Ice skating debut

Yesterday I took the kids ice skating for their very first time...and they LOVED it!  We stayed for the whole 1 hour and 45 minute public skate and I couldn't believe how much they progressed from first step on the ice to last lap before leaving.  Abigail was very brave about trying it (and what a lot of work it was for her -- talk about physical therapy!) and she even figured out how to glide a little; David worked tenaciously to figure out how to do it on his own...and how to go fast, of course. :)  He fell a LOT -- including some full-body wipeouts -- but he got back up every time and tried again!

 Before we took to the ice

If at first you don't succeed...

He certainly did an amazing amount of 'trying again'!  I was so proud of him.

Abigail wanted to hold my hand the whole time she was on the ice (which was perfectly acceptable), but here she is being brave for a picture.  She was much more comfortable than I had expected her to be and did great!

Abigail was tired out by the end -- we all were, but it was extra-hard work for her due to her CP -- and she asked to spend the last fifteen minutes of the session resting.  I took off her skates, tucked her in under David's extra coat, and she zoned out!

One of the highlights of the trip for them was watching the Zamboni do its thing.

They also got to watch a few minutes of a hockey game happening in the other rink.

Another family and I exchanged picture-taking so we could each have pictures of us with our kids...a nice treat!

So that was our grand ice skating debut.  We enjoyed it so very much that I joined the frequent skater program so that we can go several more times over this next year.  At bedtime last night, the kids were already clamoring for me to set a date for our next skating trip -- so it was definitely a successful activity!

And just for the record, after twelve or so years off the ice, I did pretty well considering. :)  I was not anywhere near as graceful about it as I used to be, but I managed to not fall even once (phew!), and on my solo laps, when the kids wanted to sit and rest a minute, I even re-figured out a few of my simple skills from the olden days.  And also just for the record, yes, I have also re-discovered some muscles that I had forgotten I even had...boy, do I feel old and out of shape!!!