Here's to 2016!

Here we are ... 2016!  We are looking forward to this year!  As usual, as soon as Christmas is over I start the year day-dreaming about those hazy, lazy days of summer!  I don't think I could live without winter but I would prefer 2-3 months of snow and cold vs 5-7 ;) Alas, we all have to wait just a few (6 or so)  more months.  Our January and February are full with hockey and ringette!  The girls have their first ringette tournaments coming up!!  Em's team is playing in the Edmonton Silver Ring and both Em and Reese's teams are playing in the Sweetheart Tournament in Spruce Grove.  Blake has minor hockey week coming up and the Stollery tournament in February.  Then league playoffs begin in March!  We have our wind up party planned for the end of March and then we'll be in to Spring sports :)  Can't wait to watch some lacrosse again!!  Blake also wants to play baseball, hopefully his lacrosse schedule will allow him to play baseball.  We're not sure what activities the girls will be participating in, in the spring.  Em has mentioned baseball and Reese has mentioned soccer!  It will be a matter of seeing which sports are on which days because we can't have all 3 in different sports on one night ... unless Blake gets his drivers license at age 9 ;)  lol! 

Thinking ahead to spring and summer, leads me to daydreaming about our 2016 holiday plans! We already have some plans underway.  First up, and already booked, is a trip to Phoenix during spring break.  The plan is to relax, take in a few MLB spring training games and swim in the pool at the house we're staying at!!  I can't wait and the kids are beyond excited!  By the time Spring Break comes, we will be in need of a real break ;)  Heck, we need one now but we'll have to wait!!  Then, at the beginning of July my Mom, sister and I are flying to Vancouver for a few nights for a Dixie Chicks concert!  Girls trip!!!!  Finally ... it's been years in the making ;) I'll be flying back into Calgary from Vancouver, where Cal and the kids will pick me up to begin our annual camping vacay.  First up, camping for a few nights with a group on NP friends, while they take on the Sinister 7 in Southern AB!!  From there, we're not quite sure where we're going to go.  Originally we had thought we'd visit Seattle and area but with the poor Canadian dollar, we're just not sure.  Might be best to stay in Canada! Somewhere in the mix (but during the MLB season!) Cal and a few friends want to plan a guys trip to Seattle for a few ball games. Other than that, we will be spending many more days and nights in our favorite home away from home (hint: it's on wheels!) with friends and family :)

I'll be back soon to update you on January's happenings!  Have a great month :)

~ Tracy    

Back to school tomorrow :s

It was family date night at the Oilers game on the 29th!!  Blake's been to tons of games, Em's been to a game when she was just a few weeks old and this was Reese's 1st game.  The girls kind of felt it was unfair that Blake got to go to so many Oilers games so we figured we'd better take them to a game!  The game wasn't so great but we all had fun and Reese kept us thoroughly entertained with her dancing and goofiness ;)

Cal and I had a whole 24 hrs to ourselves on Friday/Saturday :)  This is a rare occasion and seems to happen once a year!  I was so excited!  As much as I love my children, some time off is much needed!!  I feel like we never have time off !  We dropped the kids off at my mom and dads around noon on Friday.  They were so excited for a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's!!!!  Connor and Mason were at Grandma and Grandpa's also, so they had fun with their cousins on Friday afternoon :)  Cal and I went to a movie, did some shopping and went for dinner after we dropped them off.  The next morning I woke up at 8 am ... I had an entire 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep.  It was heavenly :)  Everyone met us at Blake's hockey practice on Saturday afternoon and by all accounts they had a wonderful time!!  Thank you Mom and Dad for taking the kids overnight, we all enjoyed ourselves and I know you did too! xoxo

Saturday night we were invited to our friends house, the Costello's.  We had such a great time!!!  The kids all play so well together and we got home at 12:30 am ... REALLY late for out kids!  But they were all having a blast (7 boys and 2 girls!) and the adults were having a great time ;)  It was a super night and we can't wait to do it again!

Back to work and school tomorrow ... It has been such a wonderful Christmas break, I don't really want it to end!  The girls are excited to get back to school and Blake is not so excited ;)  Hopefully they'll be up in time tomorrow morning!!

Talk to you soon!

~Tracy