ice skating

As most of you already know, I broke my little Canon point-and-shoot camera.  About the dumbest thing I have ever done.  I used that camera almost every day.  I was using it to take my picture of the day for Project 365.  But now it's gone.  Pretty much non-repairable.  And so my picture taking abilities are hampered.  Don't get me wrong, I love our Nikon D200 SLR.  Love it. I especially love my 50mm lens.  But to take it places - it's a bit cumbersome.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because Emily had her very first ice skating class today, and I have nothing but a story to show for it.  Lucky for you, and me as well, she's going again for the next seven weeks, and at some point I will either have a replacement for my Canon, or I will have to lug the Nikon into the ice rink.

I don't want to bore you with ALL the details, but she did fantastic.  I was a little worried when I laced up her rental skates - they were really grubby and gross looking, and I have since ordered her own skates - and she could not walk AT ALL.  I thought we may be in trouble. But since we arrived very early, her and Jenna - her buddy from across the street - practiced walking, and Emily got the hang of it in no time.  Phew.  But, you know, ice is MUCH more slippery than just regular old floor.....

Well, as soon as her skates hit the ice, she ALMOST bit it - but in total non-Emily form, she didn't.  I was SHOCKED.  She did, however, request that I put her bike helmet on her.  And then she was off.  They learned how to "march" on the ice, how to fall, how to get back up from a fall - a valuable lesson in my book, and they played a few games.  The lesson ended with her teacher - Mr. Fred - pulling each student around on the ice while they held onto a traffic cone. Emily said that was her most favorite part.

She is already asking how many more days until her next lesson. Money well spent.  Pictures next week - I promise.