Dan - Skating week two

I've worked out how to embed a photo slideshow, so this should work better than last week's video. A little more progress this week, it took a few minutes for Dan to regain his confidence, but he enjoyed the lesson again, there were no meltdowns, and he's already looking forward to next week. Olga did a fine job fitting all their skates and Dan's helmet into Lara's new figure skating suitcase bag. The lesson was mostly about building up tower blocks and knocking them down, something close to Dan's heart, or kicking blocks around. After the lesson Dan insisted that it was his turn to take a photo of Lara, which turned out better than either of us was expecting..

And here's a little video compilation too..

Dan's Skating Lessons, with a young Assistant Coach

Dan started his "parent and tot" skating lessons with Olga on Saturday morning, it was a 45 minute lesson, with the aim of him being able to stand up unaided, which we think he achieved. He enjoyed it, there were no meltdowns, and to cap it off, Lara was allowed to help out in her capacity as an "assistant" to her own skating coach, who happens to run the parent and tot lesson.

Holiday time

Its Good Friday and the start of a week's holiday for us, we're off to the trailer today. The photo is one I took last weekend, just as the sun touched the top of Mount Kidd, I'm hoping for similar weather this coming week, but the forecast for the next few days is colder and greyer, but that might give us some snow so we can go skiing. We're taking the bikes, so if it does warm up we'll go for a ride.
The week is starting well, it's 9.30am and the kids are still in bed..

"Can I cut its head off?"

Olga and Lara are enjoying some mother-daughter bonding time this teatime... Preparing some bream to cook. Lara's checked the stomach contents, descaled them, and asked if she can cut its head off. Apparently she has to wait until it's cooked before she gets to do that..

Postscript: After the fish had been cooked and delivered to Lara, and she duly removed its head, Dan - sitting next to her at the table - chimed in with "I want to cut a fish's head off too!"... that's my boy:-)

Skating progression

This week has seen a slight yet important step forward for Lara and her skating; her coach has given the OK for Lara to skate without wearing a helmet. It shows the coach has confidence in Lara's ability, but also makes Lara feel a bit more like one of the older girls. The question arose after Lara saw the costume she'll be wearing for this year's skating gala - a mermaid - and she wondered how the helmet would fit into the ensemble. So, now she's helmet-free.. Dan starts his skating lessons next month, in a parent and tot group with Olga. He'll definitely be in a helmet. And face guard. And bubble wrap if we could arrange it!