Last Saturday Miri took a couple of free introductory classes at the Arkansas Skatium. The first class was "Learning to Skate" which was goes in the direction of figure skating and was pretty busy. The second class was a Hockey class which starts off with learning how to skate and, of course, goes in the direction of learning to play hockey. Miri was really excited about this in the morning, and we immediately put on her hockey skates that she got for her birthday and put her on the ice for the "Learning to Skate" class.
She was the only one out there with hockey skates on as everyone else had figure skates. There were probably 60 kids on the ice with instructors. Miri's excitement turned to intimidation and second guessing what she was doing as soon as she it the ice. She inched her way along the boards with the help of another girl to make her way over to her class. Once there they did a few things to try to get use to being on skates, like starting on your knees and getting up and tiny stepping along the ice.
There were a couple of times where I could see her get a little overwhelmed and start to teer up some, but both times she seemed to just put her head down and continue on.
Towards the end of the class she was able to do a little more by her self and seemed to have more confidence! Once the class was over they sectioned off the rink so the advanced classes would continue on one end and the younger ones could free skate for a while. I got to join her on the ice for this part. :)
Once the session was over we left the ice. To my surprise, Miri was gushing about the experience! Despite the intimidation and difficulties, she really loved the experience and was really looking forward to her Hockey Class trial. With 45 minutes to spare, we then went and fitted her with loner equipment...
This time, with all the equipment on, she wasn't as intimidated by how slippery the ice was. She was still taking it slow though and still has some confidence to build, but she never gave up!
After a while she got a skate aid to help and to also let the instructor give some time with the other kids. All the while on the other end of the rink, there were the much older kids doing drills with pucks and a goalie. Soon enough, Miri was pushing around a puck with the skate aid herself!
Rink side, I ended up talking with Miri's instructor when she realized I was her Dad and she asked if I'd like to join them on the ice and give Miri some more one on one with the skating. (I use to volunteer teach the basics with in-line skates, so in this case, I could be helpful!) I went ahead, laced up, and got out there on the ice to spend the last 30 minutes with Miri. We had a good time just slowly getting use to being on the ice. Soon enough, it was the small kids turn to play a game across the width of the ice. Before that started, I took these two videos of Miri in her first Hockey Class!
In the end, as we left the ice, Miri was through the roof! She LOVED it! So we immediately ordered her equipment and singed her up for a full set of classes (starts tomorrow morning too). The instructor even asked if I could help out too and teach skating for those that are just learning, like Miri. I'm really looking forward to that as I get to join Miri on the ice every time! (I also signed up for the D-League. I'll do some drop in drills this Sunday, a free drop in game this Wednesday, then the Monday after that is the first game of the season. All games will be on Monday nights.) Miri and I are both excited about our new hockey life and Miri's already asleep now to dream about tomorrows class! :)
Like last year, Uncle Richie and Aunt Suze stopped by on their way back home from their yearly Thanksgiving road trip to Texas. And also like last year, we made our way up to the cabin for a 2 night stay. On Friday, after work, I picked up Miri, Uncle Richie and Aunt Suze and piloted the loaded down car north into the Ozarks. We made it up there in a reasonable amount of time, considering the late start, and pulled up to the cabin after dark at 9ish in the evening. I got straight to waking up the cabin by unlocking the front door, getting the water turned on underneath the cabin, making sure all the curcuit breakers were turned on, emptying the ash tray from the wood stove and get a fire going. Then I joined the rest of the group in getting the car unloaded and sleeping areas prepared. We then quickly went right into the bedtime routine and had Miri down for the night. Uncle Richie, Aunt Suze and I then enjoyed some conversation while maintaining the fire and warming up the place. We remembered that last year it dropped down to 26f at night, and we already had that beaten with 22F showing on the thermometer. It was going to be a fun cozy night. :)
In the morning Miri snuggled with me upstairs for a little while before we got up, dressed, and headed downstairs. We found Uncle Richie awake and and Aunt Suze still half snoozing in the warm bed. We decided to have a look ouside in the morning sun so Miri then bravely cracked open the door on a cool brisk morning...
It was a beautiful bright morning with a touch of frost on the ground!
With coffee in hand we wondered around the grounds and the porch enjoying the cold fresh air and the sights and sounds of being far away from any city.
At some point we finally made our way back in to the cabin to stir the lone straggler from her warm den and then settled down around the table for some breakfast.
With the energy from our breakfast in our bellies we decided to have a little fun collecting firewood and kindling. There was actually plenty of firewood in a pile already, so this was just something to do. I had came across a small hand saw and Uncle Richie used it to take care of a fallen tree.
Miri also jumped in on the action and caried plenty of logs to the cabin.
For lunch we made our way into Mountain View to eat at the wing Shack, grab a few supplies at walmart, and brows the various stores on the town square that sell stuff...
Then we headed back to the cabin to enjoy the rest of the day there. We wandered on down to the creek to poke around (one of our favourite things to do there).
Threw many rocks in the water. :)
And made all kinds of discoveries, such as this turtle shell:
The biggest discovery of all was what we initially mistook as littered plastic all over the place. At some point Uncle Richie came to realize that it was ice! There were these fancy ribbons of ice all over the place. They were quite beautiful!
Later, when I got back to Little Rock, I did a little research to find out more. Turns out these Ice Ribbons (or Frost Flowers) grow out of the stems of just a handful of plants under the right conditions. I found this professor's website on Ice Ribbons and emailed him my pictures. I also found this timelapse video of a frost flower growing on YouTube.
Miri also gave a slightly more destructive introduction to Ice Ribbons on video for us too.
She liked making snow and may have also had visions of a snow cone in her head. :)
After our time at the creek we then headed back to the cabin to get an evening fire going and enjoy a Turkey Tetrazini dinner prepaired by Uncle Richie and Aunt Suze. Uncle Richie also entertained us with some music from a xylophone he buit out of kindling. :)
All in all, it was another great trip to the cabin and another great visit with Uncle Richie and Aunt Suze. I wish it wouldn't be a whole nother year until we see them again, but that last year went by so quickly anyway. Can't wait 'till next time!
About a month ago Miri and I joined the YMCA Adventure Guides (Indian Princesses) program, thanks to Allan's help (Miri's PopPop). Miri's mom (Stefie) and her dad, Allan, had done the 4 year father/daughter program many moons ago and now it's Miri's turn with me! Miri even excitedly took on her mom's name from way back when and is going to be known as "Morning Star". For various reasons I decided to go with "North Star" since 1) I'm one of Miri's guiding lights (part of what the program is about), 2) I grew up in Canada, the great white north, 3) Similar name with Miri, and 4) The first hockey game I ever saw in person and have memory of is that of the Calgary Flames vs. the Minnesota North Stars. I remember those green jerseys being smashed into the glass in front of me. :)
A week or so after joining we had our first tribal meeting and a couple weekends after that we had our first bi-yearly nations camp-out with all the area's tribes. We were off to a fast start! This past Oct 17th was that camp-out and I thought I'd share some pictures, videos and a quick account of how it all went down...
A bunch of us met in west Little Rock Saturday morning to drive down in a caravan. The camp-out was going to be held at Camp Yorktown Bay on Lake Ouachita. We first made a pit-stop at Does in Hot Springs for lunch and had a good time with the princesses at one table wreaking havoc on the saltine crackers, and the fathers at another table getting to know one another.
Once we were fueled up we reformed our caravan and headed for camp. Thanks to town traffic, I wound up in front, but I wasn't the one who knew were to go! Luckily I had the camp dialed up on my BlackBerry's GPS and Miri watched our progress and directed me where to go from the back seat. It wasn't all that hard since I got regular updates like "We're still on the purple road Daddy!" and "Turn right NOW!". :)
At the camp, we came to find the best place for our tents! Other tribes where using the motel, cabins or tent camping in a soccer field. We really lucked out with a tucked away scenic spot that was a 5-10 minute walk from the main camp. with some help from the princesses, the fathers started unpacking the cars and went to it setting up the tents...
It was a 2 tiered site with three tents up in "the heights" (probably double the value per square footage) and five tents down below in a semi circle around the campfire...
Those in the heights even had quick access to our luxurious facilities...
With the setup complete, we got to sit down for a break and talk while the princesses got to know each other better by running and playing around, and they even started a jack-o-lantern...
Andy, our chief, headed out for a meeting of the chiefs leaving us with the task of coming up with a name for our tribe. The front runners so far had been "Dancing With Daughters" and "Ozark something". While the dads were wracking our brains over various ideas, the princesses were running around, darting in and out of tents, and otherwise having a great time. At some point one of the tents in the heights was pulsating with screams of pleasure and I just said, "How 'bout Screaming Princesses?". ...and it stuck! We then had our tribe name and it also had a nice tone of warrior strength.
After grilling hamburgers and hot-dogs we all then headed down to camp at sundown for the gathering of the nation and the induction of the new tribes. The event was kicked off with a story of Keeto, a fireball in the sky to start a large bonfire, and some fireworks. Each tribe was recognized with a shot of a firecracker adorned arrow into the lake and the new tribes were introduces by their member names in front of the rest. It was entertaining and there were quite a few laughs, including a different version of the song Bingo...
and a different version of Old McDonald that featured every tribe name and their own sound to make (naturally ours was to scream)...
Once the group event was over, the Screaming Princesses then made our trek back to the campsite for some s'mores around the campfire. Soon enough, Miri was down and, like dominoes, the rest of the princesses soon followed.
The temperature dipped down to around 38F that night but Miri and I stayed warm and toasty. So did everyone else, especially those with tent warmers! :)
After some conversation the Dads soon followed their daughters one by one and the whole tribe was soon out. In the morning the girls were quick to gravitate to the morning fire to warm up...
and, as usual for kids, were quick to achieve that state of alertness and infinite energy.
Conversely, it took quite a bit of time, and coffee, for the Dads to get halfway there...
We were all treated to some beautiful morning scenery out on the lake. I tried to capture it with my camera but couldn't do it justice. There was a feel to it that a camera can't get and I wish I could have just sat there for a while to soak it in, but we were quick to finish breakfast, pack up, and head out to camp for the morning nation service.
The service wasn't as packed as the nighttime gathering, but there was quite a few of us to enjoy it, and the last moments together.
After we finished cleaning up our campsite and putting out the fire, all with the help of the princesses, we then said our last see-you-later's after a few last minutes of play time. Miri and I left looking forward to our next tribal meeting and perhaps some more camping with our tribe alone before the spring nation camp-out. We had a great time!
Janelle (my sister) made it down from Canada for a visit over Labor Day weekend this year! It had been a year since I had briefly visited with her and a few years since Miri last saw her. Janelle will always hold a special place in Miri's life since she had flown down to DC shortly after Miri was born and took care of her for 4 months. We were all excited to get a chance to visit and thought it would be fun to spend the weekend at the cabin... so we did! :)
After an hour and a half of just trying to get out of Little Rock in crazy traffic, we finally broke free and made our way up to the cabin. We got there with enough time to unpack, set up our sleeping areas and enjoy a few minutes on the porch. After some time winding down on the porch we went in for Miri's bedtime. She got to have her Aunt Janelly sing her bedtime song that night!
With Miri down, Janelle and I set up some lamps and torches around the porch and Janelle opened a bottle of Argentinian wine. From the town of Los Cardos, it was a really good Malbec. (Mendoza Argentina Dona Paula) We enjoyed the rest of the evening while sipping away at this great wine and having a great visit.
Somewhere around one in the morning we decided it was best to get some sleep so we made our way upstairs and went to bed. Miri woke up a little faster than we did so after stumbling down the stairs I got some coffee going to help Janelle and I finish the "waking up" process. This was also the first time that some fine imported Tim Horton's coffee has ever been brewed in the cabin. It was delicious! (Thanks for smuggling it into the country Janelle!) We also pepped up some of our mugs with a little irish cream too... ;)
Stefie had made a bunch of those Gold Classic Chocolate Chip pancakes for us and we warmed those up on the stove and had a fantastic, quickly prepared breakfast with some fresh fruit. (Thanks Stef!) Now that we were awake and aware, Janelle got to see what the Cabin surroundings are like in the daytime.
We quickly decided that Janelle needed to experience Blanchard Springs Caverns... One of Miri's favourite things to do at the cabin! So we headed out on the gravel road to make the 5-10 minute drive there. Along the way we noticed that the trees were just starting to give a hint of fall colors and Janelle hopped out of the car to take a picture of the beautiful scenery.
Then, a little further along the road she noticed something else and hopped out to take a picture of it too...
While we were talking about the last picture the gravel road got really bumpy and Miri was so cute and funny with her shaky voice that I backed up some, and had Janelle take a video of her singing the alphabet song on the bumpy road.
We finally made it to the caverns, took the tour and Janelle got to experience the beauty of that underground world.
After the tour was over, we then headed back to the Cabin for a snack and a game of Phase-10.
Then we headed into Mountain View for a late lunch / early dinner and get some supplies. We showed Janelle the town square and got to hear a little blue grass music being played. After that, it was back to the cabin to enjoy the last of the daylight. We decided to spend most of that time playing around at the creek. So off we went...
The creek was higher, faster and cooler than just a few weeks before, so we didn't go swimming. :) It was just beautiful there though and we had fun skipping rocks and wondering around.
Without them knowing it... I caught Janelle and Miri on video with 10x zoom. Just a moment at the creek...
Before leaving I thought of the Inukshuk that was on a shirt that Dad and Cecille gave Miri so I suggested that we make one of our own too. The first one at Roasting Ear Creek!
I also managed to get a video of it's construction too...
After our fun at the creek, we headed back to the cabin for a dinner time snack and enjoy the last of the light on the porch. It was cooler this night so I also got a fire going in the stove. Once Miri was down, Janelle and I reprised our wine and conversation evening of the night before. This time the bottle was an Australian Shiraz. (Yellow Label - S. Australia Shiraz 2007) Two great wines in a row and two great evenings in a row...
The next morning we got up, had breakfast, packed up, cleaned and lingered around for a while before heading back. Yet another fantastic cabin trip in the books! And it was great having Janelle there! :)
