"Let's All Skate!"

On Tuesday Sarah brought home a note from school about a roller skating party at a local skating rink.  She called Daddy at work to see if we could go... He said "yes", so that evening we all went roller skating.  It had been years and years since either Eric or I had been and this was Sarah and Phoebe's first time!

As we drove to the skating rink I told Eric about my memory of the first time that I had gotten to go roller skating... My dad took me to the local skating rink.  I had to have been around Sarah's age, about 5 or 6.  We got out on the floor together, going slowly around in big circles.  As I remember, we were doing pretty well, holding hands, going at our own pace as others whizzed around us and flew by us.  Then it happened, the lights dimmed, and a million twinkling lights shown down on the floor all around us... Dad got dizzy and down we both went, crashing onto the floor.  I am sure this may have hurt Dad a little bit, but it is such a funny memory now.  Thanks Dad, for taking me skating when I was little!  What a fun memory that we share... One that will always make me smile and laugh out loud, just a little!

Phoebe's foot was small enough that she could get the shoe skates, meaning her shoe fit right inside the skates.  Sarah's foot however was too big for the shoe skates, so she got regular, super fast rolling, skates just like Eric and I.  

Phoebe did pretty well, falling some, but maneuvering and controlling her shoe skates pretty well.  She held onto Eric or my hand most of the time out on the floor, but tried to do it herself for a couple short stints.

Skating proved to be a little tricky and rough on the elbows and whole body for Sarah.  She fell MANY times... HARD!  Her right arm and elbow took the brunt of one hard fall and she has a giant red/purple/brown bruise and swollen area to show for it.  She did not ever cry though... She just kept getting up and trying to skate again.  She is tough, and stubborn, (like me) when she wants to get or accomplish something.  She tried holding onto Eric and my hands some out on the floor, but really wanted to be able to do it herself.  We encouraged her over and over to hang onto the wall to practice.

As we headed home for the night after skating, we asked both girls if they had fun, and if they would ever want to come skating again...?  "Yes" was the chorus we heard from the backseat as we were driving home. So look out elbows, knees, hands and various other body parts that are bruised  and hurting still today... We will be back for more!