Boot hockey: EK goes true blue!

If you live in Minnesota, and have even a shred of "Minnesotaness" (notice that didn't read: Minnesota-nice) in you, boot hockey is a prerequisite.

Really, skating is essential.  However, one needs a nice smooth rink for that.  And while our neighborhood, as most here in the north do, boasts a lovely ice rink, the ice is still being laid.  In fact, the zamboni is parked in it's nice little winter house awaiting the day it grooms and smooths to the joy of all the neighborhood.

We knew the rink was up, we just weren't sure what form of running it was in.  So we prepared for it all...or I should say Jim prepared the kids for it all.  Preparing involves digging around in all the blue bins housing skates, pads, helmets and the like in the basement.  Not for the faint of heart, that job.  And surely a blue job at that.  Pink only ventures down for that experience under duress.

We had it all, including boots, when we ventured a block over for some skating fun.  Apparently all we needed were the boots.  Perhaps the grass still sticking up in the far corner of the rink was a slight indication it wasn't quite time.

Here's boot hockey, with 3 boys and two ice-angel making girls:

Laying on the ice to make "ice angels" is really super fun...seriously.  Just look at EKs face!  She loves it.  :)

Emma Kate is doing so well.  Today as I dropped off the littles for school, after Baba and the older boys departed at 6:45, she chimed up from the back, "Anna.  Kiss.  You come back".

Anna does come back.  We all come back.  Always.  Because that's what family does.  We always come back.