Soccer!

Today was Aiden's first day of spring soccer!  Amazingly the snow had all melted off of the fields, and it was a gorgeous day in the low 60's.  Scott had signed up to help assistant coach, but the head coach for our team now has scheduling conflicts, so head coach it is for Daddy Dunbar! :)

Warming up..Aiden is in the pants

Following Coach Scott around the field

trying some shots at the goal..big brother Tyson helped Dad too:)

 Aiden was a maniac on the field!  You can really tell he has been in sports for a couple years...last year soccer, and 2 full years of hockey...this boy is serious about competing!:)  He was lighting fast and always going after the ball!  He scored 6 out of his team's 7 goals, and that goal he had the assist as he kicked it back to his teamate who was running behind  him, so she could make a goal...sweet boy:)

Aiden is headed down the field

one of his 6 goals!

check out that form!

Check out the determination on his face...not to mention his tongue hangin out of his mouth:)

kicking the ball in play

giving high fives after the game

It was a great game, and his team looks to have a lot of potential! :) Can't wait to see what the season will bring!  Way to go Wez...and Coach Scott! :)

Denver Trip!

Last weekend was the 2nd annual Mite trip to Denver to watch a Colorado Avalanche game!  Aaron and Laura Broten (head coach for the mites hockey teams)  arranges everything from the buses we ride down in to the tickets to the hockey game and rooms at the hotel.  We had so much fun last year, we couldn't pass up on the great opportunity again this year!  Since there are so many people that go down the hockey tickets and motel room are at a great reduced rate!  Our hockey tickets (in the first level) would have been $100/seat if we would have went by ourselves, and were only $50/seat with the group rate...awesome!!  Not to mention the memories that the boys make getting to hang out with their friends, as well as make new friends, with all of the kids during the long weekend. 

 

The buses (2 big Greyhound..with tv screens and most importantly...bathrooms:) left the Thunderdome at 12:00pm on Friday.  We drove straight to Loveland where we stopped for dinner (to wait out Friday night rush hour) before heading on in to Denver.  There were several restaurants to choose from, and about 30 of us went to the Red Robin.  The kids were more than ready to get off of the bus...as were the parents...lets just say that the bar was a little overwhelmed when we first walked in:)  After a delicious supper it was on to Denver and our hotel so the kids could get some swimming time in before the pool closed.

Tyson with Caleb Merchen on his shoulders.  The big boys had a blast playing "chicken"

 

We completely took over the pool:)  Thankfully, we were the only ones in there so the kids had a blast playing around until 10pm when it closed. They all then headed up to play knee hockey for another hour before settling down for the night:) The next morning one of the buses took a few of us to the Players Bench, which is a huge warehouse full of hockey and Lacrosse stuff!  Let's just say, it was like heaven to the kids:)  After a quick stop back at the hotel to pick up our things it was off to the hockey game.  The buses left at 11:30 am to head in to the Pepsi Center for the game at 1pm.

 

Aiden waiting patiently to head out to the Pepsi Center

Tyson getting excited as well

Don't forget about Mom and Dad!

Standing just outside the Pepsi center

just a few of the crazy bunch of kids:)

Just inside the doors...looking towards the escalators

Their awesome HUGE screen!

We were able to get tickets with the Bartlings and Merchens, so all of the kids sat in one row with the parents behind them

Colorado Avalanche warming up before the game

Tyson, Landon, and Caleb...they all wore their yellow Thunder Jersey's...several people noticed and commented on them which was really cool.  Plus they were easy to keep track of:)

Displaying the giant jersey just before the starting line up

Avalanch starting line up

They displayed Mount Rushmore during the singing of the National Anthem...really cool!

Opening puck drop

Aiden and Colton playing around during one of the period breaks

 The game was over around 4pm, and the bus took us back to the hotel so we could chill for the rest of the evening.  The kids, of course, headed straight to the pool!

The "big kids"  coming up with a plan

all waiting patiently for Mike Bartling to throw his Fireman's coin into the water, so they could dive for it and see who could come up with it

Parker, Aiden, and Colton

After a couple of hours in the pool we finally convinced them to come out for Pizza and a little knee hockey in the hallway.

all of the pictures of knee hockey are blurry, because they were all moving so fast:)

 Mike and Jennifer so kindly let their room become the grown-ups hang out!  It was great, we could visit while the kids were right out in the hallway playing their little hearts out! :)

 

The weekend flew by, and was so much fun!  We were all exhausted from 2 late nights, and pretty much going non-stop.  Sunday morning the buses left the hotel at 10am.  We made a quick stop in Loveland again, so we could check out Dick's Sporting Goods...for hockey stuff, of course:) and grab lunch before loading up on the bus again and heading to the Thunderdome.  We pulled into the Thunderdome right around 6pm.  I'm pretty sure the boys were asleep before their heads even hit the pillows that night:)

Spring Concert

Piedmont Valley Elementary had their annual Spring Concert on Friday.  Grades 3-6 get their turn to entertain their parents since the K-2nd graders entertained for the Holiday Concert back in December.  They did a wonderful job and put on a great show!

 

Tyson is in the back row...2nd in from the right

3rd graders

 

He was pretty serious, but did a wonderful job singing his little heart out. :)  Great job buddy!

Mite Jamboree

 

 I can't believe another season of hockey has come to an end!  It seems like just yesterday the boys were heading back out on to the ice to start another season...that was over 5 months ago, and last weekend they completed another season with the Mite Jamboree at the Thunderdome! :(  Both boys continue to amaze us with their love for the game, and amazing improvements they make every year!  Aiden has grown leaps and bounds as a hockey player.  It's hard to believe he couldn't even stand on the ice a short 2 years ago when he started his hockey journey!  Tyson is a true natural at the game and is amazing to watch out on the ice!    Both boys had a great weekend...each scoring several goals for their respective teams!

Aiden is green #6...afterall he is our "Little Wez" :)

 The boys are so quick on the ice it's almost impossible to get good pictures of them during the game...the majority end up blurry:(  Tyson is downright impossible to get an action shot of.:)

Tyson, Landon, and Caleb waiting to get out on the ice for their last game of the season as mites

Aiden waiting to get his tournament puck

Toby and Aiden...these 2 became quite the buddies..they loved playing together.  After every goal (no matter which one scored) they would high-five and hug each other:)

Tyson's Thunder Gold team for the tournament

Tyson will be a Squirt when the season starts up again in October!  It is bitter sweet for sure!  To see how much he's grown over the last 4 years is amazing, and we can't wait to watch him move on to the Squirt level, but the Mites are where it all started and has provided us with so many wonderful memories:) Aiden will be a Mite next season, and without a doubt will continue to amaze us with his improvements and love for the game!  We are so proud of both of them!  Love you guys!  Can't wait to see what next season will bring!