The pond is such a great thing to have near our house. Yes many people are racing out to the speed skating oval to skate with 500 of their closest friends, but not us. We cross the street and skate with our neighbours. Many times we actually have the pond all to ourselves. Charlotte is a great skater, I've put up some video and can you believe she isn't even 5 yet.
Robbie is younger and not quite as determined as Charlotte is to master everything, but once he learns to push and realizes that he can go fast while skating he'll be hooked. He is liking hockey and was playing a bit with Rick and Matt on Saturday. He also has 'transformed' his firetruck into a zambonni and drives that around the ice when he gets tired of skating.
Mae spends time being pushed in her stroller or pulled in her sledge, she quite likes going fast or when I push her backwards and skate after her. We are lucky that our winters are mild and we just plop down on the snow bank and have a snack or a drink of hot chocolate.
Here are some videos of the kids. (Tip: you might want to turn your volume OFF)
We have also been doing gymnastics. Once again Charlotte is all about perfecting it, and concentrates so hard at each event. Robbie prefers to just do as he pleases, and I spend the entire time taking him back to his teacher and reminding him to listen. This past weekend was his 4th class and he's getting better at listening. Too bad I can't say the same about swimming. No surprise that Charlotte goes, listens and tries her very hardest. She has really turned a corner when it comes to these structured classes, and perfect timing too, because if I had to pull her off my leg while dragging Robbie I would probably turn around and leave. Robbie isn't shy, he isn't afraid of water, nor is he afraid of the teacher (all the things we worked with Charlotte on). Robbie's thing is that he doesn't want to be in a class, he wants to fling and flop around in the water being the goof ball he is. I actually think the idea of following instructions makes his skin crawl. The supervisor at the pool remembers Robbie from previous trips to the pool, what can I say he is memerable. She remembers how fearless he is and she tries to get him to go to the class but he just won't go. I know it will get better (it did with Charlotte) and I've always said the only thing I will force my kids to do is swimming lessons. Kids need to know how to swim and this boy certainly needs to learn water safety.
Mae loves the mats at gymnastics
This photo isn't another one of her funny face... although it is quite funny, this photo is to show her favorite stuffed animal. One day she crawled into her room there were about 5 stuffed animals that she'd pulled off the shelf, but she grabbed this one said "DogDog" and gave him a hug. So here we have it... DogDog is Mae's best friend. I am fully honest when I say it was her pick, I don't push any one stuffed animal on the kids but I have to tell you that Charlotte's Honey Bunny, Robbie's Mr. Murphy and now Mae's DogDog all came from Mike's aunt Sheila and uncle Alan. Wow do they have a knack for picking stuffed animals.
Yes aren't they so well behaved... but now to hear the truth behind the photo. Even though Robbie's hair looks wet, it isn't. Nope that is what a little boy's hair looks like after his sister uses half (yes half) of a tub of vaseline to try and spike his hair. It took two good hair scrubbings to get it all out.
Last photo... Super Hero's
