Maddie goes ice skating

Yesterday I got together with other MOP's as Brian likes to call it (Mothers of Preschoolers) and today's activity was to meet together for lunch then take the kids ice skating at the Allen convention center. This MOP group has been getting together once a week this summer with planned inexpensive activities to get the kids together to play and have something different to do throughout the summer. We haven't been able to participate in most activities because most were scheduled on Wednesday mornings when Maddie has gymnastics, but some were on Tuesday mornings and those worked out well for us.

Yesterday was our last get-together for this summer. We started off having lunch at Freebirds, which on Tuesdays, kids meals are free with a purchase of an adult meal, then we headed over to the skating rink. At first Maddie was scared and wasn't so sure about what she was about to do, starting with putting on the heavy ice skates.  Then it took lots of coaxing for her to get on the ice. She really wanted me to be the one to help her on the ice, but I had to explain that it wasn't safe for mommy to be ice skating right now. Alissa Pearson teaches skating lessons and she was more then happy to help Maddie out on the ice. It took Maddie a while to warm up to the idea, and after each time she went around the rink, she came out to sit on the bench by me to rest. By the third and last time she got out on the ice, she didn't need any coaxing or help from me getting into the rink. It took her 1 1/2hrs. to go around the rink 3 times, but she had an absolute blast. We will definitely be taking advantage of their open skate times in the future.

Maddie and Alissa

Maddie with Allisa, Kopelynn and Rachel Patterson

Maddie doing her thing all by herself

Maddie about to skate up to Robyn and Bethany England