Christmas Eve Skating

Two years ago, for our first Christmas here, we went to Calgary on Christmas Eve afternoon to skate on the Bow River, and this year we decided to do the same. The skating area was quiet, only a few hardy souls braving the -13 deg C temperature, and it was great that we could all be skating at the same time, although there is quite a gulf between the level Danny & I are at, and that of Olga and Lara!
It was a lovely way to pass a couple of hours before coming home and getting the kids ready for bed. Lara has our digital clock in her room tonight, with strict orders to not wake us before it reads 6:00.

Dan conquers the bunny hill

The bunny hill holds no more challenges for Dan, so next weekend let's hope the Bronze chairlift is open here, which gives access to the resort's green runs, the next step up for Dan.. And Olga and I can ski together with him, which will be nice

Happy 8th Birthday, Larissa

We woke Lara up early this morning to give her her presents and chat with Grandma, before she went off to school, then onto Skating, before she had a "Nerf Battle"-themed party at the local recreation centre.
I started this blog before Lara was born to help follow her progress as she grows up, and so she can look back at this when she's older. So much as you might be embarrassed, Lara, we love you very much and are very proud of you (all the more so if you ever volunteered to clean up your room!!)



    

Dan Skiing Progress

Dan has had three proper lessons now at Olympic Park, and he seems to be doing really well. He's not as fast as the other kids, but he is one of the youngest, and frankly I'm happy for him to be slow but in control rather than fast and not-so-in-control - it wouldn't be fair to say the other kids who are faster than him are out of control. I did like the brief conversation I heard between the parents of one boy, about Dan's age, who tends to hurtle straight down the hill without turns or snowploughing, until he stops himself by falling or being caught by someone...
Mum, just arriving back from a coffee break: "Hey, how was Ryder?"
Dad: "Kamikazee."
That seemed pretty accurate to me.
Here's Dan putting in some nice turns:


Dan does get some practice in at the weekend at Nakiska, where we play a game with Mr & Mrs Pole, he has to grab them or high-five them on the way past..

Almost start of the ski season

This was our last chance at a practise of our weekend schedule before Lara's ski lessons start again next Saturday morning. It takes some planning to get everyone in the right place at the right time with the right equipment.
At least Lara is helping now by carrying some of our gear (and it is only some!) in her boot bag. It's a lot lighter than it looks. Dan had a dozen or more runs down the nursery slope over the weekend, and so long as we don't pressure him too much, he's enjoying it. He likes going fast more than he likes stopping, though.