Skates

During the winter months when I was growing up, my parents frequently took my younger brother and I to the two ice rinks in town. We always had a blast - trying to recreate the moves we'd see in the Olympics..haha, not really. But we did have fun, whether our parents were on the ice with us, or they took us because we begged them so much they buckled only to sit in the car and watch us. We didn't care. Sure it was great to have them on the ice with us, but as long as we were on the ice....plus we knew we'd have a warm car and a thermos of hot cocoa waiting for us!

Naturally when I moved out I took my box of skates. The same ones that have been sitting in the same box now for just over 10 years, unused...but this fall at a second-hand store I bought Austin a pair of double runner skates. And today, we laced up our skates and took to the ice! Today our WI weather was perfect - a balmy 31 degrees.

Austin surprised me by how well he skated! I surprised myself at how well I skated...and I was expecting to fall on my 'seater' (per Austin) but I didn't. I did, however, notice my ankle strength, rather the lack thereof.

About half way through our time on the rink he says to me:
"Mama? Can we come back tomorrow after school? I want to practice some more."

I replied with: "Yes. It is fun, isn't it? Sure, we can come back."

Guess where we'll be tomorrow after school?

Mr. Sun

Some mornings are magical.

Take today, for instance...

Our timing was perfect, Mr. Sun and I.

I smiled, because sitting on the passenger seat next to me was my camera bag.

So I drove slow, thanking the man above I had no cars behind me.

My left hand gripped the steering wheel, my right hand held my camera.

I pointed the camera out my front windshield, which is still so dirty.

Click, click, click....I blindly snapped away as my eyes followed the road straight ahead...

Click.

Love.


What a fabulous Friday.

Dancin' & Slidin'

This weekend we packed up the truck and traveled 6 hours west to Fergus Falls, MN for Mike's cousin Rachel's wedding. At the church, after the ceremony, Austin met one of his 'cousins' Justin, who is just about the same age as Austin. Once they figured out they were close in age, they turned into BFF's for the night. They were pretty much inseparable. At the reception, Justin and Austin were dance partners....the bride and groom had a square dance reception - it was different, but fun. The band had a woman who guided everyone in the dances, and it was fun to see Austin and Justin out there dancing!

Then Sunday morning we woke up and went to the Big Splash Waterpark (round II) for a little over an hour...and the boys frolicked in the pools, Austin went down waterslides, and we all went down the lazy river in tubes.

Meet Henrietta...

...the monkey. She's the new 'friend' in the afternoon 4K class. Austin brought her (and her baggage...a huge backpack, bottle, carseat, blanket, bib, spoon, bowl...) home Thursday. And of course since there was no afternoon 4K Friday (not sure why), and never on Mondays, he gets her until Tuesday. She'll be doing lots....so stay tuned! :)


Thursday night...snuggling together. Awww...!