Denny, Alex and I headed to Des Moines after dropping Maggie & Oliver off for their weekend spa get away. (You know - lounging around with never ending play time, sleep time, eat time... wait a minute - who got the better end of this deal?) Once we hit the road, we had to stop and eat, so we were only 13 miles outside of Smithville when we stopped in Kearney, MO for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. This only ensured that I would sleep the entire trip - which I did... (I didn't realize it was such a short trip to Des Moines from my house...) LOL!
Once we arrived, we hung out in our room while Alex high tailed it around with the boys and then off we went to the hockey rink.
Our first game was a bit intimidating because playing the team that walked all over you the weekend before is not always a fun way to start out.
The boys got out there and played their hearts out. We still lost, but only by 1 point! This is a HUGE improvement! After the game, we headed back to the hotel where the kids played in a great pool area that had an indoor and outdoor pool. I am sure you can guess where the boys spent most of their time -yes, outside in 32 degree weather in the pool. They thought it was the COOLEST THING EVER!
Saturday morning started early with breakfast and a game at 8:45 AM. Fortunately for us, we were only 5 minutes away from the rink! Unfortunately for us, the team rule is that you have to be at the rink 1 hour before the game. (Did I mention our game was at 8:45?) So, we were there at 7:45, coffee in hand. The boys did some dry land workouts while the parents sat in the stands desperately trying to figure out where the heaters were blowing the most heat...
Once the game got started, it was all energy and yelling all the time!
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| Going after the puck |
We had our 2nd game later on Saturday, so we headed back to the hotel for some down time. The boys hung out, Denny stayed at the rink to watch the game, and I went back to my hotel room to watch TV and zone out for a while, as I tried to warm up...
The 2nd game was against Sioux City, IA. Let me just say that I went to college not far from Sioux City, IA. It wasn't my most favorite place to go, and the parents and coaches from this team quickly reminded me why! They were a feisty (politically correct way of saying nasty, obnoxious, tactless... you get my drift...) The 2 teams were actually pretty well matched. This was our first strike against us. They came out itching for a fight, and that is about what they got. Their boys made some pretty nasty hits that got them into the penalty box for unnecessary roughness, high sticking, tripping, etc. At their worst, their coach began screaming at our boys and the ref's because he didn't think it was fair that his team was being called out on their unsportsman like conduct. Then he got out on the ice. I learned this weekend that the only time a coach can get on the ice is if :
a) a player is hurt
b) the referee invites them onto the ice
Let me just say that no invitations were extended to the coach, and the only hurt player was one of ours!
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| This is what we do when one of our team mates is injured on the ice |
After about 10 minutes of yelling, screaming, and concern that their coach might actually have a stroke, they let the game continue...
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| Alex is on the bottom of this pile. Notice the coach looking down...WOW. |
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| Alex really took one for the team |
You can see Alex's green laces on his skates - he doesn't particularly like being on the bottom of the dog pile...
After our 2nd game, we hung out at the hotel pool while the boys swam (outside) again. At one point, someone was throwing ice down on them from a balcony. The boys decided to throw ice back. One of the mom's went out to tell them to stop, and they all looked at her and as soon as she came in, they resumed throwing ice. So, I got up and went out there (I can still see the look of HOLY CRAP! on Alex's face...) and in my best former teacher voice, I told them that if they continued to throw ice, they would be "outta here!" They all stopped and put the ice down and said they would - as their eyes got really big. One of the boys spoke up and said, "Mrs. Bowman, do you mean out of the pool, or out of the hotel?" I almost burst out laughing - I simply responded with -I guess you don't want to find out now do you..." Not another piece of ice was thrown. The mom came over to me and said - you must have been a REALLY GOOD TEACHER... HA HA HA! I told her no, I just have a really good teacher voice. :-)
Saturday night, our entire team went to the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game. (Because 5 games in a weekend just isn't enough...) This team plays in the elite high school league where kids from all over the world will live with host families while receiving hockey training. Most of these boys go on to get full ride hockey scholarships and/or invitations to play in the NHL. It was really cool!
We got back to the hotel around 9:30 which was a good think because we played the first game of the day today at 7:45 AM. Remember our rule about being at the rink 1 hour before the game? It even applies for 7:45 AM games. (Don't be jealous that you didn't get to be here with me...)
This morning was pretty tough when the alarm went off. Alex didn't even get up until the very last minute! Usually he is up watching TV as soon as I get up and get in the shower. (I have to get up extra early because it takes alot to look this average...) LOL!
We got to the rink and it was clear that after 3 games, a night of Buccaneer hockey, and hours in the outdoor pool, our boys were tired... They tied their first game against Ames, IA. It was a great game! The boys played well, just not with the same energy they typically play with.
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| THERE'S NO SLEEPING IN HOCKEY! |
Alex looks like he is asleep on the ice - how funny!
Our second and final game of the tournament was this morning as well - and it was against the undefeated Des Moines Chops...
The score was 6-0. They cleaned up with us. In our defense, we were tired and we were playing the number 1 team. This isn't a great combination. But, they still played a great game and had a ball doing it!
Now that we are at home, we have 1 very tired, likely getting sick 11 year old. Right now, he is on the couch upstairs coughing, and acting like tomorrow could be a sick day... I am keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't the case - but if it is, I can't really get all that mad. I mean, I'm the one that let him swim outside in 30 degree weather, right?
Well, back to the grind tomorrow - hockey practices, work, a gazillion pictures to go through. I hope you have a great week! We have a game next weekend - only 1 - HURRAY! Until then, stay out of the penalty box!
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