Halloween Dance

It's been a while. Duly noted. I shall strive to be better.

This past Friday, Lucas went to his first-ever school dance for Halloween. I've asked him every year since 1st grade (maybe even kindergarten) whether he was interested, but he's always answered in the negative. I'm not sure what changed his mind this year, but he was actually excited about it this time. I know it had nothing to do with girls since when I asked him who he wanted to dance with, he looked at me like I was crazy and exclaimed, "I'm not going to dance!"

He was originally going to wear his Halloween costume, a killer clown, but his school has banned scary clown costumes, presumably because the world has turned into a bunch of wimps, but that's another argument for another time. The funniest part about it was that in the school newsletter, these were two of the sentences:

• "There will be prizes for costumes in the following categories- funniest, scariest, best homemade costume, most creative and best family costume."
• "No scary or inappropriate costumes are permitted."

Boggles the mind.

Anyway, Marilu helped Lucas create this last-minute costume:

 

Get it? If not, see the end of the post for what he's supposed to be. The only hint I'll give is that Marilu loves costumes based on wordplay or puns. 

Speaking of which, here are our "costumes." Probably the easiest things we ever put together.

Once again, another pun-related costume from the warped mind of Marilu. You'll groan out loud when you hear what it is. Just like Lucas's costume, I'll say what it is at the end of this post.

So it's been a while since I last posted, and I have plenty of news, mostly concerning Lucas's sports teams. I'll talk about that in the next post, which I hope to have up in a day or two. Once I upload a few more catch-up posts, I want to get into a schedule of updating once a week, likely on the weekend. That way, I can make a habit of it, and it's regular enough that I can keep up with current news.

Okay, so the costumes. Avert your eyes if you are still trying to figure them out.

Last chance....

Lucas is a cereal killer, and we are ceiling fans,

Yes, truly, truly awful. :)

6th Grade!

I may be horrible at updating lately, but I won't miss the first day of school picture. Unbelievably, it's Lucas's last year of elementary school! This also marks Marilu's first day of being a consultant versus a teacher so I included her in one of the pictures as well.

I'd say I feel bad for them for the end of their 2 month long vacation, but nope, I really don't. :)

B=1

Beatrix turned 1 today. Here are a couple of pictures we took of her with her birthday outfit.

Tomorrow, we're heading down to Saratoga Springs in New York to meet up with my mom, Kevin, and Lucas. Yep, his great Massachusetts adventure comes to an end this weekend, and he is returning with us.

We'll be spending a couple of days in that area, going to the horse races on Saturday (a first for me), and then we'll spend Sunday and Monday in Syracuse at Destiny USA. It's a public holiday in Ontario on Monday so I have the day off.

It should be a fun time, and I'll be sure to post any pictures I take sometime before 2020. :)

Random Spring Photos

This will be quick as I'm writing this moments after the last post, and it's 11:50 PM on Friday night. We'll be up bright and early to drive to Massachusetts, and even though Marilu is driving (keeps her from getting carsick), I'd rather not be completely exhausted.

So I'm just going to post some random photos from the last few months, and if needed, I'll caption them. Sound good? Ok, let's go!

Back in the spring, Marilu had a reunion of her page program (she was a page in Parliament many moons ago), and we got a chance to sit in their main room. House of Commons? I'm sure some Canadian can correct me if I'm wrong. Whatever it's called, it was a very unique experience.

On Mother's Day, we went to Ottawa Comic Con. Believe it or not, it was Marilu's requested present. She was hoping to see one of her favorite actors, Jason Momoa, but as luck would have it, we didn't find out until we got there that he was only scheduled to be there on Saturday. Oh well, it was fun anyway. Below, a photo of them (with Zach) prior to watching a real sword fight.

It didn't take Lucas long to find a computer that he could play Fortnite on. Ever since, he has preferred playing on our laptop to the PS4.

Before school, showing off his new Nepean Knights lacrosse hat that he got for being player of the game. It was his first of two this season!

Beatrix just letting it all hang out.

And finally, making faces at the monster truck rally with his friend Parker.

Marilu and I should be back in Ottawa on Sunday, at which point I may have some photos from the vacation to post. (after I stop crying about having to go back to work) Lucas will be staying there for a couple more weeks, and then we'll go down and get him on the long weekend in August.

Talk to you soon!

Coconuts Year End Party

It seems forever ago, especially since Lucas has played a whole season of lacrosse since then, but Lucas's end of the year party for hockey was just about 3 months ago. I didn't take many pictures since it was more of a relaxing time, but here's what I did get.

First off, the trophies! In addition to the cup they received for being the champions of House A, each of the kids got their own trophy. If you look closely, you can also see their mascot on the left.

What I'm sure was the highlight of the party for the boys was the Games To Go truck, which was basically a mobile arcade. The boys had a blast playing each other in virtual hockey, as well as several other games.

I have two pictures of the team photo since Lucas is smiling in the first one but a little boisterous in the second one. You can also see the new Coconuts hoodies that they are all sporting.

Finally, probably my favorite part of these parties is when the coach hands out the trophies and says a little something about how each kid did that season. Here's Lucas's video.

Unless something goes wrong in the next couple of minutes as I set this up, there should be one more post on the 21st, and then I'll be back posting live, See you then!

Killer B

This post will be a little different. Typically, the focus on this blog is on Lucas, but in sticking with the technical name of the blog, Baby Deal, let's take a look at the current baby Deal: Beatrix!

All of these were taken while Lucas and Marilu were in Newfoundland, hence the lack of other family members, other than my appendages.

Here she plays a game of tug with one of her newest toys.

Staring out the window, one of her favorite things to do.

Funny story here. She chased a chipmunk under the fence but then kept sniffing around this drainage tube. I took a picture to show Marilu, laughing because B was convinced it was still in there and kept at it for about 10 minutes. Finally, I went outside and picked the thing up to show her there was nothing in it and the chipmunk goes flying through the air. After another chase, it escaped into the drain attached to the house. That kept B crazy for the next couple of hours as she tried and tried, to no avail, to get the chipmunk.

Our camouflage dog.

I like this photo since I got her in the middle of a shake.

Posing on the deck while my friend John (partially obscured in the background) enjoy some summertime beers.

Arr, I'm a pirate!

Just being lazy on her hamburger pillow.

Just like a human, sometimes she likes to sprawl in bed.

Lazy dog.

And finally, looking out the window again. I told Marilu that Beatrix was watching for her and Lucas, but honestly, she's just nosy about the neighborhood goings-on.

Before and After - 5th Grade Edition

I guess it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, but in my defense, not much has happened. Lucas and Marilu wrapped up school at the end of June and then they headed up to Newfoundland for 10 days, just getting back Tuesday of this week.

Tomorrow, we're heading down to Massachusetts for a week to see my mom and Kevin. Lucas will be there all week, but Marilu and I are taking a 3-day trip up to Burlington, Vermont, to belatedly celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Marilu and I will be back next Sunday, but Lucas is going to be down there for a couple of extra weeks, spending summer at the lake, on the golf course, and with the horses. Should be a fun time.

Besides this post, I'm going to post a few more that will be postdated for next week so keep an eye out since there will be more pictures before we come back!

As mentioned in my last post (years and years ago), here are Lucas's first and last day of school pictures for 5th. On to 6th grade!

September 2017

June 2018

Not as much a change as recent years!

Lucas's 11th Birthday

Although Lucas's birthday was on the 16th, he had his actual party the following weekend since it didn't conflict with Father's Day. This year, his party included a sleepover so we limited the invitees to his three friends Zach, Liam, and Parker.

The party started off with Marilu bringing the boys to the theater to see The Incredibles 2. I was lucky enough to miss out on that. Afterwards, they came home and we had cheeseburgers straight from the BBQ. Yum!

I'm not sure what was up with Lucas's face in that last photo. Just caught him at the wrong time, I guess.

It was a rainy day so the boys spent most of their time inside, playing mini sticks hockey and video games, but they did get outside a bit to play with Lucas's present, a new basketball net.

A little bit later, we brought out the pinata that Lucas got the week before when my mom and Kevin were visiting. It took a few hits, but we finally found a way to break the thing open, as you'll see below.

And what's a birthday party without cake?

I asked the kids to make a serious face and then a goofy face, but I only managed to get the latter. I suspect they never made serious faces.

And finally, a shot from later in the night. They were playing on the PS4 in the basement when I took this photo. I have no idea why Lucas is the only one with his shirt off, but why ask why?

The next morning, I brought them mini golfing, but unfortunately, I was too focused on corraling them to take a photo. The important news is that I won. :)

So another year, another party. In other news, Lucas finished 5th grade today. I'll do a first day/last day of the year post tomorrow. See ya then!

Season's End - Lacrosse Edition

So the Reapers season came to an end this past Wednesday, as they played a consolation game against the #5 team in their league (they were #6). The bad news is that they lost yet again, but the good news is that it was in a post-game shootout. That's the first time they ended regulation without a loss so that has to count for something.

Afterwards, they had an end-of-the-season party at Boston Pizza, and the kids had a blast playing with each other so that's what it's all about, I suppose. Lucas loved the season, even with no wins, so we'll likely be back next year.

While talking to one of the coaches, he mentioned that the #1 team has several top players since their dads are the head coaches and assistant coaches so they all get to be on the same team. Doesn't really seem that fair, but whatcha gonna do?

Birthday #11

Yesterday was Lucas's birthday, but because family was in town and it was the same weekend as Father's Day, we pushed his actual party back until next Saturday. So we'll probably have more pictures/videos of him and his friends having fun during their sleepover.

That said, it wasn't a completely uneventful birthday. We got him some fancy cupcakes from the supermarket and sang his the requisite "Happy Birthday," which you'll see below. Befitting a newly-minted 11 year old, it was a challenge to get his face away from the computer game he was playing. And it's only going to get worse, I'm sure.

Watch for more birthday stuff next week! (not to say I won't post non-birthday stuff before then)

Last game

The regular season of Lucas's lacrosse team came to an end tonight much the same way it began: with a loss. However, unlike a crushing 11-2 or 10-1 like their first couple of games, this one was a much closer affair. They ended up losing 8-5, but all but 1 of the goals on the other team were scored by the same player. So you take that kid out of the equation, and it was quite a different story.

That was the story of the season though, Because of the lower player count of lacrosse, there weren't any division based on skill like in hockey. So every team had first year kids alongside kids who were probably good enough to make competitive. 

Lucas's team has gotten noticeably better since the beginning of the season, and he's having a fun tme despite the losses so I guess that's all that matters? I can tell you I'm not going to miss the season after next week's playoffs.

I did want to mention that Lucas won his second player of the game during Monday's game. The coach gives out hats with the Nepean Knights logo on it so now he has two of them. I've been really impressed with his heart and determination. He's far from the best player on the team, but every shift, he gives it his all. In Monday's game, he had a shot go off the post and he had a couple of good hits.

Speaking of hits, he probably had the hit of the game tonight, and it was right in front of the parents. Right after he made it, he looked up in the stands, as if he was looking for affirmation. The parents absolutely loved it, and much laughter occurred.'

I don't expect much in the way of playoff success, but I'll be sure to update one way or the other.

Haircuts - Before and After

This past weekend, Lucas and I finally got around to getting some overdue haircuts. His was a bit more drastic than mine as he hadn't cut his hair in months, but either way, mornings are going to be a lot easier for both of us now.

Lacrosse Pics and Videos

As promised...like a week ago...here's what I have in photos and videos of lacrosse so far. I didn't think to take any during his two games this week so they are just from his camp and his first practice. I'll do my best to remember to get some in-game stuff this coming week.

Throwing the ball around (in his Coconuts jersey) at the lacrosse camp.

Standing with his teammates at his first practice. He's #64. We picked it since we thought it was a good number for a kid with a math teacher mom.

And now, videos...

This was a 1-on-1 drill from his camp. He's not the fastest kid, but he does tend to defend well. Thanks, hockey!

Here they practice their breakaway shots. His aim could use a little work! Come to think of it, he had a breakaway in his second game this week, and I think his shot was about 10 feet away from the goal so maybe we need to practice that this weekend.

From his first practice with his team the Reapers, Lucas participates in a 2-on-1 drill. You may notice he's pretty flat-footed when he has possession of the ball. He has gotten better since then.

And finally, an almost full squad drill where he gets the ball a couple of times.

Ouch

The lacrosse season started yesterday...with an 11-1 loss. It can only get better?

The Reapers

Here's Lucas in his new lacrosse uniform:

The team name the kids decided on is the Reapers. It sounds really cool until you realize it's the name of a character that looks like Keanu Reeves' John Wick character in a video game called Fortnite. Oh well, at least the coach has some sense and is going to use a grim reaper logo when making their warmup uniforms.

Lucas had two practices this past week and his first game is on Monday. I took a couple of videos on the phone while watching his practice. I haven't looked at them yet, but if they are decent, I'll upload a couple this weekend.

After his first practice, I asked Lucas how many kids were completely new to lacrosse. He said the number (4 or 5?) and then said, "You could tell which ones we were." :)

Should be an interesting season!

Lacrosse sortouts

Lucas had his lacrosse sortouts earlier tonight. He's playing at the Peewee level,which is kids born in 2007 and 2006, and it was easily his latest sports-related event to date. It ran from 8-9 so we didn't even get home until about 9:30. Considering he typically heads up to bed around 9, this was definitely something new. I guess he's becoming a big boy!

The sortouts went pretty well, all things considered. It is his first time playing, and his only experience was a 4 hour camp this past Sunday so he didn't light the world on fire. However, he had a really fun time ("that was better than hockey sortouts," he exclaimed afterwards), and he can't wait for the season to start so that's a win in my book.

Here's a photo of him prior to the sortouts.

You may notice that he's got his Coconuts hockey jersey on...gotta play in style!

He's also wearing pants. Normally, they wear shorts, but we forgot them tonight. Along with his jock. Luckily, there were no nutcracker shots.

The draft for the teams is this weekend, and the practices and games should start shortly afterwards. As always, I'll keep you updated with the season's progress.

Hockey Finals

This was finals weekend for the Coconuts and House A hockey. After completing the round robin with a 3-0 record, which included 2 shutouts and only 1 goal against, the Coconuts faced the same team they played last week, the Warriors. They won that game 1-0, but the score wasn't very reflective of the game itself since they dominated the majority of it. That said, 1-0 is still a close score, so there was reason to be nervous about their chances.

Turns out we had nothing to worry about. After a somewhat slow start, the Coconuts found their rhythm and cruised to a 3-0 victory, which included an empty net goal. Below, I've included several videos of the final moments of the game as well as the celebration afterwards.

My intention was to video the last minute or so of the game for posterity. Who knew I'd get an empty net goal?

With that out of the way, the game could finally reach its ending and the kids celebrated.

Next up was the medal ceremony where they got their gold medals.

And finally, they got a chance to skate around the ice with the cup before taking a team picture.

Here's a closer view of the team photo that I downloaded from the league's Facebook page (Lucas is third from the left in the top row):

And finally, here's a photo of Lucas clowning around with the cup/trophy and the team mascot, Coco.

You'd think that would be the end of it, but because Lucas is in House A this year, the Kanata champion plays the Nepean champion the next day in what is called the interlock final. Rather than draw it out, I'll tell you up front that the Coconuts lost 2-0.

However...

All season long, Nepean has absolutely dominated Kanata in interleague games. Speaking for the Coconuts, they had a single win (which was in a tournament) and one tie in their Nepean games, and the other Kanata teams fared about as well. So coming into this game, we didn't expect much.

Much to our (or at least my) surprise, today's final final was a very competitive game. Whereas in past games this season, it was all the Coconuts could do to hold on, it was a back-and-forth affair. With a bounce or two here or there, it could very well have been 2-0 the other way. So that was great to see. As I said in a Facebook post earlier, short of a win, this was the best possible ending to the season. And you know what? They are still the Kanata champions, and that's what matters at the end of the day. Well, that and they had fun. :)

Next weekend is the end of the year party and then that's in for hockey this season. It'll be sad since it's a great group of kids and parents. Plus, after two years with the same awesome coach, it's very unlikely Lucas will have him next year since he'll likely only be coaching his younger son. But we've been very lucky with coaches as all of them have been good so fingers crossed the streak will continue.

And now that hockey is over, Lucas is about to start a new challenge: lacrosse! He has sortouts next weekend and then the league starts soon after. So no rest for the weary! Keep an eye out for pictures from that adventure.