ask them to do things many adults still have trouble doing.  Images from Lord of the Flies often invade my thoughts as I watch the kids in the school playground.  It's wild.  On a daily basis they must navigate new places and faces while digesting and applying new rules, social norms, ideas and lessons.  They are constantly pushed out of their comfort zone and are expected to do so with grace and poise.

I was watching Evie play in the playground this morning.  She stopped, looked my way and started coming in my direction.  I was expecting to get a hug and a kiss most likely followed by permission to leave ("hint hint Daddy, it's okay for you to go now!).  I didn't even get that.  As she drew nearer it became painfully obvious that she wasn't looking at me (despite seeing me), she was looking past me (I won't say through me).  Her buddy had arrived and after greeting him, the two of them ran off after their friends without so much as a wave of acknowledgment to the old man.  *TEAR*  Last year she was blowing kisses left and right to me as she slowly took her leave from me...seriously there were at least 50 kisses blown in my direction, so many that I was having trouble catching them all.  Oh well...that's the way it's supposed to go I suppose. 

Gee willickers they grow up fast!!

My Nephew's New Blog - Check it out!!

Hey everyone,

Very exciting day, my nephew Gabe has started his own blog all about his adventures in boyhood!!  Check it out for some exciting stories to come!!

Boy Adventures!!