AAA Junior Hurricanes Pee Wee Jersey Presentation

Josh was invited to a "jersey presentation" for his Jr. Canes PeeWee team. We weren't sure what to expect, the only jersey presentation I ever witnessed, was when a first round draft pick was handed the jersey of the team that just signed him.... well, it was kind of like that. It was a very cool event, not just for the parents, the kids really dug this whole thing.

Raleigh Youth and Hockey Association works closely with the Carolina Hurricanes to further the AAA players, they have done a pretty good job so far. Each one of the kids was asked to come to the stage where Niclas Wallin and Scott Walker presented them with their jerseys. Josh was definitely enjoying this.




A lot of time was spent talking about how they are role models , they emphasized how important it is to be thankful that they were given the opportunity. Then they announced that the NATIONALS will be held in Charlotte in 2009 and that the PeeWee AAA Jr. Hurricanes will get to play at the nationals.
I am certain this coming year will be something Josh will never forget and I am so thankful that we are able to allow him the opportunity to take part in all this. He is a great little hockey player and even though we will make the bank account smoke a couple of times (YIKES!!) how could I ever deny him this chance??? NO way! Macaroni and cheese for the rest of 2008!

Josh made the Jazz Band

Josh tried out for West Lake Middle School's jazz band and made it. He is very excited! According to him jazz band it the coolest thing you can do if you are a middle school drum player.
Well, he will have to get up an hour early twice a week for practice. I can see that getting old real fast, come to think of it, I hated the idea before he even started. Nevertheless, we are proud of him! He is now bugging us to sign him up for drum lessons, but at this point I would like to see how far the middle school band teachers can take him :)

Back to life as we knew it...?

Back to school for all three of my children. I hear so many people tell me how relieved they are that their kids are back at school, but this year, for the first time, I don't share those sentiments. I have been back to work, working in an actual office, not as a freelancer, for almost exactly a year and boy did I miss out on a lot of stuff this summer. Don't misunderstand, I like working, even though my company is going through a couple of rough spots and I am looking for a new job, but the idea of leaving the house to work is attractive to me. I just couldn't do as much with my children this summer and it bothers me. This was the first time I had to send them to YMCA camps, the first time I didn't get to just sleep in with them, have a day at the pool... very sad really. It is so difficult for women, we want to work, contribute to the "household", but then we miss out on so much because of it. Being a woman is such a double edged sword at times...
Oh and please all you men, taking that breath, ready to blast me, I didn't say it was easy for you...

Kelcey is 16! Boy do I feel old...

Kelcey turned 16 on August 1st and it wasn't a good day for her "parentals". I never thought that I would react the way I did, after all I was ok with her starting Kindergarten, Middle School, High School, none of these things bothered me much, her daddy is usually the one that can't handle it. I was ok with it, until the day she turned 16. Rip my heart out... oh well, I guess I survived, she had a great time and we are bracing ourselves for what is to come.

Watch the slide show..

JUMP...

Kelcey had her picture taken by a local photographer, the girl in red and Kelcey (in blue) were asked to jump as he took the picture. The girl in yellow was photoshopped later on.
Click on the photograph to zoom in, Kelcey's face is amazing.

Bella.... isn't she though?

Bella is a second grader and claims it's way too easy. Her sister made sure she is a very mature 7 year old.
She is dancing and playing hockey, trying to keep up with brother and sister. I am not sure if she is the dancing type, but right now she is enjoying it, so we will go with it.
She recently donated 10 inches of her hair to "Locks of Love" much to her daddy's dismay. She was determined though, suffering through most of the summer heat with all that hair. She looks cute in her short cut, even though Daddy can't wait for it to grow again. We also have a video of Bella, check out how this sweet, innocent child treats the boys on her team.

Bella playing hockey

Josh - Hockey News

Josh is going strong in hockey, he just made the AAA Carolina Junior Hurricanes. This will bring a huge amount of travel for the Herrera family, Orlando, Chicago, Quebec. It will be an amazing year.
He is excited and has already started off-ice training, he is in awesome shape and will be very well prepared for this season. (let's just say I was sweating just watching them sprint in 100 degree weather...:))
He is doing a good job in school as well and just made the schools Jazz Band, he practices his drums every day, much to his family's enjoyment.. did you know that the dampers they sell to quiet the sound coming from the drums don't do a very good job????? His drum set is in his closet and even with his closet door shut (mind you he has a very large closet, I don't want you to think that we are abusing our son) AND with the room door shut, I can hear every beat.
You can check out a video of Josh on you tube, he is number 33.

Kelcey - dancing!

Kelcey, Danielle and Scott Benson

Kelcey is still dancing and is trying to decide how she could make a career of it. She recently switched to a new studio, which is exiting, it is run by world renowned choreographer, Scott Benson, he had the privilege to dance with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Sting.... he has performed on all the stages, Las Vegas, Broadway. At this new studio, she will be given the opportunity to compete, she will be performing lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, ballet and jazz. It will be an exciting time, can't wait to share news and photos from this year to come.
She also tried out and made the Carolina Railhawks Professional Dance Team for a second year and was just asked to be the coach for the Junior Dance Team. She will be running the practices with another girl from the Pro Team. (www.carolinarailhawks.com)

Kelcey and Danielle with Gerard Heintz, Member of Iconic from America's next best dance crew at a dance intensive held at her new studio.

Why have I waited this long to start my own blog... what's up with that?

I am not sure why I never thought to start my own blog to keep family and friends updated, maybe I never had the time???
Who knows, but here I am, so let's see what I have to "blog" about:)

Two of my kids are back in school, Josh just started 7th grade and Bella started 2nd. Of course thanks to the idiocies going on in Wake county, they denied my request yet again to move Bella back to West Lake Elementary. The school right NEXT to Josh's Middle School... but God forbid the Wake County Growth and Planning Office should do anything that makes sense..
So, she will spend another year at Ballentine and undoubtedly complain to me how she is bored. West Lake Elementary's curriculum was and still is light years ahead of Ballentine.. but that is probably food for another blog entry :)

Kelcey won't start school until August 25th, she is working at her daddy's firm three days a week and hates every moment of it. Dad's comment "but it's a great job, you are inside doing office work, you are in air conditioning" doesn't seem to make much difference. She wants to work as a camp counselor with handicapped children next year, we'll see if Daddy's words will come back to her then.

The summer is almost over and it went by way too fast yet again. I am a little anxious about this new school year and all it's challenges, but we are ready. Bring it on!