I have just returned from a long weekend in Niagara Falls NY! Jason's select hockey team had their first hockey tournament. We left on Thursday around noon and returned around dinner tonight. We all had an amazing time. Here are the highlights.......
When we arrived on Thursday it was sunny and mild. On Friday when we woke up we heard on the local news that they were expecting a snowstorm (possibly up to 6-inches). This is a photo of us driving to one of the games we played on Friday. We didn't get as much snow as they predicted, but we did slip and slide a bit.
We had 2 games to play on Friday and this is how the team relaxes. They all huddle around a small TV with X-Box controllers in their hands. You can see Jay is right in the middle of it all!
After a day of shopping on Saturday, Amanda and I walked down to the falls before we headed to the rink to play the semi-final game. It was a great way to calm my nerves and we managed to snatch a few photos. It was freezing but worth it.
When we arrived at the arena there was a huge delay in the game before us because they had to repair a piece of the glass that had broken. Our team was dressed and ready to go so they were watching the game and I took the opportunity to snap some photos.
The above photo is Jay and the other goalie on the team. It is hard to believe they are the same age.....there is another boy on our team that is even taller than Kyle.
One of my favourite photos of the weekend is this one. Jay and some of his buddies are watching the game, waiting to go out for theirs. The dressing rooms were so small, the entire team could not be in them at one time. They actually had to dress in shifts.
I had hubby round up the team and I snatched a photo of everyone. I thought it turned out pretty good! Jay's best friend David is the one in the front row on the left. He couldn't play because he has a concussion but he came along and stayed with us for the weekend.
When Kyle (the other goalie) played in the net, Jay ran the door on the bench.
Here is the team huddle after they won the semi-final game.
To celebrate we went to the Hard Rock Cafe to have a late dinner! All the guys on the team sat at one table. It is such a great thing to watch. Apparently they were all trying to get the 'cute' waitress to kiss Monty on his bald head for good luck in the final game to be played the next day. They were taking up a collection of change that they had in their pockets to bribe her. The waitress said that she couldn't do it because his wife (that would be me) would kick her 'butt'!
After a good night's sleep, packing up the truck, and a good breakfast at Tim Horton's we arrived at the rink for the final game of the weekend. Jay is sporting the new shirt he bought at the mall when we were shopping the day before.
Here are some action shots of Jay during the game. I didn't take very many because I was so busy watching. It was a really tense game.
We did not escape injuries. I always have a sick feeling in my stomach when a player goes down. Jay is not allowed to leave his crease so he stood by and watched. Brian was speared by a player on the other team. After a few minutes he made his way back to the bench and later played in the game.
We were one goal short of the championship win. This photo of Jay receiving his trophy and getting encouragement from his dad is why we enjoy this sport so much. I am so proud of both of them. He has developed into such a team player and he has his dad to thank for that.
Here is the official team photo with their trophies.
And here is my favourite player. I am his #1 fan. I love you bud! You make me so proud to be your mom. I can't wait until Tuesday night when I get to watch you play again.
Be sure to visit The Little Red Wagon blog and see what the other girlfriends have created. If you want to join in the fun, be sure to link your post in the comments section so everyone can see.
I am a little late posting my creation for this weeks challenge. I had it done ahead of time, but I just didn't get on to the computer to upload it. Regan challenged us to do a 'man' card. I don't really think about who I am giving a card to when I create it, I just make them. Amanda needed a Christmas card for her boyfriend and she asked me to make it special. She requested that I use my Copic markers.............
I created this cute snowman card. I used scraps of paper I had in my stash and a stamped image I borrowed from someone at a Card Friendzy Crop at Two Scrapbook Friends. I wish I would have stamped more. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the base of the card and my Nestabilities too! I couldn't resist adding some Vintage Photo ink to soften things up a bit. 
Christmas is only 1 week away so I thought I would still try and get a few more Christmas cards done. I used a stamp from my stash to do the zig-zag stitching, scraps from my stash to make the present, ribbon from my cookie exchange packaging, and the Christmas stamp is from Close to my Heart. I added diamond Stickles to make the swirl sparkle. I couldn't resist inking the edges of my papers with Vintage Photo distress ink. 
This is a photo that shows all the different types of cookies.
I made the cookies with the jam filled centers. The cookies on this plate do not have the drizzled icing that I put on my friends cookies. 
I gave a sample of some of the cookies to my family for dessert. Matthew especially loved the coconut balls you see in the center of the plate. 
I kept some of them out on a plate for school lunches, but I froze the rest. They are all so delicious. Thank you to all my friends for spending the afternoon with me and sharing your sweet treats!
I just loved the colours and the ornaments so I decided to include both on my card.
I used my Copic markers to colour these ornament stamps from Bo-Bunny. I added glitter and Glossy Accents as well as bling and ribbon. I pulled the flourishes in by using a Cuttlebug embossing folder and finished it off with a Kaisercraft rub-on.
I created the snowflakes using the new 'It's Cold Outside' cartridge from Cricut. I added brads with bling in the center on some of the snowflakes (my metal) and ribbon. It was ready to hang on the tree.
We had 2 games to play on Friday and this is how the team relaxes. They all huddle around a small TV with X-Box controllers in their hands. You can see Jay is right in the middle of it all!
After a day of shopping on Saturday, Amanda and I walked down to the falls before we headed to the rink to play the semi-final game. It was a great way to calm my nerves and we managed to snatch a few photos. It was freezing but worth it.
When we arrived at the arena there was a huge delay in the game before us because they had to repair a piece of the glass that had broken. Our team was dressed and ready to go so they were watching the game and I took the opportunity to snap some photos.
The above photo is Jay and the other goalie on the team. It is hard to believe they are the same age.....there is another boy on our team that is even taller than Kyle.
One of my favourite photos of the weekend is this one. Jay and some of his buddies are watching the game, waiting to go out for theirs. The dressing rooms were so small, the entire team could not be in them at one time. They actually had to dress in shifts.
I had hubby round up the team and I snatched a photo of everyone. I thought it turned out pretty good! Jay's best friend David is the one in the front row on the left. He couldn't play because he has a concussion but he came along and stayed with us for the weekend.
When Kyle (the other goalie) played in the net, Jay ran the door on the bench.
Here is the team huddle after they won the semi-final game.
To celebrate we went to the Hard Rock Cafe to have a late dinner! All the guys on the team sat at one table. It is such a great thing to watch. Apparently they were all trying to get the 'cute' waitress to kiss Monty on his bald head for good luck in the final game to be played the next day. They were taking up a collection of change that they had in their pockets to bribe her. The waitress said that she couldn't do it because his wife (that would be me) would kick her 'butt'!
After a good night's sleep, packing up the truck, and a good breakfast at Tim Horton's we arrived at the rink for the final game of the weekend. Jay is sporting the new shirt he bought at the mall when we were shopping the day before.
Here are some action shots of Jay during the game. I didn't take very many because I was so busy watching. It was a really tense game.
We did not escape injuries. I always have a sick feeling in my stomach when a player goes down. Jay is not allowed to leave his crease so he stood by and watched. Brian was speared by a player on the other team. After a few minutes he made his way back to the bench and later played in the game.
We were one goal short of the championship win. This photo of Jay receiving his trophy and getting encouragement from his dad is why we enjoy this sport so much. I am so proud of both of them. He has developed into such a team player and he has his dad to thank for that.
Here is the official team photo with their trophies. 
And here is my favourite player. I am his #1 fan. I love you bud! You make me so proud to be your mom. I can't wait until Tuesday night when I get to watch you play again. 
Yesterday at the store I came across this packaging label and my mind started wandering.
I made this set of 4 Christmas cards and all I added was a bit of cardstock and some ribbon. I was pretty impressed with myself. I even have a new section in my scrapbook room for packaging. I challenge you to try something like this. If you do, leave a comment with the link to your project and I will highlight it here on my blog.
afting!