Birthdays

This past weekend was a special one. It was a weekend of birthdays and celebrating life. On Saturday we travelled to Guelph for my grandmothers 85th birthday. She is my dad's mother and she is a very special person to me; and has been for my whole life. She is not doing well lately and it is hard to believe that the woman that sits in her wheelchair unable to swallow or say much was once a very vibrant, outgoing, talkactive woman that could carry a conversation about anything to anyone. It is hard to see time take its toll, but she has lived a very full 85 years and is a loved woman. Many relatives showed up to wish her well during the open house.

It was a lovely time planned by my dad and my favorite aunt. Shyla decided to sing and dance for her GG (great grandma) for her birthday. Grandma always loved watching Shyla perform. It was awesome to see a smile on GG's face. Afterwards we went back to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a fabulous time catching up with my cousins and their families as well as my aunt, uncle, mom and dad. Things are never dull at the Berg's house.
It was also my cousin's little girls 9th birthday, which ryley chased down to give the patty wacks too (chloe loved every minute of it).

As it seems to do in life, we had to leave in the evening to go back to Oshawa to attend our good friend's 40th bash at a local pub. We met up with some old friends and hockey parents. It was nice to catch up.

We had to decline, due to an already full day, a parents' birthday gathering from shyla's dance studio. Here are some pics from my grandmother's bday bash.

Step with Style at Breakthru Dance Challenge Competition

Here is some video from the weekend: this was after overall awards getting pictures done with all the trophies; our slogan; HOW DO YOU STEP? WE STEP WITH STYLE!!!

First Competiton Weekend and Last Hockey Tournament

This is nothing like overlapping seasons to make a person a little crazy.  Ryley had a hockey tournament in Mississauga and Shyla had her first Dance competition in Markham. 

Now I know why most parents choose not to have more than one child.  Steve took Ryley and I took Shyla.  Friday worked out that Steve and Ryley could come and watch for a while.  Ryley then continued to his first game Friday evening.  The won.  The won the next game Saturday morning and Ryley received MVP.  Apparently the shots were 44 on him and only 12 on the other goalie for a final score of 3-2.  Sat nights game they won also to take them to the semi's on Sunday morning, which they also won to get to the finals in the afternoon.  Unfortunately they lost 2-1 with 12 seconds on the clock.  But they had a great showing.

Shyla's studio did well well also winning 27/48 overalls and with the highest mark of the competition.  Shyla won 2 special awards for her solos; the triple threat award for her song and dance routine and the commitment to crazy character award for her open solo.  Her 5 group routines also took some special awards as well as placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall for junior division.  It was a very long tiring weekend but our kids have so much passion for their sport that it is worth it in the end.  Not only do they learn to balance school with sports, but make life long relationships, responsibility, teamwork, and dedication; all important life skills.  An added bonus is the fact that they are too busy to get into trouble!

Double Digits and Growing UP

Shyla informed me just before Xmas that in 2010 that she would be entering the double digits and Ryley would be a teenager.  This is pretty enlightening stuff I tell you.  Since then Shyla turned 10 in February.  She since then informed me that all my beautiful painting of the white picket fence, clouds, butterflies etc were too young for her in her room.  She wanted to repaint it. 

After careful consideration and heartbreak, we allowed her to pick out some new colours.  She chose green which is her favorite colour, but wanted another colour to go with it; thus pink was chosen.  It actually turned out not half bad.  It presented an opportunity to go through some of her 'stuff' in her room to either give away or pack away for memories at another time.  For those of you that do not know Shyla she is a pack rat.

SWS Showcase and hockey

Here is another unpublished earlier story
"The weekend was crazy busy. Showcase went well and Ryley attended a hockey tournament in Kingston. They lost in the finals. Showcase lasted Saturday from 5-9 and sunday from 2- 6:30. Shyla had to be there 3 hours before each show to run the routines on stage. Some of them looked awesome. We can hardly wait until our first competition which is at Markham theatre in two weeks. She performs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The picture is her in her costume for her open solo. It is to a song called strange decease which is quirky and upbeat. The costume totally goes with it. An open solo is with jazz and some acro moves; some of which she does a back walkover, chest stand with her feet beside her head, elbow stand and an roundoff backhandspring. Ahe has a lot in it and it is a physically chaallenging routine. Ryley has one more hockey tourrnament in mississauga the same weeeknd that shyla has her fist dance comp. Anyone interested in seeing either one, give us a shout and we will email you the times.

Tuesday, March 30th"

Hockey Playoffs

This is a previous blog that I haven't posted here from April 4th.

"Last night we attended Ryley's last house league game for the season. His team, St. Paul's, ended up first in regular game season play out of ten teams, so we were playing off for the A finals. His team played game one two weeks ago and tied -1-. So the game last night was winner take all. At the start the shots seemed to be very low on both goalies, but with more going against ryley. Then one of our best players boroke out and scored. It was 1-0 for most of the game, until we managed to score anotehr great goal through teamwork. However the othre team retalitatged with there strongest slapshot player making a breakaway on ryley, managing to score on his weaker blocker side. The same player had a couple more breakaways on ryley , but he managed to save them this time. St. Paul's wins 2-1 the A finals. Now only one more tourney next weekedend in Mississauga with his select team, then we can hang up the pads for the summer.
Happy Easter everyone!!"

Getting Ready for showcase

I have been writing in another journal attached to my calendar program and i am trying to decide which one I like better. More people seem to comment on my other one; so i am not sure which one more people read. If you have not recieved the link for my other journal please let me know and i will add you to the invite list.