Day 1591. This morning I had set my alarm for 8:15. At 9:30 we all left the house together to go ice-skating - or rather for Tammy and Emmy to have their second extra-curricular class during the Christmas holiday break. We took two subways and then walked to the ice-skating rink. On that walk I took this picture of Sammy holding hands with Tammy on his left and with Emmy on his right.
Now that I finally have skates myself I was gonna ice-skate as well - for the first time in many years. And so I bought a ticket for myself. The line was really short today, contrary to last week, and there were also fewer people inside, on the ice. We put their skates, gloves and helmets on and took them to where the classes are taking places. We were early today. I tried to put my shoes on, but as they were new, I still had to put the laces through the holes, which took some time. So Randy took the kids to their teachers once it was time.
I finished putting my skates on and stepped on the ice. There was no railing to hold on to. I was very insecure, taking small steps, and did not want to fall at any cost. In addition, it was a warm day, about 12 degrees C, and there was a lot of water on the ice, as the sun was also shining onto it. I did one third of the circle and made it to an exit. I had forgotten how to ice-skate and didn't want to get hurt. I took the skates off, put them with our other stuff in the locker room, as I was right there, and started walking in the direction of the school wearing only my socks. Then Randy and Sammy came approaching me, as Sammy had cried for me. They had my shoes, and I put them back on.
I wasn't very happy with myself. I had told the kids we were gonna go around one time together after their class, and I intended to keep my promise. And so I decided to put the shoes back on a little later and try again.
As for Tammy and Emmy, they were two of only four students in their class today. I had tied Emmy's shoes less tight than before, so he wouldn't complain again and ask the teacher to loosen them, and it worked. He did a lot better today, participating and falling less, and only left the class once to get a drink.
They both did well, but Emmy skates a little better than his sister. Especially skating backwards was really hard for her. They also had to go down in their knees, and they turned on the spot. I told them that they could skate better than me now, which made Emmy smile and proud.
After their break, I put my skates back on, and Randy helped me get them tighter on the bottom. I went back on the ice, holding on to the railing that was there just to help you get on the ice, but I couldn't even stand on them. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Then Randy pointed out that I still had the protective covers on my skates. We had to laugh. After we took them off, it was a completely different story. I started skating and was doing better than earlier. Besides it being warm and all the water on the ice, there was also a strong wind. And then I fell, face down into the water, flat on my belly. I had my regular clothes on, wearing jeans, and they were completely soaked from top to bottom. And I had hurt my knee a little. In addition, I didn't know how to get back up. A little boy came by and asked me whether I was okay. I waved to Randy who was watching with Sammy, and he put Sammy's brakes on and walked on the ice with his shoes and helped me up. I then left the ice. I was wet and hurting and sat down on a bench. After a few minutes I went closer to where the kids were in class to watch and get some pictures. I walked onto the ice to have a better view, and then decided to go skate again to do a full circle. My body memory was coming back, and so I was getting more and more secure quickly, feeling miles better by the time I had gone around.
The kids ended their class, and so it was time for the fulfillment of my promises. I had one kid on my left and one on my right, and in the beginning we were holding hands. Then I let go so we would not make each other fall. Emmy fell a few times, and Tammy once, but they were able to get back up. And so we made our full circle. I was so proud of them, and they were excited that we had done this together. I asked Randy to take a picture of us to commemorate the first time we ice-skated together.
Then it was time to walk to the locker room, get changed and go home. Just before we reached the subway, there was the playground we had gone to last week. The kids wanted to go again, but my pants were wet, and I wanted to get home. I then agreed for them to climb up to the slide. They said they wanted to go down 4 times, and that's what they ended up doing. Randy was helping them, while I was sitting on the bench with Sammy. Then we walked to the subway and took the two subways home.
Just before 1 pm we were back home, and I went straight to the kitchen to cook. After lunch, they got on their tablets to watch stuff. Just before 3 pm Randy went downstairs with them, while I was getting ready for my 3 pm student. I taught until 4 pm, then did office work. I was getting really tired after a while and even fell asleep for a few minutes. Thankfully I woke up quickly and then made myself stay awake and work.
Randy and the kids came upstairs before it was even 6 pm. Sammy then figured out that he can raise himself up by the bathtub and reach the faucet to turn the water on. He was then obsessed with doing that, laughing out loud, and going back there every time Randy took him away.
At 6:30 pm I went to the kitchen to start making their dinner. They ate, then continued in the bathtub, then we got them ready for bed. I read them two Bible stories, then they brushed their teeth with their app, while I brushed Sammy's teeth. I prayed for them, and they went to bed. Once again I lay down next to Tammy, as she had asked me to, and Emmy lay down on my other side. I stayed for some time, then left, and Emmy went to his bed on the bottom. Randy sat down in the chair next to Emmy upon his request, while I went to the kitchen to get myself something to eat. After having eaten, I went back to work. Now it's nearly 1 am, which is later than I had hoped to go to bed, as I teach in the morning.
