Casey often spells his name as KC. I suppose it makes sense that he would do that, but on his birthday cake? That's what happens when you send Dad to pick it out...
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Eleven!
Casey often spells his name as KC. I suppose it makes sense that he would do that, but on his birthday cake? That's what happens when you send Dad to pick it out...
Friday, December 22, 2006
Some Photos
Abby with her flowers after her final performance.
Casey dressed up for the grade 6 semi-formal dance yesterday. He seemed quite eager to dress up, but he didn't dance at all.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Last Game of the Year
Sam's hockey team had their first official loss on Saturday, but it was close. Unfortunately, I wasn't at the game as I had to work. Sam was the captain of our team for that game and played forward. However, they won handily last night. They now have time off for Christmas holidays except for a short practice/party tomorrow night.
Leah the Midwife
Abby played the role of Leah the midwife in our church Christmas musical. She did a great job!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Hockey Review
Sam's team had two scheduled games over the past weekend. The first game was exciting. Our previous game against this same team resulted in a tie, and this game also ended in a tie...barely. We dominated the game. We should have had the victory, but we almost handed it over on a silver platter in the final few minutes of the game. Since there is no such thing as video replay in minor hockey, we skated away with a tie instead of our first official loss!
Sunday's game will probably go down in the record books as nothing at all. Both teams showed up, warmed up and were ready for the first drop of the puck; however, there wasn't a referee to be found. So, both teams carried out practice drills for an hour before deciding to play a game of scrimmage without any officiating. Our coaches mixed up the lines a bit which resulted in Sam playing forward instead of his usual defensive position. I'm sure he was excited by the upward move, and he did a good job. To my dismay, he also was on the receiving end of a bone-crushing elbow/body check; however, I was pleased to see our coaches immediately shout out that hitting wasn't allowed. It isn't but it still happens even with referees. Sam was okay, got up and continued on. We finished the game with a 3-1 win, although I'm sure it won't count for anything. Actually, the game ended rather abruptly. One minute we're watching the game. Suddenly, our coach calls our guys over to the bench and sends the entire team out to center ice lined up for the handshaking. I thought that our time was up, but Sam said that our coaches decided to end it because the game was getting too rough.
Wow!
I love our coaches this year! They are awesome. They work the boys hard during practices, but they have such great attitudes and expectations. They're demanding without being overbearing. They wanted a team of 'good' kids with good attitudes and a willingness to be coached. They encourage and build up our kids without becoming sappy and soft. They stick up for our kids.
We lost one of our players last week. The hockey executive made the decision to execute a trade between our team and another team. We received one of their players and were forced to give up one of ours. The problem is that our player has chosen to quit rather than play on that team as he has serious problems with a different player on that team. It is a messed up situation. Our hockey executive has created this problem and rather, than dealing with it at the root, has decided to make the most disruptive and damaging decisions. They don't care if our player quits hockey; they'd prefer to ban him than let him continue to play with us. How sad is that?!
Our coaches wrote a letter of formal complaint which all our parents and players signed. The situation creates a natural discomfort for the new player we have on the team, but our coaches and players are more than accepting of him.
Also, I was so impressed to learn that our coaches ended Sunday's game because of the roughness (mostly from the other team). Two years ago, Sam's team was in a similar position of having no referee for a scheduled game. The only difference was that a coach from each team put on their skates and acted as referees. It was one of the most brutal games I have ever seen my son play in. Those coaches did call a few penalties, but they let so much go and it was too far out of hand. After that game, our coach that refereed laughed it off saying that he just wanted the kids to have fun and play the game. Yeah...only it isn't fun to be crushed into the boards when you're supposed to be in a 'no body checking' league. So, it is refreshing to hear that our coaches this year have a vastly different philosophy about hockey and fun and what is acceptable on the ice. Our coaches aren't pansies. I did hear our coach shout out to one of our defensemen that he needed to keep an opposing player from pushing him around. There is a big difference between defending your territory and throwing your body into a kid much smaller than you. I'm glad our coaches know the difference!
Sunday's game will probably go down in the record books as nothing at all. Both teams showed up, warmed up and were ready for the first drop of the puck; however, there wasn't a referee to be found. So, both teams carried out practice drills for an hour before deciding to play a game of scrimmage without any officiating. Our coaches mixed up the lines a bit which resulted in Sam playing forward instead of his usual defensive position. I'm sure he was excited by the upward move, and he did a good job. To my dismay, he also was on the receiving end of a bone-crushing elbow/body check; however, I was pleased to see our coaches immediately shout out that hitting wasn't allowed. It isn't but it still happens even with referees. Sam was okay, got up and continued on. We finished the game with a 3-1 win, although I'm sure it won't count for anything. Actually, the game ended rather abruptly. One minute we're watching the game. Suddenly, our coach calls our guys over to the bench and sends the entire team out to center ice lined up for the handshaking. I thought that our time was up, but Sam said that our coaches decided to end it because the game was getting too rough.
Wow!
I love our coaches this year! They are awesome. They work the boys hard during practices, but they have such great attitudes and expectations. They're demanding without being overbearing. They wanted a team of 'good' kids with good attitudes and a willingness to be coached. They encourage and build up our kids without becoming sappy and soft. They stick up for our kids.
We lost one of our players last week. The hockey executive made the decision to execute a trade between our team and another team. We received one of their players and were forced to give up one of ours. The problem is that our player has chosen to quit rather than play on that team as he has serious problems with a different player on that team. It is a messed up situation. Our hockey executive has created this problem and rather, than dealing with it at the root, has decided to make the most disruptive and damaging decisions. They don't care if our player quits hockey; they'd prefer to ban him than let him continue to play with us. How sad is that?!
Our coaches wrote a letter of formal complaint which all our parents and players signed. The situation creates a natural discomfort for the new player we have on the team, but our coaches and players are more than accepting of him.
Also, I was so impressed to learn that our coaches ended Sunday's game because of the roughness (mostly from the other team). Two years ago, Sam's team was in a similar position of having no referee for a scheduled game. The only difference was that a coach from each team put on their skates and acted as referees. It was one of the most brutal games I have ever seen my son play in. Those coaches did call a few penalties, but they let so much go and it was too far out of hand. After that game, our coach that refereed laughed it off saying that he just wanted the kids to have fun and play the game. Yeah...only it isn't fun to be crushed into the boards when you're supposed to be in a 'no body checking' league. So, it is refreshing to hear that our coaches this year have a vastly different philosophy about hockey and fun and what is acceptable on the ice. Our coaches aren't pansies. I did hear our coach shout out to one of our defensemen that he needed to keep an opposing player from pushing him around. There is a big difference between defending your territory and throwing your body into a kid much smaller than you. I'm glad our coaches know the difference!
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