Busy

Well, hockey had been good, Bailey is playing great and I've become the head coach....the boys are getting along so well and it will be sad to see this little team split up in a month....we just finished all 3 of us having the same day off....that doesn't happen often enough...Bailey met up with his friend Hallie this afternoon and they shot some hoops for a while, we opened up a bank account for him today so he could deposit his first ever paycheck. He is saving up for a Wii and after 3 on 3 is over he'll have enough. He then went to a birthday party with a school friend, they did 5 pin glow bowling and he had a great time. It was in my very first neighbourhood in saskatoon and well I went down memory lane a bit, most good, some bad, and it was again very trippy and this time Sam was able to be a part of it...she laughed at me mostly....been watching a ton of hockey my Hawks have been doing great, makes me nervous but I love it....Sam has been on a few interviews lately and something will come soon I can feel it, and she deserves it....other than that all is the same and well...hope you're all good and we'll chat soon..

see ya when I see ya!

Sheesh

As soon as I turn around it's almost May and I haven't blogged all month....welcome to the busy life.....not much changing here, it rains, snows, and is +25 all in the same week so not really sure what season it is, Bailey has started hockey again, and is loving it, he's also working as a timekeeper for games he isn't playing and making some sweet cash and saving to buy himself a Wii and he's pretty jacked....talked to the girls a couple of times on Skype, great to see them and looking very forward to them coming out in August.....we've had Bay out for mini golf and Ruckers a couple of times, he loves that place...work is calming down and that makes me happy, time to get a grip on everything and knock some numbers out of the park next season....ball is starting soon, we are putting together a slo pitch team from work....we won't be good but man will we have fun.....heading to Mb mid June for a wedding I'm best man in....could do without Mb but looking forward to the wedding, hopefully will head there once before to pick up our stuff!!! Just finished 3 days off and spent two of them laid up with a sinus cold....first one all winter so I shouldn't complain....Daughtry is coming up mid may, a gift from my gorgeous girlfriend for our one year anniversary...pretty jacked about that and I must say, she's such a wonderful person, who took care of me while I was sick, I'm a HUGE baby when I'm sick, and stubborn but she ignored that and made me feel great with an ice cream fun and a facial massage and havaing someone do that I've never experienced before.....it's wonderful and I appreciate her so much.....

well time to get me butt in gear, Bay has hockey tonight, I work and Sam works two jobs and an interview so busy day....stay well stay safe....

see ya when I see ya!

April!?!?

Gah, I can't belive it's April already, not much new kicken around here, we're just plugging away, working too many hours and Bailey is enjoying his spring break, his hockey starts soon and he's pumped about that. Brooklyn is now using Jennifers old bike, it's purple and it's bigger and she flies like the wind and she's pretty pumped, had to tell me all about it and then the next day she had to call and tell me that she lost her first tooth! She was pretty pumped and was getting all kinds of money already.

April is pretty busy for me at the rink, this week during the day there is a First Nations Winter Games hockey tourney going on and for some reason Theo Fluery came to the rink today, looking for a different tourney going on in the city. Well he was bombarded by autograph seekers lol, I never had the chance to see him but Bailey did but didn't want an autograph. A little while after he left I went upstairs to the washroom and a young native kid about Bay's age looked at me and asked if I played for the Flames.....hahahahahahahaha well I guess we're the same size and same facial hair...too funny and cute....

well that's about it, need to get some zzzz's and finish tomorrow and enjoy 3 days off with Bay and his spring break! It's supposed to be +18 so we'll be enjoying the great outdoors...

see ya when I see ya!

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!

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

Random.....

Well here I sit at work, day 3 of what will be 10 days straight....the light at the end of the tunnel is a week from today I will see all my kids and be packing up Bay to bring him home to Saskatoon and I can hardly wait...so with a Peewee tourney going on I'm not overly busy so I'm gonna blog about this, that and whatever I want....

Lets start with what everyone seems to be yaking about, the Olympics....first of all, Vancouver can't control the weather, and everyone on the IOC knew the weather trends there going in and in there defense with everything that has happened, had they known ahead of time they have said they would have still chosen Vancouver.....they didn't plan to make their track so fast that an inexperienced rider would crash and die, it was a sad, tragic accident....as for the Olympia machine, aka fancy Zamboni for the speed skating track, the Vanoc did not make the machine and whoever had held the Olympics this winter would have tried the machine it would have failed and the good old trusty Zamboni would have been brought in....the Olympic flame....ok so they didn't handle that great, but really it was out of safety reasons and had they left it open to whoever and someone had tried to climb it for a great pic for Facebook, and had fallen well that would have been a whole nother can of worms to open on them...people voiced their concerns, they made modifications and now can take a decent picture of it....the U.S. is running away with the medals and yet are running off at the mouth on how things are being run....there have been some great moments from many countries and more to come....as for Team Canada hockey, you know what, yes we expect gold but then again so does Russia, Czecks, USA, Sweden...and year after year we have Canadian and American coaches, coaching players from all countries and year after year after us leading by example we are being pushed to our limits, Canada wins in a shoot out and all we here is, "we need to make changes", in all reality the Russians are heavy fav's to win and they lost in a shootout last night so lets not all hit the panic button right away, we have a great team with multiple Stanley Cup champs on it, young, tough and arguably the two if not 3 top goaltenders in the league led by Marty Broeduer....who cares if the games are close....last time I checked a win is a win and great teams overcome adversity..

Well lets jump over to golf.....Tiger is back in the news...well not back in really, he's never left but today for the first time in 87 days Mr. Woods showed his face, in a very controlled environment and spoke to the public, his family, friends, fans and sponsors....cool, I for one was happy to see him, he didn't owe me any explanation or apology, really all I wanted to know was when is he going to golf again, seems he still doesn't know or at least never mentioned but did say he was coming back and I being a huge fan of the game and of Tigers, can't wait.....he'll be the same golfer and hopefully for his sake, a better, person, husband, and father....but I just want to see him rip the cover off the ball...

So, I wear a Livestrong band on my wrist, I have for 3 years...those of you who don't know, Livestrong is an organization set up by 7 time Tour de France winner, to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, he battled and won a ferocious battle against cancer and won his 7 titles after that....now I don't have cancer, nor do I have anyone close to me that has died from it but it affects so many people and having run in 3 Breast Cancer Run for the Cure's, I've gained some awareness as to how common this is and with 3 daughters, and ex wife and a beautiful girlfriend, it could hit anyone of them and I'd rather do my part sooner than later.
So my point being, my band broke the other day, snapped on me and although I always know it's there after time you always get used to wearing that ring, chain, or band....well I felt as if a part of me was missing when it broke, I bought it way back when on ebay and was back on there looking for more, the cost being about $5 Canadian with shipping....Sam and I happened to be in the mall a couple of days later and she pointed out a Livestrong table set up in the middle of the mall....I looked from a ways back and couldn't see what I wanted but didn't go up close, she did and called me over....they had a basket full of bands....I have never seen a Livestrong table set up anywhere, never mind the mall in Saskatoon...all they required was a donation for the bands so I put in $10....the total for 2 bands was $10 but this is what it would have cost me total on ebay and this all went to the Livestrong foundation so I was pretty pumped....

well that's enough rambling for now....off to end my day...

see ya when I see ya...

It's me again...

Been awhile since I've been on here again, life's been up and down actually since I last blogged....so things are falling into place for moving in to our place and we're so excited about that, I can't wait, it also means I'm close to bringing Bailey home and man I can not wait to have my little man back with me everyday, I miss him more than words can explain...having some issues with Jen though, seems she doesn't want to move here now, and feels that at 14 she's a big girl and can make big girl decisions, she want's to live at her grandparents full time in Altona.
I'm so not ok with this....I really want her here, but if not I want her to at least live with her mom....one of her parents should be raising her....it's nothing againt her grandparents...they are great, have always been great, but they're done raising kids and no reason they should raise mine just because of a move, everyone moves, it happens, and she's now choosing friends over family, Bailey will be alone and that bugs me too, he's always had Jen, it affects so many people...now I'm getting alot of pressure from alot of people who never supported this move to allow Jen to make this decision and in the end I will BUT I will not support the decision, approve of it but make no mistake, I will support Jennifer, always will....and whenever she needs me I'm here....

The other thing that gets me is it was brought up that people don't like that I'm a friend to my kids....one day I play the parent card and yet try to be a friend....unreal how under the microscope I still am, I've never done anything wrong to my kids and I'm the exact same dad I was when I was still married to their mom...I was always the dad in the backyard, in the street, playing hockey, or ball or hide and seek....yet now that I"m a single dad that's wrong? serious? And when I was married and Jen and her mom didn't get along or fought, I was asked to talk/give Jen heck cause she'd listen to me but now that's all wrong in people's eyes.....bite me...I know that's not very mature but geeez, just let me raise my kids, I"m doing a pretty good job with what I"ve had and it's only getting better. Sam and I are growing in our relationship everyday, learning all the little things as we now live together and she continues to grow in my heart, she's an amazing girl and I'm very lucky to have her.
Work has been good, had some fantastic feedback from customers about how my shop looks and about my quality of skate sharpening. I had guy walk in yesterday thanking me for sharpening his skates last week. He said they were fantastic and the first time all year someone got it right....I was smiling pretty big as I said thank you lol, feels great to hear that....

Well, should get ready for work as I have meetings today, hoping to get more house stuff arranged this weekend...have a great week.

see ya when I see ya...