Ice skating

We went ice skating on Saturday.  It was the first time for both of the boys.  We wanted to go last year, but Robert wasn't ready and we never found a good time to go alone with him. That is one of the disadvantages of the 5 year gap.  So Saturday was a lovely day, temps in the low 30s and we left early enough that the rink wasn't busy at all.  Harry started out with a cone, but quickly decided that he would rather make his way around the rink holding onto the side of the rink.  He did a good job and by the end, could go away from the side for a little while too.  I think he would enjoy skating lessons, I'll have to remember that.  Ice hockey is a popular sport up here, but I hesitate to put Harry into the sport.  He's such a sweet boy and he's rather small. I am afraid he would just get crushed.  (I don't know if I could take the tension either).

Our little dare devil enjoyed skating too.  He also ditched the cone early on.  He realized the cone was meant to help him stay upright and so he decided to get rid of it.  When asked to tell his sitter what he did earlier in the day he responded, "I falled all over the ice".  He did so on purpose.  He would take some steps and then say "Whoa, whoa, whoa" and plop down on the ice.  He didn't always fall on purpose, but he certainly didn't mind falling.  That said he thoroughly enjoyed himself as well.  I think we spent 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours on the ice with one break for a snack.

Here is proof that I was there and on the ice too.  Harry and I kept close together.  Robert spent so much time down on the ice and had trouble getting himself up on his own.  Kevin was better able to haul him back up, although I did it some too.  To toot my own horn, I am the only one in the family who did not fall while skating on this particular day. 

Here are the boys getting back into boots.  Winter seems to be an unending process of bundling and unbundling.  We pretty much have the process down.  Add in snow pants and it is a little more complex.  the boys wore snowpants for ice skating, more for padding than warmth.  It seemed to work well.  Robert's were drenched by the end of the session.  I just bought Harry another pair of gloves today.  One pair is sort of shredding and he lost one mitten.  We have baskets of hats, mittens and scarves.  I am the only one who wears scarves, so that basket stays pretty neat, but I am constantly rearranging the other ones.  Every year since we've been here, I have added some form of organization to the front hallway and I think I finally have it down, but do remember fondly the mud room of my childhood home.