HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It may be strange to wish you a Happy New Year so late in January but that's what's happened to my blog - I've been away from it for over a month!

It's been a roller coaster of a month, weather wise.  We had talked about heading south for a couple weeks, perhaps to Texas, as Alan would like to escape the month of January.  We had above normal temperatures for a couple weeks but now it's back to cold.  But if the sun shines and there's no wind, it's not too bad.  January is soon over with!

We did spend a fun weekend with family in Calgary in early Jan. but didn't escape any winter weather there!  But COLD weather isn't all bad.  We had great roads with no snow or ice and sunny days most of the time.  We chose to visit at this time as Derek and Jackie's boys, JJ and Ben, were in a huge hockey tournament involving all the minor league teams in Calgary - 11,000 hockey players according to one article that we read.  We got to five games in five different rinks! I was so thankful for the "map app" on my phone that helped us navigate around the city thanks to GPS!  The boys won four of the five games that we saw.  The fifth game was tied 0-0 after three periods so ended with a shoot out with a 0-1 loss.  That was a tough loss, especially for the shooters and goal tender. 

A tight schedule is necessary to keep all those games on time.  The periods at the PeeWee and Bantam level were 15 minutes stop time with less than a minute break between periods.  Ice was cleaned between games only and games were shortened if they weren't finished in the allotted ice time.

We stayed at Nancy and Trevor's so got to visit with them, Bram and Holly between games.  On Sunday the first game wasn't until 12:30 so I made Norwegian Fish soup for lunch.  They enjoyed it so I left the recipe and cubes of Knorr's fish stock so they can make it too.  Trevor, Nancy and Holly went ice fishing on Saturday but came home empty handed this time.  It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and they had a heater in their tent.

We stopped at our usual "bed and breakfast" on the way up and back - Alan's sister, Donna and Cam Lock.  They have their house for sale in Gull Lake and are planning to move to Saskatoon when the house is sold.

We keep busy taking in winter sports for the grandchildren here. Abbey has been busy curling on Team Haupstein from Weyburn. One Saturday we watched them, and a Lampman team with Lindsay playing lead, in Lampman where they were competing for the chance to represent this region at the SK Winter Games next month in North Battleford.  Team Haupstein won all their games so will be curling on their school break the third week in February.  Have a great time girls! 

In late Dec. we spent two COLD days in Regina watching Abbey's team compete in U21 curling.  Eric was also trying out for a provincial team of 14 year olds so we went from curling rink to skating rink.  Thanks to cousin Lorna Pederson for providing bed and breakfast one night! 

 We also enjoyed a visit with former neighbours, Lyla and Marvin Fonstad. Last Thursday evening we got to watch on Sportsnet their grandson, Cole Fonstad from Estevan, play in an NHL prospects game in Ontario.  Cole did very well and scored a goal for the Bobby Orr team.  Team Don Cherry was the winner but it was more of a game to highlight the top 17 year olds who will be eligible for the NHL draft this June.  Way to go Cole!

Last Sunday we even got to watch Dawson play hockey with his Milestone team in Torquay against Estevan!  The oldest of three rinks in Estevan is not in use so Torquay rink is getting lots of use this winter.  Milestone was down 3-0 but came back 3-2, just couldn't score to tie or win.  Today was Dawson's 17th birthday so I made chocolate cupcakes for his team.

Both Eric and Dawson went on hockey trips by bus to BC during the Christmas break.  The Moose Jaw Generals were short a defence man so Dawson was invited to fill in.  They played in Richmond and he got to attend his first NHL game in Vancouver.  Eric plays with Prairie Storm out of White City and they played in Kamloops, BC.  A group of parents organized meals to freeze and take along.  Laurel made five gallons of hamburger soup and four dozen buns to send for a noon lunch!  They were able to use the breakfast room at the motel and had crock pots, instant pots and roasters along to heat up their meals.  Ribs and steak were even on the menu!

Carter is back playing hockey with a recreational team with no contact.  He is also enjoying playing basketball.  He got his drivers license on the first try!

Lindsay, Jamie and Ashley all take dance lessons, Lindsay and Jamie also curl. Ashley also takes piano and skating lessons.

Alan keeps track of all the curling on TV and is currently enjoying the Scotties, then the Olympics from South Korea in February and the Brier from Regina in March.  He and his three sisters used to meet at the Briers for several years but aging put an end to that fun family tradition.  He's just not up to sitting on those hard seats for  that long now!  The view is great on TV and you get commentary and replays besides.

We don't get bored as we both love to read.  He usually watches TV with a book in hand, good during commercial breaks. We get some books from Torquay Library and are also regular patrons of the Estevan Regional Library.  We can also request books online and they will be delivered to Torquay Library, a great service.  Books are on loan from libraries across the province so we have access to thousands of books.

Todd has taken on a new venture in Norway.  He is taking online classes towards a Masters degree in Theology and Ministry from a Lutheran College.  He will go to Bergen for a week of sessions at the beginning and end of each class. The classes and textbooks are in English. He hopes to finish in two years.  He has taken a cut in his time at the Folk School to 65%.  Kristy continues her work there and covers for some of his supervision duties. 

Five year old Nora is taking six weeks of lessons in skiing!  We have videos of her going up on the T bar and then skiing down a gentle slope.  Todd enjoys that experience with her, just a 15 minute drive from their home in Førde.

Elly Clara is one and a half now, learning to speak English at home and  Norwegian at Barnehage.  She naps outside in her buggy at Barnehage, sleeping on a sheepskin pad with warm covers in winter weather.  It doesn't get as cold there as in Saskatchewan!

I enjoy our quilting sessions every Tuesday at Trinity, Torquay.  We have morning and afternoon coffee breaks and a potluck lunch at noon so there's good fellowship as well as worthwhile projects to work on.  The pews are looking cosy with quilts on many of them.

We may be celebrating our third anniversary at a hockey rink!  Dawson is playing in provincials with Shaunavon in the first round.  They are playing the first game in Milestone on February 14 and the second one (total points wins) in Shaunavon on February 18.  My brother Alan's grandson, Reese Erickson, is on the Shaunavon team so the games will be a family feud!!  I don't think we'll go to Shaunavon but plan to be in Milestone that evening and stay over at Laurel and Greg's.

Please keep sister-in-law, Judy Erickson, in your prayers as she is facing a second surgery for breast cancer, five years after the previous one.  A surgeon and plastic surgeon will operate at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina on February 4.

I decided not to add any pictures to this blog - just too many special events to include for all the grandkids.

So I'll sign off for now and see you next month!  Thanks for not giving up on me and my blog!