Ice Skating!

One of our earlier dates while Travis and I were getting acquainted was to go ice skating down near Utah Lake in Provo. It had been years since I had ice skated, but it didn't take me long to enjoy the feel again. I was impressed that someone as tall as Travis could keep balance, and chuckled to myself how much he looked like a kid, despite his height. Even better that he was willing to look like a kid around me and have fun!

We took our daughters ice skating this last week. Notre Dame has started sponsoring "Family Night" activities on Fridays. There's been bike rides, picnics, bowling, soccer and tennis camps. We haven't been able to attend all of them, but we've had a lot of fun at every one we did attend. This activity was no exception.

It was fun to see Miranda re-learn how to walk. It was great to hear Megan giggle uncontrollably as she slid around on the ice. I loved to see Zoë take off in an independence that was a little sad as it was heart-warming (she went with a neighbor friend and mom). Veronica just looked cute and did what she did best: smile at everybody who gave her a look.

I hope ND continues these great activities for families. It is so fun to have things to do together that are for families; it means people don't look mad when your kid throws a huge temper-tantrum as you are dragging her across the floor to the door. It means you can have cookies and hot chocolate spills where other adults just smile and nod and sigh in relief that it wasn't their child who made the disaster. It's fun to see all the kids laughing, smiling, sliding and falling, parent faces full of fun and laughter, tired cries of children as they leave. It's GREAT!

Miranda LOVED being on the ice. She couldn't walk in her skates on the ground or the ice. She finally was able to balance on the ground, but she just wanted to sit or be held on the ice. She still loved it!



Megan giggled the entire time she was on the ice. When her feet would slip out from under her, her huge eyes would go even wider, and her mouth would open and start laughing. It was such a joy!



Zoë skated all by herself, or with her friend, or with the friend's mom. She got up to crusing speed, and although she fell a few times, she was back on the ice rather quickly after each break.




Veronica enjoyed all the ooo's and aahhhhh's over her cuteness. She didn't get fussy until the end when she was hungry and tired. Which we all were!

We all enjoyed watching the Zamboni, too!

Nadine and Travis let each other take a couple laps around the ice. It was SUPER crowded- we hear there were possibly THREE HUNDRED FIFTY people on that hockey rink. WOW! And, they did have a Santa there. The kids were in it for a candy cane. Megan and Zoë asked for Littlest Petshop toys, but Megan asked for a rattle for Veronica, too. Miranda just got shy and stuck her fingers in her mouth.

As we headed home, Zoë was asking for ice skates. Megan said, "I NEVER want to go back there again!" (and I'm not sure where that came from). Miranda didn't want to leave. I know that I would love to go back with the girls again, but I'd also love to go ice skating with just Travis- and remember when our family got its start.



We didn't get a movie of the girls on the ice, but we got a shot of them walking around!