Local Rink

We headed with the neighbors to a local rink today to play around on the ice.  I brought my skates and pulled the kids around on the saucers and also helped Ryan when he needed help.  It didn't take long and he said "I don't need you to help me anymore - I want to do it myself"...and he did!  He still stumbles and falls a lot, but he is learning and I am so happy for him.  It was a cold day today - the windchills were -9* during lessons and probably about the same when we were at the rink, but the kids never feel the cold like we do as adults!  They could have stayed all day!

Aaron taking a turn pulling Zach - I think after I pulled the boys, he pulled Zach around almost the entire time we were there!

They wanted to make an X with their sticks!

Best of buds! (notice Ryan's missing tooth from earlier this week):

Skating Lessons

Ryan started skating lessons at a local warming house today.  At one point, he looked at me and said "signing me up for skating lessons may be the stupidest thing you've ever done".  I gave him the look - we don't say stupid in our house, but that wasn't the point.  It was hard, learning to stand up on skates, much less make your way across the ice on them is hard work.  Ryan is used to excelling in sports - he comes by them pretty naturally and he is a risk taker.  He is not used to struggling to accomplish a sport.  He struggled today, but I am proud of him.  When it got hard - he probably fell at least 100 times during the 45 minute class - he got back up every time and he did it.  I want him to learn to skate; it's tough to live in the Land of 10,000 lakes and not be able to skate.  I also selfishly want a blading partner, so I'm pushing him a bit!  When he had the opportunity to go skating with his buddy later in the afternoon, I was a little worried he would say no, but he didn't hesitate, and they were on their skates the entire time we were at the rink - at least an hour and a half.  What a busy day - no wonder he fell asleep in about two minutes tonight!!!

The "Ryan" look - out of the corner of his eye:

Obsession

You may have a Lego obsession if this is what your coffee table looks like on a regular basis...

Postcard

Imagine Evan's surprise when this postcard arrived at his office today in a mass mailing from Como with a picture of his kids on it!

Tooth

Ryan lost his third tooth today - not by his choice!  He fell and hit his mouth on a playground bench at recess.  It hit hard enough to cause a bruise and swelling on his bottom lip as well as the other tooth bit into the top lip, causing a scab.  He was scared but I think a tiny bit relieved because I have been threatening to pull that tooth for months - it was wiggling at his last dentist appointment in June!  Finally!  The tooth fairy already paid him a visit tonight!!!  :)

Gift Card Purchases

The boys had gift cards to spend at Target from their Christmas stockings as well as many from Ryan's birthday.  This was the first time Ryan really understood how a gift card worked.  He had so much fun picking out his gifts and found the exact Ricochet RC that he has wanted for months (on clearance at Target - SCORE!)

Park

I took the boys to the ice rink at the park to get out of the house for a bit this afternoon.  It was bitterly cold (I just checked and it is -10* with windchill), but we lasted almost an hour.  The boys had a blast and didn't want to leave.  Tomorrow we'll break out the scarves and head back over there!

Carter was laughing so hard, he could hardly get a shot off!

Ryan was the goalie!

A break in the action for a photo:

Brotherly love: