Sunday, 9:30 PM

With frost on the windowpanes and the children in bed, Kyle and I settled in on the couch to prematurely fall asleep share some romance amongst the glow of the television.

“We’re in Canada next weekend for Twelve’s hockey tournament,” Kyle reminded me, romantically, as I turned on the subtitles, romantically, to Only Murders in the Building.

“Oh, right,” I said.

“We need to leave the house at 8:30 sharp on Friday,” he said.

“Right,” I said.

Kyle paused the show and turned to look me straight in the eyes.

“Sharp,” he said.  “We need to be in the car at 8:30 AM on the button or we’ll miss the first game.”

“Got it.”  I leaned over and took back the remote.  “Do you think we should go Thursday night, just to make sure we’re there on time?”

“Probably,” Kyle said.

Friday, 6:45 AM

Having not gone Thursday night just to make sure we were there on time, Kyle’s alarm beeped bright and early from its familiar perch on his bedside table Friday morn.  He rolled over and kissed the back of my neck.

“Remember,” he whispered, “we have a hard out at 8:30 AM.  Hard out.”

“Mrrbllrrphhrrr,” I mumbled, still asleep.

I was up by the time Kyle got out of the shower, in that I flopped out of bed when I heard the water turn off and moved a few items around the room to make it seem like I had been busy doing something of purpose – which turned out to be unnecessary, in that he looked eternally relieved to see me doing nothing more than standing on my own two feet.

“Eight-thirty!”  I called as I headed into the bathroom to shower.  “I’ll be ready!”

Friday, 7:15 AM

After straightening up the bathroom, packing a few toiletries, and pretending like I wasn’t looking at my phone but REALLY LOOKING at my phone, I was ready to take a shower.  Except that Eight was now awake, and had something important to say.

“When you get a new husband, it’s going to be Marc-Andre Fleury,” Eight stated as Kyle walked into the bathroom.

“Why would I get a new husband?”  I asked.

“How long do you have husbands for?”  Eight asked.

“The whole time, hopefully,” I said.

“Oh,” Eight said, surprised.

“Why Marc-Andre Fleury?”  Kyle asked.

“Because,” Eight said.

We stood together for a moment.

“Maybe Mom can weigh the pros and cons of Marc-Andre Fleury in the shower instead of out here,” Kyle suggested.

“I tell you one thing,” I said, as I turned on the water, “Marc-Andre Fleury wouldn’t be so pushy.”

“I can almost guarantee that Marc-Andre Fleury would be pushy about getting to a hockey game on time,” Kyle said, as he left to wake up Twelve.

Friday, 8:15 AM

Having now showered, dressed, packed up my remaining crap, made the beds, and started the laundry, I did what any person preparing for an extended stay would do: deep-cleaned the entire house from top to bottom.  I was wiping off the kitchen counters when Kyle appeared, wearing his coat.

“Packed and ready?”  He asked.

“Sure shootin’,” I said.  “Once I finish this.”

“I don’t think you need to do any cleaning,” Kyle said, “since no one will be in the house while we’re gone.”

“Yes, but I will be in the house when we get back,” I said, “and I want it to be neat.”

Kyle sniffed, mentally weighed both his options and my interest level/access to Marc-Andre Fleury, and silently moved into the living room, tossing the throw pillows on the floor back onto the couch.  Eight, also in his coat, picked up the final pillow and put it on a chair.

“Danke schoen,” Eight said.  “That means ‘you’re welcome’ in Russian.”

“It actually means ‘thank you’ in German,” Kyle said.

“How do you know it’s German?”  Eight asked.

“Because Dad is Russian AND German,” Twelve, who also was in in his coat, said.

“MOM is Russian and German,” Kyle said.  “I’m Polish and French. But I am RUSH-ING to get out of here.  Get it?”

The boys got it.

“Yeah, but you and mom kiss so much that you’re DNA has mixed together so now you’re Russian and German, too,” Twelve said.

“I can’t argue with that,” Kyle said, folding a blanket.

Friday, 8:29 AM

With the last of the breakfast dishes washed and the bric-a-brac put away, I considered taking down the blinds and scrubbing the windows – but then heard Kyle shift the transmission into reverse in the driveway for the third time, and figured it was time to go.

Friday, 8:31 AM

“Everyone have what they need?”  I asked as I hopped in the front seat.

“I don’t have any shoes,” Eight said, helpfully, pointing to his booted feet.

Friday, 8:33 AM

“Everyone have what they need?”  I asked as I hopped back in the front seat.

“Yes,” Eight said.

“Yes,” Twelve said.

“Yes,” Marc-Andre Fleury probably said.

“If we don’t have it, we don’t need it,” Kyle said, backing into the street.

“Are you happy we’re leaving on time?”  I asked Kyle, brightly.

“Yes,” my better-than-Marc-Andre-Fleury-half said as we drove, romantically, down the lane.

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The photo above is of Kyle and his lucky hat and was taken on Friday at 9:05 AM.

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This week on North Dakota Today, we talked about Mark Bernston (one of West Fargo’s best) and an upcoming luminary hike at Fort Stevenson State Park.  Check it out!  (Valley News Live)

Fessenden’s John Neuenschwander has a new heart, thanks in part to the help of the Minnesota Highway Patrol. (Valley News Live)

Speaking of heart, here is a brief look at “A Day in the Life” of McClusky. (KX Net)

Kenmare’s Ilene Hoff is a self-taught seamstress who spends her free time sewing quilts for area veterans. (Minot Daily News)

This year’s Miss Amazing Pageant – now with a Shop Miss Amazing Closet – will take place on February 17 and 18 in Minot. (KX Net)

Also as a reminder, Kyle and his friends, Corey and Kelly, have a podcast called North Dakota After Dark where they talk about youth hockey in North Dakota.  The latest episode is up and was recorded on National Hockey Mom Day.  Check it out. Bonus: you can watch it on YouTube. (North Dakota After Dark)

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