The Ice

So it's July, and that's the perfect time for ice skating!

Some time ago, we got two pairs of ice skates from Goodwill, one for Daddy and one for Madison.  It happened that Madison's were double bladed and pink, so it seemed to be a bit of destiny that we'd be heading to the ice skating rink.  Daddy looked up the hours, and the next thing you know, we were making plans to go skating.

We stayed there quite some time!  The last time we went ice skating together was nearly three years ago, so it's safe to say we were a bit overdue.  Cut us some slack though, as we live in Georgia, where ice is not typically found outside of a refrigerator.

This made our discovery of the shoes all the more unique, and the challenge to go skating as soon as possible.  Fortunately, there's a place nearby us in Cumming called "The Ice."

Madison did very well on her skates, by the way.  By the time our two hours were up, she was skating around without having to hold Daddy's hands.  She fell a few times, but in her own words, "that's okay!"  We went around the rink a few times, and Daddy couldn't help but remember all the times he went skating growing up.  We'll have to take Madison a few more times - at least one more time to get our money's worth from buying the shoes.  But even so, today was a completely pleasant experience.  We'd wander around (or sometimes across) the rink together, and each time we made a lap, we'd get in on the benches where the hockey players would rest.  Once Madison dutifully wiped all the ice shavings off of her blades, it was time to return to the rink, our little Olympic champion.

On our way out Madison noted how the temperature was pretty cold in there.  Daddy remarked that it had to be that way, or else the ice would melt.  At which point Madison made one of the best jokes of her career:  "Then they'd have to call it 'The Water!'"

Earlier in the day, we made a different trip - this one to the library.  They had some puppet shows there, so we went to see what was going on there:  it was actually five different puppet shows, where the puppeteers would reenact different children's books, using monkeys, pigs, dogs, people, and even dinosaurs.  It was fun - Madison had a good time, laughing out loud from time to time.  Best of all, this one was free.  This library has been great with the activities for children.  In fact, tomorrow, Madison will be returning for another STEM class involving "treasure."

Such has been our theme this week:  last night, of course, she saw the "Treasure Island" play.  Tonight, we decided to watch "Treasure Planet" before turning in.  Mommy said this one was much better, although this has always been one of our favorite movies.  Madison enjoyed it of course!

Speaking of "enjoying" things, Mommy made this pizza tonight that was absolutely incredible.  We've been tinkering with her diet lately, and it's been a success.  It's been nearly two weeks since she's had any incident, so we're thinking that her digestive problems are related to gluten.  As in, she's trying out a gluten-free diet.  The difficulty has always been that her problems started the exact same time she had her surgeries and reversals after the cancer.  Doctors assumed this was all part of the "recovery process."  But no one has tested her for this, and maybe it was God that just put it into her spirit to check it out - a gluten free diet.  And here we are, two weeks later, and no problems at all.

Of course, there is sacrifice.  Certain foods have to be prepared completely differently.  Which brings us to dinner tonight:  pizza.  It was made gluten free.  Mommy rolled out the "dough" and added the toppings, and let's just say it was really good.  Daddy actually prefers it to any other pizza we have at home.

But Mommy wasn't through making amazing things to eat:  she had us try this watermelon sherbet she made.  Yes, she actually got the ice cream maker out (move over, Wilrow Hood!), and she made this wonderful watermelon sherbet that the three of us had two servings of each.  It was that good!

It was a full day, wasn't it?  Daddy and Madison even had time to play some Super Hero Squaddies for a bit - all the way up to our showing of "Treasure Planet."

One more thing:  one of the most memorable times Mommy and Daddy had seeing "Treasure Planet" was on a Disney Cruise.  Which kind of ties things together neatly, as today was the day we made a call to finalize some future travel plans... let's just say it'll be a spooky cruise!