Grapevine becomes Hockeytown

After seeing a hockey game this spring and watching virtually all the NHL playoffs, the boys wanted to try hockey. Our local rink offered a free program where they loan you all the hockey equipment and let the kids out on the ice 4 nights. Our boys had great fun just putting on the equipment! And while getting all that stuff on takes time, it takes far less time than it did in my day because the skates have buckles instead of laces!

Gladiator #1 (Austin)



Gladiator #2 (Aidan)

At their first outing Aidan got out on the ice with a chair to hold on to and push around. Austin on the other hand refused to even get out on the ice. Ed spent 45 minutes trying to coax him, but to avail. By week two, Austin was excited about getting on the ice - we plopped him out there with his chair and his little legs were going 90 mph - only he wasn't moving. His skates were going back and forth on the ice, lickity split, but since he wasn't pushing off to the sides, he was "skating in place". Aidan got out on the ice and used his chair half the time and ventured out on his own the rest of the time. By the 3rd session, Aidan spent most of his time without the chair, certainly still a little shaky, but building confidence and trying to put the puck on his stick. Austin attempted several trips away from the chair as well.

A Typical Moment

Not So Typical Moment