Ice Skating Lessons

Chris and I like to allow the boys opportunities to try new activities; if nothing else to expose them to the activity so they aren't afraid. I remember the fear I had the first time I was asked to do something with my friends that I hadn't done before. Ice skating was the last activity that we decided to introduce to the boys. We had taken them ice-skating once and they seemed to enjoy it and Connor even became comfortable with working his way around the rink solo, so we thought that a 6 week lesson would be fun.

The lessons kicked off in mid-December with a break for the holidays and ended in late January. While the lessons weren't the typical ice-skating experience around the rink, it gave them the opportunity to learn the basics of navigating the ice. For 30 minutes, they worked their way from one side of the rink to the other learning how to skate frontwards, backwards, and squatting slightly. The first day also included a lesson on how to get up when you fall....I think I missed that lesson in my childhood based on my awkward attempt to recover when I fall!

Connor quickly became comfortable on the ice and the teachers did a great job of introducing more "advanced" basics to him throughout the lessons. Brady hit a discouraging patch in the middle, but came around during the last two lessons. He was out in the middle of the ice rink making an effort and really listening to the teachers.

While I would like to think this is a new experience we can have as a family, Connor and I may be the only two most interested in this as a family activity.

PineWood Derby - Congratulations Connor!

Connor participated in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby in January. This was the 2nd derby that he participated in with the 1st one being the Space Derby last fall. The derby races are a great opportunity to work with Papa Ross and Daddy on converting his block of wood to a racing machine!  Check out his cool car that won him an overall 3rd place and had the occasional wins of 1st and 2nd during the individual races.  In addition, Connor received the award for Judge's favorite.  Congratulations Connor...way to go!!

Roller Skating Play Date

Photo courtesy of Allison Mooney

The boys have a group of friends that they know from Montessori and/or summer school, also known as the Vectren kids since all of the moms work together. Throughout the year, we try to schedule a play date with the kids that usually involves some physical activity and some stretch beyond their comfort zone (in other words, we try to make them old-fashioned kids). The latest suggested activity was roller-skating on New Years Day.

The kids had their first experience at roller-skating during summer school and the adults had fond memories of roller-skating back in middle school. I lived in Alabama during my middle school days in a small town that revolved around the skate rink schedule...I was there with my friends every weekend and every school holiday. So, what better way to kick off the new year than to spend an afternoon burning off some holiday calories and enjoying some quality time with my boys.

Apparently, not much has changed about the skating experience since my middle school years. You start off obtaining the easily recognizable rental skates, scuffed brown with orange wheels, that may have to be exchanged more than once for the proper fit and takes 15 minutes to lace up (or more if you are helping your child this time around). You then make your entrance in one of the many openings into the circular rink that never changes direction, listening to the various songs overhead picking out the songs that you know from the songs you don't, and watching the fellow skaters come and go from the rink or around the rink. The experience did not disappoint in bringing back memories with some of the songs played from my childhood and providing the opportunity to participate in the hokey pokey, chicken dance, and YMCA song.

The new experience this time around was the opportunity to create new memories with my two boys. After the prior week's ice skating date, I didn't have high hopes for success but I did have a new plan. Shortly after entering the rink, both boys immediately went into complaint mode. I was not accepting the complaints and instead followed my fellow parents leads in letting the kids hang out on the sidelines while we skated. For Connor, that was just the motivation he needed to get out there and keep trying. In no time, he was skating with the rest of us doing his own laps around the rink, taking the occasional break to skate with me, and taking the occasional fall. I never did witness the hand-holding with his "girlfriend" that was rumored during summer school, but I was able to get a picture of them together.

As for Brady, he never did muster up the courage to try or to join us and preferred to hang out on the sidelines. For awhile, he would express his dissatisfaction and desire to leave as I skated quickly by. After awhile, he gave up and I offered him the opportunity to hang out on the sidelines with a soda and a promise that daddy was coming to pick him up early.

We had a great time skating that afternoon and visiting with friends. While it may be awhile before Brady is willing to give it a go, Connor is definitely interested in returning and I am certainly open to the alternative workout opportunity.