Practice Makes...it a little less hard each time

Every time we lace up Liam and Casey's skates they improve little by little, it's pretty cool to see.  It's hard work (not just for them) but we're all really enjoying this new family activity.  A couple weeks ago we went out for a skate on Lake Louise...

Casey hauling our skates...he offered.

Casey on the ice standing up on his own

The Pro

Liam making a hockey snow angel

Design made from the puck

Liam the goalie

Casey...he was attempting to get to the other side of the lake to see the "barn" - which was really the boathouse

Liam in the ice castle

Liam

Casey

Family Day

Well despite the fact that Daddy had to work on Family Day we still had a great day.  In the morning we had some lovely friends over to play and enjoyed some delicious baked goods they brought.  Then, in the afternoon the boys and I went outside for an adventure in the woods, to bask in the sun and play in the fresh snow that just arrived the day before.

We made a new friend in the woods, but he needed some sort of hat.  We made the short trek back home to find a few options for our new buddy...

Perfect!  Our friend loved his hat and he was so thankful...

Our new friend had a great idea for a special winter treat...

Things got a little silly after that...

 Time to go now...Bye-bye friend, see you next time!

 Happy Family Day

On Valentines

This is a little late but here was our Valentines...

There were conflicting work schedules so I didn't get to see much of my big Valentine so it was a good thing I had these two little cuties to love me up (and vice versa)...

There were cupcakes...

There were flowers...

There were even Valentine treats for Jack, that lucky dog...

And there was love...

That's all you need. 

A Visit to Daddy's Work

Tobogganing, skating and skiing, oh my!  It was a super nice warm sunny day so I packed up the van with every possibility of winter activity and we went to visit Daddy at work.  The tobogganing and skating were short lived due to the temptations of marshmallows and a camp fire near by....but after a marshmallow sugar high they were ready for some cross country ski action. A first for Liam!  

Liam and Daddy

Liam

Two little nordic ski bunnies

Liam

Casey

By the end they were even attempting a few hills!

Skate Number 2

The second time we went out skating we went to the Banff hockey rink where we got to skate on the same ice that Daddy plays hockey on...we had two very proud boys (and parents) to say the least!  

We started out the morning that day with a requested guitar sing along.  One of the songs I played was "This little light of mine" and Daddy changed the words to say "This little Liam of mine, I'm gonna let him shine" ...and he sure did that day!  (as did Casey)  But compared to our first attempt, it was great to see Liam out there with a smile.

Liam, Mommy, Casey & Daddy

Hockey Mama?

This morning I had a request for a new blog post, so here it is!  I've been meaning to get this one out for  a while now but sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day...or week...or month, you get the drift!

Anyway, last month using the money we got for christmas, we splurged and bought new skates, hockey sticks and helmets for Casey and Liam. We've been a little hesitant about introducing hockey to the boys for a number of reasons but soon came to realize there's no stopping them.  So, with an 'all or nothing' attitude, we went to the city to the hockey store (yep, there's a store just for hockey) and got them fully outfitted.

At the hockey store! Casey left, Liam right

Our first time out on the pond was quick and painful...Quick because it was 3 o'clock and Liam really needed a nap; and painful for Rob and I...that hunched over position isn't easy on the back. 

Liam getting laced up

Lacing up was about as far as Liam got that day...like I said, he really needed a nap. 

We didn't have one of those skating aids at first so it was pretty difficult but Casey did really well and was just starting to find his balance by the end.

Casey

More to come on this... :)