Being Brave Paid Off!

[Zoe]

I thought it would be fun to take my kids and my dcks ice skating at our local indoor rink for open skating! I have a small group, but was still a little nervous about this. Yesterday, my husband had off of work for President's Day and I also recruited my mother to come along to assist. I have my own kids, 5 and 3, as well as my dck's, who are 5 and 2.5. My kids have been skating before, the dcks haven't.

So I got the forms filled out, got everyone in the van all bundled up to help cushion the blows from falling and we actually went ice skating!!!

They had these walker things for little ones that were the perfect size so that all the kids could help keep themselves up. I took the 2.5 yo and my 5 yo DD, my husband helped our 3 yo son, and my mother (who's my sub btw) took the 5 yo dck. No nasty spills! No silly adults or older children getting in the way of my kids/dck's! My husband didn't hurt himself either! ::

By the end of the hour-long skating spree, my own kids were using the walkers without any assistance and the dck's got the hang of it! Everyone had SO much fun and needless to say, nap time was immediately afterward. ::

I'm so glad I did this. Such a great field trip for us!

[littlemissmuffet]

I thought it would be fun to take my kids and my dcks ice skating at our local indoor rink for open skating! I have a small group, but was still a little nervous about this. Yesterday, my husband had off of work for President's Day and I also recruited my mother to come along to assist. I have my own kids, 5 and 3, as well as my dck's, who are 5 and 2.5. My kids have been skating before, the dcks haven't.

So I got the forms filled out, got everyone in the van all bundled up to help cushion the blows from falling and we actually went ice skating!!!

They had these walker things for little ones that were the perfect size so that all the kids could help keep themselves up. I took the 2.5 yo and my 5 yo DD, my husband helped our 3 yo son, and my mother (who's my sub btw) took the 5 yo dck. No nasty spills! No silly adults or older children getting in the way of my kids/dck's! My husband didn't hurt himself either! ::

By the end of the hour-long skating spree, my own kids were using the walkers without any assistance and the dck's got the hang of it! Everyone had SO much fun and needless to say, nap time was immediately afterward. ::

I'm so glad I did this. Such a great field trip for us!

Sounds awesome, good for you! I bet the parents were happy about it too!

We love our monthly field trips! Hubs and I take our five kids DC kiddos on a variety of trips during the year. Always fun!

[DCMomOf3]

That sounds like you all had a great experience! I wonder if the places near me have walkers....

[Little People]

Sound like so much fun!! I would need one of those walker things too::

[Zoe]

Sound like so much fun!! I would need one of those walker things too::

Before this winter, the last time I ice skated was 15 years ago! So I was really unsure of myself, especially in rental skates that didn't fit well. It helped to "help the kids", as no one could tell how much I really needed to lean on the kids' walker! :::: I brought my own this time (Mom found them from when I was a teenager and they miraculously still fit) and I did much better!

[squareone]

Sounds awesome, good for you! I bet the parents were happy about it too!

We love our monthly field trips! Hubs and I take our five kids DC kiddos on a variety of trips during the year. Always fun!

llittlemissmuffet, would you mind sharing some of the places that you take the kids - especially during the winter months? I am (temporarily) full right now so I can't fit everyone in my car but we had been taking weekly trips to the library for storytime. Once I am back down to one infant, I am sure that I can enlist the help of a "chaperone" once a month so that we can take "real" field trips.

[littlemissmuffet]

llittlemissmuffet, would you mind sharing some of the places that you take the kids - especially during the winter months? I am (temporarily) full right now so I can't fit everyone in my car but we had been taking weekly trips to the library for storytime. Once I am back down to one infant, I am sure that I can enlist the help of a "chaperone" once a month so that we can take "real" field trips.

Absolutely! My hubs and I don't drive with DC kids, we always take the city bus (free under the age of five)...
We go to all the local museums and art galleries (we have many of both); the libraries for story time; child friendly play zones like Chuck E Cheeze; the Zoo; the IMAX; The Science Centres...
In the summer time we go to parks in different areas of the city - just for the bus ride and to have a change of scenery, the kids love it.
I've also found that when I have a smaller group for the day, the love coming grocery shopping, and running errands, .