Spring Hockey

I don't even know who all is still reading along, but if you do, I appreciate it.

Back in the fall, we signed J up for a hockey class. We were blessed last year with an instructor named Coach Gus. He coached J in the afternoons twice a week, and he would let the boys skate on the ice for an extra hour at no cost. J and I would hang out at the rink from 1-3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and he really learned a lot. Unfortunately, Gus only taught kids who weren't in school in the afternoons. Since J would be in all-day kindy, and Phil and I both felt that school was more important than hockey, we lost out on Gus. The class J was enrolled in during the fall was...remedial. He didn't really learn a lot, and most of the time he just stood around on the ice. He said to me after one practice that he wanted to quit hockey. That nearly broke my heart.

I told him to hang in there, and we'd sign him up to be on a team. You should've seen his face light up. So in January, he joined an in-house team. There were about 70+ kids enrolled, with ages ranging from 4-9. Teams were decided, and J was the youngest kid on his team (I don't know how they divided up the kids). The downside (for parents) was that the season was 14 straight Saturdays AND Sundays. That made for a lot of rescheduling and shuffling of plans. We didn't really have any issues until these last two weeks when his practices were at the same time as Riley's soccer games.

All in all, Jeremy had a blast. We're taking a break from hockey over the summer, much to his discontent. He burst into tears when we told him that we're taking a break. (We just want some freedom over the summer since games and practices are only on the weekend...and hockey is expensive!) I'm sure he's already thinking about the next session in the fall. I'm glad he loves it--we just have to work on him not being offsides! Oh, and in his last game, which was yesterday, he was goalie. Seeing him in the full gear was so exciting..even if it was difficult for him to get up when he fell on the ice.

In his goalie gear.

In his ready stance. I joked that this is the first time
all season that his jersey fit!

Ready for the ice!

Pregame skate.

Pregame skate.

Ready for the game.

Lone goalie.

After this picture, they all piled on him.

Notice how small J is!

Congratulating the team.

His official hockey picture.

 

Remember Me?

Yeah, I've been neglecting the blog. Not quite sure why. I am finally all better. In the 12+ years that  Phil has known me, he said that was the sickest I've ever been. I was knocked on my butt for 3 days, only to recover for a bit (just in time for the weekend and closed doctor's offices!) and then relapse over the weekend. I went to see the doctor on Monday, and he basically said that my lungs were a mess. I was on three different types of medicine, and like I said, I'm finally better.

In the time that I last posted, we finished up spring break, celebrated Jeremy's and my birthdays, hosted 30+ people at our house for Easter, started soccer for both kids (Riley's first game was on Saturday, and she scored a hat trick!), and we're dealing with a lot of family drama. It's been an exhausted few weeks, but you just realize you have to deal with life.

Overall the kids are doing well. I still can't believe J is 6. He's really starting to read now, although I can tell that he's not as enthusiastic about it as Riley is. I'm wondering if it's a "boy" thing. He was brokenhearted when we told him that we're taking a break from hockey over the summer, but having hockey every weekend for 14 straight Saturdays and Sundays is a bit much. I missed Riley's first soccer game because J had hockey practice. I reminded him that we'll start back up again in September.

Meanwhile Riley continues to excel in math. It comes so easily to her. And reading--I think it's cute how I find books in her bed in the morning along with a flashlight. I think she reads after I tuck her in. It reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to use my clock to light up the words. I'm so very proud of all her accomplishments, but boy, she seems like she's 8 going on 13 on some days. She's starting the eye rolls and the "whatever" comments. Also, she's so hard on herself that if homework doesn't come easy to her, she shuts down and refuses to listen. It's difficult to deal with at times.

I know I'm overdue at posting pictures of the kids, and I have some cute ones of their spring pictures and J in his hockey gear. I hope to get those posted here later this week. Thanks for following along.