Hakuna Matata, wait I mean Happy New Year!

Today is the last day of Chuck’s 2 weeks off of work. We’ve done a few fun things but mostly we’ve been watching movies and eating popcorn. Aren’t we exciting?

Chuck decided that we needed to send the holidays off with a bang so we took the kids out to Banff to go skating. We brought skates for Jason and Jocelyn they’ve never used and I hoped and prayed that the kids wouldn’t get too cold and that the ice wouldn’t break open and drag us into the cold water. I have only been skating once and I don’t enjoy the cold no matter how long we’ve lived here. I was silently hoping that the kids would get sick or the car would break down so we would have to go back home but none of that happened. What did happen was a miracle though.

I had fun!

We got to the man made lake behind the Banff Springs Hotel and there were already lots of families out skating. There was a small bonfire where people were roasting hotdogs and kids were sledding down a hill nearby. I saw the kids’ eyes glisten with anticipation and my heart melted. How could I be such a scrooge when the kids were so happy? We threw their skates on them and watched them slide on the ice like they were learning to walk for the first time.

Jason took to it right away and Jocelyn used a contraption that someone brought made of PVC pipe that Jocelyn pushed along in front of her for support.

They had so much fun that after we left, went out for dinner, drove home and got ready for bed they were STILL talking about how much fun they had and how badly they want to go back!

One more reminder that I need to be more willing to try new things.

We’re going to build our one PVC supports and get David some skates before we go back on Sunday.

Speaking of David, he was playing like he hadn’t seen daylight in a whole year. He was rolling down the hills, sliding on the ice in his boots and then warming himself by the fire. He can’t wait to get his own pair of skates so he can go tearing around the lake and I bet money that he’ll do it.

I’m so proud of them for not being like their grouchy old mom and for embracing a new family tradition. If you’re looking for something to do next New Years Day you can join us at the lake. Bring a bag of hotdogs and some marshmallows and meet us on the ice!

Happy New Years!