Going Skating

Our group of homeschooling buddies collectively had the bright idea to get outside on a balmy day and go ice skating.  Seeing as it has been a couple of decades since I have been ice skating, my feet were not happy campers.  I never realized that the entire sole of one's foot could cramp up all at once.  By the time we got home, my feet had voted to secede from my body and spent the evening muttering mutinous comments.  After long negotiations using my left pinkie as an arbitrator and neutral third party, I think we have convinced the feet to stay.  I'm going to have to listen to a little more griping on their part though.  Don't mention it to my feet, but we may go again sometime.

Reviews were mixed kidwise.  Bug was in get-er-done mode.  He never managed to actually glide, just little steps, but he had a ball and is gung-ho to try it again.

Bean wasn't nearly so impressed.  I think she had unreasonable expectations after watching Olympians make it look so easy.  She wanted to do triple axels and wear a tutu, but discovered that she had her hands full keeping her blades on the ice.

I think both kids would benefit from a session of Learn-to-Skate to get a little bit of practice and some more experience under their belts as I am physically unable to hold everyone's hands at the same time (and keep myself upright).  It's getting late this winter, but maybe first thing next winter.

Beeb was, as usual, game for any adventure.  The teensy little rental skates he wore were about the cutest thing ever and once he had them on he was cruising around the warming house like he had been born in skates.  The ice, however, was a bit more slippery.  He was fine when he had help and needed very little support:

On his own, his feet would occasionally get going faster than his body and down he would go.  He wasn't crazy about it, but didn't let it slow him down too much: