Where is the camera?

It's all a perfect metaphor of our adjustment to life in Canada.

You may recall that the winter of 2006, our first winter as still thoroughly Arizona's in shock and awe, we went out as a family determined to make it in Canada. And that meant buying over $100 worth of ice skates and taking to Nathan Phillips Square outdoor rink for some fun. We all tried to grin and bare it but it wasn't much fun. It was freezing and our feet hurt and most of all, my back hurt from holding up a 2 year old and a 4 year old. Wasn't that nice?






Next year we were convinced by some locals that what we really needed to do was go to the Harbourfront. So, we packed on all our clothes, tied up our skates and headed down on the subway to the harbourfront. It was fun but mostly becuase we hung out with our friends and ate good food and Drew drank beer inside.

2008 we had moved up to THornhill and they had a local ice rink not too far and again, we (by we I mean me) thought it might be fun to go check it out. Plus, its what the locals do. In Arizona you swim - in Canada you skate. What if the kids gets invited to a skating party? God forbid they don't know how. What will we do? So, even though the wind was whipping our faces and the snow was coming down in full force, we were determined. Keep in mind that this is now our 3rd pair of skates. We use them once per year and then the next year they have outgrown their skates and need a new pair. Luckily Mazie is always a year behind Leo so she can wear his so really I only need to get 1 pair for Leo. Drew and I don't grow that quickly and I have a very comfy pair. As soon as we got out on the ice, bam! Mazie fell on her face and the screw to her glasses went into her eyebrow. She still has a very beautiful scar to prove it. It's a screw shaped scar. Luckily her face was so frozen anyway that she never felt a thing. We vowed never again were we going to go ice skating. It hurts your feet and your ankles, the kids can't stand up, it breaks my back and its so much work to just go around once or twice and head home.

Come 2009 and do you think we learn?! NO! You bet we don't. I'm not sure why but again I decided over Christmas break that it would be a fun family event to go skating. But you guessed it - Leo needs new skates. We go to a few stores - too expensive for new ones that only get worn once. So, we are not able to go. But, the next day I pass by Play it Again Sports and I happen upon a size 12 and pay $21 (such a deal really) and buy Leo a pair of skates. Mazie will wear his old hockey pair from last year. Tonight we went to the park and would you believe it?! The kids are about 10 times better than last year. They both went around about 10 times and fully without my assistance. Leo is most excellent at falling and what dramatic falls he can make. Now, if we can only convince him to get up quicker so nobody skates over his beautiful rosy red cheeks. Some day the girls are going to love those cheeks. Drew didn't bring his skates but he was there to cheer us on. We all had smiles on our faces and it was so Canadian that I held onto both kids' hands and sang the national anthem. Mostly I was happy that there is hope - they may indeed one day learn to swim as well.

Next time I'm going to have Drew bring the video camera and I'll post some video of our fun skating adventure.