I'm a pretty lucky chick!

Sorry once again about the lack of updates, but I'll catch you all up now! Starting with our trip to Austria!

The trip was absolutely amazing. We had good, sunny, weather most of the time and with the Scherenbergs help, were able to navigate Kitzbuhel as if we were locals! We have constantly said since the trip how different it would have been without them. From recomendations from Bea and Oli before we left to Bärbel and Volker helping us navigate the slopes and find the best restaurants, we were able to have a really great vacation. We ended up purchasing a 4-day slope pass and made the most of it! I struggled a bit on the slopes but thanks to patience from Bärbel (a former ski instructor!) and Kev, I was able to make it down each run. I took the last day off to relax and let Kev run around with Shannon and John for some adventures.

The 4 of us with the Scherenbergs

One of my favorite parts of the ski vacay was heading to the apres ski pub, the Londoner. This pub is literally meant for right after the slopes, as people come in with their ski boots on and get wild for a couple of hours. There is a live band until about 7:00 or 7:30 and after that, the pub clears pretty quick. We couldn't pass up on the opportunity to drink out of the 2 Liter "Das Boot" our first night there!

We also dove right in to the Austrian food and enjoyed every bit of it. From the schnitzel and cordon bleu to the dumplings and different soups, we were once again thankful for the Scherenberg's recommendations of food choices! Yum!!

My "Tris": spinach dumpling, cheese dumpling, and a big noodle with filling

Downtown Kitzbuhel

We stayed on the 2nd floor!

 We had a tentative plan to head back to Hamburg on Friday, but decided to instead take advantage of the fact that we were in Austria and went to Salzburg for a night. We enjoyed some more awesome food, a spectacular view from the top of the Festung Hohensalzburg, and had a pretty wild night bar hopping our way around. We didn't expect to be on the road by 8 a.m. Saturday (especially after a bit of a late night!) but after getting woken up by the fire alarms at 7 a.m. we hit the road and were happy to get back to Hamburg in the late afternoon!

Mozart lived here once



Festung Hohensalzburg

View from Festung Hohensalzburg

She went to the bigger size next, promise

slightly drunk and really pumped about potato salad

We've been pretty busy since being back from the trip as well! The Alster downtown froze solid enough for people to skate on it, so Kev had a couple promotions down there. After a 3-on-3 promotion, we stayed to skate a bit and take in Hamburgs view from the Alster. It was pretty insane down there, as they expected over a million people to come skate during the 3 day time.

so many people walking/skating on the Alster!

Kev has also since had his Birthday. He had a game on his Birthday so we and the Curry's had a little dinner for him here on Wednesday. He got a couple cards and small gifts from some fans, which was pretty neat. And as part of his gift, when we get back to Markham, we'll be renting a Corvette or 1 of a few other "exotic imports" for a day. I think I may be more excited about that one than he is!

Kev's Birthday "cake"

Last weekend, we had a bridal shower/bachelorette party for one of the girls (Christina) on the team that is getting married this summer. It is always great to get all the chicks together outside of games and it was a blast. Christina has 3 friends from home in town also, so it was awesome that they could be a part of it! We learned a German bachelorette party tradition which involved taking shots so we were happy to participate.

Christina's throne, wishing well, and panty basket

Yesterday was a pretty scary day at work! While at the zoo, Hans was running, tripped and hit his mouth pretty hard on a rock. The poor little guy ended up having to get surgery last night on the upper part of his teeth/mouth and a few stiches in both lips. It was pretty scary, but thankfully it is overall pretty minor and since he's so young, not with any permanent teeth! I haven't seen him since he left the zoo headed to the hospital, but I'm sure he will look pretty cute without those 2 front teeth.

As for hockey, the Freezers won the last two games! Hopefully this slump is over. Kev has a game in Koln tonight and leaves again Thursday for a 5 day/3 game road trip. Bring on some W's guys.

Personally, I had been in a bit of a lazy funk lately (hence no blog posts!). I had been sort of just going through the motions, lazy with workouts, and just a bit of a complainer! After getting out for a nice long run today, I was able to come to a pretty awesome realization. By the time we go home, I'll have lived in Germany (and took the step of moving in with Kevin!), learned some German, been to Paris, met some amazing chicks from the team, been to 3 different concerts (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toby Keith, and as of tomorrow, 3 Doors Down), been to Austria and skied in a world known resort, and met one of the most unbelieveable families I ever have (the Scherenbergs). And thats only been in 6 months, we have 2 left! Not to mention next year! So as the title of this post says, today I realized... I'm a pretty lucky chick!! Tschüss!

I know I know... I'm due for an update!

Sorry that I have been brutal with this blog this month! After the New Years hangover wore off, we just weren't up to a whole lot so I didn't want to bore you with lame updates! And then, I just got a bit out of the blogging habit after that. But I'm back! And now there is lots of time to recap. So I'll start from the beginning... of the new year.

The New Year's party was a complete wasted fest as suspected. The team had rented out the entire bottom half of a restaurant, which was really nice and we all just stayed there the whole night. I ended up taking zero pictures but Shannon has an entire camera full of some really embarassing ones. After having been in Hannover for New Year's last year, I knew a little of what to expect with the midnight fireworks, but it was even more insane by us this year. The air was so foggy with firework smoke and so loud with the bangs that it really did feel as if we were in a bit of a war zone! It's such a cool thing that they do that here. Dangerous! But cool.

Like I said before, after New Years, it was pretty boring around this place, we didn't get up to a whole lot. One of Kevin's best buddies and old teammate from Hannover, DJ Jelitto and his fiance came up for a day trip the week after New Years. It worked out perfect too that it just happened to fall on one of my days off. We go to show them a bit around downtown Hamburg and made them dinner before they were on the road again back to Hannover. A short trip, but a pretty awesome one... at least we thought so!

We do have a bit of big news to share. We are coming back to Hamburg next year! The Freezers have picked up the option to have Kevin back next year and we couldn't be happier! We've known this for a little while, but it was finally made public last week. Complete with a cheesy photo in the newspaper of Kev and I by the Alster. I will also continue working for the Scherenbergs next year which I am really excited about! 

Speaking of hockey, the team is currently in 5th place in the league. More importantly, what I know all of you are dying to hear about... it was "ladies' night" at the game this past Friday. The male strippers were not nearly as entertaining as the chicks from men's night, but it was still pretty funny to see. When the guys were in the stands during intermission, I actually felt a bit akward and embarrassed for them as they were walking aimlessly without shirts trying to find women to dance with. Still, the on ice lap dance was pretty great, especially when one of the dancers pulled his undies just low enough to show a little crack! I forgot my phone that game and my camera battery was dead so I don't have anything good of my own to show of that night. Everything below is from the Freeers facebook page!

Kev has a game in Berlin today and I actually have to get going because Shannon and I are leaving in about 15 minutes to go to it. We are headed to the game and then spending the night there with the guys to explore Berlin tomorrow for their day off. I'll have a lot to write about then! And my camera battery is charging now, so I'll finally be taking some pictures of my own again! Hopefully, when we come back, Kevin will be able to call himself an uncle. His brother Matt and his wife, Shannon, are due to have their baby any time now!Enjoy your Sunday! Tschüss!

Less than a week will be the New Year!

We had a pretty fantastic, jam-packed busy weekend (which is why it is almost noon and Kev is still in bed!). Kevin was away Thursday and Friday for a game against Mannheim (won in a shootout) so I was on my own to play Christmas music and bake and cook for the weekend. Since they bussed to Mannheim, Kev didn't get home until after 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning. He didn't sleep well on the bus and couldn't fall asleep when he got home right away which wasn't great since I then got him up at 9:45 a.m. to go to the Christmas Eve skate organized by one of the other girls.

I was dangling all over Kev before this shot

It wasn't mandatory to go to the skate but we were glad we did because it turned out to be so much fun! I even got out there with a stick in hand and passed the puck around and took some shots on net. Hard to believe that after almost 4 years around Kev, this was my first time messing around with a hockey stick. Actually, it was probably only my second or third time even on the ice since we first started dating! It was so much fun though and there was some food after and a secret santa exchange for the kids. We had to leave the skate early in order to make one last trip to the grocery store before they closed for the weekend. The stores here closed at 1 p.m. Christmas Eve and didn't open again until today, so we really had to plan in advance! Nothing done last minute around here! Kev napped in the afternoon and I got things ready around the apartment for our guests that evening. I cooked a ham for the first time since we were having another couple over for dinner. After dinner 2 more couples came over for drinks, snacking, and to play some silly games. Even though we all miss our family this time of year, it's great to get together with all of the other couples that don't have family visiting as well.

Kev and some teammates

Christmas card worthy!

Christmas day we got up to have a mini-Christmas together before we headed to the Scherenbergs for brunch. It was really nice to spend Christmas with them and we got to experience a very typical German brunch. There was a cheese plate, bread plate, fish plate (cooked but cold), a cold cut plate, along with different spreads and fish salads. I don't eat food like this often so I was excited to try everything and I really enjoyed it! Kev isn't a big seafood (especially cold) fan, but Oliver made him some scrambled eggs and bacon so all was good! Han's really loved the Freezers gear we gave him and we came home with an amazing Hamburg book. We were there up until Kev's practice in the afternoon. When Kev got home later, we had about a 3-4 hour date with Skype which was absolutely amazing. We were able to talk to all of Kev's family and all of mine. We even got to see my dad, brother, Suzzanne, and Sheridan open their presents from us on camera! Pretty cool, what would we do without Skype!? We really missed everyone but were lucky to be around so many great people this time of the year.

Hans gets picture shy but loved his Freezers stuff!

Ida, the next Mrs. Clause

She is so precious!!!

Yesterday was a bank holiday here as well, so the Freezers had a game. We were pretty lucky it was a home game too. The guys won and are alone in 4th place in the DEL now. Kev has 2 more games yet this week, one tomorrow and Friday. I have the rest of today and tomorrow off and it is back to work for me on Thursday. My classes have been on break this week also, which has been a nice vacation so far. Anyway, that's all for here! I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day for all you Canadians! Tschüssy!

All I want for Christmas... is the German language to be easier!

Kevin had an article in the monthly arena magazine this past month. After sending some home for family members, I thought I would try to translate it without typing it all into a translation website. Not only for our family to actually be able to read it, but also because I thought it would be good practice for me! Well, I'm more than 2 hours into my process and I only have a bit over 1/3 of it done. As much as my German improves with my class and spending time with Hans, this attempt was quite the awakening that I am still extremely raw and basic. I don't even know more than one tense to speak in! Not to mention that there are so many different ways to use a word and specific ways to have a saying. I'll keep trying for everyone but in the meantime.. here are some photos of the article!

 

I have already been able to attend 2 Christmas parties... in addition to the markets, so we are still feeling festive over here. Over a week ago, we had the team's party with all of the sponsors, team management, players, wives/gfs, and even some fans I think. It was at a beautiful hotel near the Reeperbahn and was such a great time! It started with speeches by the head of the fan club and some of the management (which they translated in English also so we knew what was going on). The speeches were all extremely nice and everyone seems very proud and supportive of the team. They had an amazing spread of food and after the speeches were done, the drinking began! Being a "work" party, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was so much fun and even a little wild!

Kevin's back-up career to hockey: a rockstar

Last night, I went to one of the other girls, houses for a Christmas party/Cookie exchange. Her home was beautifully decorated and there was a great spread of food and wine for us all. We had a gift exchange and all in all a great time together! Her husband, Serge, made an appearance to serve us our champagne.

what a trooper!

Our food and cookie spread at the end of the night

I'm by myself tonight since the boys are playing in Berlin. They are currently in a 3-way tie for 4th place in the league. The standings are pretty close, but hopefully we get a big W tonight! We have a pretty busy rest of the week coming up as well also! Kevin leaves Thursday for his game on Friday against Mannheim. Saturday morning, we have a Christmas Eve skate/potluck with the rest of the players and families. Saturday night we are having another couple over for dinner and drinks. Sunday is Christmas (holy moly, already!!) and we are headed over to the Scherenbergs for brunch before Kev's practice that aftenoon. And the day after Christmas, the guys have a home game. Busy busy! I still have a tiny bit of Christmas shopping left and lots of cooking and baking to do! The Christmas markets close on Friday as well, so I'm obviously dying to get down there at least once more before they close. I don't know what I'm going to do without them when January rolls around! Anyway, have a great week everyone, tschüss!

And since I may not blog again this week,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

FROHE WEIHNACHTEN!