Weekend without Chris...

11 March - This weekend saw 20 of the Icemen leave Ralston in limos for a ice hockey fantastic weekend in Calgary. Chris organised the Icemen's end of season bash which centred around ice hockey, beer and a penguin!!! Chris has promised to make an entry onto my blog with all the details - so we shall wait out and see.

So with a weekend with no Daddy what could we get up to. I attended Tegan and Fraser's school assembly on the Friday afternoon, Tegan was in a small production on stage and was cast as a vulture! Fraser's class had been working on Flat Stanley which is a story about a boy who got squashed became flat, then had lots of adventures being posted through letterboxes. All the kindergarten children had made their own Flat Stanley's and are writing to pen pals, they paraded around the assembly showing their Flat Stanleys. After which all the children returned to their classrooms for popcorn and then it was home time.

Friday night Fraser was having his friend Harry sleepover. As all the daddy's were away Zoe and her 2 girls came round for supper, the request for supper was spaghetti bolognese and chocolate mouse - all 5 children were great and ate everything and then played. Fraser and Harry slept 'top to tail' and were asleep by 8.15pm - much to my relief.

Saturday morning was an early start - Fraser and Harry were awake at 5.50am - I don't usually wake up until the time starts with a 7!! But it wasn't a bad thing as I had to be at the ice arena for a 9am puck drop as the Devils were playing ice hockey against the Wildcats juniors - the children ranged from 5yrs old to about 9yrs old - it was the funniest game I have played in, great fun and they beat us 11 v 1!!!!! After which Tegan, Fraser and Harry had their ice skating lessons followed by being allowed to stay on the ice afterwards to play ice hockey themselves - we eventually left the arena about 12.15pm for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon was spent round a friends house taking both dogs for a walk on the prairie in the snow with 5 children Kay then kindly gave us all tea. Harry went home that night - much to Fraser's disappointment - he is now planning who can come for a sleep over next, along with Tegan.

Sunday morning was another early start as we were off skiing for the day at Hidden Valley (approx 1hr 15mins) the other side of Medicine Hat. So with everything loaded into Sam's car and Sam D behind us, off we set in convoy, with the sun shinning. We had a fabulous day skiing, it was almost too hot - but gorgeous even eating our lunch outside. The kids were great and the weather certainly help the mood of all the children, with 7 children skiing it looked liked ants all over the mountain. After a fabulous day we arrived home at 5.30pm to find Daddy lying on the sofa looking a little shabby.

I then popped over to the ice arena to watch the PSP game. Five staff from the PSP played against the 1st year Devils - it was hilarious as they were dressed up in bow tie and suits and skated around the girls, bringing out sticks that got bigger or longer, silly signs, a stick with a puck attached by string that they could whizz around and finally Sue got a custard pie in the face. Pierre and John are two of the PSP staff that played, they are also very much part of the ice hockey scene being referees throughout the season and generally funny characters to have around.

Fingers crossed Chris should make an entry soon.
















As for the Canadian weather it looks as though Spring could be arriving in Ralston, although we are still knee deep in snow. The biggest indication is that I have seen at least ten gophers appear, how they dug through the snow with their little legs - but they are out and about and the temperatures are improving during the day. The only down side is that the snow starts to melt during the day and then turns to ice at night - not great for the morning walk to school. But hopefully the warm weather will continue - but who knows in Canada!