Good Bye February!!! Come on Spring!!!

This is it!  It's the last day of February!!!  Spring is almost here!!!

Okay, so it's cold outside.  Really cold.  Like 10 degrees.  So what?  It's really almost over!!

Since it's this cold, does that mean March is coming in like a Lion?  I'm alright with that as long as it goes out like a Lamb. . .

Anyway, back at the ranch.

Okay, our humble home here in Leesburg. . .

We've been busy this week--a week that the kids actually went to school every day and on time, too!!--but I digress. . .we've also completed our plans for summer.  Yeah!!!  Aidan is all scheduled for the whole summer now and all but two weeks are paid for.  So, now I can relax and think about something else.

But, before I shift my focus, let me tell you what he'll be up to!

He will go to Ida Lee camp for three weeks.  This is really fun.  They play a lot of basketball, tennis, run around, do crafts and go swimming every day.  And they will go to the AV Symington outdoor water park once each week!!  So fun!!He'll have a blast just like he did last year.

Then he will also go to three weeks of all day hockey camp and one week of half day camp where they will concentrate on Shooting to Score.  Two of those weeks, he'll be hanging out with his buddy Jake before camp.  He's so excited about that!

We will go to the beach for a week and Pat and Aidan will have a week off by themselves.  I think they are planning to go fishing or something.

That will leave two weeks.  These two weeks will be at Winwood.  Although he won't be thrilled, he'll still have fun.  They do a field trip once a week and they will have fun playing games and stuff.

And there you have it.  He's going to have a great summer!

But, meanwhile back here again. . .we're still dealing with winter.  But there was one more piece of hopeful news.  The same catalog that listed the summer camps for Ida Lee, had this beautiful reminder on the back:

Yes, my friends.  That is the announcement for the annual Flower & Garden Festival!  I love that Festival!!  I can't wait to go!!

Tonight is Aidan's final House League practice.  We're not doing House League this Spring and I'm pretty sure we won't be next Fall either.  He will be trying out for Power Play Selects for the Spring and will be on the Elite Team too.  And hopefully, he'll make Xtreme, which he is signed up for try outs at the end of May/Beginning of June.  So, this could be it for House League.  He has his Championship Game on Sunday--they will play #1 Black for first or second (They are currently #2.)  Should be a fun and exciting game.  He'll get a trophy or something.  I think.

But, the medal he loves most is the one he got after his last Select Travel Jamboree last Saturday.  They worked hard and played well.  And he had to do what he saw the Olympians doing:

Funny kiddo!!

It's going to be strange tomorrow to not be rushing off to a hockey game!  I might actually get some things done around here!

That's about it.  Have a great weekend.  Think Spring!

Transitions

February is a transitional month to me.  First, and I'm sure I've said this before, it is the longest short month in the history of the world.  Spring is so close.  And yet still so far away!  February comes in second to August as my least favorite month of the year.  I'm ready to move on already!!

But, one February, six years ago, ended with the biggest high note ever.  Of course it would land on February 29th, so I only get to recognize that date once every four years, but I will remember it forever as it is seared upon my heart.

That was the day we got THE call.  We were headed back to Russia to complete the process of our lives.  To become parents.  To bring home the most beautiful and special little baby boy ever.  In our eyes, of course.   And maybe in the eyes of a few other people as well.

That February I also started this blog.  I can't believe I have been blogging here for six years!  And some of you are still reading along with us about our lives. . .I hope I haven't bored you too much.  Truly.

Six years.  Such a short number of years, and yet what a change in our lives for the better!!

And here were are, another February coming to an end (finally!!!) and Spring and March are in the offing.  March 1 is my father-in-laws birthday.  I have always loved his birthday.  It signals the end of February and the beginning of the freshness to come.  Yeah Dad!!!  : )

Speaking of Spring. . .

We're completing our Summer plans today.  Aidan will be going to three Total Skills hockey camps plus a half day Shoot to Score camp.  So excited for him on that!!  And then he'll go to Ida Lee for three weeks, we'll head to Kitty Hawk for a week and he'll spend a week with Daddy.  That leaves two weeks where he'll likely go to Winwood. . .one less than last year!!

Aidan will also do Cold Rush one morning a week like last year.  He loved it!!  I'll sign him up for the ten pack and he'll get his speed back up there above and beyond anything you can imagine.  (He is still the fastest in Mites right now, but he can be faster.)

Other transitions are that the Select Travel Team has ended.  We'll still do an end of season party, but we are basically done.  The boys had a final Jamboree this weekend and did really really well.  I was so proud of Aidan.  He scored AND he played defensively even though he is a Winger.  He helped cover the goalie on several occasions.  So fun to watch!  And here are the Three Amigos.  So cute. . .

Today was the last regular House League game.  The boys have one more game next Sunday and then the season is over for them.  Aidan played Goalie today.  It's likely the last time he'll get to be Goalie as he is a Winger on his Travel Teams, and unless something happens, he will be on Travel teams from now on.

The Power Place Select tryouts are four weeks from Tuesday with practices beginning the following Tuesday.  And the Elite Team he will be on begins on April 12th.  So, we'll have three weeks without official team practices or games.  I'm not sure we'll know what to do with ourselves!!  Maybe we'll actually get some projects done. . .we have been pricing out the new countertops for the kitchen. . .

The sofas were finally delivered on Tuesday.  It was postponed due to the snow the week before.  But, they are here now and we LOVE them!  So glad we did this!!

And one final really really funny note.  Remember me telling you about the two little girls who have crushes on Aidan?  Well, turns out they are sisters.  But, wait there's more!  They are twins!!  OMG!!!  How hilarious is that????  Only Aidan. . . .

And that's it for our recent transitions. . .those in process and those to come.  And now I'll mosey into the kitchen to try making a cool recipe I found on Pioneer Woman's blog:  Queso Fundido!  Can't wait to try it!!

Have a great week!  Think Spring. . .even though the Arctic Vortex is coming back.  : /

Hockey, Hockey and More Hockey! Oh, and some snow. . .

Okay.  So, we're on another two hour delay today after no school last Thursday and Friday.  Getting pretty tired of this weather thing!

We ended up with about 18" of snow from the Thursday storm.  It's a lot of snow. . .and the mounds are huge. .  .but it's going to be 60 by the end of this week!!!!  We're soooo excited!!!

Aidan's travel team is beginning to wrap up the Fall/Winter season.  The Spring season will start in about a month.  They had a tournament in Philadelphia last weekend.  The coaches had them play up a division and warned us ahead of time to expect very lopsided scores and not in our boys favor.  Well, I'm happy to report, our boys played sooo good!!!  They did lose the first three of the four games, but not by much and in fact lead two of the games at the half (2 25 minute periods).  They made those teams really work for the wins.  I really think that they could have won two of the games, too.  But, then the final game they won huge.  11-2.  So, so proud of them!  I can't wait to see how they play next year. . .

 It wasn't all work.  We took the boys. . .both teams. . .all 28 of them!  To Buffalo Wild Wing on Saturday night.  Fun times for everyone.  But, I'm pretty sure I got Glutened. . .they said my salad was gluten free, but some things I've had going on since tell me otherwise. . .But, Aidan had a blast!  We were even able to watch the USA v. Russia hockey game here.  So awesome!!  Although, Aidan was upset.  And I do have to admit I felt bad for Ovie. . .

 The boys love watching other games. . .

and then getting ready.

 They even had the experience of hearing our National Anthem this time. . .we did have to tell a couple of them where our flag was.  : )

 And the Amigos score!!!!!  This line is really good.  They ended up being moved to the first line.  So proud of how they have gelled and really become a force for this team!!

 There seems to be some confusion about what place they came in among the boys.  Of course, we parents think they are absolute winners!!

Aidan is pretty goofy sometimes.

So cool.  Aidan skated over to show his mama his newest medal!!

                   

                   The boys and the coaches.  What a fun team!!  

We were supposed to play Reston again this coming weekend.  However, we have since found out that they will be playing three games on Saturday in Laurel, Maryland for the end of season Jamboree.  It's like the Playoffs.  They have games at 10:00, 11:00 and at 1:00.  It will be a tough day especially since Aidan has a House League game on Friday night and another on Sunday morning (making up for none during Presidents Day weekend).  But, after that, there are only two House League games left for this season and then we will have a couple weeks off until the Spring Travel tryouts on March 24th and 25th.  

Did I mention it pretty much snowed the entire time we were in Philly?  Yeah.  So happy about that.  (she says with absolute total sarcasm)

In other, non-weather and non-hockey related news. . .our couches are being delivered today!!!  Woot! Woot!  Can't wait.  Our family room has not had anything other than the tables for a couple of weeks.  It will be good to have some furniture again.  I am enjoying our Rec Room again, though!  Now to get that Fireplace hooked up. . .

Mom is still not doing well,  We're trying to get her released to go home, but there are so many issues I'm not sure how that's going to work.  

That's about it.  Praying for Spring!!!  Have a great week.

This and That

Some catch up. . .

A couple of weeks ago, we went out to dinner for Pat's birthday.  Pat took this adorable picture of Aidan and Grandma. . .

Last Friday, Aidan's school had favorite jersey and hat day.  Aidan picked out what he wanted to wear. . .Yes, he does have a mixed message going on. . .but how cute!!!

PS  Team Russia plays Team USA for hockey on Saturday, February 15th. . .ummmm, Go Team!!  : )  

Are you ready for the Olympics???  I can't believe it starts tonight with the Opening Ceremony tomorrow!  So excited!

We had another snow storm on Sunday night to Monday.  Loudoun County schools went to school, and on time. . .I was so proud of them!!  But, my office closed!  : )  What a treat to be at home all day and get things done without any distractions!  I got caught up on laundry, ironing, folding and putting away of said laundry, cleaned out the frig and I even got started on our taxes!  I haven't gotten any further since then, but I've started!

Then, we had another storm Tuesday night and Wednesday.  But, this time, it was ice.  I hate ice.  Schools were closed and my work had a delayed start of 11:00.  The roads were really slick heading to my office, but I made it safely with only a couple of spots where I felt the Tahoe slip a little.  It was all crashing down by the time I was on my way home.

We ended up with about 1/4 to 1/3 inch.  It's very pretty, but oh so dangerous!!

 It took nearly a half hour to deice my car so I could drive to work!!

It got very windy last night.  Pat got called in to work and has not made it home yet.  Ice, power lines, old growth trees and wind don't make a very nice mix. . .

And now, my friends, I hear we're going to have another storm this weekend.  Aren't we so lucky????  (you can't hear the sarcasm, can you?)

Aidan's hockey team continues to be a dominant force.  They did finally lose a game, by one, last Saturday.  And I have to say, my little guy was very upset.  But, he bounced back and helped his House League team win the very next morning and his travel team win big again in the afternoon.  There is one game this Saturday afternoon--no these games don't get cancelled due to weather, these are hockey people! And then just practice and a House League game Sunday morning.  Next weekend we will be off to Philadelphia for a tournament where our boys will be playing up a division.  Woo Hoo!!  I think they are ready. . .

On the Gluten Free front, I have finally switched all of my make up, lotions, deodarant, and shampoo and conditioner.  I've been feeling so much better, I decided I needed to take that plunge too.  But, then, I got the devastating news yesterday that my favorite Grande Skim Caramel Macchiato fron Starbucks is NOT Gluten Free.  That's just wrong. . .: (  It's because of the flavoring.  And Starbucks has taken it further by saying that anything ordered from behind the counter cannot be guaranteed Gluten Free due to possible cross contamination.  And Aidan and I love going there for a special treat and sitting and chatting while we drink our drinks!  I may have to make this a very occasional treat. . .(dare you to say anything!!)

My mom continues to have a lot of problems.  These are problems that will not go away.  We're trying to figure out what to do:  Get her a home nurse for a while until she's a little stronger, go to the Assisted Living in Nevada where she is, or something else.  She actually qualifies for Hospice--she has an end stage diagnosis, but we're afraid she would give up if we did that.  So, we're praying on it and hoping to come up with our solution by this weekend.

That's about it for now.  Have a great rest of the week!