Our Afternoon on the Ice

Ready to head down to the ice

Today we were able to take Katherine for a pretty awesome event at the RBC Center: The Hurricane's Kids Club maze, autograph signing and other assorted fun. 

At the start of the season Stephen signed Katherine up for the Kids Club. You get the option for some discounted tickets to certain games, discount at the Eye and this event. I have to say, this event was well worth the membership. 

The event kicked off with Katherine getting two tickets to enter into drawings for autographed pictures, pennants, tickets and I think there were a few other things in the mix. (Note: We didn't win any of them but K had fun choosing what things she thought she was going to win!)

We had a little lunch while sitting in the stands, watching people play some games like take a frozen, solid T-shirt and put it on. It took the kids about 5 minutes to get them undone and on, and they had frozen hands after, but it was fun watching them. 

Next up was an obstacle course (large inflatables inside that were kind of like an obstacle type thing) and a chance at taking a shot on a goal. K had fun in the obstacle until the end where she couldn't figure out how to get through the last part. As she told me after "no one stopped to help me! They didn't care I was stuck!" She's used to someone coming to her rescue and helping her through. Needless to say the boys in there with her were more intent on getting through than helping a tiny little girl. Fortunately there was a way around getting through the last part and she came out the other side saying she was NOT doing that again. ha!

We then took the steps down to the ice. She got to spin a wheel for a prize (she won Skinner window stickers), then go onto the ice to have pictures taken in the goal, by the Zamboni, on the bench, in the "naughty box" and finally take a shot on the goal, on the ice. She really dug touching the ice as we went along. "Mommy, it's really cold!! Like ice!!" Huh. Really. You don't say?! =P

Katherine ~ Center Ice

Next up we went into the locker room. WHOA!!! She was in utter shock that she was going to see REAL hockey players. I think she didn't believe they were real hockey players because they weren't in their uniforms. Pic below is as I told her she was going to see hockey players. 

Really? Here? Where are they??

It was lots of fun and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go. I'm already looking forward to next year! =) Best of luck to our beloved Canes for the rest of the season! Rock on boys! 

xo 

The Alekszas

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Aw man! You're going on a date!!!

Saturday morning Katherine and I woke up early (relatively speaking) to create a special breakfast for Stephen. He's mentioned a number of times lately how much he'd love to have a beignet with some coffee, just like at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, LA. Well. We're not in New Orleans. And we aren't planning to go there anytime soon so... KK and I took matters into our own hands.

We created Cafe du Alekszamonde. We made beignets and chicory coffee the way they do in New Orleans. Or at least how we *think* they make it in New Orleans. Complete with a cute lil waitress. 

It was fun for Katherine and I to surprise Stephen and have some cooking time together in the kitchen. Complete with powdered sugar. 

Saturday evening Stephen and I went out on a date. A real life only the two of us DATE!! Katherine got to spend her first evening with our new sitter Ms. Kristen. We think she's pretty awesome AND she's an NC State student who loves the Canes. (win win win)

Katherine and Ms Kristen made some crafts (including a fancy new bracelet for me), read some stories and played. Katherine thought it was great but was disappointed that she didn't get to go on date night with us. When I told her Ms Kristen was coming over she immediately said, "Aw man!! You're going on a date!!!" I said, yes... she cried... So... I agreed to a family date day the following day.  What's a mommy to do?!

What a date day she had!! We went to the kids museum, followed by dinner at a restaurant that has TVs at the tables. Okay - they're supposed to be playing sports, but when you ask the servers very nicely to turn on a kids channel, they do so. It's a special "movie & dinner" event. After dinner we came home and had some dessert and watched the Sea World video that Tootsie & Pop sent to her.  Pretty awesome stuff. She was quite pleased with the family date day!

So far this week we've had a visit from Aunt Nikki, went to cooking class, made froggie cupcakes (for leap day) and tomorrow is Dr Seuss' birthday.  Busy busy busy! I think we're going to do a green eggs & ham themed breakfast on Saturday. =) That is, if I can obtain all of the items (like eggs & ham) prior to Saturday morning!

Here are some pics from our last few days. =)

We hope everyone is doing well! xo
~The Aleksza Family

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Pefi doesn't want a friend.

Our Mardi Gras Queen

The adventures of having a pet fish. We are on Pefi #3. The first two met an untimely demise. We believe Pefi Uno might have had some problems before we bought him. Pefi Dos got his head stuck in a little bridge we'd gotten for inside the tank. Pefi Tres on the other hand... doing well. He was not doing so hot until I changed up the tank a bit but now he's doing swimmingly. So well in fact that now I have no need for Pefi Quatro, which I purchased in anticipation of Pefi Tres going the way of Uno and Dos.

After 5 days of Tres doing well we decided that maybe we'd give him a playmate.  I know what you're thinking. NOOOOOOO don't put two bettas together in one tank. Yeah... Well... Where were you yesterday?  Seriously.bad.scene. I thought that Pefi got excited at seeing the other fish because he wanted to play with him.  Well, play with him if that can be defined as biting Cuatro's fins and chasing him like a mad-fish. I'm telling you I've never seen anything like it. Pefi's cheeks puffed out and he went bat-fish crazy. Straight up fishy-mental. Did I mention Katherine was watching this whole scene?  Mmmmhhhmmm.  #I'lltakemyparentoftheyearawardnow.

Pefi is now solo in his tank again and I've learned that there's quite possibly nothing worse than putting two male bettas together in one tank. Note to self: there's a reason they sell the fish in little cups and not in big tanks like all other fish. *sigh*

In other news... Last weekend we went to Myrtle Beach.  We had a great time. We met with a few sitters that hopefully will make our working from MB a little easier. The first one was a keeper. Katherine thought she was great too. She's a grand mom of I believe 10 grandchildren and immediately got Katherine on her side with a little toy monkey that banged tambourines. So much so that when the 2nd sitter got there she asked her whether she brought her a cute little monkey like the last lady did. ha!! Fortunately the second woman didn't understand what she was asking. Towards the end of meeting #2 Katherine turned to me and said, "mom, are there any more people coming?" Dismissed by the 3.5 year old.

We had two Mardi Gras parties complete with beads, king cake & mardi gras music.  We even had a little dancing choreographed by Just Dance 2. (holy work out!!!) My wonderful, loving daughter chose my dancing time to point and laugh. Just not right.

Some pictures from Valentine's Day & Mardi Gras parties 1 and 2. =)

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