Ice-Skating in Vermont

I had been trying to find an outside pond on which to skate, but Tessa, Maia, and Cooper absolutely refused to even consider it! I think they've seen too many shows about people falling through the ice! As it turned out, the day was VERY snowy and cold so an inside rink was perfect. Our family had been ice-skating only one time prior to this, so it was a definite learning experience!
Outside the rink, which is in a beautiful park area. Austin's catching snowflakes on his tongue! Cooper didn't want to have his "fat" coat on.

This rink (and maybe others?) has a great idea! They have some milk crates around that can be stacked to different heights and beginners just hold on and go. The crates glide easily, but provide plenty of stability. Coop loved the independence the crates gave him!

Ivy went around the rink once with dad on her skates and then flat-out refused. Sitting on the crates was the only way she'd go after that. Since her mom is a beginner skater, pushing Ivy on the crates was safer and more fun for BOTH of us!

A fuzzy Maia in motion.

Tessa and Cooper making their way around the rink. Thank goodness for the wall to hold on to. They did get to the point where they didn't have to hold on ALL the time. I barely got to that point.

Richard, McKenna, and Ivy going around.

The only way to go!

Maia and McKenna. Richard and Ivy behind. And Austin and Cooper behind them.

The red blur is Richard racing Austin. There's a disagreement about who the winner was.

Maia got tuckered out pretty quickly - and didn't really think it was all that fun. Ivy was having fun, but of course didn't want to look at the camera. Silly girl.

Press the arrow to watch Cooper skate. Watch his little feet fly. He reminded me SO MUCH of my third grade friend Hong - when we went roller skating for my birthday party. Although he had never been on skates (having just immigrated from Vietnam), he tried harder (and fell harder) than anyone else there. Cooper has the very same tenancity. By the time we went home, the seat of his pants were soaked!! He never did take a break though - and each time he fell he got right back up again. No surprise to his mom!