Reagan's First Ice Skating Lesson

One of Reagan's gifts from Auntie Court was a pair of ice skates. My family has been almost always involved in ice skating in some way. My Mother ice skated in Ice Follies as a kid and my Sister and I grew up skating. Court still does, I had to stop once I got hips and could no longer get off the ground. I was never that graceful anyway.

So, Reagan got a bunch of ice skating themed gifts- a couple of ice skating outfits, her own set of skates, a skating bag and a Pottery Barn Kids doll named "Merry" who came equipped with her own skating gear. Lots of fun!

Since Court was only visiting for a short while, we decided to take Roo to a local rink so we could all see her first attempt on the ice. What fun we had! First of all we dressed Roo in her Gap skinny jeans, ice skating themed sweater and her furry winter boots (which she never wants to take off). Then we headed to the outdoor rink in Westport at the Longshore Country Club. This rink goes up every Winter and is near the beach, so much fun for an afternoon of skating and people watching.

Once we got situated, Court and I put on our skates, then Court got Reagan ready. I have to say that she was pretty good at walking in her skates, especially considering she has only been walking for 5 months. We got her out on the ice and Court took over (she gives lessons to kids and I have no idea where to start). Roo tried and did pretty well. She had a decent center of balance, but couldn't seem to understand why her feet kept moving out from underneath her. Needless to say, we didn't get very far. So Roo wouldn't get bored, Court and I would pick her up and skate around the rink saying "let's go zoom!" She was laughing and having a great time going fast and passing by everyone.

Then we decided to take a hot chocolate break while the Zamboni cleaned the ice. Roo did great standing in her skates and being patient. Of course Daddy had a basket of curly fries, so that kept her occupied. Food take priority with this kid. We also gave her a first taste of hot chocolate, no interest. Instead she wanted the clementine the woman next to us was eating. Luckily she had an extra and offered to share.

Once the Zamboni was done, we went back out on the ice (Daddy was taking pictures and video on the sidelines without skates), but not for long. It was Roo's nap time and the ice skating adventure was wearing her out. She started to figure out how to "march" in her skates and could even stand by herself, but it was time to call it a day.

I don't think that I would ever have considered getting her ice skates this young, but I am glad Court did. It helps to carry on the Dunne-Hodock-McCoy skating tradition in our family, at least for now.