Fun times in Calgary, celebrating 20 years together!

We are back from our trip to Calgary! It was a great long weekend with lots of family and friends. Steve and Andrea came as well so it was the first time since Christmas of 2021 that the Kroeker family had all been together. There was so swimming, lots of games, walks, some shopping and even snowman building thanks to a lovely Spring snow Calgary received right before we got there. Unfortunately, it wasn't a totally smooth weekend for Steve and Andrea, who had been sick leading up to the weekend and still had some lingering effects. On Sunday, Norah started feeling feverish and spent most of the day resting. They were scheduled to leave first thing Monday morning, and as they were getting ready to go to the airport, she threw up - and there was blood:-(. So, they had to change their flights to the next day and take her to Urgent Care. Thankfully it wasn't anything serious, apparently it is fairly common to have blood in vomit when you have a cold (who knew!). I had already made plans with Larissa to go for a walk, and then see Bobbi for lunch so I did that - great catching up with them! 

We went to Three Hills in the afternoon and visited with Dave (Mary was in Ireland) and then went over to Gert's house where she had made a delicious supper for everyone. Had a great evening visiting with a small contingent of my family! Jana brought her daughter Ruby over, who we hadn't met yet - Nathan was quite fascinated by her. Tuesday, I did some laundry and some shopping for some Canadian items to take home, and then Brian and I were off to Banff to celebrate our anniversary! Our room was lovely with a gorgeous mountain view, and we had a fantastic dinner in town at The Bison. The Bison tomahawk was to die for! In the morning we had a great breakfast at the Primrose right in the Rimrock where we were staying, and then we headed back to Calgary. Such a nice getaway! Great way to celebrate 20 years together. 

We came back Wednesday night, and I spent yesterday getting ready to go on our trip to Reno for volleyball. Lynsey and I went to a volleyball open gym at the Redmond Mormon church, which was fun, until Lynsey rolled her ankle:-(. Such a bummer! The last 20 hours or so have been quite the frantic re-imagining of this weekend, having to wait to see how her ankle would be when she woke up, if she would be able to play this weekend. We figured out it was highly unlikely she would be able to play this weekend, it was just too fresh of an injury. Thankfully, it doesn't look like it's too serious and will hopefully heal quickly, but we made the difficult decision to keep her at home this weekend so she can rest and heal up. We have another tournament coming up next Saturday that we are hoping she will be able to play in. Thankfully Alaska Airlines has been great with all the changes, first I had to change our flight there to be this evening instead of this morning (I did this last night when we weren't sure yet if Lynsey would be able to go) and then I had to cancel Lynsey's flight altogether and I moved my departure flight on Monday to be earlier. Turns out the last game of the tournament is being played at 1pm, and I didn't want to wait around Reno by myself until 8:20 when our original flight left. 

So, definitely disappointing and not how we wanted this weekend to go, but I am choosing to try and make the most of what it is. I will be wearing just my coach hat this weekend, and I'm going to try and focus on learning more about coaching and how I can do that better, now that I will have no parenting duties at all. Honestly, I think it will probably mean less friction for me and Heidi and will probably be a good thing. I'm obviously bummed that I won't get to watch Lynsey play, but like I said, I can have an unconflicted view of just coaching the team with no potential bias. 

 

Volleyball weekend in Spokane, off to Calgary!

So we survived the weekend in Spokane! Sometimes you come back from somewhere you were dreading going, and it turns out you were worried for nothing. This was absolutely not the case for us. I was nervous about going, and it was about as bad as I thought it would be. We got there Thursday evening, good drive with no issues. I definitely prefer the drive to eastern Washington to driving south through Tacoma, Olympia and Portland. So much prettier, higher speed limit, less traffic, all good things (as long as there are no issues through Snoqualmie Pass which there were not thankfully). Friday morning, we got to the gym nice and early (earlier than I would have but I don't make the decisions) and we played two games that day, both were three sets to 25 because we were in a three team pool. It was a blood bath. That first team we played, in our first set, the only points we got were when they missed a serve (which happened 4 times so we lost 25-4). We did get a few of our own points in the second and third sets, but it was just ugly. Hard to really know how to encourage the team when you get blown out like that, they were just out of our league. The second game was a bit better, I think we got into the double digits points wise in all three sets which was good. Tough day for sure. That evening we had a team dinner at the hotel and turned in pretty early. 

Saturday we had a bit of a better day volleyball-wise, played some teams that were better than us, but not so outrageously better that we could not make any of our own points. Still lost all three games we played 2-0. That evening there was axe throwing planned for the girls so I went to that. On Sunday, we weren't scheduled to play until 1pm so we had some time in the morning to have breakfast and get checked out. We played two games and once again, did not win a single set. Definitely had a chance at both of those teams, though. For some reason, we just couldn't finish but we got very close. At least it was nice for the girls to make a game of it. 

I am still so frustrated that we were playing in this division. There is a whole other division below Liberty where we played (and unfortunately will play again in Reno next weekend, ugh). There is absolutely no question that the lowest division (American) is where we belong. We were dead last in Liberty and did not win a single set. I'm trying to stay positive but I am really struggling this year. Coaching has been so hard, and for completely different reasons than last year. Last year wasn't perfect by any means, but I felt some ownership of the team and that they had some respect for me as a coach. Not so this year. The head coach holds onto the team pretty tightly and it's been extremely challenging. I knew it would be tough to break in because she has been alone for so long without an assistant, but I don't think I could have guessed it would be this bad. I know I am still learning and have made a ton of mistakes, but it's her lack of self awareness for how she might be contributing to some of the issues that is making this even harder to navigate. It's not a two way street whatsoever. And she is very controlling on travel tournaments. Lynsey had a ton of homework because she missed a day of school for this tournament, but she was not allowed to stay back at the hotel Friday afternoon and do homework because the rest of the team wanted to go to the mall. They had already done swimming together as a team and were going to be eating together as a team for dinner, but this mall trip could not be missed. Not even for homework that she had due to a day of school missed for this tournament. I cannot tell you how much I had to bite my tongue on that one (and I still said a lot, but I kept it much more civil than I wanted to, believe me!). It is her way or the highway, get on board, team and parents. And any input from me that tries to solve a problem or make something more efficient is not welcome. I called the hotel the week before we went to see if they could open breakfast a bit early because we wanted to be in cars on the way to the venue by 6:30 when the breakfast opened. They were accommodating and agreed to open at 6:15 which I thought was pretty nice of them. I told her that they would do this, but apparently because she was not in control of this operation she didn't trust it and had the parent chaperone go out and buy bagels, cream cheese and fruit just in case they weren't open. Surprise surprise, the morning rolls around and they were open just as they said they would be, so the parent spent the money for nothing (unless she put the cost into the group dinner which she might have done, but in any case the coach wasn't the one footing the bill for her own paranoia). I know I am not handling all these things that come up perfectly, but it's never a conversation when something comes up - it's just her putting me in my place.

Anyway, I don't need to vent about this any more but it has been very difficult to say the least. One more travel tournament, I can make it! I am going to do my level best to just keep my mouth shut and go with the flow. I will do only what I am asked to do and take no initiative whatsoever. I know that sounds insane and like it's a betrayal to myself which it 100% is, but we are now 4 months in and I have finally caught the hint that this is what my role is on this team. I will learn as much as I can about coaching and things I do and do not want to do when I get my own team, and continue to be there for Lynsey. It makes me sad that it's come to this because I was excited about this year, but that's life sometimes. 

Before the dreaded trip to Reno, we get a family trip to Calgary this weekend! We are flying out tomorrow afternoon and staying until Wednesday. I'm looking forward to being back in Alberta and seeing some family and friends! 

 

House project coming to a close!

The last week and a half have been very busy. The finish carpenter got the hand railing to the point where the carpet could be put in, and the carpet guys came and did the install Thursday and Friday of last week. I love the new carpet! It is so soft and it feels like we are in a new house! Brian has been busy reassembling furniture and I have been trying to dust and organize as we go. It's like a forced Spring cleaning that really was much needed:-/. Lynsey still has some organizing to do in her room but we are very nearly done. The hand railing pieces are supposed to be delivered tomorrow, and Brian will stain them this weekend for the carpenter to come back Tuesday to put them up. So excited to see the finished product!

On Sunday, Brian, Lynsey, Nathan and I went to the Kraken/Canadiens game while Adam stayed back with Maggie again. It was a fun evening, although the Kraken got pretty much blown out. It was a good opportunity to teach Nathan that different people have different ways to enjoy themselves at hockey games, and while we might find it super annoying when they shout, "shoot or fight!" constantly, that's just what you get at hockey games sometimes! This was the first game he had gone to where his team hadn't won, he has been to a few Oilers/Kraken games and the Oilers have won each one he's been to, it's best he learns how to deal with his team losing once in a while, too:-).

Tuesday I pulled Lynsey and Adam out of school to head down to the USCIS office FOR THE LAST TIME for their oath ceremony. The kids are already American citizens through us, but for them to get citizenship certificates, they had to go through the hoops of a ceremony, which was pretty annoying. Nathan didn't have to because he is under 14. Adam was fine for the first half hour to 40 minutes but it of course took longer than it should and he got a bit antsy at the end. We made it and now all of us are officially American citizens! No more immigration stuff, yay!

Lynsey and I are off to Spokane for a tournament this weekend. I am definitely a bit nervous about it. We are not in the bottom division, and that is not a good thing for us. I don't know why the club didn't put us in the bottom division, we would have been much more competitive there. Hopefully at the very least it is a good learning experience for the girls. These should be high quality teams we are seeing, so maybe we can elevate our game. I really hope it's a fun weekend for everyone, and that I am nervous for nothing!

 

No one under 12 in this house anymore!

I am so far behind, things are crazy! But I have to start with some birthday festivities for Nathan! He turned 12 at the end of February, and we had a small family celebration for him during the week before he had his sleepover party with a few of his friends on the following weekend. 

The reason we couldn't do the tournament on the weekend after Nathan's birthday is because we were all going to the Oilers/Kraken game on Saturday afternoon! I had found these cheap family packs well after Brian and I had bought our tickets, so I bought one so each of the kids could bring a friend. Nathan brought his friend Luke and Lynsey brought her old friend Ari. It was a fun afternoon! Oilers win, woohoo! Sounds like the kids all enjoyed the experience as well which was nice. Always happy for an in person Oilers win! Brian took Lynsey and Nathan snowboarding on Sunday and Adam and I hung out as usual. They had a pretty good time on the mountain, apparently quite a lot of snow this time which was nice. The week after that I spent painting baseboard to get ready for the finisher to come install it and practice of course, even just two practices a week feels like a lot! 

That weekend (the 9th and 10th), Lynsey and I were in Centralia for a tournament and Brian manned the fort with the sleepover on Saturday. Apparently it went pretty well! Our tournament was okay, we didn't win until our very last game on Sunday, but it was nice to win one for sure! This team - just doesn't have much of a competitive spirit. It's really starting to wear on Lynsey because she is wanting more and more to win, and it's frustrating that so many of her teammates just don't seem to really be bothered. It's wearing on me, too. I did some reffing again at the tournament and I am feeling more and more confident. Even when a team disagrees with a call, I feel like I am able to handle it more professionally now. It was a good learning experience. Heidi was really kind, she appreciated my help a lot and said she had told Tony (the club director) that I should be able to head coach any team I want next year! It was really nice to have her vote of confidence.

Last week, the finish carpenter we hired to do the baseboard and new hand railing got started. I had painted one coat of paint on the baseboard, but I've been going through and touching up a lot of paint - so much work and I hate it. I did some today, too. I just have the big front room to do and I will be done! He is starting the hand railing tomorrow and carpet goes in next week. We are living in a state of chaos right now with furniture everywhere, disassembled for the baseboard install and now waiting for carpet. Can't wait until the carpet is in and it will feel like moving our stuff into brand new rooms! 

Heidi was sick on Wednesday, so I had to lead practice. It went pretty well and I am glad I had the chance to do it. We had a Power League yesterday that didn't go well at all. We did not win a single set. We will be going back down to flight 7 for the next one. Frankly, it's where we belong. Lynsey is getting so tired of losing, and I had some hard moments as well yesterday. Coaching is not for the faint of heart! We still have three more 3 days tournaments, one 2 day tournament and one more Power League to go before this season is over. I don't know if things will improve, but if these girls don't start putting their heart into it a bit it's going to really drag on for everyone. 

Today was Nathan's piano recital! He did amazing, as we have come to expect from him. Nerves of steel, no mistakes. It's been a busy week and weekend and I am looking forward to a bit of an easier week coming up. No volleyball this weekend, although with carpet coming in the following Monday we will be moving furniture on the weekend again. Keep repeating - we will be so glad we did it once it's done, we will be so glad we did it once it's done . . .