Tour de Offerdahl - Ava's Big Day (Part 1)

Today is the big day - Baby Ava is being baptized! Good thing we all got some sleep last night, because we had a busy morning and afternoon getting everything ready.

I remember when we celebrated Addie's christening, Jerry was walking her around the house like a little princess in the baby bjorn, facing out, telling her "Let's survey our kingdom and make sure all our people are working." Well, Ava must be a princess too, because it was all hands on deck to get everything ready for her big night.

While Tanya was busy making lists and pulling out bowls for all the taco fixings for dinner, her parents came back over to help out. Linda brought the most beautiful flowers, and made an arrangement for the table on the front porch to welcome everyone.



Jerry got busy in the yard, which was the tough job...



...but I think he kinda liked it.



Bob's job was collecting Daphne and Max and taking them over the "The Farm" (Bob and Linda's house), where it would be a little more peaceful and they would have room to play away from the crowded house.



The dogs loaded up in the car just fine, but Addie didn't quite understand why she couldn't go.



That was because Tanya had another little adventure planned for her girls, and I got to help! We got the girls ready and slipped out to Babies 'R Us to get their hand and footprints done. We love arts and crafts!



Ava was so cute and so patient with the process, even when Tanya had to hold her in "Super-Baby" flying pose to make sure the hand print came out right.





Addison watched intently and waited for her turn. When it came, she did a super job with the first hand print, and then she figured out it was clay and started digging her fingers in it. After about 3 tries, we realized a second hand print just wasn't going to happen. They've been doing activities with textures at Addie's school, so she probably got a little confused.



But she still managed to get one good hand print, and then she did one footprint to even things out. The ceramics lady was so patient and nice! I can't wait for my next visit to see how the finished product turned out!

And for making such a good effort, Addie's got to drive the car in the entryway of the store. Driving is her new favorite thing according to Tanya. She'll actually get behind the wheel of Mom and Dad's car and try to put the key in the ignition. My little brother managed to do that once when we were kids, and almost drove me down a hill through an intersection! Thank goodness a gas station attendant helped my Mom catch the car, since she fell chasing after it. I think this car is a better option for Addie....



Soon after we got home, Jerry was manning the grill, cooking chicken for the taco bar.



Looks like it's time to get all of us ready for church!

Tour de Offerdahl - A Special Gift for a Special Baby

When Tanya was first pregnant with Addison, I wanted to do a scrapbook for her first year. I was tossing ideas around with my Mom (also a scrapbooker) and she told me about pre-made books she had seen that let the recipient simply add photos to already-designed pages. Perfect for a busy new mom! Well, I completed the book and gave it to Tanya at Addison's shower. It was an instant hit! I probably could have taken orders from every other mom there if I wanted to start a business.

Anyway, when Tanya announced Ava was on the way, I was busy at work and not as well organized as before. I didn't get the book done in time for her surprise shower in April, but I did finish it in time for Ava's christening. The minute she opened it, Tanya admitted she was hoping I would do another one but wasn't sure. Mission accomplished!

One thing I did better this time was remember to take some photos of the book and my page designs. The book itself I love, because it comes with a clay molding kit to do a hand or foot print that goes inside the cover of the book. Genius!



And here are just a few of my favorite pages...



This one is the first page of the book. The ALO letters are for Ava's name - Ava Lorraine Offerdahl.









Of course, Addison had so much fun helping open the gift, we used the wrapping paper to turn HER into a present!



Now the only question is when I'm going to have to make another book! Jerry, what do you think?

Tour de Offerdahl - Welcome to Portland!

It has been far too long since my last visit with my friend Tanya and her family, so I was thrilled to be invited up for her baby Ava's christening weekend. I even took a couple of days off from work so we could make it a longer visit. Too often, I get in late Friday night, leave early Sunday morning, and we barely get any "girl time." Not this trip! So I headed out to the trusty Burbank airport early this morning to start my journey.

Tanya and Jerry are always so kind and send me passes so I can fly free, which does involve some patience and flexibility. I figured the earlier I started out, the better chance I would get an open seat on a flight, and I was right! I was on the first plane out, and got an immediate connection through Oakland, so I was in Portland before lunch. Tanya's dad Bob brought Addison to the airport to meet me since Tanya and poor little Ava were at the doctors getting a pink eye check. Luckily no pink eye, but Ava was working on a sty in one eye and clogged tear ducts in another one so she would wake up with her beautiful blue eyes all crusty. Poor baby!

Tanya told me they were practicing my name with Addie and talking about my visit all week, but she was a little shy when we met at the airport. I made a big deal out of saying hello to her anyway, and by the time we got to the house, she was ready to hang out and play.

Addie is quite the climber! She loves the slide, and enjoyed going down feet first, head first, or even walking back up the slide. All the things I remember liking to do as a kid!





And one of her favorite things is playing in her kitchen. I think she has a career in front of her.





We also had some fun blowing bubbles, although Addie had more fun pouring the bubble stuff out on the table and finger painting with it.



The biggest thrill of the day was meeting Ava for the first time. She is such a peaceful, happy baby, even though she was congested and dealing with crusty eyes. What a little trooper! And she loves anyone who will holder her! If she started getting a little fussy, I'd pick her up and she would just hang over my shoulder and calm right down. SO different from Addie, who cried the minute I would hold her and only wanted Momma when she was an infant!





Once Tanya got the girls fed, it was time to get them down for a nap. That meant Momma and Auntie Meg actually got to have a quiet lunch together and enjoy some girl time! And Tanya got to share plans for our first adventure of the weekend - a trip out on the boat!

Jerry is such a trooper! Gone all week, comes home tired from working hard, but was still ready to take his girls and guests out for a spin around the Willamette River. He gets my vote for Dad of the Year!







Tanya's parents Bob and Linda came with us too. They brought the most wonderful munchies, and Addie just loves her Grandpa and Grandma!



Our day ended with a beautiful sunset, then it was off to bed. Tomorrow is Ava's big day, and we're all going to need our energy...

I Went to a Fight and a Hockey Game Broke Out

It's one of the oldest hockey jokes in the book, but tonight as the Kings rookies took on the Phoenix Coyotes prospects, it also couldn't have been more true. We've got some talented kids, but most of them proved tonight just how much they have to learn.

It's a difficult scenario. Throw together a bunch of guys who have only known each other for a short time, that haven't really played together as a team, and then add the motivation of wanting to make an impression on the coaching staff. What you get is a bunch of individual efforts of varying success and little to no team play. Tonight, that meant we got our butts handed to us 6-1.

To a man, everyone played a pretty immature game. Virtually no passing, just grab the puck and race to the other end of the ice and and try to find the net. And if a guy from the opposing team got in your way, drop the gloves and try to punch his lights out, because if you can't score you've gotta show the coach you're tough. By my count, there were at least 6 official fights, not to mention all the additional pushing and shoving when things didn't go our way.

The biggest thug of the bunch, and probably the biggest disappointment for me tonight, was Colten Teubert. He's a big physical defenceman with a hair trigger temper, and he managed to get in the first fight of the night, AND earn himself a 10 minute game misconduct. He thought he was defending his teammate Thomas Hickey, who got laid out like a rug headed through the neutral zone with the puck. Here's the problem. It was a clean check on Hickey. The guy defending him just had better position. But Teubert was looking for an excuse to brawl and he got it. The worst part is, he was mouthing off to the ref AFTER the fight broke out, which made the situation worse. If he thinks he can play with that little composure in the NHL, he's gonna have a very short career. Spending all your playing time in the penalty box doesn't help your team. Pick your battles, kid.

Kyle Clifford also got a game misconduct and was involved in at least 2 fights. While not as openly argumentative a Teubert, he spent a little too much time running his mouth as well. Kyle, see my feedback above.

The two pleasant surprises of the night were our Russian prospects, Voynov and Loktionov. Voynov has the most balanced game of all the defencemen, although he needs work on releasing his shot from the point quicker on the power play. Granted, we only had 2 power plays all night, so not like he had much time to work on that. He also kept solid positioning throughout the game, and he manages the puck well.

Loktionov is gonna be a star, plain and simple. If anyone had bothered to pass to him, he probably would have had at least a couple of goals. He was hitting the right spots, headed for the net, but just couldn't quite make it happen. He'll be one to watch as he comes up through the organization.

On the plus side, it was great to see an actual GAME, which only makes me more ready for the season to start. And lucky for me, FROZEN FURY is just around the corner!

All the Kings Men...Almost

I headed back out to Toyota Sports Center to check the out the rookies again this morning. Traffic was especially light due to the holiday, so I got there early. I was lucky I did....



The Kings were working out! I LOVE this!! Camp doesn't officially start until next week, but everyone was already getting in some time together on the ice. I saw....

Brownie....



Kopi....



Greener....



Rob Scuderi (aka Scuds), our free agency acquisition from the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Welcome Scuds!!



And finally, Westie, sporting the most perfectly symmetric tape job I've ever seen...



But the big question of the morning....where was Drew?

Kings Rookie Camp Report

Summer is officially over, and it's time for hockey season! The rookie prospects reported to camp today for their first public practice at Toyota Sports Center. This time last year, a newly drafted 18 year-old named Drew Doughty took the ice and blew everyone away, making the team shortly after. Speaking of Drew, I actually caught him checking out a little bit of practice (he's in the baseball cap behind the glass).



Kings fans know Drew is special, and today proved just how special he is. While there were some great performances, I don't see any surprises in the Doughty mode happening this year. But that just means our minor league team, the Manchester Monarchs, is going to have a tremendous year. This organization has some talent coming up the ranks! Makes me proud to be a Kings fan.





And I just love that the dots are back! Coach Murray's patented defensive skills system strikes again. Start 'em early, coach!



Here's a quick breakdown on who I liked.

Thomas Hickey - his time in junior served him well, as did his experience as the captain of Team Canada's World Junior squad. He's got moves, he's getting bigger, and he's closer to cracking the roster. But my bet still says another year in Manchester, where he should excel.



Viatcheslav Voynov - Thank God the last name is easier than the first! Solid puck handler, very good skater, solid size-wise but could get a little bigger. Give him another year in Manchester and he'll be ready as well. On the personal side, I like hockey hair, but his is so long and straight it makes him look like a girl. Good thing he doesn't play like one.



Andrei Loktionov - LOVE this kid! He won the Memorial Cup (the junior equivalent of Stanley) with the Windsor Spitfires last year. He's SO FAST every time I tried to take a picture he was blur. I caught him standing still in a stroke of pure luck! So strong on the puck, and he's got this intensity in his eyes I love. He's a little undersized for an NHL center at 5' 11", but he's got time to grow. If (and it's a big IF) anyone can crack the NHL roster this year, my money is on Jimmy Neutron (his nickname in Windsor).



My dark horse is Brandon Kozun - he's a little guy (5' 8"), but he doesn't play like it. He reminds me a bit of Oscar Moller. Fast skater, good puck handler, and not afraid to rough it up with guys a head taller if he can hang on to the puck. He's a fighter and hard worker, and that's going to take him a long way. Will it get him to the NHL? Only time will tell. But I'm gonna be rooting for him to make it.



Last but not least we have Dennis McCauley, who was participating on tryout. He plays for Northeastern (NCAA), and was clearly behind a lot of the other guys. But at 6' 3" and 205 lbs, he's a big left winger, and lord knows the Kings can use those. If he can work on his skating, he might have a chance. Plus, he's nice eye candy. OK, not a good reason to keep him around, but an honest one.



Special props to Jen and Bri for being color-coordinated so early on a Sunday morning! And for scaring up the player rosters so I knew who I watching.



We'll be back for another around tomorrow, boys! Time to stretch it out and get some rest....

Little Things Matter

Earlier this week, my girlfriend Stacia was in town with her husband and we got together for dinner. I missed her the previous weekend because of all the Hockey Fest goings-on, and was glad to catch up with them before they headed back to Northern California.

One of the many, many things I absolutely love about Stacia is that she understands the power of small but thoughtful personal gestures. When I was living with my roommates and traveling a lot for work, I always loaned her my bedroom if she was visiting while I was away. I would come home and find a handwritten thank you note on the pillow. Who does that any more? She does.

So back in May, when she was here for Molly's wedding, she forgot to pack socks to wear with her sneakers when we went to Disneyland. She called me the morning we were going and asked to borrow a pair, so I threw them in my purse and took them. We had a great day at Disney celebrating her birthday, and I completely forgot about the socks.

So when she presented me with this beautiful box at dinner the other night, I had no idea what was coming....



...until I opened it. She bought me new socks to replace the pair she borrowed! I couldn't help but laugh.



Friends do things for each other all the time without needing or expecting a thank you. But when that unexpected thanks comes, you realize what a true friend you have. And that makes these magic socks.