Monday, March 22, 2010

Tired....

Well, we made it, we just got back from Grand Forks, Bailey had a great tournament, well lets back up just a little...



Life as we know it has been pretty good, Bailey is adjusting to life out here, school is good, meeting some friends and the snow is gone. He's had a few skates at my rink thanks to our head program co ordinater, and he's thoroughly enjoyed that. We left on the 18th for Grand Forks is Sams car and headed to Altona to pick up Jennifer, after a couple of hugs from kaleigh and cramming Jen's suitcase into the trunk, we squished the kids into the back seat and off we went. OH and on a quick side note, when we drove through Altona it happened to be Chris' birthday so we dropped by The Hut to wish him a Happy Birthday in person!

Ok so across the border we went and there was next to no water anywhere so the flood watch was low, we hit the hotel with two other families and after a quick trip to Target for some goggles and trunks it was off to the hot tub for a cold beer and a soak....much needed after 10 hours on the road.



Friday at noon was the first game and don't you know it, it was at The Ralph (http://www.theralph.com/) one of the nicest rinks I'll ever step foot in. The game was a bit of a romp as it was against a gold team from Kenora but that's ok because that put us on the B side which is a little easier....that set up the next game for Saturday morning against Mcdonald of all teams, the team we lost to against in the league finals. This was a redemption game for the boys and for Bay who didn't get to play against them, and the boys came out firing, laying a licking and a win on. This win meant we had two more games for sure and one more in The Ralph. In the semi finals we met Winkler of all teams and were hanging with them until a coaching error in changing goalies to allow fair play led to our butts being handed to us leaving us without a chance at the B side Championships. So we had one game left Sunday morning and the goal was, win this one for Bay, and they did with Bailey walking away from the Tourney with an assist and his goal was at least a point. The final game was pretty emotional for me, watching Bailey play his last game in a Maroons sweater. The Maroons mean a lot to the both of us and has been a big part of our lives for the last 11 years.

Also that weekend thanks to Greg Harris and a phone call we got an inside tour of The Ralph, down into the UND weight room, dressing room, lounge, places they don't take people anymore and we learnt a little more about Ralph Engelsted, some of the history and what it takes to actually become a member of The Fighting Sioux and let me tell you it's not easy but totally worth it.

As expensive as the weekend was we had a great time, enjoyed the weekend with Jennifer and wouldn't have changed it for anything. We headed home on Sunday, stopping in Altona to unfortunately drop off Jennifer and after a few tears and a broken window we were on our way to Winkler to take the girls out for supper and listen to them ask if they could move to Saskatoon. Bay then went to get a little mom time while we visited with the girls and then headed to their place so they could show us a thing or two, Bay could kick a little more butt in soccer and it was time to head home....The trip was good, uneventful but about an hour away from home Bay said he had a question for me.....well I won't get into any details but he was pretty open with me about life without me in Altona, life here in Stoon, and pressures that were put on him before he moved and I must say I'm ashamed for so many adults....things were said to him from my family and others and he told me exactly what that did to him. So many people said he had a nervous stomach, sick, he was broken because I was making him move...what it turned out to be was people telling him he was gonna regret moving here with his dad and away from his friends and I was appalled.....how do you tell and 11 year old that he's gonna regret moving with his dad. As much as I'd like to discuss this with the guilty parties....why would I waste the time or energy...if you'd see my boy, he's happy, yes we don't have the girls close by but we're sure making efforts, he loves being with me, I love having him with me as I always have and in a perfect world they'd all be with me, I love and miss them so much so we'll continue making the efforts that we have and we will survive and make the most out of all the times and opportunities we get together.

He asked me about stress, what it was and if I was ever stressed...I laughed and said everyday and told him what exactly stresses me out and what I worry about everyday.....so many have said how I've only made this move for myself, but this was so much more than that, and I worry everyday that Sam won't regret it, that Bailey is happy and I won't lose my mind without my girls closer....so much of my life is better because of the past, as much as people think I haven't grown, once they let go of the past they will be able to see it, but Sam see's it and benefits from it as do the kids....I love her so very much, she makes my life, my stresses, doable because she supports me, stands by me, cheers for me AND all the kids....she's an unbelievable and amazing person and is gonna be such a success in life I can't wait to see it.....

So now that I've blathered and gotten a little bit of stuff off my chest I'm gonna sign off, put this headache to bed and head to work in the morning.....looking forward to the next 50 years of my life and hope you are as well....

see ya when I see ya!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Been Awhile

Hey there,
well, a lot has happened since I last posted....we left last Friday to go to Mb to pick up Bailey, and I wish I could say it was an uneventful trip but alas that would be too much to ask...everything was good till we hit Brandon for gas and heard a sound that made me look and see if I still had all 4 tires on the Jeep....we broke a cv joint....and continued to drive all the way to Winkler where we were able to limp into Southland Honda where a friend of mine works and they were able to squeeze us in and replace the front axle...gah! They gave us a courtesy car so that we were able to make it to Altona and watch Baileys final game with his team...a 3-0 win. They had the Jeep up and running by 11 Sat which was great, would give us time to get back to Altona, pack up Bay and head home....hahahahahahaha, again too much to ask....by Plum Coulee...pleh, we had no steering, by the 201, we had less steering than that, no heat oh and the Jeep was overheating.....so we limped into West Park Motors where I have couple friends working there and they told me a bearing went in one of my fan pullys....well they had me going in less than an hour....all said and done....$500 more than we had budgeted for the trip....geez....but 4 hours later than we wanted to we were back on the road after a few hugs and kisses from all the girls and we headed home...I think Bay was already complaining about the long drive by Carman lol it was around 2 a.m. when we got home, Bay was a little wired and dying to play PS3 so we ended up unpacking his stuff from the Jeep and getting to bed around 4. Sunday was a get familiar with the house day for Bay, Sam had to work.

Monday we were off to his new school...he was pumped for it, until we left the house and then the anxiety kicked in. When we got to school the teacher arrived at the office with not one, not two but THREE girls to meet and greet Bailey....they pretty much rushed him into class and that was not a good thing, he wanted a tour and to take things slow, so we backed out, found the principal and got a tour of the school. That was about all he could handle and we called it a day. I had taken the day off in preparation that this would happen. Tuesday came and he had himself so wound up he spent most of it in the bathroom. Oh and before I forget, there was another girl from the other grade 6 class that had seen Bay and asked if he was in her class and was verbally disappointed that it was a no.....pretty good first day lol....all in all the teachers were nice, the kids were great but for Bay it was like his head was spinning....Wed was a no choice day, he had to go, we walked to school and talked a lot, got to the office and the librarian took him in slow, got him set up in the library and by the time lunch came my boy was back, the energy, the smile, the chattering on and on. With all he went through I keep reminding him that he could have stayed in Altona for the rest of the school year but he insists no way it was already long enough that we had been apart and I fully agree. His week was short as they have early dismissal on thursdays and no school this friday but he's met a couple friends and it's starting to feel like home....even if we're 3/4's short...it's not perfect but we'll take what we can get...

We are headed to Grand Forks in 2 weeks for his final tourney with his team, and with the Jeep breakdown it's gonna be tough but I really wanna do this for him, then we should be pretty low key for awhile, Bay is entered into a 3 on 3 hockey league in my rink from April 18 to June 19 and he's looking forward to that as well....Sam and I are adjusting to life on our own with our little family and work and limited budgets and there's the odd speed bump but we're enjoying the family time, wishing it was bigger but loving every minute of it....

I'm off to go listen to him yap some more lol....

see ya when I see ya