Sunday was the annual Croatian Hall Christmas party in Welland. Tadhg and Sadhbh have gone every year and always look forward to dancing to the Smudge Fundys band and meeting Santa. This year was no different and they both enjoyed the party, meeting their family and of course getting a present from Santa.
Tadhg and Sadhbh went to Tadhg's old school, St Anns, on Saturday for a Christmas market and a chance to have breakfast with Santa. Sadhbh was really excited at the chance to meet Santa for the first time this Christmas. She was ready to confirm that she was on the Nice list and to give Santa her Christmas list. Tadhg didn't join the queue to meet Santa and was more interested in playing with his old school friends.
Tadhg has become a big fan of WWE Wrestling and often watches the shows at home. This weekend the WWE came to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Mom and dad surprised Tadhg with tickets to the Monday Night Raw event. Tadhg was so excited to go and had been counting down the days. The event opened with Tadhg's favourite wrestler Sincara winning. Tadhg saw most of his wrestling heroes including Sheamus, Goldberg and Kevin Owens. It was a late night and Tadhg and dad arrived home around midnight with some great memories and stories for Tadhg to share with his friends.
The St. Catharines Santa Claus parade was on Sunday after Tadhg's hockey game. Tadhg played a great game and scored his first goal in hockey. His coach gave him the game puck to take home as a memento. The game was downtown so straight afterwards they were able to walk across and grab a good spot to watch the annual Santa Claus parade. Unfortunately it was the coldest day of the year so far. Snow pants, hats, gloves, blankets and even hot chocolates were not enough to keep the cold out. Tadhg and Sadhbh were ready to leave even before Santa and Mrs Claus arrived to mark the end of the parade.
Tadhg is loving his first hockey season and on Saturday got to wear the golden jersey as the player of the game from last week. Tadhg works hard every game and was recognized for working up and down the ice to support his team. Tadhg was delighted to get his first player of the game award and proudly wore the jersey during the hockey practice.
Tuesday was mom's official birthday. Celebrations started in Montana's where they were joined by Tadhg and Sadhbh's friends Maximus and Myla and their mom. Mom got to wear the birthday moose hat and hear the happy birthday song from the staff. Then it was back home for the chocolate birthday cake where Tadhg and Sadhbh helped mom blow out her candles.
Tadhg's team, the Majors, had their first hockey game on Sunday. Tadhg had been waiting for this for a long time and was excited, and a little nervous, prior to the game. It was great to see the team kitted out in their blue jerseys. Tadhg played well and got an assist in his first ever game! Tadhg (and dad) are looking forward to the long season ahead.
It has become a birthday tradition to spend a night in the Great Wolf Lodge and Tadhg's 9th birthday was no exception. Straight after Tadhg's first hockey practice on Saturday, the family packed up and headed to the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. Tadhg and Sadhbh enjoyed the water park on Saturday before finishing off the day with Story Time in the lobby. Sunday was more water park and MagiQuest (running around the hotel with a wand on a scavenger hunt!). Sadhbh was pampered during her spa day getting her nails done and a hair extension (just in time for her school photo on Monday!).
Tadhg attended a try it out ice hockey event a few weeks ago and loved it so much that he signed up for the next hockey season. Tadhg was drafted by the Majors team and had his first practice session on Saturday. Tadhg was so excited to start and felt ready after a session of power skating lessons. Hockey practice proved to be a bit harder than power skating and Tadhg was sweating at the end of the hour but still smiling and looking forward to game day!
Tadhg and Sadhbh experienced their first St Patrick's Day parade in Toronto last weekend. Even though St Patrick's Day is Thursday, Toronto held their parade on the previous Sunday. The family stayed in the Windsor Arms hotel on the Saturday night and enjoyed a swim in the warm, spa pool on Saturday night and Sunday morning before the parade.
Tadhg and dad arrived at Bloor street early to save a spot for the parade but appeared to be the only ones expecting the parade. Undeterred they setup their seats and waved to the passing pedestrians and cars.
Eventually the parade started and Sadhbh and mom joined in the festivities. It was not the most well attended parade but (despite Sadhbh's expression!) everyone enjoyed seeing the floats from each Irish county pass by.
Tadhg's favourite part of the parade was at the end when the 'Town of Ginge' float passed by filled with ginger haired folks. Tadhg showed off his own ginger locks and was rewarded with a cheer and a green bowler hat!
Before the parade Sadhbh enjoyed a manicure after her swim in the spa pool. She likes being pampered like a little princess.
After the festivities ended the family took their by now annual trip to the Royal Ontario Museum and marveled at the dinosaur fossils, were scared by the Egyptian mummies and scampered around the Chinese architecture exhibit. The perfect end to a fun day in Toronto.
