Oh, I am showing my age with that title.
This morning I had the pleasure of accompanying Graham’s Kindergarten class to their first (of three) outing(s) to go ice skating. Matthew watched the younger two so I could lace up my skates for the first time in way too long.
While I was never a “figure skater”, growing up in Small Town Northern BC left little else to do in the winter but go skating. And jump off of the garage roof into the snow because it was THAT DEEP.
I still have figure skates, but I have not laced them up since college.
Correction.
Two years ago, Graham was in a community program called Puddle Jumpers (Crafts, and books, and play time, oh my!) two mornings a week. One of the mornings was spent at the skating rink.
On the way to the rink, all Graham could talk about was how he was going to learn to skate so that he could play hockey like Uncle Lance. Hockey, hockey, HOCKEY!
(I, for one, would never push hockey. It costs an arm and a leg, and the 5 am practices might just kill me.)
I encouraged his enthusiasm, though, and we laced up his skates. He had no balance to speak of (gets that from me), and did not want my help. He wanted to do it “ALL BY MYSELF!”
Or with the help of a chair. Chair hockey. Much less stressful than table hockey, apparently.
Approximately five minutes later, Graham informed me that was all done with being on the ice. He was not having fun anymore.
He was also unimpressed with my mommarazzi status.
As I was unlacing his skates, he informed me that he no longer wanted to play hockey. To quote him, “I don’t want to play hockey anymore. I want to play basketball just like Daddy“.
YES!
Fast forward to today.
Matthew and I have been talking lately about doing what we can to make winter more fun. As we are (Finally!) escaping the baby stage, we want to get involved in winter activities (Skiing, and skating, and snow shoeing, oh my!) as a family. We want to be a family that is physically active. We also want to help our kids burn off some of the unending energy that they have.
I was curious to see how Graham would respond to skating today.
I met Graham’s class at the rink as they pulled in on the school bus. I was going to take a photo of the kids on the bus, but they are all so short that it looked like the bus was empty. Hee!
At first, Graham was like a 50 pound wet noodle. A good workout for me, yes, but I was worried that he would pack it in after only five minutes, as he had done two years ago.
This was not the case. He soon figured out the concept called “balance”. Enough so that I could let go and take his photo.
(Side note: I had mentioned before that I was going to use my Airmiles to get a new Canon Powershot to keep in my purse at all times. You all know I love my 40D.
*Pauses to lick kiss the 40D*
But it can be bulky and unwieldy for running around town. The Powershot fits nicely in the side pocket of my purse. And was with me today.
The photo quality is not as great, but at least the moments were captured. I was using the manual settings, for those of you who use a point and shoot regularly. Huzzah!)
His teacher had the kids all stand in a circle and practice falling.
And then taught them how to get back up.
Before I knew it, the dude was ACTUALLY SKATING.
Not fast, or graceful (Gets that from me. And Daddy.) but could move forward without holding my hand. Woo!
I am so very proud of my little man.
I am also excited for the glimmer of the future that today gave me. Time spent having fun and being active.
As a family.
32 Comments
The last picture of you two is so nice! I wish I could skate…I seem to be the one on the bench taking pictures! What a fun field trip!
Comment by Michele on February 12th, 2008 @ 6:49 pmMy kids go skating weekly and they love it.
AND…We’re taking them skiing in two weeks. I grew up skiing every Saturday and I want them to learn, too.
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Comment by Loralee on February 12th, 2008 @ 7:13 pmYAY FOR FAMILY TIME! It’s my favorite!
I put Kaylie in figure skating for the sole purpose of learning to skate. She’s only going to be in it one year, becuase I’m also not a fan of the stupid 5am ice time.
My father-in-law wanted to put her in hockey. I told him that he could take her to all the practices and out-of-town games.
She’s not in hockey.
Ha!
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Comment by Mrs. Wilson on February 12th, 2008 @ 7:14 pm“Stop! Collaborate, and LISTEN.”
Heh.
Love it. Y’all are adorable. Look at his wee little skates!
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Comment by kerrianne on February 12th, 2008 @ 7:48 pmWhat fun! You know how much I love skating but Jack does not share my love of it. He may be the only boy in SK that never plays hockey.
I am so good with that though!
Being active as a family is the best 
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Hooray for learning to skate! Looks like you guys had a great time. You’ll have to post pictures of family snow shoeing when it happens, I can only imagine how cute little snow shoes are.
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Comment by Ashley on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:20 pmCan you believe, I’ve never been ice skating? and the last time I went roller skating was in 5th grade when I skated through a coke spill. Needless to say, my tail bone has never recovered.
Comment by gorillabuns on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:22 pmWhat a great photo of the two of you! Congrats to your son on a great outing.
One day I hope my son will learn to skate (his initials are NHL after all) and take me with him.
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Comment by TheAngelForever on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:28 pmYou totally have it figured out. Your kids will always remember outdoor family time, and pass it on to theirs!
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Comment by witchypoo on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:34 pmI’m younger than you, and I definitely appreciate the title! 
I loved Vanilla Ice when I was a kid. I remember having a dance routine to this song, or I had the music video dance memorized. Hee.
Ice skating is awesome! I haven’t been in eons, but when I was a kid, I wanted to be an Olympic figure skater. Probably because of the 88 Calgary Olympics, I’m sure. Looks like it was fun!
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Comment by Sharon on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:39 pmThat’s adorable, I can’t wait to get the moosh out on skates.
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Comment by moosh in indy. on February 12th, 2008 @ 8:44 pmWe’re in the process of teaching Riley to skate as well. He is going on his own now, but has a little ways to go before I would call him a “skater”…but i too look forward to having some more things to do in the winter. Right now, we push Liam in a buggy on the ice as he was like Graham last year and when he didn’t get it within the first 2 min. he was done. Just think of us in 5 years, when they are all off on their own and we won’t have anything to do!
Comment by SarahD on February 12th, 2008 @ 9:51 pmI think every kid should learn how to skate. This is Canada after all.
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Comment by reddirtroad on February 12th, 2008 @ 10:09 pmIce skating is a real novelty here (no surprise there, we live in a subtropical climate, after all). But our Kiwi/summer version of your “family fitness” idea currently involves heading along to athletics (running races, high jump, long jump) every Wednesday with both boys, and we help out with events.
I just love that last photo of you & Graham! And of course you are proud of him, sounds like he has natural talent! Way to go, G!!
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Aww, that pic of the 2 of you is so sweet.
Good for you for lacing up your skates!
It has been AGES since I have gone skating, like you I used skate a lot. I enjoyed it then, but now it just seems like work (even if I wasn’t prego) and the potential to have an achy body the next day.
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Comment by Kristin on February 12th, 2008 @ 11:07 pmI grew up with an ice rink just one miile from my house. My parents let me go by myself when I was in 8th grade to meet my girlfriends for open skate (AKA- scope out the high schoolers) They would play Ice Ice Baby as the opening song every week and I LOVED IT!!! THought I was so cool skating around with my big hair breaking it down to Vanilla Ice.
Go Graham…you find your own Ice Ice Baby groove!
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Comment by Filtering Life on February 13th, 2008 @ 5:45 amawesome! go go go!
lol about kissing your 40D… I dream about *my* 5D nightly. Still in the store, but I still dream about it. I too am looking for a less bulky camera for out-and-about shots.
Skates for you if you’re in the market for non-figure skates. I’ve seen a figure/hockey hybrid skate. My friend has them and loves them. Both her daughters play hockey too. Eek on the EARLY am call. Not for me either….
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Comment by Holly on February 13th, 2008 @ 6:04 amIce skating! What a wonderful idea! You’ve got the cutest kids I swear!
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Comment by Indygirl on February 13th, 2008 @ 7:33 amYour ‘50 pound wet noodle’ line cracked me up 
It’s amazing what little ones can do! And what we eventually have trouble with, as our bodies get bigger…
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Comment by LVGurl on February 13th, 2008 @ 7:33 amhow great! i can’t skate to save my life, sadly. i’m envious.
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Nice! You’re lucky! Our class didn’t get to go skating. Nor will we. Looks like you guys had fun!
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Comment by Vicki on February 13th, 2008 @ 7:38 amI love that last picture! Beautiful.
I dated a hockey player in high school for a few years and every now and again we’d go to the rink and skate. One time, a little kid walked up to Jason and said, “You’re so good. I hope to be as good as you one day.” Then the kid turned to me and said, “If you bend your knees a little more, it should be easier.”
Lovely moment.
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Comment by She Likes Purple on February 13th, 2008 @ 7:54 amBeautiful pictures, as usual.
Angella, I left you something in my blog, please check it in here:
http://lfwaterloo.blogspot.com/2008/02/another-award.html
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Comment by Gabriel on February 13th, 2008 @ 8:17 amCute! They have really good skating classes in Penticton. I don’t know about the ones here, but the Pen. ones are great for kids.
Comment by Kaili on February 13th, 2008 @ 9:53 amGreat pictures Angella. I love helping out at school (especially kindergarten). They’re always so excited to have you there and so funny @ that age.
You look good on skates
MK
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Comment by mommyknows on February 13th, 2008 @ 9:57 amTy is loving skating this year too. Man is the ice rink cold, ours is colder than out side.
Comment by Jazz on February 13th, 2008 @ 2:14 pmThat is so cool! I think I’d like to swap climates….but only for a little while!
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great post, but it just reminds me of the one thing i cant do and refuse to try again..ever…is skating!haha
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Comment by Chelsey on February 13th, 2008 @ 4:42 pmI was (and still am) a terrible skater–both ice and roller; however, I’m terribly GOOD at preemptive falling. Know what that is? It’s falling on your butt the moment you think you might be heading for a total biff. Similar to running into the grass when roller-blading. Just better to get the embarrassing moment out of the way a bit faster.
I think it’s awesome that you’re placing such importance on activity as a family. You’re a good Mom.
(Oh my Lord–I think my kitten just ate a spider. Gotta go.)
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Comment by The Over-Thinker on February 13th, 2008 @ 5:50 pmSomething… grabs a hold of me tightly. flow (fly?) like a hawk, daily and nightly, will it ever stop. No, I don’t know. turn off the mike and I’ll go to the extreme… wax a chimp I’m losing it here, something about a candle… Light up the stage
Yeah, um- Isn’t that song popular now? Because I’m not old.
Great pictures, great blog, I think I’ve been here for an hour. It ALMOST makes me wanna brave the cold and go play. almost.
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Comment by Mrs Hannigan on February 13th, 2008 @ 10:49 pmI grew up in Chicago and the first time I went ice skating was when I was 18 and living in Arizona.
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Comment by Kristabella on February 14th, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Yay for skating!! But you’ve got to trade those figure skates in for hockey skates
Comment by Amber on February 12th, 2008 @ 6:34 pm