Ice Skating

My mom and I took the girls and my niece ice skating for the first time. On the way there they were both very nervous. Luca was sure she was going to fall and the blade of the ice skate was going to cut her hand. She had all the details in her mind of how this was going to happen. Is she me or what? Ryley was just scared, she did not really know why. I was sure that I would be doing jumps and spins after just a few minutes practice :) Wait isn't that the same thinking that ended me up in the ER on the 4th of July after I split my shin open trying to reclaim my youthful status by doing flips off the diving board? Yes it is. Well anyway I was sure I could still do alright.

After losing 5 lbs trying to get everyones skates on in the dark, (they were trying to create a winter wonderland feel to the rink), we were ready to hit the ice! We saw a bunch of little kids using these safety skate things made of PVC pipe that but getting our hands on one was not an easy feat. I really wanted to steal one from one of the kids who kept going the wrong way on the ice but I figured that would not be appropriate. As the girls stepped onto the ice, they each started crying and said I cannot do this. That is a phrase I refuse to hear so I went out and showed them that they can just hold onto the wall until they get comfortable (or until I stole one of those PVC thingy's). My mom, Luca, and Stephanie slowly moved along the wall and I took Ryley out around the rink. I was pretty much holding her up at this point. Then I took Luca around the rink...same story. I was thrilled with the arm workout I was getting. My poor terrified Niece Stephanie did not want to go out into the rink with me but I made her. I dropped her off back at the wall and we saw some kids exiting the rink with 2 PVC thingy's. I quickly nabbed them and the very second Ryley got hers she was off. Luca same thing. I quickly skated off to find them and they were little maniacs, skating wildly around everyone at top speed. Ryley thought it was great to get going super fast then skim the ice on her heels. I showed why that was not a good idea for several reasons the main one being is SHE COULD HAVE FALLEN BACKWARDS AND CRACKED HER HEAD OPEN!! She did not care, it was fun and that was much more important than the possibility of stitches or worse. Well after about 20 minutes with the thingy's they both decided they did not need them and they were right. They would skate around the middle of the rink and get further and further each time. I could not believe how good they were doing. It was fun to watch how confident they had become in just a few minutes. My niece also built up her confidence and made it to the center rink. What fun!! My mom was going round and round the rink staying close to the edge. She actually did amazing! Her girlhood was filled with ice skating up in Canada so it was fun for her to know she still had it in her. She had one nasty fall in which I was sure she hurt herself but she just got up laughing away. I loved every minute of it! Luca and Ryley were just having a ball. We skated for nearly 2 hours and probably could have done more but it was starting to get crowded so we decided to leave. The girls talked about it for days and really want to take lessons. I think it would be so much fun so them so we will see. Oh and I don't think I will make the next winter Olympics after all but at least I did not fall!!