I've seen this image before...

Hockey has officially started! We're off to a great start: 2-0 after the first weekend. Here's a neat picture before this past Sunday's game - just like an AT&T commercial.

MORE BARS IN MORE PLACES!

*The above post was written by a proud Father*

A note from a proud Mom - Noah is a first year Peewee and he has gained a position on the tournament bound travel team for 2010-2011. Noah seems to have a passion for the sport now, and this season has us on the edge of our seats. Thankfully, the checking is a lot less scary than I originally thought it would be. I am finding out that hockey is definitely not for wimpy mothers!

It has been exciting getting to know a new group of families, and reconnecting with some that Noah has not skated with since he was four years old. I am confident that many of these relationships we have formed will be long lasting. For that I am grateful for this sport.

Owen is in his second year of hockey, and a member of the Mite team. The team consists of over 30 skaters/families, and is organized craziness at the rink on Tuesday and Friday nights. There are all levels of abilities, and the coaches make it tons of fun for the kids. Owen has been a bit ill, so hockey has been hit or miss with him. He went back on Tuesday this week and had a ball. He has mentioned that he thinks he may want to play indoor soccer next year. This child is a mover and a shaker, so laid back skill-honing practice is not enough. He wants games!

Oh yeah, I don't believe we have mentioned how redneck hockey we are. We have an actual clothes dryer in our driveway that serves as a puck target. This free broken down target has been relocated from one Wright Street address to ours, and was escorted by Grandpa's big John Deere tractor that landed it in our driveway. Who needs nets?!

SJCS Kicks Against Cancer

This was being painted during Noah's last soccer game of this season. Two members of our family that our children never met, are on the board. May their legacies forever live on.

The Boy With The Long Neck

Owen has shared each day of Kindergarten at home. We are thankful that he is a sharing kind of kid, as we love to hear the classroom stories. The funniest one yet, was around day four of school. This is how the conversation went:

Beth: "O, did you have some free time today to explore Mrs. Evans toys and talk to some new friends?"

Owen: "Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you! I made friends with the boy with the long neck!"

First Day of School - 2010

Owen waiting with much anticipation, fighting back the tears for his first day of Kindergarten. Noah, going with the flow, looking cool, and way older than 11 for his first day of middle school.

The kindergartener and the middle schooler.

The Wright Street Gang. Our friends, The Blevins' have helped get Noah off to school since 3rd grade. This year, we are driving Mr. Zach and Mr. Ryan to school with Owen and Sam in tow. Noah is riding to school with Mrs. Blevins since she works in the same building. It is nice to have this time every morning with the school aged kids. They are so funny to listen to. They talk about their classrooms, their teachers, what's for lunch, hockey, baseball, what they did the night before, what happens on the bus on the way home, who gets in trouble, they sing, they dance, they raise the roof...oh my goodness...I never new you could have so much fun at 7:15 am.

The three amigos on their way through the Mannsville doors. The first day Owen went off with the two other boys without looking back. I cried all the way home with Sam asking me if I was okay. The next two weeks were not so easy for Owen. He cried, he screamed, he had me by the pants and would not let go. This was torture for both of us. My heart hurt leaving him every day like this. He tried to tell me that he could learn at home, he was sick, that two minutes away from me was to many...but, with the help of the Blevins' boys and the school staff, we turned the corner, and surprise, no more tears. I will never forget those weeks, and how he still wanted his Mommy. I couldn't tell him, but I wanted him to stay with me just as bad.

This first day of school felt like five days to me watching the clock, Sam asking when the boys would be home, and the dog following me since his buddies were gone. It all ended well, with the best moment I could witness with two brothers sharing their day while meeting up in the driveway. These minutes as a mom, visualizing the love, make my throat close with emotion.

And, then there was this...Owen removed his jacket with a huge smile as he proudly displayed the chocolate milk he was covered in for half a day. BOYS!!

This is Noah in September 2004 on his way to Mannsville for his first day of Kindergarten. Owen was born the following February. It is crazy how life changes and you are given exactly what you pray for.

Labor Day 2010

This Labor Day was a first for Sammy. He along with Owen, Maia, and Maddy Chamberlain rode on the SJ Chamber float in the Adams parade. He had his fill of lots of good treats from Mrs. Tonya that kept him occupied. Unfortunately, the tractor malfunction put a bit of a damper on the start of the day. But, like Daddy always does, he fixed it on the fly just in time to sneak Aunt Co Co and Mrs. Marlene's creation right in line where it needed to be. It was a fun way to end the summer.

We will miss you Uncle Dick

Richard H. Ladue

August 27, 2010

HENDERSON HARBOR, N.Y. — Richard H. Ladue, 62, of Henderson Harbor, a retired New York State Police senior investigator, passed away early Thursday morning in the village of Clayton.

The funeral Mass will be said 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, Grove Street, Adams, with Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in Brookside Cemetery, Watertown.

Calling hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home, 632 State St., Watertown.

Born July 1, 1948, in Watertown, a son of Hobart H. and Virginia Gotham Ladue, he graduated in 1967 from Watertown High School. He received his associate's degree in business administration in 1969 from Jefferson Community College. Following his education, he served with the Army for two years.

Mr. Ladue joined the New York State Police on Jan. 1, 1974. He was promoted to investigator on Nov. 1, 1984, and to the rank of sergeant on Nov. 10, 1988. He was promoted to senior investigator on Feb. 22, 1996, and retired from the New York State Police April 3 , 2007.

He married Jacqueline A. Petrie on Aug. 25, 1979, at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, Adams.

He enjoyed fishing, boating and the company of his family and friends.

Surviving are his wife, Jacqueline A., Henderson Harbor; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Maj. Richard H., Jr. and Jami, Colorado, and Chad B., Henderson Harbor; a daughter and her husband, Amy and Aaron Reid, New Hampshire; three grandchildren, Harrison (Bailey), Kaitlyn and Tristan; a sister, Sandra J. DeLand, Punta Gorda, Fla.; several nieces and nephews.

A brother, Bruce H., died July 13, 1982.

The family has requested that contributions be made to the Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, or to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences and thoughts of remembrance may be expressed at www.reedbenoit.com.

A pretty special Dad

The boys each had special items for Daddy on Father's Day that made Steve's day a memorable one. Noah made a jigsaw puzzle picture frame, Owen made a bluebird house with Poppy and GM to surprise Daddy with, and Sam wore a shirt all day that said "My Dad is a Rockstar". Isaac took on the role of protector to give Daddy the day off. He stood guard on the back forty for most of the day.

Since we are weeks later, the picture frame surrounds Noah and is proudly displayed on Daddy's dresser, the birdhouse has been hung and birds have built a nest in it, and the shirt...well, it is a bit stained, but when Sam put it on the other day, he said "This is Daddy's shirt".