Merry Christmas from the Schraefels!!

Ho, ho, ho!! Merry Christmas! Hope this finds you all happy and healthy, and not suffering from turkey indigestion. We had a wonderful Christmas celebration at the Schraefel ranch again this year. It was perhaps nicer because we finally got around to doing something with our "porch" (it's only been just about 12 years since we moved here!), which, after new flooring, new paint, and new trim, we now call the sunroom!! My family was all home, and we had a great time, especially with little Copper. Chef Jason and his right hand, Terri, fixed up turducken again, to everyone's delight. In case you don't know, that is a deboned turkey layered with dressing around a deboned chicken layered with dressing around a deboned duck stuffed with a different dressing, and slow-cooked for about 8 hours. Delicious!!! There was much appropriate groaning after the meal. Aunt Linda, Chris and Tamara joined us Christmas day so we had some new things to talk about. All in all a great holiday.

Here's precious Copper, all dolled up in her Christmas outfit!


Cousin Ashley was here from Prince George, too.


Stephen seems to have taken a shine to wee Copper.

And Grandma and Grandpa are pretty enamored, as well.


My sister, Lisa, is back from Russia, and it is so good to have her home. No news on her future plans, yet. I think she will just be enjoying the Canadian amenities for a while!
We all received Russian gifts this year, and the boys like their new Russian scarves.

Derek likes his new hockey bag from Grandpa!

Here's the crew gathering around for supper.





Jason, Terri, Copper, Lisa, Rob and Amber are all sticking around for a few days, so we'll get some more visiting in. Derek is hoping for a hockey game on the dugout - he told his uncles to bring their gear! Stephen doesn't get much of a Christmas break, as he is back at practice tomorrow and has a game in Paradise Hill on Sunday. Their team won another game last Saturday, and did fairly well in the PA tournament, especially after the Rosetown team tucked tail and ran home before the semi-final game! Derek and Adam both get a bit of a break, although I'm sure we will be pestered to take them to town for shinny. Right now, we can't pry them away from the PS3 they received for Christmas!

Have a great holiday, and hope to see you soon!
Chandra

You know it's winter...

...when the kids are skating on the dugout. They had a blast on the weekend, scraping and skating and getting some fresh air. It was pretty cold, but it is somewhat sheltered on the dugout. The only thing missing is a yardlight for skating after dark (and pucks with some kind of GPS system so we don't have to wait for summer to find them!)

Hockey, hockey, and more hockey

OK, Bruce, here we go!

Someone asked me the other day if I was ready for Christmas. After stifling the urge to smack him, I said that if they were having Christmas in a rink, I'd be there for sure. Seems like that's the only place I've been for weeks!

Stephen's team has been having a little more success. They finally won a game (9 - 3 in Melfort), and then tied the first-place team, Tisdale, at a tournament in Swift Current. They also beat Clavet and tied Swift Current at the same tournament, but couldn't hold onto the momentum to take their arch rivals, Rosetown, in the 2nd place final. Stephen played some very good hockey, and had a mad on in the game against Rosetown - he was a one-man wrecking crew in the third period. He has the weekend off, and then we're off to a tourney in PA next weekend.

Derek's team is trampling over every opponent they meet. Biggar phoned to say we were uninvited to their tournament, but we play them again tomorrow in Kerrobert. The snipers will rack up some points, I'm sure. Apparently there was some bad blood between Kerrobert and Macklin last weekend, as our boys like to throw their weight around. Glad it wasn't us in the news instead of Brampton and Niagra Falls!

Adam's team hasn't lost a game yet. They have a large roster, with some boys returning from AA to play their last minor season at home. It is a combined team - Kerrobert, Luseland, and Dodsland - which makes for some interesting logistics. Adam is doing quite well. He got a goal and an assist in the same shift last night in Dodsland against Outlook. He has to fit in his points when he can, because he spends quite a bit of time watching his teammates play the game. Oh well, the trails of being a rookie. They are on their way back from Elrose right now, and the last I heard it was 3 -2 for KDL with 10 minutes left in the third. They beat Elrose by one point in Luseland last week.

The boys shoveled off the dugout last night, and spent most of the day losing pucks in the snowbanks. They had a good time, though, and it's great that they are getting some fresh air and exercise. As soon as I can find the right cord, I'll post some of the pictures Clem took today.

Well, I better go. Heard tonight at the Tiger game that AA hockey has ruined minor hockey in Kerrobert. Clem will be surprised, since he is the president, and I don't think he's heard yet!

Bye for now. Thanks for checking in!
Chandra