Family Time - Stanley Cup Playoff Game

Last Monday we were invited to our first ever playoff game.  Mr K was so excited I think he nearly peed himself.  He's never been to one before and he made sure to mention that to me about a hundred time before the game.  But his best friend had some extra tickets and asked us if we wanted them... so I left work a couple hours early and we made the 3 hour trek to Columbus to see the Blue Jackets play the Penguins!  Yes... Sidney!

When we got there, of course we got some Timmy Horton's which is my all time favorite coffee that you can't yet get in Indiana.  That used to make skating trips to Ohio and Michigan more worthwhile!  This is Ells sitting just outside the Tim Horton's attached to the arena. 

She played outside with Uncle Bricker and his boys for a bit -- I was very surprised how well they all played together. Then we went inside.

And waited for the game to start... Ells doesn't look very excited here, but she was.  The arena was AMAZING... I've been in a lot of rinks but I don't think I've ever been to one so nice.  And did you realize how freaking cute Columbus is?!  I mean, I visited for like 1 hour outside and I'm sold!  I would totally move there... to the Arena District or we even had a quick dinner before hand in a walkable community just outside downtown.  Ummm.... yes please! 

Still waiting...

Now waiting on Dad's lap.  PS. I love this picture.

Time to Battle On!

And let's just note that I had a GREAT time... It was so much fun!  The place was packed!  They even ran out of beer at one point!  But it was loud everyone was standing in our section so I stood for about 2.5 hours watching the game.  And I might actually like to watch professional hockey in person because I can actually follow the puck.  I can't see it when I watch on TV... Don't laugh.

It was an awesome game! 

Ella and Mason mostly took in the foods...

But the hockey was incredible!  The Blue Jackets were winning most of the game...

Probably because we were the fifth line. 

Obviously.

But at some point the 5th line was loud, but not strong because Penguins took the lead in the 3rd... Probably had too much to drink at this point...

And kept it...

And won...

But Stinger just kept drumming on...

And this picture was all I needed even if they didn't win...

Hello future hubby. 

Sidney, Call me.

Oh, crap I was there with my family...

Scratch that - Sidney, Call me (later).

It only took us an hour to get out of the parking garage.  So our 3 hour drive became 4.  And we had to get home for work in the morning... Even 8 was too early since we got home at 230. 

But what a fun time to spend with friends and family. 

Go CBJ!  Beat those Penguins! 

 

*And don't forget to get your You Are My Sunshine Necklace for $14.99!  Start shopping at www.stelladot.com/abbyk and you'll be on your way to having the Mother's Day gifts taken care off!

Duh Winning

Ok, so while I'm not a huge Charlie Sheen fan or anything this phrase was HUGE this weekend at our house!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that I've been posting

asking for all the luck in the world so Mike's team could go to State and WIN. 

Well... it must have worked!

Duh Winning! 

Is what we said since Mike's Team went to the State Championships this weekend and

WON!!!  4-0!!! 

I'm so proud of the CCHC Hockey boys! 

Check out their article in this past Sunday's paper!  Cathedral Chatard saves best for last!

I feel like they are my boys...

I hear all the stories I need from Mike. 

Thanks to all the boys, the parents, the coaches, the administrators, etc for dealing with my husband as the coach!  We are all super excited for what lies ahead with the Cathedral-Chatard Hockey Club!

CONGRATS!

*Photos from IndyStar.com and Personal Shots*

Here's to 2011

Hope you all had a fun and safe night. 

Just a few quick reminders for today and then I must go off and  prepare the house and dinner later.  I am having my uncle, grandma, and grandpa over for Corn beef and Cabbage, Black Eyed Peas, some Sauerkraut, etc.  I think I'm going to look up some more of the good luck foods for the day! 

Don't forget about the sample sale going on right now.  Items are up for some great prices!

Then we'll have of course the Winter Classic will be on at our house!  Assuming it's not cancelled or postponed anymore than it has been at the moment!  We love the winter classic!  We hope to go someday!



via sbnation.com

But until then, Go Penguins!  I love my Sid! 

And Happy 2011!

-- Mr. Hockey --

5 Things Mike Can't Live Without:

Hockey

Horse Racing

Howard Stern

Cell Phones

Me of Course!  HAHA

-- Skating --

Skating.

This is a huge part of both of our lives.  Today I taught lessons from 9am-3pm and then tonight we will go back to the rink to watch Mike's hockey team play their Senior night.  And at this moment I'm actually watching speed skating.  It's like I can't get away from it...EVER. 

I feel like Skating should be represented somewhere in our wedding, but I'm not sure how.  Oh well, until I figure it out, enjoy some skating pics! :)

(Mike and I skating at Millenium Park and Chicago last January)

(Some engagement pictures we had taken using the ice as a prop/backdrop)

(A picture of me from Seybold Skating that I had taken while I was trying out for skating shows)

(Pictures of Mike coaching Cathedral Chatard Hockey Club)

(Mike is 1st on the far left top row.  This is a picture of his college hockey team.)

Being Supportive

Do you ever have those moments where the very last thing you want to do is the thing you know you really should do or have to do? Well, I couldn't remember the last hockey game I'd been to so after spending 4 hours at the rinks this morning I decided that I should play supportive fiancé tonight and go to Mike's hockey game.

Mike doesn't play anymore...he just coaches. Going to hockey games for me is like pulling teeth, unless they are NHL and we are sitting in the 1st or 2nd row. They are the longest 3-15 minute periods ever. The refereeing is AWFUL, the skating is sometimes...well, usually awful, and there are almost always those parents that are just are painful.  

Well tonight's experience did not disappoint. I took a nap today and woke up just in time to make it in the car with Mike. We have to get there an hour early (I told you this is me playing the supportive role...I sit by myself for an hour) so I sat and read. When the warm-ups started, I had picked a good spot right behind the goal and I know it had been a long time since I have been to a game because every puck that missed the net and hit the glass or boards made me jump and that was a lot. Then some obnoxious people came and stood to my right. I don't know if they came to watch the game or to hear their own voices for the next hour and fifteen minutes because they talked for the entire game! Someone shoot me! I kept glaring at them hoping they'd get the point, but no such luck!  

(This is me at a game last year I think, but this is how I always feel watching these games...They really captured me correctly!)

Then Mike's team lost 1-4. They are having a rough year. I don't know if Mike is lucky to have me or screwed to have me as a fiancé and future wife because there are things that I can contribute when it comes to a play by play on the way home. I know some of it he doesn't want to hear, but sometimes I am a great asset! I swear that we should coach a team together, but I don't know how well that would work out. We'd have one hell of a team, but our relationship might suffer... But our team would kick some ass.  

So that was might night of being the supportive fiancé. I didn't want to go to the rink and freeze my butt off, but I did and in doing so I saw Mike lose another hockey game and I got to be supportive in more ways than one. And get your mind out of the gutter!

Engagement Shoot

I am so excited! Mike and I got our engagement pictures taken yesterday! While we have not gotten them back yet, we were out for 3 hours gallivanting around downtown Indianapolis taking traditional, modern, and fun and risky shots. Mike has yet to stop talking about it! While he did have to miss a hockey game, it was well worth it as we got some shots on ice (since that is where we met) among what I’m sure will be many great other poses.

P.S. Studio Photography – Pat and Sharon Miller, a husband and wife team who are all about capturing the moment and preserving the memories for your special event. We had the best time. I cannot wait to see what we got! Thanks to Pat and Sharon for a lovely afternoon!

Website: http://www.ps-studiophotography.com/ Blog: psstudiophotography.wordpress.com
Once we get some back, I’ll be sure to post them.
-M-

When you meet someone who can cook and do housework–don’t hesitate a minute–marry him. – Unknown

**Also posted at my blog at www.weddingchicks.com/wcbride/abby**

Intro to Mike and Abby

*How we met*
My boyfriend and I are both from Fort Wayne, IN although that's not where we met. We both grew up at the McMillen Ice Arena, although that's not where we met. We even both went to the same grade school, but that’s not where we met. We met just 2 hours south of Fort Wayne in Westfield, IN. I was in college and trying to stay with skating a bit and was very lucky to become a staff coach at a new rink that opened up. He was also a staff coach but for hockey and a manager at the rink. I was helping out with the Synchro Team at the time and we gradually would talk on my way in and out of the rink but we were nothing more than acquaintances. [Truth: He said he’d never date someone as bitchy as me and I said I’d never date anyone as short as him.] Although, Miss Sue was always (or so I’ve heard) trying to get him to call me or ask me for my number.
At the time, I was doing some skating shows that were fairly close to home and mostly at Christmastime. Miss Sue was at a couple of them because her daughter was in a couple of the group numbers. I’m not exactly sure how Mike came up in our conversation, but he did and I said oh no, that’ll never work, but if he calls me I’ll talk to him and maybe go out with him a couple of times. I just didn’t think there was much Chemistry there. [You can stop laughing.] Somehow, Sue got him to call me. I don’t remember when the first phone call was, but it was pretty long. I do remember that because I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t believe we are still talking.”
We had our first date on Christmas Eve of 2005. He picked me up and had a Starbucks bag for me with a mug and a $15 gift card. [No, I did not get him anything…how was I supposed to know he’d give me a Christmas present on our first date. And yes, I felt like a sap.] He took me to O’Charleys for lunch and then we went to the mall to pick up some pearls for my mom (from my dad). And then he took me home. We kept it short because it was after all Christmas Eve.

That's the basic back story on us. Four and a half years later, we have 2 dogs (Lex the Labradoodle-4 and Louie AKA Lucifer –He’s a pooper—9 months) and a mortgage together. We are both still involved in skating and probably always will be. He coaches a high school hockey team and I teach private and group lessons for figure skating.