Ice Skating in the bitter cold

It was a day in the depths of winter, winds are blowing hard, temperature is well below freezing and it was a great day for ice skating. Jeff, Erin and I met with Brad and Mari at the Steinbrink ice rink in Forest Park. We went inside got our skate passes and our skates. During this time of lacing up we shared some important facts:
-Brad used to be a figure skater
-i haven't skated a day in my life
-Erin used to roller speed skate
-Jeff plays ice hockey and has some some very cool skates
-Mari and Brad go skating a couple times a year

Now given these facts, which one is not like the others?

After we were all ready to go, we went outside only to wait for the Zamboni to clear the ice. Then it was go time. A flood of people filled the ice and skated right past me while i held onto the post that was one side of the entrance. I shuffled, squirmed, slipped and slided but seemed not to go any where, then BOOM i fell. I wasn't hurt but it was sad that i fell like 10 feet into my trip around the rink. But i learned from that fall and didn't fall completely again, though i had some close calls. Along my way around i watched as everyone in my group kept passing me. So after one lap for me i was done. I was motivated by the fact that i brought my camera and wanted to take some pictures.

I waddled my way back inside, changed into my shoes and got my camera. I took pictures as the guys were frolicking, Erin was experimenting with the hockey stop and Brad and Mari were holding hands. Then the rest of the group was done. We were all hungry and wanted to go and get food together. Four of us wanted Bread co but Brad did not, enter the pain and agony. We waited for Brad to decide what he wanted so we could find a place that only unconvinced everyone else. So we all agreed on steak and shake. We ate and them parted ways. It was a fun afternoon.

Check these pics out.
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Christmas '07

After last year's five trips on Christmas, Erin & I vowed never to do that again so we could enjoy our holiday. This year we started off at my dad's house for a small gathering that included Greg and Grandma. We opened our respective gifts and conversed for a while. In the discussion i found out that the DVDs that i normally got dad, he never uses, or even opens. They were the DVDs of the movies he would glue himself (and I) to watching them when ever they were on TV when i was little. So i figured he would like to watch the full uncut version. Not so much. So i was able to counter his attack of my 'bad' gifts showing him that i asked for nothing long sleeved and he gave me long sleeved shirts. So needless to say, we had fun reminiscing about Christmas past.

Then it was off to Erin's parents house. We got there about 12:45 for a 1:00-ish immediate family gift opening. But we had to wait until 3:00 for Rachel to arrive from her festivities with James' family. We did a quick cleaning for the rest of the family to show. Once they were there we talked and snacked. Then we passed out the gifts and opened them. Jan gave Dot and Joe a digital picture frame with old pictures of years past. we spent a good while watching the slide show on the TV. Then we served dinner. It was fabulous. the boys started playing dominoes and i joined in. The first game i played was a great game. I may not have won, but it was so much fun watching Jacob drawing 20 dominoes to get a play. After some games of dominoes, it was off to guitar hero. We played that for a while. i stopped to say good byes to the people as they left and then started the whirl wind of activity. Barb left to take her brother back to Florissant while Erin, James, Rachel, Mr Peters and I completely cleaned the house leaving little to nothing for Barb to do when she got back. Then we visited with Barb for a bit longer and we head home and we were ready because it was 1:00 in the morning. It was a wonderful Christmas.

To see pics click here.
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