Only a few short hours after getting home from the farm, we were off to the city again. This time, to use up our Xmas present from Grandpa B and Grandma C. The kids were super excited. Trust me. The car ride in wasnt much fun for us adults....the adrenaline was pumping!!

The game was Canada vs Switzerland and as I am sure you have all read...we won. We were sure we were also going to win the 50/50 of $47000...but alas, it apparently went to another resident of NB.

Super great time...glad we went!!

Oh yes...cant forget the Hillybilly express, that Uncle Cherry and Uncle Freddy rigged up. Good thing Grandpa and Grandma just had a bathroom reno....Yep...thats the tub.

The kids had a grand time...I did not venture into the death trap...but others did!!

Grandma posed on the sled...but did not take it for a spin....still has nightmares of the last time she was on the Spitfire...

Then...on to the hockey game....the weather was great....the ice was perfect....

What a great way to blow off the turkey!!!

Day 2, xmas #3 (are you following??)

Cant get enough fun out of the Spitfire!! Thats me in the original skidoo suit and helmet that came with the sled in 1977.

If you havent heard the story already....DH took it in to a good friend to be worked on, and on the way into town he was stopped on the side of the road. When stopped the man was frantically asking if he could buy the sled off of us....when DH declined...he gave us his name and number just in case we changed our mind.

The boys had an ABSOLUTE BLAST!! They loved it and cant wait to go again !!!

Day 1 cont, xmas #3

Still day one....pimped out the Brodster...had the bling, the booze and the babes....

pics from xmas #3

Of course, we couldnt stop gloating over our new nephew/son/grandson....too cute!! He is 7 months old (is that right?) and stole our hearts!!

The other four played great...both indoors and out. This is day 1 of our xmas celebrating....well mostly opening presents and eating....then more eating....and drinking....more drinking and game playing...(gramps teaching the kids to play crib)...

And more games... until the adults got a bit raunchy, so we couldnt continue!! But it was lots of fun!!!

few more pics of xmas #2

After the gifts were exchanged...and a few fought over....Cousin Chuck ended up with this pimpin snuggy....nice....just need a cigar....and please please please have some pants on!!

Great food...good company....and lots of laughs!!

Second xmas complete...

Wow...we are a spoiled family. Truly we have been blessed with amazing family and wonderful friends.

Here are some pics from the second xmas supper .... Our little niece was calling DH the "Giant"...then saw DH's brother and said "ooohhh another Giant!!"....too cute!!

glad there isnt always a camera around...

The boys finished off their last practises before xmas.

C-mans group got to play a 3 on 3 game with another team which sounded like a lot of fun. After the game, one of the dads generously donated pizza and pop from his restaurant.

That, I am ALMOST sorry, I missed. Give as much pop as possible to a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds and what could go wrong???

I heard one of the boys from the other team had 11 pieces of pizza!!! OMG!!!

When they got home, I knew my kids were sugared out as they were running in circles. We had some friends over for a few beverages and they were telling me what my youngest was doing at the restaurant.

Apparently he was trying out his pick up lines on the waitress.....and at the end of the night....he says to her "Call me, baby" with his hands up to his ear like a phone......

See what pop can do??? yikes....and he is only 7....what will I do in a couple of years????

one christmas celebration down...

Last weekend, while in the big boomin city, we celebrated our xmas with DH's family.

We thought we spoiled the kids with hockey, junk food, Blades game tickets.....but Grandpa B and Grandma C topped it ....

Winter gear, remote control thingys and TICKETS TO A WORLD JUNIOR GAME!! We were pretty pumped....

We are there on the 28th...if anyone else is around we would love to see you. Since we didnt have a chance to get in and see our city friends for the annual xmas party....we would love to visit with you sometime after xmas!! Let us know your plans...

We are at my folks on the 26th/27th....back to the city on the 28th for the game....29th 1/2 of us are in Shellbrook and the other half in Langham.....we are still undecided as to what to do for New Years Eve, however......

Wish everyone a very merry christmas!!!!

xmas concert

This year C-man was one of the 3 kings...the wiseman....he did pretty good....pretty serious on the stage though.

Retzky decided to go to hockey practise, since his class didnt participate this year...so no jingle balls story this year.

gingerbread mess

They might have a trait from their mother....they RARELY take a serious picture....sorry!!

more pics

The annual gingerbread house. This year it was a gingerbread train....

some random pics

Couldnt remember if I had posted some pics of the last last last B'day party for Retzky...short and sweet....football in the park...pizza, pop and ice cream in the house until the sugar kicked in...then outside....

hockey update

We'll do a quick run down of the boys hockey ....

Retzky was in a tourney in the Big City of Lights. Didnt start out the greatest. Went 0-3. Only scored 3 goals in the 3 games, and R-dog got them all. Wasnt really indicative of his play....

Woke up sunday morning ready to play the 3rd place in Pool B (we were the last place in Pool A)...won that game 6-1. Then ended up in the B final later in the afternoon. (B? you ask....top 4 teams competed for the A, bottom 4 competed for the B).

R-dogs team ended up playing a Regina team that they lost to the day before. End of regulation was tied. OT was 3 on 3. R had the first shift...one of his teammates worked his butt off to get the puck deep, R went to the net and took a shot from a great pass, one timed it and won the game!! Pretty exciting...

C-man was in Edam for a two game mini tourney. I didnt get to see the games, but heard all about them. They played Edam first and lost 10-9 (C got 6 of the goals), then played Turtleford and won 10-8 (C had 9 goals).

I didnt get any goals...nor did I get any assists. What I have is an empty wallet, a sore head and a tired, achey body. So, I might as well have been playing!!

Christmas is coming.....

Only a short few days left before the big day...I know I have said it in the past....but I have procrastinated once again. Or, as I like to call it, waiting for inspiration. haha

C-man was pretty excited the last few days. He has been jumping around and singing and talking NON-STOP. And I have the video to prove it. Now if I can only figure out how to get it off my phone for you to view.

The other day after hours of giddiness...he says to me....

"MOM...dont look under my bed, cause thats where Dad hid your present!!!"

Then Retzky says

"We're not supposed to tell her...its a secret"

Apparently DH has hid my present there (without closet doors, still, its hard to find good hiding spots). Little did he know that both C-man and myself are under his bed everynight to get a book to read.

Anywhoo...I am not good at waiting. Really impatient, but I havent yet looked under the bed.

I do, however have an idea, from C's conversations.

"Do you want a guitar for xmas mom?" "I sure would like a guitar" " I know what I would do right now if I had a guitar" "Guitars are pretty cool, right mom?"

Then Retzky right behind him with a red face telling him to be quiet.....

hockey results

Welll...good morning Arctic!! We have braved the elements and are still moving around. One game cancelled in Lloyd for R-dog as it was just too extreme to be driving...

Yesterday in Martensville Retzkys team won the A-final!! Pretty pumped up. They played PA and won 3-2 (he had a great game with 2 assists), then they played Martensville and tied 2-2 (i think on any other day it shouldnt have been that close...dont think we played well as a team), then went on to beat St Louis in the final 6-5.

Thank goodness for Grandpa Tractor who looked after C-man. (or C for looking after Grandpa Tractor??!!), and for Uncle G and Auntie D who took care of us!!!

Third game R found himself in some penalty trouble (3 times actually). So I asked him what was said down there. He told me that he was talking with the guys running the box....I said oh yeah....what about???

He says "I asked them if they knew my auntie D and uncle G"

So I told him...you know you're supposed to socialize after the game...and concentrate during the game....he kinda laughed at that.

Then he told me that the workers said it didnt look like 2 of the calls on him were penalties at all....so I guess buttering them up didnt hurt!!

C-man won his game as well...had his 3 goals....which is good because today he definitely wont get them. He is in net. aarrgghhhh. (against a team that hasnt lost yet...could be interesting)

new recipe!!

Ok..I am truly a nerd. I get excited for new recipes, and really a host of other things that only old people would get excited about.

Tried them last night...they were a hit!! Got the recipe from a co-worker who says she used to put them in her kids lunches....here goes...

Hamburger Cupcakes


1 lb. hamburger
1 can mushroom soup
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste

Trim bread crusts from approx 16 - 18 bread slices. Butter one side and place butter side down in muffin tins. Fill with meat mixture. Bake 350 for 40 minutes.
They are great cold as well.

I didnt have an onion, so I used Epicure 3 onion, and also added some montreal steak spice...they were delish!!

Great idea for lunches.....

faaaaacccccckkkkkiiinnnnn cold

Not much of a "lead up" to winter. Boom. Its here. -42 with the windchill this morning, apparently?? Nice.

Hockey-C-man went 1-1, got his 3 goals in both games, but sure doesnt look challenged. Can look lazy, but I think its cause he is pretty bored.

Retzky just had one - two hour practise on sunday. Trying to get ready for the Martensville tourney on saturday. We play three games. 8:55, 12:40 and then a playoff game. Off to Lloyd on sunday...

C-man is back in Battleford all weekend...could make for some interesting switch a roos...

Sunday DH and C went to pick up some rink boards for the back yard, and then to watch the North Star game to watch Luker play net. Sounds like he did really well....I didnt see the game as I was hockey'd out and decided to do some xmas shopping. One more down....

Playing with Fire..

Both DH and I read the Theo Fleury autobiography this week...."playing with fire".

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Changed my opinion on a few things...got me thinking about others and was fascinated about the tenacity and hardwork that people have.

If you have a chance to read this book....its a must.

Loved it. wow wow wow

come on now???

Its saturday, rreallly?? I havent updated since Monday??? bahh

Well...I guess its been a busy week then. But what the heck did we do???

Doctors appointments (after the one that I forgot about)...said Chases ear was back to normal and a-ok. Even though it seems as though he cant hear a dang thing???

Crazy mamas birthday...thank goodness for facebook!! Little nieces bday today as well..dont think she has facebook so I guess I better get on the horn!!

Hockey practise tuesday and wednesday...along with writing cheques for hockey and trying to organize hockey shtuff...

DH had a veryyyy slow week with no trains a running...but he was able to get into the city and get the sleds raring to go....even the 72 spitfire for the boys...that will be a seperate posting!!

Trying to slowly do some xmas buying and planning, then had a surprise visit from Auntie Velvis. Tried to freeze her out of the house....so she didnt stay long. She seems to think I'm sounding like my old man....get a damn sweater on if you're cold...I pay the bills around here!! haha

Had a great girls night out last night...and ended up in my living room for chocolate turtle cheesecake and a few glasses of vino.....will catch you up more after my afternoon nap...!!