All Downhill From Here

Yesterday was Family Day in Alberta, a holiday. Hubby works in retail and is short staffed at the moment, so had to work anyway. I took the kiddos to one of my favourite places lately, the Olympic Oval. In celebration of Family Day, admission was a food bank donation (how did those boxes of macaroni and cheese get in our bag?) and there was a big fair going on.

There were exhibits and games for the kids to play, but first, we put on our skates. I liked it that the skate tying area had a clear view of the women’s Gold Medal Olympic hockey game playing on a big screen. The score was 2-0 for Canada as we tied up our skates, just in time to wait for the Zambonis to go by. Oh good, I got to watch more of the game, and Little Runner was amused by the ice cleaners.

There was a mascot race, and even a demonstration of real speedskaters doing their thing. Little Runner went around the whole ice track once, pretty fast for her, with a little metal frame that helps hold new skaters up. The second time around she handed it off to someone else who looked like they needed it, and she made her way around on her own. It took a looooong time, but with a lot of hugs and encouragement, she did it with only one fall towards the end. Soccer Boy skates much better, and he enjoyed lapping us several times, checking in with me when he wanted to.

The score was 4-0 by the time the kids decided we needed pizza. The eating area was also very conveniently set up to watch the game, and we watched the entire 3rd period from there. Nothing like a well-timed lunch.

As the last few minutes of the game played out, the journalists moved in. Cameras were focused on our crowd, and we cheered on our girls. The Swedes put up a good fight, but they just were no match for our team. We counted down the last 10 seconds with gusto, and hooted and hollered as the team jumped for joy when they won. I even talked to a reporter for the Calgary Herald, who wanted to know what I thought about our hockey team being a role model for Little Runner. I was not very articulate at all, being still very excited, and at the same time seeing Little Runner skip off through the crowd back to the ice. I needed to not lose her in the crowd, so I kept it short.

After all that excitement we moved on to the other exhibits/games. Little Runner enjoyed putting on skis and shooting a suction cup dart at some frisbee targets, to simulate biathlon. She was inspired by the hockey team and waited a looooong time in line to practice her slapshot.

The University’s Science department had set up a fun mind game where you wear electrodes on your head and try to empty your mind of all thought to get a little ball on the table to move to your opponent’s side. I won the first match with Soccer Boy. Not sure I should brag about that! I guess when a mom like me decides she needs to relax, she can do it fast, anywhere, anytime. Soccer Boy actually enjoyed the game so much he stayed behind and took on challengers afterwards. Not sure I should brag about that, either!

I’ll be back at the Oval again tonight for a nice, quiet track workout with the Roadrunners.