We're back!

On Friday we traveled to Grand Forks to watch a hockey game between the Fighting Sioux and Cornell (?s). We were able to see much more than we had expected, as when we were registering the boys for the REA Kids Safe program a lady asked them if they'd like to ride on the Zambonis during the first intermission. Alex was all over that, but Ryan chickened out. All of a sudden he had a bellyache. That shouldn't surprise us, but we tried to coax him onto it anyway...he wasn't having any of that. The lady said Ryan is the first kid to ever turn down a Zamboni ride! Anyway, with about 10 minutes left in the first period, we met an escort and he took us to the 'belly' of the REA. We watched the game at ice level and they made room for the boys to stand next to the glass.
We saw a Sioux goal scored and got to see some up-close checking action. We also got to see the bus area under the REA where the players are picked up. Talk about pampered! Anyway, I had taken two cameras to GF, my digital SLR and a 'pocket' digital camera. I had contemplated which one I should take to the game and chose the small camera. A mistake I will never make again! Then, of course, my batteries died after two pics. I must have had the look of sheer panic on my face because a professional photographer with Cornell promptly gave me a couple of batteries. He also offered to take a few snapshots of Al as he was coming off the ice. I just need to email him and he'll send them to me. I'll post those when I get them.

We also saw the smiley-face-on-one-side-winking-on-the-other water tower and I just had to take a picture of it. That is one of the few things I remember about living in GF (and getting stuck in the elevator at UND and thinking I was going to die in it). I had forgotten about his bow tie but he looks just the same. I hear there's talk of tearing him down. Let's hope that's just a nasty rumor!

Enjoy the pics! And as you can see, I have no idea how to control where my text is typed, so I apologize for the messy post. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We had an early meal today (noon) and by 1:30 the tryptophan kicked in (for Kevin and myself...somehow the boys seem to be immune to it) and we've been holding down the couch ever since. I miss the days when I was a child and just had to show up at the table. My only responsibility was not eating the pickles and olives (or at least not getting caught sneaking them). The boys really need to work on their sneaking ability as they were caught red-handed every time.

Last night Kevin and I went to 'Four Christmases' and we laughed so hard we cried. We're even thinking about going again. Both of us love Vince Vaughn and he certainly didn't disappoint in this movie.

Tomorrow we're heading up to Grand Forks to take in a Fighting Sioux hockey game. This is an annual event for Kevin and the boys and this year I decided that I'd tag along as well. I haven't been to Grand Forks for years, and it's been 30+ years since I've been to a UND hockey game. The last time I was there a player got hurt and there was a large spot of blood on the ice. When he skated off, I saw the blood and thought his arm had fallen off! Let's hope there aren't any severed limbs this time.

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and wish you good luck if you're heading out for Black Friday!

Just a glimpse of our 2008

In February, Kevin and I traveled to Cancun with a great group of friends for 5 days. I was introduced to the Leapin' Lizard drink and was immediately hooked. We all had a wonderful time and are looking forward to our next trip in 2010.
This summer the boys were introduced to shore fishing by one of their hockey coaches. We are fortunate enough to have a friend that will let us fish from his property just a couple of miles from our house. The boys and I spent hours and hours out there and we were successful most of the time. They also learned how to bait their own hook (huge time saver) and towards the end of the summer they were warming up to the idea of actually holding a fish. Alex would've pitched a tent and spent the entire summer at the pit if Lyle would have given him the OK. Now that winter has arrived there is talk of ice fishing. Brrr is all I can say!

Rink rats

Alex We spend the majority of our weekends at the ice arena. This is a glimpse as to what the boys do out there. Today was an especially fun day as there was a Hockett there too. The Hocketts are identical twin brothers that played hockey in Brookings and are now employed at the B/G Club and ALL the kids absolutely love them!

Alex and Ryan with the State Championship trophy in 2005.

Maybe we'll see them with these trophies again in a few years!

Alex



Ryan the wild child

I can't help but notice...

It's ice blue. The color of font I have chosen is ice blue. But I can't help but notice that it looks very similar to baby blue. For those of you who knew my late uncle, Kevin, he apparently despised the color baby blue. He even made some poor client of his cry because he ranted and raved about how he hated the color, only to see her drive away in a baby blue VW bug. So...it's definitely ice blue.

In the beginning...

I'm going to give this whole blogging thing a try (after a little coaxing from my best friend) to keep family and friends updated on our lives. Since we all live in front of a computer, I figure it won't hurt anyone to check out yet another website before logging off at night. You'll have to bear with me as I'm not the most computer-savvy chick out there (it's taken me like an hour to get this all set up). Check back often and be prepared to laugh out loud...with children like ours, sometimes there's really nothing else you can do!