E CAN-SKATE!

E has his first CANSKATE lesson yesterday morning, and despite a few tears at the beginning, I was very proud of him!

He was very gung-hoe to go skating... all week he had been asking how many more sleeps, and 'are we goin' to the wink now?' with much anticipation, but yesterday morning at breakfast he quietly confessed 'I don't wanna go no more'.

I half expected this, as this is the type of child he is... very excited, but nervous and shy when it comes to actually doing something he's never really done before, and with people he doesn't know.

The thing about skating for a parent is that its not as easy to say, oh go on, you'll be fine... because its a skill he has yet to acquire. Its not like dropping him off at daycare and knowing that he will actually be fine once you leave him.  But nonetheless, skating is a skill that can provide enjoyment for many years to come - and I think he will love it once he gets the hang of it - hence the need for the lessons!

So... yesterday morning we suited him up in some layers, splash pants and a warm jacket (despite the 30 degree weather).  We arrived at the rink in good time, he got his name badge, his skates on, and eventually we secured the helmet.  As he lined up to go on the ice he was clinging to PC like white on rice... but with the direction of the instructors, we handed him over to their guidance and that's when the tears came.

His teacher was extremely patient and once he could see us on the boards watching him, he sucked up the tears and started to listen to what she had to say. It was slow, but she worked with him and eventually he was standing on his own, and starting to take a few baby steps on his skates. He fell once - a good fall - and there were a few more tears, but with the teacher's guidance she helped him get back on his feet, and making forward motion.

The CANSKATE sessions at our club are only 25 minutes long, which was a great length for him.  When he came off... he was smiling (as in the 'I can't believe I survived that' type smile), and when we announced how proud we were of him for trying, his face lit up.

I was more than thrilled with how the lesson went, as I assumed it would go much worse, to the point where he wouldn't even try because PC and I were not there to help him.  Boy was I wrong - and pleasantly surprised.  I can't wait for next week... but I am sure E is glad he has a seven day rest ahead of him!

Here are a few pics from the morning skate... we *may* just have a future Olympian on our hands!

The Golden Goal... where were you?

I think this is the question people are going to be asking for years... where were you when Sidney Crosby's scored the golden goal for Team Canada in 2010 Winter Olympics?

While I would like to say I was somewhere lavish, I was actually just at home with PC and E, in front of the TV, and all three of us were living and dying on every shot, save, rebound, breakaway, penalty kill leading up to the conclusion of the game. It was thrilling ... almost heart stopping at times. I had just finished saying to PC, Crosby needs to come alive in OT, and whaddaya know... WHABAM... Scooooooooooooooooooooooooooores!!!

I know E is so young, but I have a feeling he will remember the Golden Goal in some form or another as he grows up.

As the game went into overtime, I decided to whip out the camera to help E along with his memory when he's a bit older! I think the Sidney Crosby goal will be one that is replayed many times over during his lifetime (and mine too!) - and without knowing it was going to happen, I wanted to snap a few pictures in the event that it did!

I absolutely love the high the conclusion of the gold medal game has left us (and all of Canada) on. It was truly amazing to see 'Sid the Kid' score the OT winner, not only claiming Olympic Gold for our country, but also putting Canada in the Olympic record books for the most gold medals won by any country at an Olympic games.

WAY TO GO CANADA!

Here are a few pics from the historical Golden Goal moment in our household! It was an all around FUN moment!




Where were you when Sid scored the winner? Do you think you will remember that day, that moment for years to come?

Is it just me...

or do you see the resemblance???!!!!

I mean... look at those cheek bones!


Okay... so no resemblance!!! But you gotta admit... two good looking boys in these pics!

E and I had an eventful Saturday night watching the Men's Gold Medal game for Olympic Curling. Perhaps it was a 'tad' more eventful for me, then it was for E. I had to basically keep the food and snacks a rollin' through the entire game... but E didn't seem to mind, and neither did I.

I think E actually likes watching curling... take these shots for example - he's pretty excited about K-Mart's call here! And who better to execute the shot but Mommy's fave - Johnny Mo!

In the end it was GOLD for Canada... and I think it may have been beginning of another curling enthusiast in our household!