Ice Hockey

Ryan gave our Australia presentation to his class on Wednesday this week.  He was very excited to tell everyone about Australia, and a prac teacher he has on Thursdays, Mr K had done some travelling through Australia a few years ago, so liked talking to Ryan about that.  Ryan liked that on two fronts – he enjoyed talking about Australia, and there are only about 3 male teachers at Clearsky Elementary!  I went up to school to help Ryan with his presentation, and it was lots of fun.  They were most interested in hearing about the Australian animals, and our money, which is very different to theirs.  However, I didn’t really think on the way over, and only had coins left in my wallet.  However, we have a poster which shows the Australian notes, so that has to do.

Luke did an extra Tae Kwon Do class on Thursday night, in preparation for the grading on Friday night.  The grading started at 7pm, and we were done by 8pm.  The boys both did a really good job.  There were only three Little Dragons who were asked to go for their yellow belts, of which Ryan was one.  Little Dragons are 6 years and under, so they were very cute, going through their moves.  There were more students going for their yellow belt with Luke, and he also did a really good job.

A lot of parents attended for the grading, and Master Lee gave a bit of a talk prior to the grading, informing us all that they had actually already passed the tests that they had to do to progress to the next belt. They do that in class, when they receive their stripes for mastering each component of kicks, punches and the pledge they need to learn. So Friday night was a celebration of their achievements, through a demonstration. This was news to Luke and I, who had told me that he thought he was‘probably not going to pass anyway!’ However, both the boys had worked really hard, and were proud of their yellow belts.

On Friday, it was a beautiful sunny day, and we decided to go into Denver Zoo, with Mindy and Ethan.  We had a really nice day – Mindy had a cart which we pulled the boys around in at the zoo (this was obviously what everyone does), and we checked out the sights.  It was a fairly nice zoo considering it was in the middle of the city, but it is difficult to top Taronga Zoo, on the harbour!  We took a picnic lunch, and had a ride on the carousel.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the monkeys and the elephants.  We will have to go back another time with Phil, Luke and Ryan, but there is also a zoo down at Colorado Springs, which is not far from us either. We are really spoilt for choice.

On Saturday, we had tickets to go and see the Colorado Avalanche play at the Pepsi Centre, in Denver.  We decided to take the Light Rail into the city, as it meant we didn’t have to battle the traffic into Denver.  There is a park and ride not far from our place, and we got there in plenty of time. It got really busy on the train, with everyone going into the Ice Hockey.  We met another Australian on the train who had married an American girl, and been here for about ten years.  There was also a teacher from Mesa Middle School, where Phil teaches, on the train with us, so it was nice to meet her.  It is a small world sometimes!  The ice hockey was lots of fun, and quite an experience.  Within the first five minutes there was a fight, and the refs don’t really try to stop it – it is all part of the entertainment.  They had some interviews with the players, up on the big screen between the 3 periods, and a lot of them are missing teeth.  Most of them are paid over a million dollars a season, but I guess it is pointless getting any dental work done, until your career is over!  Saying that, they are great on skates, and you hardly realise that they are on the ice (except, of course, it is cold!)  It was a good match between Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild, but unfortunately the Avalanche were not able to change their losing streak – they lost 6-4.  It was interesting in the last few minutes, they put on a complete attacking team, to try and get some goals, I guess, and we were wondering where the goalie had gone.  Apparently, it must be an option to take off the goalie and put on an extra player, if you want to.

We got the Light Rail home, and Phil left the navigating to me, which is not a very good option sometimes!  I got us on a train which was going in the right direction, but on the wrong line, and of course, by the time we realised, we were quite a few stops gone.  Anyway, we got off, and got on the correct line – but one of the positives of getting lost, was that we ran into a leprechaun!  It was a guy who was dressed up for a St Patricks day party, and he looked really good. He had a beard, and was on a skateboard at the station.  Quinn was fascinated by him, and had to go up and have a chat.  He was a nice guy called Seamus, in his early 20’s, and I think he was happy that someone was giving him some attention, as he had obviously put in a fair bit of effort with his costume.  Quinn wanted to know where the pot of gold was, as Avery had told him that for St Patricks Day, if you caught a leprechaun, they could tell you where the pot of gold was.  Seamus didn’t know, but asked Quinn if he found out, to tell him also! 

On Sunday, we went to SoccerStop to get the boys soccer uniforms.  They are playing for the Colorado Storm, and their uniform pack was two shirts – must be a home and away strip, one is blue, and one is white, and they have blue shorts.  They are nice uniforms, and the boys really like them.   We had to go to Centennial to find a SoccerStop, and there was an Indian supermarket in the mall.  I have been able to find some stuff that I usually cook with, but have not been able to find pappadams – but they had them here!  I also got some Patak’s Tandoori Paste and another curry paste, so I am pretty happy with that.  It is the small things.