A farewell visit

My dear cousin, Colin, his dear wife, Temple, and their adorable son, Carter, stopped in Kerrobert on their way from Edmonton to Fredericton, New Brunswick, where they are moving. I'm happy for them, as they are very excited, but sad for us that they will be so far away. Although, it is a new travel destination...

They came out for brunch yesterday, and Carter fell in love with the tractors. The child has no fear, and climbed right up, no problem.


Carter looks an awful lot like his dad.

But then so does Colin.


Bye, guys. Have fun! We'll miss you!

Have a horrible Halloween!

I hate Halloween. I always have. I guess maybe when I was very little, I enjoyed all the candy. But then my mother forced me to wear the Aunt Jemima costume she made for me (she spent a whole lot of time and effort making incredible costumes for us!), and that has sort of stuck with me. Now as a mother - an uncreative, unsewing mother - I dislike Halloween for other reasons. First, I couldn't make a costume to save my life. Second, my kids ALWAYS ended up having to bring treats for the Halloween party at school. Third, living on a farm means I have to go into town and spend the day either carting kids around to beg for food, waiting for them to show up after they've been out begging for food, or crossing my fingers that they haven't been up to any tricks/been caught doing any tricks. All in all, it's just a bad day for me. So I hope everyone else has a horrible Halloween, too.

Besides, there are more important things to think about than some pagan holiday. Like football. Or hockey. The Rebels beat Loreburn last Saturday in the 1A provincial quarter-final play-off game. There was a team brunch, a motivational speech from the head ref (!), fireworks, mega people, and a huge 50/50 prize. All in all, a great day. The team is off to Southey on Saturday for the semi-final game. Should they win that, they will host the final game on November 10 - the day of my cousin's wedding. Wouldn't want to make things too easy. I'll be glad when football is over. Adam is getting a bit worn out. Yesterday he had morning and afternoon football practice and an evening hockey practice. He was wiped!

Stephen's hockey team has yet to win a game. He got his cast off yesterday, so we'll see how that goes. He's played the last four games (if you count the one he got thrown out of !) with the cast on, but you could tell it was hard for him to pass and shoot accurately.

Derek's team has started practicing, and will host a tournament this weekend. It is his first year of checking, but I don't think he'll have much problem with it. He has been defending himself from his big brothers for years now, and can dish it out to match. His team looks strong again this year, so it could be another fun year. I'm torn between watching Derek's first game of the season and going with Stephen to Battleford on Friday in case they finally win a game.

Check in later to find out what happens!
Chandra

It's not whether you ...oops, been there, done that...

But apparently, they're not playing the game so well.  The Klippers lost to Battleford 5 -3 on Saturday.  It might have gone better if the Klippers had shown up for the second period.  Stephen played OK, but hurt his back checking one of the Barons.  A heating pad, an anti-inflammatory, and a hot bath later seemed to do the trick, and he was feeling better today for the game against Prince Albert.  Not better enough, though, and they went down again, 6 - 4.  The Klippers played quite a bit better today, and stronger goal-tending might have made a difference.  Oh well, next weekend they have two more chances to 
up the stats.  Thank goodness for the Flames (ha-ha Oiler fans!) and the Riders!

Derek had hockey practice yesterday, and it looks like they will have a strong team again.  He's still doing the Big Bird thing, hanging around home and looking after the blue line.  Adam is a rookie on the combined Kerrobert/Luseland/Dodsland team, and they practiced tonight.  They are also looking good, with some big strong skaters.  It should be an interesting year.  Adam will have to finish the football season first.  They have their first playoff game on Saturday (one hour before Stephen hits the ice in Kindersley!), and they are getting pretty excited.  Should be a good one.

That's about it for the news around here.  No school tomorrow, so I will try to get some work out of these money drains.

Thanks for checking in!
Chandra

It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game!

Or so they say.  It sure feels better when you win, though!  Thank goodness the Flames have picked it up a bit, or the residents of this household would be looking for rope!

The Rebels lost to Biggar in their last league game on Thursday.  They played a half-hearted game for the most part, but picked it up and went ahead in the last minute, only to have Biggar score with 25 seconds left, a beautiful "Hail Mary" toss.  Adam didn't see too much playing time, but did OK when he was in there.

Stephen went with his team on their first road trip, to PA and Melfort.  They lost both games, and were down to only ten skaters in the second game after a couple of injuries and a couple of fights.  Not a great start to the season, but maybe next weekend's home games will be better!

Derek jumped out of bed this morning, excited to be starting hockey tonight.  Actually, it's a power skating course for the next five days, but they will be dressed in their equipment, which for Derek means his new pants and gloves.  Boy, he looks good - let's hope he can still skate!  I feel sorry for the kids who have to play against him.  He's an Atom, and they start hitting this year, and he is one solid kid.  He's just pumped!

I started teaching catechism again yesterday.  Fifteen kids, ages nine and ten, most of them boys.  Apparently 18 years of living with Schraefel males has affected my brain somewhat!

Thanks for stopping by!
Chandra
 

Never a dull moment!

Another crazy week here at the Schraefel ranch!  It started with a call from the cops - actually, one cop who was calling as a football coach - to say that he was taking Stephen to the hospital for x-rays on his wrist.  I was working at the library at the time, so I said I would meet Stephen there when I closed in half an hour.  The nurse said she didn't see anything on the x-ray, but that the doctor would be back in town in about two hours, and to come back then.  So off we went home for supper, with Stephen wincing every time he moved, and looking somewhat green around the gills. Turns out the doctor DID see something, and Stephen is now sporting a bright blue cast.  He is done football for 
the year (obviously, and sadly, since the Rebels are in first place and going into playoffs!) and is out of hockey for 3 to 4 weeks (and the Klippers start their league games on the 13th!)  Oh well, I guess it could have been worse.  I hope he remembers this next year when he wants to play football!

Adam bought a 1987 Chev half-ton (from his dad, so "bought" might be overstating it somewhat).  He has been very busy cleaning and polishing and outfitting it with stereo equipment, the most important part of the vehicle, don't you know.  It's comforting to know he still can't legally drive it.  I wish he would be that particular about his room!

Derek got himself an ipod nano today, and we have been in misery ever since.  He is having trouble getting songs on it,  so we all suffer the consequences of his bad mood.  I almost hate to take the nano away the day he buys it, but that will probably be the next step!  

Clem is celebrating his special day today.  He looked for something to get for himself, but decided he has everything he could ever want.  I may have to remind him of that next time he's surfing the net for a swather.  Unless that is what he decides he would like for an anniversary gift tomorrow!!

Thanks for stopping by to wallow in it with us.
Chandra

A sports-filled weekend

OK, no pictures this time.  Even though Adam looked quite a sight in the shiny purple tank top which he wore home from his Grade 10 initiation party.  It did clash with his yellow puke pail, though.  I'm glad those parties are out of the way, and I can now keep them home for another year, since they obviously can't hold their liquor.  Apparently they don't take after the Huck side that way.

Saturday was the big football game at Macklin.  The Rebels didn't find it too hard to beat the Sabres 32 - 6, so even the rookies got to play in the 4th quarter.  Stephen played defense on five downs, and was in on three quarterback sacks.  He is quick and strong, and will be an asset to the team.  He was pretty excited, too.  Adam was in the game a few times, mostly offense, but helped Stephen on defense at the end.  All those early-morning practices are paying off.

Stephen's hockey team had their first game on Sunday.  Derek video-taped the whole thing.  He did a pretty good job, but what I liked best was that he couldn't talk while he was taping.  I had to miss the end of the game to get back to town for the fall supper at the church, but we watched the whole game again when we got home!  The Klippers fell to the Battlefords Barons by one goal, mostly because of goal-tending.  Hopefully, that will improve with time. Stephen played a strong game, and was throwing guys around left and right.  He will be 
a force to be reckoned with this year, I think!  

Aunt Hilda and Uncle Keith Caldwell are returning to Chemainus from their trip to Thunder Bay, and came out for breakfast this morning.  We had a really good visit, and it was so nice to see them again.  I hope I get around like that when I am that age!

Just a reminder for you "anonymous" people in the comments.  Please, please sign your name, or else click the "other" button before you post and add your name there.  It is frustrating not to know who is "lurking"!!!

Bye for now!
Chandra