Rylan's First Goal!

And for the finale of catching up, Rylan scored his first goal! For their last game, Ryan (their hockey idol) and Robbie, along with Grandma and great Grandma came to watch them. Unfortunately, the opposing team never showed up! But, they did scrimmage. Rylan had a great goal, and was SO happy. His entire team was cheering and hugging him. His best hockey moment just in time for the season's end. The coach gave him his puck to keep. He's SO proud.

After all the excitement, the boys rested together on the couch. :)

I think that about brings you up to speed on us. Baseball season is about to begin. Brayden starts baseball camp in two days. We are still undecided about ice hockey spring skills and scrimmage program. Personally, I would like a break from the rink but it is nice to socialize with the fellow hockey parents. We have our reservations set for our annual day camping trip, and have another pre-paid trip to plan. I would love to spend some time in Erie this summer, and stay near the lake, so that's in the works, too.

I'll try to update this blog more often, and with better pictures plus video soon thanks to my new toys that should arrive in the mail tomorrow or Monday.

Education Updates

Home school is going very well. Rylan is doing great with his kindergarten curriculum, and is already a good reader! Brayden's strength is MATH. We moved him to first grade math (he's kindergarten age) and he's had the 1st grade math curriculum for about 2 months, and he's more than 1/2 way finished with it. If he didn't have other subjects to learn, I'm sure he'd be in second grade math now. The only problem he has is counting money. We plan on schooling throughout the summer, but a bit more relaxed, and mostly outdoors like last summer- out in the yard on a big blanket. More hands on, too. Oh, to have warm weather again...moving on:

We try to attend all the Family Literacy events. Last week was "Stuffee". Hosted by The Pittsburgh Children's Museum, Stuffee is a large model of the human body, he unzips and the kids learn about organs and digestion. This went along perfectly with our digestion and nutrition unit study!

Coloring pages

Rylan was excited to hold his heart, and he shared with Brayden

Then they watched a play about "Just Say No".... I am shocked they didn't come home and interrogate Daddy about cigarettes. (I sort of wish they had)

House of Sick

The reason Brayden was sick is because he caught what Rylan had a few days prior....
We had dinner at Nana and Uncle Mark's and Ry was too sick to eat, so he lounged with Daddy, and Daddy fell asleep :)

The next day, Rylan was still down and we spent most of the morning snuggling on the couch reading books. By noon, I noticed I hadn't heard Brayden is quite some time. I went out to the dining room where he often quietly "creates" and this is what I discovered:

Hmmmm.... where are all of his hockey coloring pages, and and where did Brayden go?

Into my bedroom, creating a huge masterpiece hockey rink.

Complete with a ref, face off, and puck trails showing how the game went.

And the zambonie waiting to clean the ice :)

(please excuse our unfinished 70 year old wood floors, we ripped the carpet out anticipating laminate, but the floor was not level enough. We'll either refinish the "hard wood" PINE or get carpet)

I'l have more time now...

now that hockey season is over! Well, we MAY have a tournament in March, but its mostly over. More about hockey in a moment......

Rylan turned 5!

We had his "friend" party at a local bowling alley. Most of his hockey team came! It was the PERFECT solution to having too small of a house to fit everyone at, and ensuring the kids still got to play together. Pizza and bowling for the kids, pizza and beer for the adults! :)

Poor Brayden was VERY sick. We noticed he was a bit sluggish at the hockey game just before the party, then Aunt Babe pointed out he felt warm when she took his helmet off. Poor guy slept on the bowling alley floor most of the party. When we got home, he had a 104.6 degree fever :(

Then on his actual birth date, we invited family to Hoss's for dinner to celebrate.
Grandma, Great Grandma, Babe

Nikki and Derek

AJ

Laura, Evan, Adam

Nana

Mom, Dad, Brayden

And Uncle Mark all came to celebrate.

He had a great birthday! Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!

Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering

We are home! This week, we attended the Unschoolers Winter Water park Gathering at Kalahari Indoor Water park in Sandusky, Ohio.

We are homeschoolers, not unschoolers, but were still invited to attend. Our local friends and home schoolers gave us the oppurtunity to rent part of their large suite, and share the space with them.

It was FANTASTIC! First I'd like to point out how WONDERFUL all the participants were. NEVER have I seen such a large group of well behaved, confident, secure, outgoing, helpful and sincere kids. Ever. Each corner we turned, there was a child approaching us. In the elevator they would ask where we are from, how we like the park, how old the kids are, etc. At the water park area, a 16? year old boy picked Rylan up after he tripped. Near the wave pool, an 8? year old girl told us where to get Rylan a life vest- without us asking. Our "suitemates" had their door decorated with Steelers decorations, and had teenagers come knock at the door and talk football. I had a teen girl offer to go fill our water bottle while I was supervising 4 kids at the indoor play structure. I did not see one argurment or any bullying. And we were with 100's of kids day and night. All siblings were so sweet with eachother. Even at 10pm, there were older kids roaming the halls with their little siblings. I'll admit the lack of parental supervision was a little unnerving at first, (kids of all ages out by themselves) but they all were perfectly capable of taking care of eachother. It was really a huge eye opening experience.

There was SO much for the kids to do. If you have time, check out the website in the link at the top of this post. We are sure we'd ike to return next winter. There were many activities scheduled for the kids AND the adults. Art and craft rooms, dress up areas, play areas, button making, scrapbooking, etc.

I was able to attend 2 conference sessions. I really enjoyed them and got some insight on new-to-me parenting ideas. Some I agree with, much I did not, but it was still an interesting experience. A lot to think about and learn.

Rylan getting ready to brave the wave pool, and not happy about having to wear a life vest

Rylan body boarding! The first day Brayden tried too, butI didn't have my camera

This is where the boys would have spent the entire 3 days if it were up to them.
Basketball in the water. There were 12 hoops. And a waterfall.
(Rylan is to the bottom right jumping off the stairs)

Because we shared a full kitchen suite, we only had to go out to eat once. This place was amazing! They had coloring contests, limbo, danicing, juggling and more. The entire staff was wonderful, as in above and beyond wonderful. and FUN!

And the food was wonderful, too! This was our appetizer: spinach, artichoke and blue crab dip.

And dessert......
Yes, I went all out, I let the kids drink juice AND have chocolate.....don't faint, it was vacation....see, I can loosen up ;)

After our dinner, we went for a round of put- put golf.

Then it was off to the Talent Show!
This was my favorite part of the vacation. SO many talented kids!
This picture shows a dance routine of disabled kids. The ones in wheelcharis are in the back, and this boy on front stage used crutches as stilts!

The arcade puts Chuck E Cheese to shame. I can compare it to a Las Vegas casino. Really.
The kids liked bowling the best.

This was our last night, they were exhasuted!