Riley Turns Eleven

So much has happened since I last blogged, I don't even know where to begin. Let's see, 2 weeks after Riley's State Championship, Homer hosted the Mite D Tournament with 3 teams from the Kenai Soldotna area. That was a blast. Then there was Easter. Then we had a blizzard. Then Sarah got a tumor the size of an ostrich egg taken out, along with her left ovary and tube. Then we celebrated Riley's birthday. I'll just skip to Riley's birthday.

For his birthday, Riley wanted to go to Nikiski Pool. It has a water slide and all kinds of fun things for kids. It's about 2 hours North of here. Riley invited his best friend, Bradley, and his new friend, Matthew. Matthew lives in Kenai and plays for a rival hockey team. They got to be friends during the State Championship which is a really neat thing. Isn't that what the Olympics are all about? Competition, making new friends and promoting peace and understanding. The boys were thinking globally, acting locally.

Sarah is recovering from surgery nicely. She was a champ throughout the whole experience. She is looking forward to getting back to her workout schedules and plans to spend her convalescent time researching graduate schools.

Maya recently had swimming lessons. The high school pool was too cold for her so she did not like it much at all. Then she had a terrible cough that kept her (and us) up for 5 nights. She started antibiotics and is back in school today. She is still dancing once a week but she misses her hockey buddies.

Today it is sunny and warm, about 42 degrees. The snow is melting fast although we have been getting snow, rain or slush almost every day for the past 3 weeks. We are all looking forward to spring time, getting outdoors more, and getting healthy again.

Squirts at State Championship

OMGoodness. I was trying to copy my blog and send it to someone in an email for the hockey newsletter and I ended up deleting 4 paragraphs about Riley's State Championship. I have many swear words, none of which are appropriate for a family blog.:(
I might try to recreate it after I regain my composure.
This is what's left that I did not manage to delete:

What could we do after the game but drown our sorrow in pizza and beer. Root beer for the kids, of course.


Sarah, envying Michael's beer sampler.

Maya and Grandma.

Riley and Michael B.

Chris sipping on root beer.

Michael A. and Nanna

The micro brew sampler. These are tiny little glasses.

Mt. Redoubt, chocolate cake with a chocolate molten center covered with whipped cream, more chocolate and caramel.

Snow Day, After Day

This blog is over a week late, but still worth posting. Last week we had a blizzard that went on for days. On Friday, March 5, we woke up to a foot of snow that fell overnight. School was delayed 2 hours to give the snowplows time to clear the roads and the buses time to chain up. Then it was cancelled. Snow fell and winds howled for 2 days and 3 nights. Sunday we woke up to sunshine and blue skies. But it was only the eye of the storm. Sunday night the wind began to howl again and the snow kept falling. Tuesday school was cancelled again! We have not had a snow day for over 10 years! Then two in one week. The kids were overjoyed, until they learned they had to make it up in May. It was surreal. We did not leave home for days. We just kept eating what was in the house. By the third day, the fridge was looking rather bare. We could have lived on macaroni and cheese and spaghetti for another week, but luckily, we didn't have to resort to canned and dried foods.


When Matt and I first got married, he was appalled by my inability to keep the pantry stocked with canned foods. He said, "You obviously have never been in a blizzard." I said, "No, I grew up in California where we could get fresh fruits and vegetables all year round." Lucky for Matt, I am a Costco addict. And you can't get one of anything from Costco. We compromised on a limited supply of Costco canned products. Luckily, we didn't have to dip into the pantry, since our Costco supplies were low anyway. I was afraid that once again, Matt would prove me wrong. I hate it when he's right.

After the storm.

The basketball hoop behind our 5 foot snow berms.

Matt shoveled a tunnel to the our hockey rink we named "The Boat Pad".

Our hot tub under snow.

Mother of the House

Now that the days are getting longer, I am really enjoying long walks with the dogs. Sarah has been joining me for some of our walks. We are settling into a comfortable routine with her home. When she first comes home it's like a party every night which can be exhausting with 3 small children in school. Now she helps put the kids to bed, cooks, cleans and is generally very helpful and fun to be with. For a while she was intent on kicking butt and trying to get the boys to do chores. Not that I don't do those things, but I am inconsistent.

One night I announced that Sarah had been elected the new Mother of the House and I was being demoted to Resident Adolescent. We stayed up too late watching movies, overslept the next day and were late for school. I got caught speeding in a school zone and was pulled over by a state trooper. When he asked me for my driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, I told him "It gets worse officer, I left my purse at home and all those things are in my purse." He asked me for my name and called in to check my record. He returned a few minutes later and let me off with a warning.

I wonder what my police record says? Irene is an airhead but basically harmless. She has been pulled over a lot for drunk driving because she doesn't take the center divide or lane lines very seriously. (In Vietnam, the lane lines are merely gentle suggestions. Nobody actually takes them very seriously). It was enough to scare me back into being a responsible mom again. I forgot how much I hated getting in trouble as a teen.

Hockey season is almost over. Riley's team goes to their State Championship in two weeks. I am organizing an end of the year tournament for Chris' team since they don't have a State Championship. What do hockey moms do after State? They spring clean and get ready for baseball season, of course!

Weeks 3 and 4 of dance class Maya finally started participating in class. At first she tried to pull her stunts but Grandma would have none of it. My mom asked Maya if she would rather participate in dance or go home and take a nap? Maya marched right back to class and danced! Kudos to Grandma, the original Queen of Kickbuttocity!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Maya having fun with Chris

Riley hiding in Maya's closet.

Our fire-bellied toad died. This is the coffin we are going to bury him in when the snow melts.

Oh please, really? What the...

Maya trying on sun glasses at Safeway.

Irene buys her first pair of reading glasses.

March in Alaska

President's Day Tournament/Week 2 of Dance

Yesterday Riley's team won the President's Day Tournament in Anchorage. They lost to Fairbanks Phantoms 2-0 in the first game, then beat the Eagle River Mustangs 4-1 in the second game, beat KPHA Ice Hawks 6-0 in the third game, beat Anchorage Mighty Moose 4-1 in the cross over game and defeated Fairbanks in the Championship game 2-1. This is the first time they have ever won a tournament. The kids were so happy. They used to lose to Anchorage and Wasilla teams 15-1 or 16-0 in the past. You've come a long way, Homer Glacier Kings!


Today I took Maya to her second dance/movement class. We got there at 1:01pm and the other kids were already in the studio. One of Maya's friends came in right after us and she joined the class with no reservation. Maya clung to my neck like a monkey, as if I was going to throw her in the deep end of a swimming pool. She refused to let go so I went and sat in the waiting area with the big window and told her we were going to sit there and watch until she was ready to join the class. She walked around, looked in the window of the other studio and visited with siblings of classmates until the last 5 minutes of class when Diane pulled out the hula hoop. Then she jumped off my lap and ran into the classroom.


After class Diane offered to make copies of the songs for me that they sing and move to in class for me to do with her at home. Here's how that conversation went:
Diane: I could make copies of the songs for you.
Me: Do I have to do this at home? Is this like a Suzuki dance class?
Diane: No, but I'll give you a sticker if you do. It might make her more willing to participate.
Me: She likes the hula hoop part, how about you bring out the hula hoop at the beginning of class instead of waiting until the end?
Diane: I do let them play with the hula hoop 5 minutes before class starts.
Me: Okay, my mom can bring her early next time. She's early for everything.


How's that for a slacker mom response? Obviously the hockey mom approach didn't work. By the way, I'm stuck paying for 2 months of classes whether she participates or not. I hope Grandma works her magic.

Getting stickers at the end of class.

Peninsula Winter Games

Chris and his friend Elijah on an ice sculpture.

Last weekend Chris and I went to Soldotna for the Peninsula Winter Games. Maya was sick so she stayed home with Grandma and Daddy. Matt took Riley to his home games. Chris and I enjoyed a nice Mommy and Chris weekend. It was so good for both of us. We cuddled in bed and read together. I let him order all his favorite foods. We swam together and played in the hotel pool. When he wasn't playing hockey with his team and getting spoiled by me, he got to hang out with his own friends instead of being the tagalong with his big brother and friends. He was such a joy to be with when he didn't have to compete with his older brother and younger sister.

This weekend we are all in Anchorage for the President's Day Tournament, with Riley's team. I'm glad we can all be together sometimes, but I'm hoping to have a special weekend with Riley in a couple of weeks.

Last Monday Maya went to her first dance class. It's called music and movement for preschoolers. She was decked out his her ballet dress (thanks to Marina!) and real pink leather ballet slippers (thank you Aunt Kristin!). Nanna said she spent about 30 minutes admiring herself in the mirror, 10 minutes checking in with Nanna, and participated in the last 5 minutes of class when they were jumping through a hoop. I asked her about it the next day:

Me: Did you enjoy dance class yesterday?

Maya: Yes!

Me: What was your favorite part, kissing yourself in the mirror?

Maya: Uh...

Me: Do you want to go to dance class again next week?

Maya: Yes!

Me: Then get in line and listen to Miss Diane!

Maya: Yes, Mama.

Hey, I'm a hockey mom, not a stage mom. It's going to take me a while to switch gears.

Photos next week.

This is a video of Douglas scoring, for his first grade teacher, Linda Satre, with love!

January and Winter Fun

Wow! What a wild and crazy month it's been! With two boys in hockey now it seems like we are traveling all the time! This last weekend we got to stay home which was a good thing because we had a special visit from Matt's dad who came all the way from Oregon to watch the Besh Cup Ski Races. Besh Cup is a qualifying race for the Junior Olympics so everybody who is anybody was here! Our nieces Heather and Megan came down from Fairbanks with their dad, Dave. Our nephew, Michael was here from Anchorage to compete as well. Everyone did really well in their division. The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny with lots of snow.


After we made our appearance at the races, the kids and I headed another 100 yards up Ohlson Mountain for Extreme Tubing! Maya wasn't supposed to go because you have to be at least 6 years old. I was pulling her around on in the inner tube trying to keep her occupied when the owner gave me permission to sneak a ride down the slope with her on my lap. I had to clench my teeth to keep from screaming all the way down. The first time down is always such a thrill, my stomach gets butterflies and I am convinced the inner tube is going to lift off the ground! Maya had a great time and begged to go again! We played in the snack shack for a while and had hot chocolate and gummy bears. We snuck in 2 more trips down the mountain holding onto the boys' inner tubes on a new trail that whips around and ends at the bottom of the tow rope by the other slides.


We also managed to squeeze in a swimming birthday party for Maya two weeks ago. Her friends from both preschools came. Although Zachary and Weston were out of town, her new friend Matthew came. Maya and Matthew met at Long Term Care where Matthew's grandmother lives and Maya's Grandmother does volunteer work. The two of them probably bring a lot of energy to the folks at LTC! After a good swim they shared cake and ice cream. Then Maya was showered with the customary gifts for a 4 year old girl with a wide range of interests: dolls, fairies, horses, dress ups, and of course, dinosaurs!

The big groovy gong on the ski trails on Ohlson Mountain.

Maya at Extreme Tubing.

Mommy's favorite part, the slow relaxing tow rope ride back up.

The four traditional trails are on the left, the new alternative one is on the right.

Riley and Chris on a double.

Here's all of us holding onto each other's tubes for a triple dip!