Bellamy's Olympic Experience

"2011" World Championship Zurich Switzerland

2011-04-22T16:27:00.003-04:00

I know it's hard to believe the Olympics were over a year ago and we are on to our next big hockey adventure. We are here in Switzerland and I would love to share some great pics and tell you about our trip. I have been here a few days and the plane ride and the time change have caught up with me. I will fill you in with the details as soon as I have more time to write. I will tell you Switzerland is breath taking, clean, quite and everything runs exactly on time and I do mean exactly. Here are a few pictures of our day trip to Lucerne. Very beautiful. The weather has been amazing.

WOMENS HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2011-04-21T10:16:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone. The Girls are back at it again, going for the third consecutive gold medal finish in the World Championships. Maura left on the 19th to see Kacey and the girls compete and to also see amazing Switzerland. she will be taking pictures and also let us know how the girls are doing.

Sleepless in Seattle

2010-02-26T13:15:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone,

First and foremost when we wrote the post yesterday we were both emotional and a bit overwhelmed getting ready to head to the game. There are a few people we know we have left out and some came to our mind as soon as we closed the computer. It has been bothering us the whole time.

Thank you Scott and Dana Gleadow and Family - You all have supported our children. You have been wonderful fans and good company at many games. Thank you.

Dana Kendzior - You have always kept in touch with the kids and stop by and visit - it mean a lot. Coaching Kacey and Corey what 12 years ago and still showing up to visit. Thank you.

We know there will be more of you that pop into our heads. When you do you will be mentioned. We promise.

Family - you know who you all are!!! You ALL are so special to us. Immediate family of course but also Aunts Uncles etc. Aunt Mary - Thank you for keeping up with all the kids and for caring. Aunt Helen and Aunt Louis I am so glad we have been able to spend time and we look forward to more. Aunt Helen you made the blog, I hope you saw that. God Bless you both - you are an example of incredible human spirit. I can only hope to be as spry as you both when I am 91.

To my dads former classmates - I know some of you have been up on the blog and we appreciate your support. My father would be deeply proud of each and everyone of his grandchildren. It is very unfortunate that he missed so much and that we missed so much with him. I know he is looking down and smiling on all of us. Thank you all for remaining a loyal friend to him and to my mother.

We spent the night celebrating Kacey's Silver Medal - It is beautiful. Gold would have been great but Silver is nothing to be down over. In fact, the Silver Medal is probably the most beautiful to look at and then the Bronze and the Gold. The medal is absolutely beautiful and it is very heavy. As soon as a find the link to the medals and why and how they were made I will post it. You may be able to find it on google. It is worth watching.

The game could have had a better outcome we know. Being there with family and in such an incredible sea of red was a special experience for all of us. The crowd was really wonderful and when they chanted USA it was very classy. Kacey was not happy with 2nd place but she is very proud of her medal. She is planning on putting together a plan that will allow her to compete for another medal in 2014!! Kacey has yet to finish her blog to the paper because the schedule that the team has had for the past 72 hours is craziness. Hopefully she will get to that today and we will post the link. Kacey will be in Vancouver until the Olympics are over so there will be more to come.

We enjoyed our celebration last night and we decided to leave Vancouver and drive to Seattle so that we would not have problems making our flight. Needless to say we haven't slept all night and we are exhausted here in Seattle waiting for our flight to Chicago (which better not be cancelled to Hartford)!!! Bobby has posted more pictures up. There are so many. But they are fun. I must confess I am no longer screening them and deleting them because if I did that there would not be one of me up on this darn blog.

Before we go try and take a little nap I will leave you with this thought for the day. While in Vancouver I was blown away by how kind everyone was. The people just seem a bit more patient and caring. I was afraid to ask for anymore directions because I got to know so many people while asking for directions because they literally would walk me to where I was going. We would have a conversation and I felt like I was leaving a friend. Crazy right? There is so much I will take with me from Vancouver but that is the first thing I am going to pay forward. Life is too short, taking time to help people with the little things even if it may make you a little late to where you are going can make a positive difference. So have a little more patience, don't be afraid to talk to strangers, and for god sakes SMILE!!! I have been smiling ear to ear for about 2 weeks. (Mom that is a hint-lets keep it that way, lol)

If everything goes as planned we will be landing in Hartford around 10 pm. Let's hope everything goes as planned. Thanks again...stay tuned.

DREAMING OF GOLD

2010-02-25T15:18:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone,

What a crazy couple of days. We are now joined by more family. Debbie, Jamie and Theresa arrived along with baby Ava who we haven't met yet. Everyone looks great and we are all so very excited about the game today. We have all been patiently waiting to see Kacey. The girls have been on lock down for a few days together in the Olympic Village. We are just getting ready to go over to the game but there is something we have to mention.

To get to this moment has been an amazing journey and we want everyone to know what an important part each of you have played. There was an article today in the New York Times talking a little bit about the struggles it took to get here. The article doesn't talk about what we begged them to say and that was that there would be no way we would be here today if it wasn't for so many of you. So we are going to try to do are best. If we leave anyone out it is by accident, forgive me I am just a little on edge at the moment, lol.

From the very bottom of our hearts thank you to the following wonderful people who have touched our lives forever.

Coaches: Coach Liptak, Coach Fiorini, Coach Gibree, Coach Champagne, Coach Ward, Coach Scott, Coach Ferguson and to all the boys that helped Kacey become the player she is today.
The Collins Family - you know how special you are. Thank you all for believing.

Dean and Lori Charpentier - Berkshire was such a important decision. The character, leadership and sense of team that you instilled is for life. You are both incredible people, thank you. You are both selfless, giving people who touch the live of many. Amazing.

Sylvia Gappa - Thank you for all you have done for Kacey. Your personal relationship as her advisor and her coach grew Kacey literally. Thank you. Can you believe she came to Berkshire your height and left 5' 8" because she was loved.

Berkshire Family - THANK YOU!! All of you for the sense of family and love you gave Kacey.

UNH - What can I say!! I love you all. Ladies route hard today, send love and keep us in your hearts. You will be in ours forever. To you senior ladies.........Kelly, Michaela, Shannon and Cahill enjoy the rest and do your best. We will be at the next game to cheer you on. LOVE YOU ALL.

Brian, Erin, and Steph - You know how much you are loved and appreciated. Thank you for living this with us every step of the way. Erin this one is for you!!! You will always be at the top of the list (don't ever forget that)!! Thank you all for everything.

The Gaudrault Family - Our first hockey friends. Thank you for all of your support!! Thank you for the rides and for always being a friend then and now.

The Davison Family - Kenny, Laurie, and Beano - THANK YOU. You have been there every step of the way. You have been like parents to Kacey. Thank you for everything, but mostly for your love. We are going out to eat when we get back. (on us) We did give Kacey spending money on this trip, lol.

The Smith Family - Peter, Cheryl, David, Benny and of course our beloved Bubba. You are all so much of the reason that we are here. You grew us as a family, you made us better. Thank you for being amazing people with hearts the size of the world. You are in our hearts forever. We know Kacey is playing for her country today but we also know that Bubba is in her heart. Thank you for everything you have done for our children and our family.

Family - All of you are amazing and special. You have all been there for us and you are all here with us. Being part of this journey has been just an incredible ride. Thank you for coming along with us. Robby, Corey, Lindsey, Jamie, Stevie, Meagan, Ryan, Owen, Caitlyn, Grace, Steph, Kyle and Riley and of course Blakey and Shea Bear............you are all so special. Each and everyone of you has made your mark in this world and are working hard toward your dreams and goals everyday. Keep up the good work we are here for you always. We love you all so much. Ning, Grampee, Mom, Nana Bell thank you for starting all of this. You are here with us.

Norm - There are not enough words. What you did for us 20 years ago changed everything. It is why we are here. You took a chance on Bobby and the rest is history. The doors you opened, opened wide and let us in - the people inside embraced us and we are all bettter for it. We couldn't possibly thank you enough. Please know how very special you are to us. You are a difference maker.

Westfield - All of you!! Thank you for embracing us into the community and for being an incredible support. Amelia Park - thank you. You are all here in our hearts. We hope Team USA makes you all proud today.

With Love , Bobby and Maura We are off to the game.

USA TO PLAY FOR GOLD ON THURSDAY

2010-02-22T22:44:00.004-05:00

The United States Played a pretty convincing game today to put themselves into the Gold Medal Game on Thursday against Canada. An almost capacity crowd of not so many USA fans Cheered the Swedes on but to no avail. After the game the media interviewed a few of our girls and asked them how it felt to be in the gold medal game against Canada, who had not played their semi game yet. Someone said "they had to get by Finland first". I know most of the games have been one sided but that is a tribute to the training that both USA and Canada have gone through over the last six months to get to this game. Don't miss this one because it will be a classic and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Getting to Know Vancouver

2010-02-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

We are sure you are all wondering what we have been doing with our down time from hockey.........where do we begin?

Granville Island - Lovely - A little island of local artisan stores, restaurants, beautiful boats, great views, music on many corners whether it be guitarists, or banjo or drums ect. Than there is the Market!!! If you look in the slide show there are pictures while we are in the market. It has been my favorite place thus far. In fact it is reason enough to move to Vancouver. Every thing is fresh and they have everything. Scallops the size of your fist, every kind of Salmon you can catch, shrimp the size of a cell phone, prawns, crab, etc. Then there is the bakery, the meat section, the produce section all is to die for. We are staying in a house about 2.5 miles from the market. I can't imagine having a place like that a bike ride away. Wake up Westfield......we need one of these markets. Someone get on that while I am gone.

Robson Street - WILD - We got out for some night life 2 nights ago and it was a completely spontaneous decision that end up being a good time. Robson Street and Granville Street are the busiest streets in Vancouver. Many stores and bars and about 250,000 people. Not even kidding! Bobby, TL and me ended up saying what the hell and ventured out among the enormous crowds. The pictures of TL and me on top of a street sign covered in the Canadian flag are classics. I still can't believe a got up there. TL one hopped it. I needed a bit more help than that, lol. The pictures of us in the streets TL took were just random hold the camera up and shoot because there wasn't enough room between the next person in front of you to hold up a camera. We ended up taking a side street away from the crowds and landed at The Four Seasons. We had great appys, it was a great atmosphere. TL made quite the mess of the Fondu. Yes, I said Four Seasons - fun.

Watermark - Beautiful - Last night we went to a restuarant in Kitsolano called Watermark. It is walking distance from where we live and is right on the ocean. We went there for dinner with Kelly and Sandy the people we are staying with. We had a wonderful time. We ate outside as the sun was setting took some lovely pictures and had some great conversation. We can't thank Kelly and Sandy enough for their gracious hospitality.

Vancouver - I know I keep telling you all how beautiful it is. I can only describe it like this. It is a place where the ocean, the snowcapped mountains, and a great city meet all in the same place. We are told that it rains here more than it has on our trip. In fact, we have had 6 straight days of perfect blue skies and sun. The temperature has been about 50-52 everyday. There are Cherry Blossoms everywhere and flowers popping up. The people are very nice in fact everyone we have come across has been incredibly friendly and helpful if we have questions or need directions. I would come back here in a heartbeat!! We are told on most days from spring on you can swim, golf, play tennis and ski all in the same day. Not too many places you can say that about. What I like the most is that you can ride your bike to almost everywhere and the local produce and markets are incredible along with great shopping. The views from everywhere are breathtaking.

We miss you all and thank you for your continued positive thoughts. Talk to you soon.

KUDOS LADIES AND KUDOS PROCTOR & GAMBLE

2010-02-19T14:31:00.012-05:00

Hi everyone Maura here. First let me say Vancouver is beautiful, the people are so very nice and we are having a wonderful time. Kacey is on a team with a great group of young women. The rumour is that they are the talk of the Olympic Village because of their sincere kindness, geniune interest in others and for their contagious positive attitudes. I heard this directly from their team mom and I have to say that is what really counts in all of this. Their team mom says everyone wants her job at the Olympic Village so that they can be around the girls. So Kudos Ladies, way to make us Moms proud!!! I love each and every one of you wonderful girls and I am looking forward to sharing more special moments watching you come together!! GO TEAM USA!!

Speaking of Moms; you all know me to say just exactly what is on my mind sometimes to a fault I say it just as it pops in at that moment, lol. When I believe in something strongly enough I will tell everyone I know and I meet. I will share things I have learned or places I have been or things I have purchased if I believe they are wonderful enough that they will help others. Well, I am asking all of you to please purchase Proctor and Gamble products. I say this because of my experience here in Vancouver with the people that work for Proctor and Gamble and the Taylor Group. They are all incredible examples of positive attitude!! If you scroll down on the blog, we put up a post about Proctor and Gamble and what it has done in the campaign for "Thanks Mom". Please read it if you haven't had a chance to. When we wrote that post a week ago I thought life couldn't be better right? Well, it has been a week of generous giving on the part of Proctor and Gamble. Most of the inside pictures you see on our blog have been taken at the Proctor and Gamble house. We have spent much time there meeting wonderful people, getting to know the hockey families, watching great Olympic moments and having delicious meals along with a little red wine, lol. The bartender knows me by my first name. They have great Cabernet what can I say.

What Proctor and Gamble has done for all of the US Olympic athletes and their families is incrediblly gracious and we are so thankful to them for making our trip more enjoyable and less stressful. Every single person we have met at P & G and the Taylor Group are simply beautiful people with a geniune interest in the happiness of all of us. So the next time you need toothpaste, mouthwash, toilet paper, laundry detergent, deodorant, tissues, razors - well you know what I mean. Think twice and please purchase a Proctor and Gamble product because if you do that you will be thanking Proctor and Gamble for the Bellamy Family and for all of the US Olympic athlete's families. You will also be thanking Proctor and Gamble for their recognition of us MOMS all over who drive their kids to the ends of the earth if that is what it takes to help them be more successful. Please pass this positive story on to a friend and so on and so on. This is the only way we know how to thank Proctor and Gamble for helping us. KUDO's P & G and thank you everyone for your support in helping us thank Proctor and Gamble for our amazing experience here in Vancouver!!

- Maura

2010-02-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

Created with flickr shildshow.

USA SKATES PAST FINLAND 6-0

2010-02-18T23:51:00.004-05:00

USA ended the first round of play with an impressive 6-0 win over Finland to another packed house at the UBC rink. Finland gave a great effort and their Goalie (Raty) who also plays for the University of Minnesota was solid in net. If you noticed Kacey went down to block a shot tonight and caught the puck on the wrist. I talked with her tonight and she said it was sore but it would be fine. The girls now have until Monday off. They will play Sweden at noon pacific time 3:00pm EST. This game will determine who plays Thursday in what medal game. The winner plays Thursday for the Gold and the loser will play in the Bronze game. It was another great weather day here today. Picked Up Terri-Lee at about Noontime. I will have some photos up when I get Back to the House. Thank you everyone for your support and kind words on the blog. I hope it is helping to bring our experience to you the best we can. I will keep you posted

GRANVILLE ISLAND

2010-02-18T12:11:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a day off from hockey. We went to a must see place in Vancouver called Granville Island. Great artists, music, food, and sights. It was great weather here. Everyday has been about 50 to 55 degrees. Can you say "winter" Olympics? It sure doesn't feel like it. Although it is very winter like about 90 miles from here in wistler were they are have all the skiing and boarding events. Everyone is out and about everyday. It's like spring back home. The views here are pretty spectacular. The city is very clean. I do have some pictures up on a slideshow above. If you click on the picture it will bring you to the flickr site. Then you can click Bellamy Photos and then slideshow. Picking up Terri-Lee Fiedler at 10:30 this morning. Kacey has a game at 2:30 (5:30ESTon MSNBC) against Finland. It should be a much better game than the last few. Wish us luck!!!

Another Blow Out against Russia

2010-02-17T02:05:00.005-05:00

Kacey warming up before the Russia game.

ATHLETES OLYMPIC VILLAGE COMPOUND

2010-02-16T11:21:00.009-05:00

Sorry we had nothing for you yesterday. I am researching how to add slideshows to the blog. I have taken over 2000 pictures so far. I will get some of the good ones out as fast as I can. Yesterday was a great day spent at the athletes Olympic Village with Kacey. It is an understatement to say they are being treated like royalty. This place is locked down with security. We had to go through numerous check points to get to the area where Kacey had to escort us in. The athlete are staying in condominiums that were built to be sold when the Olympics are over with. We were told by some locals that the selling price for these would be $750.000 and up. Rumor has it that some are already sold. They are living in style. We also had dinner with kacey at the Olympic dinning hall. All the athletes eat here together. While we were there the Canadian and Russian mens Hockey teams were having dinner. As we were leaving the men's team was just getting off the bus from practice. Very nice facility. This is the only place that we have been so far that pictures were not allowed to be taken. I will get more up today after Kacey's game. Hope everyone is well back home. If you click on the photos I put us you can make them larger.

DAY AT THE P&G HOUSE

2010-02-14T11:38:00.008-05:00

Hi Everyone,

We spent our first day at the P&G Home getting the full tour and meeting all the special people from P&G. The P&G Home was put together by Proctor & Gamble for athletes and their families to spend time together, eat, relax, play wi, guitar hero in the Pringles lounge, have their laundry done at the Tide Center, visit the Pampers Village (children's play area), surf the web in the Internet Cafe, watch the Olympics on movie size screeens, get a makeover and a massage in the Grooming Salon and Spa. Yes, I said a massage. The P&G home is AMAZING......but our story about P&G goes far beyond amazing.

http://www.pg.com/en_US/index.shtml

Last week it was announced that Proctor and Gamble would be an official sponsor at the Olympic games and then it was announced they would be doing something very special for the US athletes. The Proctor and Gamble home was designed to help all of the parents with meals, down time and family time. Everything there is a gift to the US players and their families from Proctor and Gamble. How amazing is that, right...well it gets even better. Last Wednesday Maura received a phone call from Sheri of P&G telling her that P&G was giving her a Visa Debit card to spend at the Olympics. After much persuading by Sheri from P&G, Maura finally believed that this phone call was actually true. (In fact, Maura has yet to really come down from this whole P&G phone call thing.) (THANK YOU SHERI) This was the start of the THANKS MOM program by P&G. Every mom or dad of a US athlete received a Visa Debit card just like Maura to alleviate some of the expenses that go along with a trip to the Olympics. How incredibly gracious is that??? INCREDIBLE.

That phone call is what landed Maura on the Today show. That small Today show segment was the kick-off to the THANKS MOM campaign by P&G!! (THANK YOU KELLI, MIKE AND ALICE) The tear jerker commercials you see during the Olympics by P&G are a special tribute to moms for all of the sacrifices that are made along the way to get all of our kids to practice, to games, to schools functions, etc. Those commercials are a tribute to ALL MOMS out there!! So that being said, as a big thank you back to P&G we urge you to give back to P&G by purchasing their products which I am listing below. We also want you to share this story with everyone that you know!! Share it with every mom, dad or family member you know that realizes just how very special that P&G. is for doing such an incredible thing for the athletes families and for recognizing us moms.

From the Bellamy Family to the P&G Family thank you for touching our lives and for making a difference.............THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU.

When you go to the market bring this list with you: Tide, Pampers, Ariel, Always, Whisper, Pantene, Mach3, Bounty, Dawn, Gain, Pringles, Charmin, Downy, Lenor, lams, Crest, Oral-B, Actonel, Duracell, Olay, Head & Shoulders, Wella, Gillette, Braun, and Fusion.

OPENING CEREMONIES-SPECTACULAR

2010-02-13T10:36:00.006-05:00

We were sitting up high in the arena directly above where the athletes were to be seated. The nice thing about out seats is that we were directly in the middle of the show. We were sitting among fans of the Olympic games. Russians, Swedes,Norwegians,Germans,French, and oh yes there were a few Canadians in the crowd (LOL). Besides the incredible light show and special effects the highlight of the night was seeing TEAM USA walk in. We were so high up that we had absolutely no expectations of Kacey finding us in the see of white (we all had to wear white capes for the show) When TEAM USA walked in Maura decided that she was going to make every crazy effort for Kay to see us. What happenend then was amazing. Maura took off her cape and started to figure out some strategic plan. Then everyone around us realized we were parents of a US athlete. Suddenly Maura found herself draped in a huge American Flag!! We grabbed the flag held it as high as we could we were jumping up and down, waving the flag, screaming for Kacey then we looked down and we were looking right at Kacey as she was stopped waving both her arms back and forth and acknowledging that she could see us. Everyone around us was cheering like crazy cause they knew we could see her! It was amazing, we started crying and so did the family that gave Maura the flag. It was a very special moment!!

2010-02-12T15:36:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Megan Bellamy

She just broke the Sacred Heart University record in the 100 yard Backstroke today at Yale. Way to go Meg. We Love you. You deserved this moment.

2010-02-12T15:28:00.002-05:00

AT LAST IN VANCOUVER

Just arrived in Vancouver about an Hour ago. It wasn't quite the way we planned it, but it worked out great anyway. Getting situated and then going out to get a look at the views. Keep you posted.

2010-02-12T09:03:00.005-05:00

Maura with Al on the Today show yesterday. It was great weather compaired to the day before. Just want to thank Mike and Alice from The Taylor group for giving us a first class experience in New York City. Arrived in Seattle late last night. Ended up staying over because we were so tired. Getting a good start this morning early and heading up to Vancouver for the Opening Ceremonies tonight. Let the games begin!!!!!!

2010-02-10T10:11:00.003-05:00

VANCOUVER VIA NEW YORK CITY

Snow is falling hard today. Forcast is for a foot of snow Ending later tonight. We will do the "Today Show" tomorrow morning 2/11. We will then shuttle to New Jersey for a flight out to seattle. Hopefully the snow will be all cleared up by then. Talked to Kacey last night and she said Vancouver is amazing. Keep you posted.

USA 8 FINLAND 2

2010-02-08T15:52:00.004-05:00

This game was not publicly viewed so we were not able to see the game. It sounds like the girls are starting to peak at the right time. Lets hope so. They left for Vancouver yesterday and arrived late afternoon. They stayed in a hotel last night. They are supposed to move into the Olympic Village sometime today. I'm sure it will be a busy couple of days getting settle.

USA 5 FINLAND 1

2009-12-19T09:04:00.005-05:00

Great game last night. I thought the team looked strong. They showed alot of energy. There is going to be another game played on Saturday night. This game is not for public viewing. The team will then leave for Vancouver on sunday. Maura and I are going to be leaving on thursday morning at 6:30am. Arriving in Seattle for 11:30am. Picking up a rental and heading up to Vancouver. Looking forward to the drive from seattle. We have never experienced the Northwest before. See you all when we get there.

CONGRATULATIONS KACEY

2009-12-16T20:56:00.004-05:00

We are proud of your many accomplishments. We are most proud of who you are as a person. You are in a place were preperation meets opportunity. Enjoy it !!!!