Winter Is Here

We definitely have been keeping busy.  If we aren't at hockey, we are trying to find other things to do.  Bundling up and heading outside to play is in more of Dad's department.  I try to find indoor activities!

Two weeks ago, we spent Friday night bowling.  They had fun in the arcade playing air-hockey and bowling with Daddy.  Aiden had randomly been asking to go bowling and telling people we were going since the end of summer, so I guess it was time to have a Family Date Night.

 That Saturday, we headed out to the Mall Of America.  The last time Nana went there was a Dinosaur store she wanted to take the boys to.  Little did we know that after getting there and searching for this store - it closed.  So... we made use of our time and visited the Disney store.  They were in Star Wars heaven and Planes Fire and Rescue.  We were taking pictures of all the stuff for their Christmas and Birthday lists.  *I have found that taking pictures of what they want satisfies them to not have to buy it AND they can look through the pictures on my phone once we get home.  Win, Win.

 We had a special lunch at the Rainforest Cafe.  We though ahead this time and made a reservation, otherwise the line is a crazy long wait!  We were seated right by a fish aquarium and the gorillas.  Ashton wasn't too sure about the "storms" that passed through, but after the first one he made sure to tell Nana and I that it was fake!

 After lunch, we really made a day of it and tried some rides!  They picked the trucks, the Blues Clues dogs, and the Merry-Go-Round.  It sure was a quiet ride home ;)

 Aiden has taken more of an interest in "drawing" lately.  He asks to color often and is taking his time.  Ashton will do a drive-by attempt, although he is getting better with wanting to color as well.  

 I didn't get the blue sky in the picture that he did on his own.

 The boys were SUPER excited about the first snow!  Ashton literally jumped out of bed, looked out his window, and ran to the living room looking for the Christmas tree and presents.  They keep asking about Christmas and we said, "It has to snow first." 

 Gunnar (one of the neighbor boys) is a great kiddo.  He was over sledding with the boys and I delivered some hot chocolate by Ashton's request.

 Uh-Oh... first sledding injury of the year.  Aiden bailed and hit his chin in a ice chunk.  He looked in the mirror later and said, "That's okay mom, I look like Blais now!"  **Blais had a bruised and cut chin from hockey ;)

 They stayed out for 2 1/2 hours!

Last Wednesday was Hockey Picture Night.  The boys were pretty proud of their "Real" hockey jerseys they got to wear for pictures!  **Ashton has the picture elan going...

 Being stuck in the house with the weather, they are ecstatic to see Finn twice a week at practice! (Mike, Bethanne, and Molly too!)

 A sneak peak at the hockey pictures that were taken.  Ashton is still hot and cold with having the confidence to participate in practice with the coaches.  To get him in the team picture I had to go on the ice with him... the plus side to that is I snapped a couple pictures with my phone.  I also helped the photographer and slide some kiddos into place ;)  The kids needed their helmets to get to the net, we took them off for the picture, and then they had to stay seated until we got their helmets all back on... safety first!  

 Official pictures to come shortly!

 They were pretty excited with the free time after... goals, sticks, and pucks!  Otherwise practice has been a lot of practice skating and no pucks.  Both out there!

 This last Friday night was Stout Men's first home game.  They were pretty impressed with "the big guys!"  Let's just hope they don't try to check like the big guys!

 Their friend from hockey was also at the game.  It's been really fun meeting new kids and families and seeing them around.

 Gramma and Grampa snuck in a visit last Sunday before nap and Hockey Practice.  We were very excited to have them over for lunch and to visit.  They got all filled in about Star Wars, Hockey, and whatever else the boys could find to talk about.

 Sunday night we had some visitors at open skate.  Jaxon and Tatum joined us and Nana and Kayla.  Kayla even dusted the rust off her skills and got on the ice with us!

 This past Thursday, the Menomonie Varsity had a three team scrimmage.  We have been waiting a long time to watch Blais play.  He is on a break from Team Wisconsin to play with his high school team.  Now we just have to practice reading the number "9" so we don't have to keep pointing him out all around the ice ;)

 Aiden was mesmerized watching the goalie warm up.  He has told me a couple times he wants to be a goalie.  Really buddy?  I don't know if that's the position I have the nerves to watch you play, but okay!

 Today they had a special day at the rink.  They opened the ice for two hours for those that were orphaned, widowed, or left behind by the hunters.  We weren't left behind by a hunter, but Adam has been working some long hours gearing up for Black Friday and the Holiday Season.  I took the boys to skate and it was a chore!  Thankfully Nana was able to help me get them dressed and they trusted me to tie their skates tight enough.  They thought it was fun to have the free time with pucks and sticks AND I could be on the ice.  Ashton didn't want to leave when it was time to get off the ice.  Now if he would only go out with his coaches!

HOCKEY... HoCkEy... and more hockey.

We are glad they are enjoying the sport and having fun ;)

We hope you stay warm, the hunters remain safe, and you all get your fill of food on TURKEY DAY!

We have a lot to be thankful for.

~The Wamboldt's

Luke... I'm your Father

 Blogging is getting more and more difficult on Sundays with hockey.  Our Sundays are pretty scheduled out and no longer are they really "A Day of Rest!"  We get up and go to church and Sunday school, head home for a little play and then lunch.  Then it's important that the boys get a good nap in and we are off to the skating rink.  The last couple weeks we have grabbed supper after practice and we head back to the rink for open skate.  

Ashton has has a little anxiety about skating "without his Daddy" so we have been using open skate as a reward.  If he gets through practice with the coaches and his teammates, he then gets to do open skate with his Daddy.  After a practice of crying, then a couple practices choosing not to put on his gear or get on the ice, he now can't wait to get on the ice with his coaches to show them his hard work practicing with Daddy.  I'll do my best to continue to snap pictures, however with hockey twice a week that may be the only pictures I have some week ;)

In other news... this past week was HALLOWEEN!

The holidays are getting more and more exciting with some traditions that we can create and the boys really getting into what is going on.

Carving pumpkins with Mikayla is one thing we look forward to.  I look forward to it because she helps with the icky stuff, and I can just stand back and roast the seeds!

Ashy was pretty excited...

 All ready!  Lets get started.

 What kind of faces are they going to carve?

 Izzie even got into the mood, she asked me to put her bumble bee costume on... NOT.

 I love the concentration... he bites his tongue when he's concentrating.

 Aiden wasn't in to the gooey part... he would rather scoop it with a spoon rather than his hand.

 Ashy was so into it, he insisted his shirt come off.  Adam wasn't that into it ;)

 Mikayla's friend, Brenden, joined us after work... just in time to carve one himself and add to the final products.  Aiden and I were pretty proud of the face we carved.

 Ashton was proud of the one he and Daddy carved!

 The Carving Crew

 They were fighting who got to sit on Brenden's lap... and they switched, but I guess I didn't get a picture of it ;(
*Still another cute picture*

 So cool!

 Hockey has been a regular in our week as mentioned earlier.  The three amigos...

Ashton, Aiden, and Finn

 One of the cutest rink rats... Molly.  Maybe she'll be on the ice one day?!?!

 With Ashton hesitant getting on the ice, he was looking forward to the dry-land portion of the practice.  They work on agility skills and strength training.  I would say it was more like trying to control 35 little kids all running around with hockey sticks... scary!  It was fun to see Ashton participate, although he had about two minutes of anxiety once he noticed he was in a different group than his brother.  He got over it.

 Getting directions from the coach.

 Taking turns running around the cones.

 Practicing some quick footwork on the ball.

 Passing tennis balls to a partner.

 Aiden has done a great job getting on the ice, working hard, and listening to his coaches.  He also has done a great job trying to encourage his brother and make sure he is okay.  Here is a pep talk they were having... too cute.

The mad rush for the ice.  It usually ends up with a pile of kids all laying on the ice right by the door.  Waiting for practice to start and the zamboni to get off the ice is part of what gives Ashton anxiety... more time to think about not wanting to do it!

 It's amazing the progress they have made in the last couple weeks.  They went from spending more time laying on the ice to being able to get up on their own and spend more time on their feet!

 Aiden works really hard and doesn't care if Ashton is out there or not.  Mr. Independent.

 Last Wednesday, the parents all brought a bag of candy for the coaches to throw on the ice.  Ashton was sad he would miss it if he wasn't out there, so it was just enough of a push to get him to participate in practice.  He did GREAT and he was so proud of himself.  He made it through practice AND got to pick up candy.  They idea was to keep their gloves on to make it a challenge, but as you can imagine... that didn't last long!

 Ashton with his bag.

 One pretty proud kiddo.  He was excited he did it and he is looking forward to the next practice (which he participated in and could wait to get onto the ice).  He has some pretty great coaches to continue to encourage him.  He is our child that needs a little more reassurance and may be anxious.  We questioned if we started him too early or if he just didn't want to do it.  However, he is our child that watches Mighty Ducks on repeat, sleeps with his hockey stick, and needs his hockey gear to come to school and Bonnie's with him to stay in Daddy's truck.

 On Friday morning, we had two "half dressed" Darth Vaders heading off to Bonnie's.

 After a fun treat-filled day at Bonnie's we were home for a quick supper and off to Trick-or-Treat!

 We had THREE Darth Vaders just in our neighborhood!  I heard the most popular was Frozen themed costumes this year... not in our neighborhood ;)

 We started up our road...

 The Vaders and a cute butterfly.

 While on our road, e met more neighborhood friends.  Nora made a adorable chicken and Gunner made a energetic Mario!

 After walking in our neighborhood and going "Trunk-or-Treating" in a local church parking lot, we visited two other important friends.  Char and Jerry spoiled the kiddos and Elly and Price wanted to see them too!

Price and Elly were getting ready for their own Halloween fun.  The boys are already telling me what they want to be for next year and I am already making the candy disappear to my classroom and Adam's work ;)

On Sundays, we do double time and stay for open skate.  Yes, we all get on the ice.  Ashton can skate faster than me and Aiden doesn't fall as much as me, but it's fun.  I don't really fall - I just don't go fast because I don't know how to stop on hockey skates.  I'm used to my "toe pick" on old figure skates.  Dad is having fun getting his feet back underneath him and polishing the rust off his old skills.

Here's to November.  We are looking forward to what the next set of Holidays bring with our family... but not sure sure about the colder weather the new month is bringing already!

Brrrr. 

Is there really snow in the forecast already?!?!

Brrrrr.