kenny on ice

One small skate for Kenny, one giant skate for Evenkeel's projected hopes and dreams.

On January 3, the two hockey teams I play with, the Phantoms and the Piranhas, held their second annual family holiday skate and scrimmage. The first 45 minutes of the night were for everyone to skate around, followed by a 45 minute scrimmage. Afterwards, the assembled hockey fans gathered for pizza and cake.

I went to the rink early so I could get my gear on and Kenny could finish his nap. When Overboard arrived with Mr. K, he came running down the ramp to the lobby of the rink and called out at the top of his lungs, "Daddy! Daddy! It's good to see you!" And it was.

Kenny's feet are still too small for the rental hockey skates, but just big enough for a pair of rental figure skates. And that was good enough for his first real skate.


Who was happier about being on the ice? It was hard to tell.

Kenny loved skating. More directly, Kenny loved moving around the ice while holding onto Daddy's hands (or the occasional helper who took pity on Daddy's back). He flat-out refused to use any sort of skating aid, be it a chair or bar to hold onto, instead opting to make Daddy do the work. You see, Kenny somehow knew that he could make Daddy suffer for the sake of seeing his son so joyous. Every time I tried to take a break and pawn him off on Overboard (who stood just outside the rink) he screamed in anger. I pity the poor hockey coach who tries to bench him or tell him his shifts are running too long.


Victoria helps Evenkeel repeat his skating mantra of, "Okay, Kenny, feet together, head up!"

"Look at me, Ma! I'm gonna be in the Ice Capades!"

Eventually, Kenny had to leave the ice so we could hold our scrimmage. This was met by a great deal of tears, which finally gave way to cheers for Daddy and his remarkable hockey skill when not in a real game situation.


Evenkeel's biggest fans. They stopped heckling to pose for a picture.

The night was capped off by the previously mentioned pizza, cake, and vigorous games of "Ring Around the Rosy," "Sneak Attack" tickle fights and "Stick a finger in Ava's Aunt Beth's Ear™."


Ava and Kenny suggest you don't try to fight the sugar rush. It's best just to let it win.

Kenny couldn't get enough of Beth's ear. And, really, who can?

I can't wait till next year's skate to see whether or not Kenny is out and about on his own. Maybe he'll even have a hockey stick. Just don't tell his mother I said that.