the sport

it's one of those things that amazes me even now ... he's been doing this sport for just about 8 years. he donned his first skates (on his own request) at 2 years old. he never looked back. literally, he took the crate they give the wee ones, and pulled it. across the ice towards the other end of the rink. he ignored me. the whole way. you see, the routine is to push it across the ice for balance. he didn't have a balance issue. he had a dream issue ....



yeah, Cam thought that crate was just part of the apparatus that went along with the shoulder pads, and gloves, and shin pads, helmet..... the one thing he couldn't have right away that he yearned for was a stick. he gazed, starstruck at the 'advanced' kids (the 5 and 6 year olds!) at the other end that had the sticks, and were shooting pucks. every time he got on the ice, he asked the coach if he could go down there - where the sticks were. the answer was always 'soon, my friend, soon'.



and soon it was. he didn't last long with that crate (they took it that session, and told him he was all set alone) nor did he last long in that section of the ice. he was quickly led to the other end where the 'advanced older kids' were .... but still no stick. gotta learn to really skate well, said the coach. so he forged on, and learned to really skate well. two years of no stick on the ice later, he was blessed with his stick. and now, he hasn't looked back.



again.



this weekend, we are heading north to the beautiful city of Toronto to participate in the Silversticks Tournament. it is apparently the premier tourney in both countries. they will have some tough opponents, and surely, the kids have their work cut out for them. they are facing the number one 9 year old team in Canada, and the number 4 & 5 teams in the USA for their age group. so, the games will be challenging.



but the trip will be one of memory making. it will be a treat, and a fabulous video in our heads and hearts. I have traveled so much in my life with swimming, and my brother and sister's sports .... the memories are all there. and they are among my favorites. i know this will be too!



and #44 will be ready when he dons his skates on Friday for the first time - in an arena that will be nothing like the ones he sees here in USA.



his crazy parents succumbed to the request of this (his idea, isn't it AWESOME!?) .... as it is, sean and i both feel strongly that self expression in this manner is perfectly appropriate when you're 9 ... in the business world, not so much .... and the best part is, he is YEARS away from that! :) it is too, hair, afterall, and it will grow back. the way this kid grows hair, it'll prolly be growing in by sunday ....

he is very excited, and very anxious to be there as a team.



as are we.



this Thanksgiving, we as a family have so much to be grateful for, and so much thanks .... of which include the opportunity to be part of this fantastic trip with my kids, and husband, and parents. what a journey it will be. what a memory for us all.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours .... may your gratefulness spill over in your cups!
xo, karin

healing ......

and it's true - it takes time. but the last few days have been a little easier. less tears, more hugging, more talking, and smiling about the memories, more lingering thoughts of his time here with us. happy thoughts, for the most part.

and the kids and sean are doing this too.

i'm feeling a little worn out to be honest. and we've got a big trip coming up this week - for hockey. heading north to the blustery weather of Toronto. i've never been ... and i am looking so forward to the diversion for one, but the incredible experience for the most part.

i'll be heading to bed in a few here .... but wanted to say thanks so much for the kind thoughts, and words, and cyber hugs sent my way .... they help, and i sure feel them.

it's getting better .... and it will continue to. :)

here

but vacant.

very sad. this pain is enormous.

we miss him so much.

cam doesn't want to come home because he knows he's not here. kendall was staring out the back door waiting for him wednesday morning ..... tears rolling down her face. no words help right now.

i keep talking to him in my head, and i want him back.

we miss him so much.

breaking heart

just shy of 11 years in our lives.

almost our entire married life.

he represented the bond we began, the union, and the first attempt at being parents.

he was the first dog that my kids knew completely.

he taught them unconditional love far more, and more deeply, than we could have.

he was a family member.

he was a true addition.

he was a phenominal dog.

he was a lover of life. and lover of all people.

he was a terrific partner, friend, silent warm blanket.

he always found my feet to sit on - just to check on me, and be sure he knew where i was sitting.

he was murphy. our first baby.

rest in peace. we loved you so very much.

lucky

when i sit back and look at my life, in snipets, and then chapters, i sit and wonder how i got so lucky.

i've got it pretty good. i've got some incredible little people that call me mom. i've got an amazing man that calls me 'hon'. i've got a fabulous group of family and friends that call me daughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend, and such.

and then i think about my work life. i love my job. i love what i do, with whom i get to do it, and to whom i sell.

this post is designed to keep me grounded. and focused.

the weird place that things are in in the world, and in our society keep me sometimes twisted, and turned. but then there are those moments that i sit.

and think about how lucky i am.

blogiversary!

hard to even imagine .... it's been three years i've been bloggin'.

3.years. wowzers. time flies. interest here waxes and wanes, i know. but in the end it's been a great avenue for me. a great venue for me. and a learning experience.

i'm off for hockey and dinner with the family ..... happy blogiversary to me! :)

opened door

today i heard that my manager, the one that's been struggling to keep up with the moving target here with the team i am on; the one that tries so hard to be the best that he could be; the one that obviously didn't have tools or the skills to win here at this company; the one that is a great guy; with a big heart, and a nice family; the one that methodically deteriorated the team here unbeknownst to him - he was let go.
we were told it was mutual. we were told he and they made the decision together. we all knew it was just dust. we all knew it was with the greatest respect, and honor to that manager. because we all knew that he wasn't the best fit for the position.

and this event, albeit not too surprising, shook the team a little bit today. but this event is also a chance. this is what many of the corporate folks have been talking about with me, once the position opened up again. this event is making me re-evaluate the upward climb in corporate america.

again.

but this, this event is a door that has been opened. typically that means opportunity awaits.

and i think i'm ready.

pulling

i can feel it happening. as a family we are pulling ... not pushing anymore. do you know what i mean? pulling together. pulling for each other. pulling to get it done. pulling to be closer. pulling to find a way to "do". pulling.

not pushing.

there are times in my life, as i am sure everyone's life out there, that it feels like i'm pushing everything. days where i'm just up against it. pushing with all my might even when my strength feels like it's all gone. sometimes i'm pushing uphill, sometimes aside, sometimes over, sometimes even through.

but i'm not pushing right now. no one is at this house. it's really nice.

you see, i've had some experience, shall we say, with incredible pushing. especially in the last 9 years and 10 months, give or say a few months there. i'm proud to say that i've been working on my phenominally independent, and yes, intense 'projects' here. my little ones are amazing people. i am deeply in love, there is no denying it. it's a profound level. but .... there is a definite air of independence in this house - and that breeze can pull or it can push you around. being married to a redhead, and birthing two more has taught me that life is a ride. one in which i revel with them. but again, that ride can push and pull. sometimes harder than other times. the pushing that is.

but not now. now there's pulling.

so, with the current state of the country, and life, and things .... and the state of pushing everywhere, i am breathing easier. i am sighing. because, well, because there is only pulling right now. life is chill ..... it's slowed right down.

and i hope it stays this way for a little while longer.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

on another note -

saw this in an email recently .... my cousin will send me these all the time, and i never respond to the email ones. i have no idea why, but i just don't. the deal is to answer the question with one word only.

1. Where is your cell phone? counter

2. Where is your significant other? couch

3. Your hair? messy

4. Your mother? awesome

5. Your father? super

6. Your favorite thing? laughs

7. Your dream last night? pleasant

8. Your dream/goal? health

9. The room you're in? comfy

10. Your hobby? forgotten

11. Your fear? loss

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? better

13. Where were you last night? hockey

14. What you're not? selfish

16. One of your wish list items? happiness

17. Where you grew up? warmth

18. The last thing you did? kisses

19. What are you wearing? jammies

20. Your TV? annoying

21. Your pet? many

22. Your computer? here

24. Your mood? good

25. Missing someone? always

26. Your car? parked

27. Something you're not wearing? jacket

28. Favorite store? sale

29. Your summer? short

30. Love someone? many

31. Your favorite color? tons

32. When is the last time you laughed? minutes

33. Last time you cried? earlier

someone

someone here is gettin' a wee bit of confidence back.
someone here is feeling more like himself on the ice.
someone here is scoring goals.
someone here has a skip in his stride.
someone here feels different and it shows.
someone here has had a huge smile return to his face.

and someone(s) else might be sighing a wee bit of a sigh of relief. :)

voted in

i knew you were waiting with intense anticipation ... admit it. c'mon, you're just dying to know who won, right?!

this was more riveting than the REAL election, i know, i know. but the truth of the matter is, it was me that delayed the results - ME. i have been on an Obama inspiration high since tuesday and just haven't been back here to give you the kid's results from our little election .....

in truth, too, once the REAL deal started tuesday afternoon and evening with the election coverage on tv, the kids were less interested in our election too. so, i learned a valuable lesson with this little fun thing: keep the excitement separate. ;)




so, would you like to see who won?





i proudly present, our newly voted in head executive of the house:

Madame Mia! she was so terrific in her acceptance speech, and Mr. Matt was ever so gracious in his concession speech also. :) we're looking so forward to the changes that will be imminent with her holding office. we need change around here. some new energy and excitement will be much needed - but don't be fooled, she's level headed, and strong. she'll be sticking to those campaign promises, for sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

okay, so on to the real deal now ..... Barack Obama. President Elect Obama. Change.

Yes, we can!

there was audible, and almost "touchable" intensity to the excitement here at this house tuesday evening. i'm sure i don't speak for just myself, but i have been so uplifted, and inspired by the effect that he is having. there is a feeling of intensity, and excitement, and something so *right* with this new change that we have coming. my dad has likened it to the way the country felt when JFK was elected. he mentioned he hasn't seen this many people positively affected by an election since then, and the support, and intensity is like that of the JFK era. recognizing there are many non-Obama fans, i still get a distinct impression that as a country, we will find our way through this mess together, and he will lead us. he has the ideas, and the energy, and the fortitude. at least from my perspective. and from what i've seen, many MANY other's too. I just hope we can unify and be strong as a country. we need to do this.

when the announcement happened at 11:00PM here, sean and i literally sat and stared in utter disbelief. it was one of those moments that you KNOW is coming, and you are COMPLETELY aware of the possible outcomes, but still - shocking, and surreal. i am so honored to be alive during this amazing time. i am so thrilled that my kids will be able to say they were at the beginning of this change, and they were just kids. and when someone, somewhere down the road in their lives that's 10 years younger than them (you know, as in NOT BORN YET) says "so where were YOU when Obama, the first African American President was elected?" chills, doesn't that give you chills when you think of the historic impact this has?

i feel hopeful. i feel full of hope.

and i love the phrase - Yes, we can! :)

all in!

yep, we've got two reallllllly interested (and somewhat understandably confused) kids in this incredibly historic election. i feel so honored to be participating in the real thing right now, and i am excited to have them come along with me as i go to the polls tomorrow. (afterwards, ben and jerry's is offering a FREE ice cream scoop to all those that vote! got one in your neck of the woods?!) but i am more excited to have the opportunity to teach a lifelong lesson to my kiddlies, teaching them about the freedom to vote, and the opportunity to be heard. as well, be part of the historic outcome of this political atmosphere here in the USA, our home.

as a result, and as part of the learning, as well as a wonderful suggestion i saw at supersisters.com we are designing our very own election here at home ......

we've got our two candidates:

INTRODUCING:

Mia Berrellesse

and Matt Foresmane

they've each got (important to their kid level) platforms with very similar, yet, "worlds apart" differences. they've got some literature for the voters to read, some ideas, and infomercials, as well as some referendum info for the voters to take a look at. both candidates decided to keep religion and taxes out of the election this time around .... thankfully.

the voting will take place tomorrow morning, after the kids have had the evening to think it over, ask questions, and peruse the info. we'll be voting with secret write in ballots. we've hired some special election officials to keep the voting above board (no florida here!) and we'll be posting the results as we're all four watching the REAL deal play out tomorrow on the tube, and radio ....

on the real deal, my apprehension and concern are ever present, as are so many other americans, however, i am gaining comfort with my decision.

time for a change. time for history to begin. be sure to excercise your right to vote, and make your own stamp on history.

VOTE! :)

smile

because you can.

love.

because you can.

breathe.

because you can.

enjoy your sunday. we sure are!