five on friday

{one}  The lack of blogging is directly attributed to the business factor of my life right now.  I've been working full time and my kids are staying up too late.  I often think about blogging, then by the time I sit down I have no energy to do anything other than watch TV like The Bachelor and Temptation Island!

{two} Speaking of TV, have you watch the Handmaid's Tale?  Everyone kept saying how good it was and I had read the book and thought that it was just okay.  Finally over the holidays James and I watched both seasons and can I just say I absolutely loved it.  It was so much different to watch the scenes play out then to read about it.  This is the only time I've ever preferred the screen version to the book. Weeks later and I am still thinking about what will happen next season. I highly recommend watching it even if you didn't love the book.

{three} Speaking of books... I just read Everything, Everything in under 48 hours and loved it.  It's about a young girl that is too sick to leave her house and falls in love with the boy next door.  I love a book that is easy to read and keeps me guessing.  This was 5 stars for me.

{four} This week was Esso Minor Hockey Week in my neck of the woods.  It is a city wide tournament and the one with the most hype during the season other than playoffs.  Every minor hockey player in the city takes part.  Per the Hockey Calgary website I found the following stats pretty unbelievable.

Number of players – more than 13,000
Number of teams - 653
Number of Divisions - 60
Number of associations - 21
Number of games played - 902
Number of rinks - 54 ice surfaces at 35 venues

Grady's team has always done well, making it to the semi finals every year, including this year. One year, they even won! This year both our boys teams got knocked out by the other team in our association. So as of Wednesday, we no longer had teams in the tournament. Which was okay because we had plans for the weekend that would have been cancelled had Grady's team made the finals....

{five} This weekend instead of playing hockey, we will be visiting and staying at the West Edmonton Mall courtesy of Santa. The kids are excited to hit up the watersides and I am excited to maybe get to do a little shopping. But mostly, I am excited to go on a family trip with all of my boys. Just my boys. Even if I have to go to the water slides!

Have a great weekend!

seven on monday

Today I am breaking the rules.  Does it have to be Friday?  Or five for that matter?  Heck no. This is my blog and I'll do what I want.

{one} The kids have found a new obsession with Peter's Drive in. It's a Calgary icon and their milkshakes are epic.  Not to mention the burgers and onion rings.  So when our Nexus renewals came up and we all had to go to the airport we decided to add supper at Peter's to the trip.  It did not disappoint. I love seeing the kids enjoy something that we have enjoyed for years.

{two} I love seeing Grady find a new love for board games.  He really wanted to play Monopoly Jr but we were missing a few pieces so we pulled out James' Calgaryopoly from when he was a kid.  Grandma started the game with him and thankfully after dinner he lost interest and we packed it away.  We all know how long one game of monopoly can last...

{three} Last week brought parent teacher interviews for both kids.  I love the opportunity to take a step into our kids world and see what they for the hours they are at school.  Academically, both kids are doing great. No complaints here.  I loved seeing the pride that Grady has in his work at school.  He showed us all his coding on the ipad which is his elective this term.  It is nice to see Cooper engaging as he will be heading there in 2 short years.

{four} Christmas has arrived at our house!  Technically, I am not 100% done.  Our schedule no longer allows a full day dedicated to decorating so I broke it up into what I wanted to do solo vs what I wanted to do with the kids.  Friday night I put on my mickey ears, poured a glass of wine and cranked up the Christmas music.  I did the banister and the fancy tree solo while the kids and James were out and about.  A wild and crazy friday night around our place I tell ya.

{five} I survived Black Friday without buying a single thing.  I just don't need anything right now.  With that being said I ended up benefiting from the sales without intending to.  After pulling out the Christmas decor I realized I need a few things.  So... I hurried over to Michael's to pick up a few small things and ended up in the middle of the weekend long Black Friday sale extended over the weekend. . 60% off all Christmas decor!  I walked away with this new wreath among other things.  So maybe I didn't exactly not buy anything on Black Friday after all.....

{six}  Grady's team had a Christmas skill comp over the weekend.  The coaches are such good sports and showed up in festive attire.  The kids came ready to battle.  Grady took home 2nd in the fastest skater comp then got last in accuracy. You win some you lose some!

{seven} Cooper scored the heart and hustle award for his defense skills yesterday. Despite a 8-4 loss he hustled out there and I was happy to see him walk out sporting the tiger hat.

Have a great week!

five on Friday

A very busy week meant no post this week. Sigh...  This post is for my siblings that I know are (not so) patiently waiting for an update.

{one}  Cooper and I headed to a hockey tournament solo since Grady had games to play back home.  James got to go to the last one tournament so now it was my turn.  We ended up travelling with a fellow hockey mom and her son and it turned out to be a great weekend.

 Expect for all the losing.  By the end of game 3 we had 1 goal for and 27 goals against.  It was bad.  Then we turned it around and won the B final.  The boys were excited and it was just what the players (and parents!) needed to start the season!

{two}  We got new wheels!  Which was a good thing since on the way home from Invemere there was a snow storm that ultimately led to a closure of the highway due to a major collision. Thankfully, I made it through before the road closed and that no one from our team was involved in the accident.  I was so so happy to not be driving the mini van since it was never great on ice.  The morning started with fog, then a little rain, then some snow, then a blizzard.

The criteria on the new car was AWD, a third row, and a trunk that would fit 3 hockey bags.  Check, check, check!  We've already tested it out taking 3 kids and 3 bags to hockey practice and it was a huge success.

(three) With Halloween sneaking up on us right after we got home from our weekend get away we had to squeeze in pumpkin carving.  This is the first year that the boys did their pumpkins 100% solo.  We found the idea for the toothpick teeth online and it was perfect for little hands that can't quite work with small spaces.

(four)  We had another successful year of trick or treating with half the neighborhood!

One kid went as a cool banana, complete with sunglasses and a hat. That costume put me back $60 at Walmart.  $60!!  And I still had to alter it to make it fit Cooper properly. 

The other dressed as a Fortnite character, skull trooper.  He was actually pretty scary.  Good thing skull trooper is a good dancer. 

Even I dressed up for our office party this year.  We were number jacks.  Get it???  See, accountants can be creative to!

(five) Finally, I am leaving for a weekend away with my besties tomorrow.  I can't wait to see them as it has been well over a year since we last got together.  We had tickets to see Justin Timberlake but he cancelled the concert due to 'bruised vocal chords'.  Mean while he is busy dressing up for Halloween and appearing on Jimmy Fallon.  He doesn't sound that sick to me... But even without JT my friends and I are going to have a great time.  Did someone say shopping?

Have a great weekend, I know I will!

five on friday: what i've been up to

When 2 people tell you that you haven't posted in a while, on the same day, two things happen,  first, you feel happy and loved because your siblings (yes both were siblings!) miss you and miss reading about your life.  Then immediately after, you feel a burning need to post.  To let them and every one else know what you have been up to.  So here it is, an attempt to determine what I have been doing in the evenings that does not involve blogging.

{one} Hockey.  In our house right now its hockey, hockey, HOCKEY!  While I absolutely love that hockey season is back on, it also means that as a manager on one team and a helper on the other, that my evenings are easily filled with looking for tournaments, prepping for meetings, and sending emails.  We've had our teams approx 4 days and I have booked 4 tournaments between the 2 teams with 3 of them being out of town.  This year Grady's team is playing at the rink in the West Edmonton Mall and I couldn't be more excited.  Hockey and shopping??? Win-Win!

2) Teeth Whitening.  For the past few weeks I've been whitening my teeth.  What I never knew about teeth whitening at home is that is is time consuming and good diet plan since you can't eat for hours at a time in the evening when is my prime snack time. Yes, I could blog while I whitened, but I didn't.

3) Big Brother. I love watching big brother but it is a huge time commitment.  I love that the kids will now watch with me on occasion.  My thoughts on this season.  I thought I was happy with either Tyler or Kaycee winning until Tyler didn't win and found myself feeling sad. My friend and I have discussed many times how we would vote as a member of the Jury.  I would be an emotional voter and would never vote for the person that had a hand in getting me out.  I'd like to think I'd vote on game play but I'm not convinced I would.  I think many of the jurors were bitter hence Tyler's loss.

4) Reading.  I have been on a reading role lately.  While I can blog while I watch TV it not as easy when you are reading.... Some of the best books I read this summer were

        Then she was Gone, by Lisa Jewel

        All we ever Wanted, by Emily Griffin

        If you Knew Her: The perfect life of the perfect lie by Emily Elgar

5) I don't have a fifth. Wasting time.... does that count.  Also my kids go to bed super late, like they are sometimes up when I go to bed, late.

There you have it, what I've been doing while I haven't been blogging. Every once in a while it is a good thing to take a break you didn't even know you needed or wanted. Now let's hope we get back to our regular scheduled programming.

Five on Friday

{one} A speeding ticket arrived in the mail this week.  I automatically assume it was James.  We went through a large period of time where they were coming faster then he could pay them.  Well, almost.  I would display them on our fridge as a reminder until he paid them and it would be a topic of conversation when we had company over.  Then, earlier this spring I got one.  A big one.  In a construction zone where the fine is double.  I paid it immediately and pretended it never happened.  When this new one arrived I was sure it was James, I've been trying so hard to obey all speed limits.  I opened the envelope hoping to see James car, but it was the van.  We both drive the van so I had to look at the my calendar to see what we were doing that day.  It was my ticket, going 50km/hr, in a school zone.  In my defence it was in an area I had never been.  Personally, I would prefer to shop my money away.

{two}Have I mentioned my friend and I recently broke up with our trainer?  WE have been training with the same guy for just over 2 years.  My workout partner just moved and wanted to drop training to buy a new car.  I was ready to be done.  I didn't love it anymore and it is a pretty expensive hour when you weren't sure you wanted to be there.  He didn't take it well.  He told us that he wasn't surprised, we didn't pay attention and that we were wasting our money.  Say what?  I was so hurt.  I considered this guy my friend and though I suspect he was acting this way because we took by surprise, he didn't ever apologize and that hurts.  We have been stuck with him for 2 months while use our remaining sessions.  It's a long story.  If I didn't like going before, I certainly don't like going now!

{three} Truth, I don't love that the kids are out of school.  While I know they love it, I worry they suffer from extreme brain drain while I am at work.  They get way to much screen time and I am constantly looking for something to get them out of the house or for friend to come over and play.  Part of the problem is that our nanny doesn't drive which means they have to stay close to home.  You can only spend so much time at the same park every day.... I much prefer the school year routine where I don't have to worry about what they are doing the hours I am at work.  We've put them in 2 camps and have 2 weeks vacation but that still leaves several weeks to fill....

{four}Our deck reno was money well spent.  We have a walk out basement and a high deck that until this summer didn't have stairs.  It was hard to use the deck because if the kids called from the backyard or the field out back you had to leave the deck, go through the house, down to the basement and out the back.  Now, those stairs are used constantly and the deck is my fave place to be.  Not a cheap project but so so worth it!  

{five}I'm suffering from a severe case of vacation envy. Ever since July long weekend when my instagram feed became filled with pictures of people on boats, in the mountains, and other exotic places, I've seriously wanted to skip town.  July is super busy at work so not only can I not take any days off, I also have to work my Mondays off.  I can't wait to hop on a plane Saturday to visit a bunch of VIP people in my life! 

Watch out SK, here we come!

five on friday

With on extra extra long weekend ahead (I'm off today to!) I have a long list of things that I'd like to get done.  Here are the top 5 I hope to achieve.

{one} Watch the royal wedding.  I love all things royal!  Of the two brothers, I prefer Harry.  First, he's better looking, even though he's a ginger.  I love how he isn't a rule follower.  Remember when the pictures of naked Harry in Vegas were leaked?  I guess what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas! Ha!  Because he is only 6th in line to the thrown he doesn't have to be so rigid and formal all the time. He is more real, IMO.   Also, I love his choice in brides.  Meghan Markle is so elegant, I love her style and the show Suits.  I can't wait to see if she follows the rules with her dress.  Enough said.

{two} Hit up Nordstrom Rack. My BFF is in town this weekend for her son's basketball tournament and our #1 goal is to hit up Nordstrom Rack.  One just opened in town last month and I have yet to go.  I have heard nothing but good things about the stock and the prices.  Target could have learned something from Nordstrom.....

{three} Hit the gym.  I saw my physiotherapist Tyson yesterday and got a great report.  My IT band is not as tight, my glutes are stronger and he thinks I'm ready to start running more.  Like 5 min longer each run.  I told him it sounded aggressive but he thinks I can handle it.  So.... I'm off to the gym to test it on the track and then finish off the workout on the elliptical.

{four} Buy Flowers.  I do not have a green thumb, but when we moved I felt inclined to buy some flowers for the front of the house.  Since I have no interest in dragging my flowers in and out, I waited until I was sure that it was warm enough to just leave then outside.  I think hope we are finally there. So off to buy some pretty flowers I go.

{five}  Get out of the city for the day.  I'd love to get out of the city and go for a hike if time and weather permits.  Between having some company and dog sitting this weekend, there may not be time.  But with the mountains only a short hour drive away I am hoping to at least squeeze in a short one.  Nothing beats mountain air followed by a beer on a hot day.  Fingers crossed!

I'll report back and let you know what I accomplished!

Enjoy the long weekend!

five on friday

{one}  April is my busy month at work so I have been working lots of my Monday's off.  In lieu of that I'm taking today off work and the kids happen to have the day off.  I'll be taking the kids to the pool at their request along with a few errands they don't know about yet.

{two} Ellen is coming to town this weekend and I got 2 tickets for my Mom and I since she also happened to be in town this weekend to.  Now that the kids are older it is nice for her and I to get out of the house together just her and I.

{three} I am running my first organized race this weekend.  It is 15km and has forced me to get out running more than I'd like this spring when the weather has been less than ideal.  The one Sunday was so cold and icy that I was forced to run 12km on my treadmill in preparation for the run.  I was even out doing 10k the day after we got back from Mexico.  It was freezing so my phone died and my wireless headphones stopped working.  It may have been my worst love ever.  I guess I am not crazy to pack back up headphones on long runs!  In a funny way I'm really looking forward to it.  I know I can do 15k and the weather is supposed to be great.  It will be a great way to kick off a Sunday.

{four}  I've had IT band issues in my right leg for ages.  Likely from overuse and no stretching.  There was a time that ran every single day and didn't stretch once.  I had a great running season last year.  I did my stretching and saw my physio therapist and chiropractor regularly, however this year my knee has already started to bother me.  I saw him this week and it turns out that it is tied into the issues that I've been having with my Jaw.

I haven't really talked about it here but if you saw me in real life you would know that for 2 weekends I wore physio stickers on my face to loosen the muscles in my jaw that had been clicking and locking.  Then when I went skiing in March I fell and I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to eat for almost a week.  Back to physio and chiro and my jaw isn't cracking or locking anymore but it is sore when I chew.  Turns out that I need to continue to treat this or I am going to continue to have knee issues.  It is crazy how the body is so intertwined.

{five} I'm really enjoying not having any activities this month.  April is always a great month because hockey is done and soccer hasn't started.  We are supposed to start next week but with the amount of snow still on the ground I'm thinking we will have another week off soccer.  I love how every night we have no plans.  We are back to doing spin and I've had lots of time to catch up on house stuff and read my book.  Then, soccer will start and we will be more busy than in the winter with soccer 4 evenings a week between the 2 kids.   But our weekends will essentially be free.  Its a trade off and I'll take it!

Happy Friday and have a fab weekend!

Five on Friday: What I'm Reading

{one} The Perfect Nanny

This one is very popular right now and truthfully, I don't know why.  In the first chapter you discover a horrible act performed by the nanny and the rest of the less than 300 page book is the events leading up to it.  I gave it 3 stars only because it kept me reading.  But truthfully I'm surprised I gave it that many, I would now give it a 2.  The ending was just really disappointing.  i read this on the way home from Mexico and started and finished it on the plane.

My rating: 3 stars
Goodreads rating: 3.53

{two} On Second Thought

This book is about 2 sisters that find them selves without a partner at the same time for different reasons and it brings them back together.  I really enjoyed this book.  It is heavy in some respects but light in others.  I am surprised I only gave it 4 because I remember really enjoying it.  A great vacation read.

My rating: 4 stars
Goodreads rating: 4.26

{three} The Wife Between Us

I was so excited to read this one.  I seem to like any book with wife in the title....  It starts about a wife retelling the demise of her marriage and later in the book switches perspectives.  It is hard to say much more with out giving it away.  The book was full of twists and overall a good read.... but, it was really similar to a book I just read, The Last Mrs Parrish.  Truthfully, i liked the Last Mrs. Parrish Better.  So go read that one instead.

My rating: 4 stars
Goodreads rating: 3.91

{four} Live to Tell

To be perfectly honest, i barely remember this book and I just read it on vacation.  It is about a family that dies and the father looks to be in a coma so can't tell what really happened.  Since I barely remember the story at all my rating is not surprising.  I don't recommend it.  Thankfully it was from the library.

My rating: 3 stars

Goodreads rating: 4.18

{five} In a Dark, Dark Wood

Sigh... I didn't love this one either.  This one is about a stagette gone wrong and ending with a murder.  This would be usually right up my alley.  But it wasn't.

My rating: 3 stars
Goodreads rating: 3.66

The overall conclusion of this post to read The Last Mrs Parrish or On Second Thought.  Don't bother with the rest. 

Happy reading!

five on friday

This week we wrapped up Cooper's first year of novice with a Moms vs. the kids hockey game and I learned a few things...

{one} Hockey is harder than it looks.  Us parents sit in the crowd and yell for our kids to skate harder and faster but when you are out there it is hard.  I really wanted to score a puck and I barely touched the puck on each shift!  I was out of breath after only a short shift.  What a workout!

My mean look.

{two} Hockey is fun. The competitiveness in me came out on the ice.  I wanted my team to score and I wanted to get the puck.   While I didn't play hockey growing up, I did play soccer and that rush you get while you chase the puck/ball was still in there.

{three}  The fun happens on the bench.  The second we came off the ice we sat down and talked about the plays and watched our teammates.  From just one game, I can tell that is where relationships and friendships start.

Cooper and I are on the far left.

{four}  Cooper is still proud of his Mom.  His face lit up when we were on the same shift and as I rushed towards him he didn't let down. After the game he told me I was better than I thought.  But not the best, that was Matty's Mom!

{five} I think I'll stick to being a hockey mom.  While I loved taking my turn on the ice, I think I am better at cheering than I am at skating. 

What a great end to the season.  It is crazy how at only 7 and 8 years old these kids are way better skaters than us Moms!

five on friday: hockey talk

{one}  After I posted a long post about Cooper's hockey team and how they weren't wining all that much, they proved me wrong.  This past weekend they were in their second tournament of the season.  The first one they lost every single game and brought home runner up in the B final (aka last place!) and this weekend they brought home gold!  It was so exciting for the kids and parents both.  The last game came down to a shoot out where the crowd went wild....  They even made the evening news.  What a fantastic turnaround late in the season!

{two}  It seems we are on a winning streak for both teams!  Grady played his first playoff game ever and they also took home a win meaning that we got a bit of a rest before our next game tomorrow.  I'm really regretting my choice to not go with our hockey colors at my last nail appointment  #hockeymom. Go wolves.

{three} With Grady having a game Saturday along with a soccer evaluation, Cooper and I are headed to Banff this weekend solo for his last tournament of the year.  Since I am the tournament coordinator, it was an easy decision that I would be going and James would be staying.  I wish it was possible to be in 2 places at once since I really want to be there to cheer on Grady's team.  If they win, they'll join us for Saturday night. If not, they are back at the rink on Sunday for another game.

{four}  Planning a tournament is a lot of work!  I knew that but I didn't realize that I was going to stress about it so much.  Thankfully I've had lots of help and gotten to know the ladies on Cooper's team really well.  I am going to be sad to see this season come to an end.  This is what packing 64 swag bags for the players looks like!   Also if you look past the bags you'll spot the kids playing xbox on the tv behind us.  Don't worry, we had a little fun and drank some wine to!

{five} Just like every year, I will be sad to see the season end.  This year, each of the kids made so many new friends.  We had a season full of pizza parties, away tournaments, play dates, team parties and more.  The only thing that makes is easier is knowing that I will see some repeat faces next year, only time will tell which ones.  We are so fortunate to be part of such a giant hockey family that grows every year.

Have a great weekend and throw some lucky hockey dust our way for a repeat weekend full of winning!

five on friday

{one}  Cooper is playing in his second tournament this weekend I think we even may win game unlike our first tournament of the season where we lost each one....  I also suspect Cooper will be playing forward and will hopefully score his first goal.  Technically he'll tell you he has one but I'm not sure it actually went off his stick.  We are reach to make it official and see his best celly on the ice.

{two}  Grady starts his first ever hockey city championship tournament this weekend.  They finished 2nd in their division which is actually hard to believe because some of the games are hard to watch.  They seem to play only to the caliber of the team they are playing and we have ended more than few games with a 1 goal differential and a pulled goalie for the last 3 minutes.  A nail biter until the final buzzer goes!

{three} I am currently reading The Last Mrs. Parrish and loving it.  It isn't at all what I expected but I'm finding I want to get to the end to see what happens.  It is my choice for book club so I hope the other ladies like it!

{four}  Pink Shirt Day was this week and I was so happy that the boys wanted to partake.  The day before, James was in the mall looking at every kids store (not many downtown!) trying to find a boys pink shirt.  He found 2 simple ones at The Bay.  I think it is going to go in Cooper's regular rotation.

{five}  Have you heard of Smash and Tess?  You need to check it out.  My friend insisted it was the comfiest item of clothing she owned and I can now confirm she was right!  She also says her husband thinks it is the ugliest thing she owns and I can't say the men in my life love it either.  Except Cooper who took this photo for me.  You better believe I will be sporting this all weekend!

Happy Friday!

5 Reasons to Join a Book Club

{one} For the weeknight outing.  It's not that I don't go out during the week, I do, almost every night. However, it is always for the kids driving them from arena to arena, but never for me.  This forces me to go out with my friends once a month and do something for myself.  Sometimes the last thing I feel like is leaving the house on my only night off of hockey but I am always happy to I went.

{two} To push you out of your reading comfort zone.  I've always been a reader, but I've never joined a book club because I hated the idea of reading a book that I didn't want to read.  I joined this book club with some of my closest friends so I figured that they all read books like me, WRONG.  The second book that was chosen I barely got through (The Goldfinch) and then I decided that if I gave it a try and didn't like it I didn't have to finish it (Poisonwood Bible, I am Malala).  It has become a joke that I am the one that doesn't read the book, but I always make an attempt.....

{three} To make new friends, or make better friends.  Our book club started almost 2 years ago and with my core group of friends.  Now we have added 2 others that were in my acquaintance group but not ladies that I talked to individually very much.  Since our book club is relatively small I've gotten to know each of the gals wells and I am so happy I did.

{four}  There is always food. And wine.  Surprising (or not!), I am the one known for drinking the wine while others prefer to drink tea.  I hosted book club this past week and I realized that for my next time hosting I need to up my tea game from the chamomile and mint tea that I have.  Ha!  The biggest hit at the party last night were these quinoa chips. Only 200 calories in 29 puffs so we ate the whole bag!

{five} Interesting topics.  I chose a book called The Arrangement that was all about open marriage and let's just say that was an interesting topic to discuss.  Most people knew of a person or a friend of a friend that have attended parties geared towards this.  Like a key party.  If you want to have your jaw drop, google what that is.....  Last night we talked about the book Little Fires Everywhere and we discussed who of the 2 moms we thought was better and what side of a controversial predicament we were on.  I don't want to give it away in case you read!  All this to say that you talk about things that you generally don't.  This makes it sound like we talk about the book way more than we actually do.  Generally the book talk lasts about 10 minutes.

Here is a little recap of some of the books we have read.

I chose 3: The Arrangement, The Couple Next Door, The Last Mrs Parrish (our current read chosen this week)

I didn't finish 4: All the light we cannot see, The Almost Moon, Chasing the Scream, I am Malala.

My fave of from this list: Me Before You, closely followed by The Light Between Oceans.

Happy Friday!

five on friday

{one} This is my first post this week, if you can even call it that.  I've never taken a blogging break this long. Though not even a week, I felt guilty for not making the time to document our lives.

{two} The biggest reason for lack of blogging is my evenings are being hijacked.  The kids are going to bed later and later and often it is almost 10 before me time starts.  By this time, I am tired, like lay on the couch and watch one episode of Pretty Little Liars and go to bed, tired.

{three} I have book club on Tuesday and I'm still not done the book.  It's not that I don't like it, I just don't feel like reading.  It's like too much brain power is required.

{four} On a brighter note, I hosted a lipsense party last night and it was a lot of fun!  There were 6 of us which I felt was small, but in the end it was perfect for this type of party.  We all sat around the table and looked at the colors and tried them on.  Today I am wearing Fire and Ice.

{five} I am not a fan on February.  Thankfully it is a short month.  It just feels like all we do is jump from arena to arena and there is nothing really to look forward to.  I'm excited to be spending this long weekend at home recouping from a busy week maybe I'll even do a little blogging.  But then again, maybe not.

five on friday: out of town tournaments

In preparation for 3 out of town hockey tournaments that we will be leaving town for I thought it would be a good idea to document the top 5 items that you don't want to leave at home.

{one} Flip flops.  We only forgot our flip flops once and never again.  We had to wear our winter boots to the pool.  Wet feet and winter boots just don't belong.  We now wear our winter boots out and about and pack our flip flops for the hotel.

{two} Solo Cups.  I may even upgrade this to travel mug after our latest fail with solo cups.  Alcohol is not allowed at the pool.  But, in most hotels if you conceal it they turn a blind eye. Not at the last hotel.  The only way you could get away with drinking wine in the pool area was in a travel mug.  So my Yeti mug is coming along on our trip.  Coffee by day and wine by night!

{three} Cereal and milk.  Even the cheapest hotels have a mini fridge to put the milk in and it makes a great snack, day or night.  My kids love cereal, and so do I really, so it is the perfect food to have on hand when they are hungry and they want to eat right now.  It saves you having to buy that junk in the vending machine that is unhealthy and overpriced.

{four} Wine.  One will not survive the weekend without copious amount of booze.  With sixteen 7 and 8 year old running around you need booze to keep you sane.  I think many people have the impression that hockey trips are boring and parents don't want to go.  It is quite the opposite. I love out of town tournaments.  The kids are happy, there are no responsibilities other then getting your kids to the rink on time, and every one is packing the solo cups and booze mentioned above.  It is a recipe for a good time.

{five}  Electronics.  Phones, ipads, DS, Switch, you name it we bring it.  Because once those rowdy kids get out of the pool and they are tired and cranky this will give them something to do since we are all crammed into tiny little hotel rooms.  Not to mention it will keep them quiet in the car on the way there for 15 minutes increments if you travel with my kids.....

You pack these 5 things and you are set for a fantastic weekend away!  It is even better if you win the tournament.  But at this age they all get medals so win or lose, the kids don't care anyway!

Happy Friday!