World Cup of Hockey

Nick was called earlier this week by Easter Seals to invite him to the World Cup of Hockey game.

It was the same Sunday as Sledge Hockey registration so we had to plan our time carefully to be able to participate in both.

 

Not only did we get to go and see the hockey game (Sweden vs Russia), in a private box! But it was all donated for Easter Seals kids by Eric Lindros and Bachly construction
The kids also got autographed Lindros jerseys, Oshawa Generals hats and flags

The private box was amazing. I've never been in a private box. There were 8 kids and parents, along with everyones equipment and Easter Seals people and it wasn't crowded at all.

Along the ice there were stadium seats, and then seats up along a bar.

Nick and I had talked about who we were going to cheer for, Sweden or Russia. In the end we decided on Sweden (good choice, because they won)

We had a good view of the game

Nick is not the biggest hockey fan, but he liked watching

It was a long day, so he did need to have some resting time during the game (so the couch came in handy)

After the chocolate and ice cream came out, Nick woke up a bit

And he went back to watching the game
(I love this picture)

We found out that in the box beside us, there were some NHL players, Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredson and Nikolas Lindstrom. Mats Sundin, of course being the most famous for Toronto fans. One of the parents had ridden in the elevator up with him.
Well Mats Sundin ended up coming over to our box during an intermission and posed for some pictures, and then he said "do you want me to get the other guys" and of course everyone said yes. So he got the other 2 guys to come and pose for some pictures.
The kids thought it was neat, the parents thought it was Amazing!
(And Mats Sundin is very tall)

You can see how close the boxes are, it was like we were right beside them!

Nick had fun walking around and stretching his legs. He actually liked watching the game on the TV in the box more than on the ice. And I told him this experience is not how we typically will watch a hockey game

We haven't been to any of the other Easter Seals events (other than camp). It was a fun event with other kids and families. I was happy we got invited, and we have met some of the other kids before.

It was a great time!
Our team won, we got the meet some hockey players, watch a hockey game, meet other families and just have a great day out!
Kyle was very, very jealous when I told him we got to meet Mats Sundin. We had talked about who would go as the one parent, but he said I should go because I do a lot of the stuff with Nick.

As a Thank You Nick also wrote a letter to Mr Lindros and Mr Bachly for letting us stay in the box and for Nick to go to his first hockey game!
I had wanted to include something about the game in each Thank You letter, so we didn't write it until afterwards (and of course include pictures)

Dear Mr Lindros
Thank you for letting me go to my first hockey  game. I cheered for Sweden and they won!
My favorite part was watching the goals.
Thank You for the Oshawa Generals stuff. I like in Oshawa
Nick Ridding

Dear Mr Bachly
Thank you for letting me go to my first hockey game in your suite. I liked being higher.
I cheered for Sweden and they won!! I had a lot of fun!
Thank you
Nickolas Ridding

Easter Seals Day 1

It is Easter Seals Camp day!

This year we have been lucky to be accepted to Easter Seals Family Camp, again. This time we are at Merrywood. This camp is located 3 1/2 hours North East of us, in Perth.

 

We had to get an early start, and the kids were really excited!

 

But with a 4 hour car-ride, that excitement didn't last

But we got here!

Merrywood is on a peninsula, so we are surrounded by water. You can see the water from our room

There is lots to do and we went for a tour when we arrived (and unloaded 2 carts worth of stuff).
There are no hills and everything is pretty close together. Our cabin is the Moose cabin. We are the closest to the parking lot. But still close to all of the action.

Nick did the tour with his crutches.

They have a big hall/gym with costumes and karaoke, a craft hut, canoes, sailboats, kayaks, life skills with a kitchenette and a couple of different docks.
There is a grassing knoll and a snake

We made a sign for our family with all of the stuff that we wanted to do. And lots of water

After the tour and unpacking, the kids wanted to go to the pool We did 2 laps before it was time to get out. But the kids were happy with the quick dip.
Then it was time for story time. (Which we missed getting changed). And then Sell the Sizzle. We know Sell the Sizzle from other camps, it is when we find out the activities for the next day. Everything looks like fun. We need to sign up for our activities (and not just show up, like at Woodeden)

Everyone has asked if we've been to camp before. When we said we've been to Woodeden twice, they ask who is better. It is only the first day, but there isn't really a better but a different.

After dinner there was free time to play on the grassing knoll.

For family time, there was an Alice in Wonderland scavenger hunt. With clues for each cabin to do. The councilors really got into it!
It was lots of fun!

Painting the roses red

Having a tea part with the Mad Hatter

Meeting Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Meeting the Caterpillar

And praying croquet with the Queen of Hearts

In the end the Queen of Hearts was thrown in the lake!

The night ended with a campfire, and Nick was entranced!

We needed to try to figure out where to fit Nick's nightly routine, without having him miss anything fun. There is a teen program (that Katheryn is allowed to do), and so we did Nick's routine then.

I also really wanted to go to the parent program. Which was pottery!
I made an eye ball and I'm excited to see how it turns out!

When I got back, this is how I found the kids, reading with the councilors.
Then it was one more chapter and then bedtime

We were all exhausted!

Easter Seals Camp - going home

We had so much fun at camp, that we were sad when it was time to go.

But before we went it was time for a party! 

And of course we dress up for the party

Katheryn didn't really want her picture taken as a family, but I was able to get a little smile out of her when it was just the 2 of us

And we got another picture of just the 2 kids
Aren 't they so cute together

And one more try for a family picture

It seems we picked the right theme for our clothes, because it was a Hawiian themed party!

 

Nick made sure he went around to all of his favorite councilors and wanted his picture taken with them

 

Like Benji (who was a favorite of the kids), and from South Africa

Geneviève was from Ireland

Nick and I got to dance together

And I got to be part of the congo line

 

 

The next morning it was time to say good-bye to camp

 

The kids kept asking when we could come back.
But we have to wait to see if we are accepted to camp next year. And Nick will be old enough to go to his own camp soon (I'm not sure if I'm ready for it to be next year)

Everyone sang us out as we packed up and got ready to go

The kids were fast asleep before we got to the hi-way

We are so thankful to Easter Seals for the opportunity to attend camp as a family this year!