Reid woke up at her usual time on Sunday morning despite being up so late on Saturday night. We had a rather slow morning and didn’t make it to Eddy’s for breakfast until nearly 9:00. It’s nice to visit and eat without worrying about whether I should be getting anyone more of anything. After breakfast, we headed downtown to skate on the canal. Before we got to the canal, though, we found a play area which had lots of coloured ice blocks for the kids to build with and then we discovered an ice carving of a dog sled and dogs that people could climb into and have their picture taken. We did both and then resumed our journey to the canal. It isn’t a long distance to cover but Reid is so interested in all of the things that happen around her, small trips turn into full-fledged journeys. Grandma Joyce, Aunt Karin and Reid waited on a bench while I went to rent a sleigh for Grandma Joyce and Reid to ride in, or at least the plan was Grandma Joyce would ride and Reid would skate and then when Reid was tired, she would join Grandma. I put my skates on while Aunt Karin helped Reid with her skates. Reid was pretty slip-slidey but didn’t complain until we put the helmet on her. Then, I thought, her late night caught up with her and magnified whatever discomfort the helmet caused. She cried and wasn’t able to tell us her problem. Did she want to ride in the sleigh? Yes. But more tears. Did she want Aunt Karin to help her skate? Yes. But more tears. Did she want to ride on the stroller? Yes. But more tears. She wanted me to carry her but it has been at least five years since I skated last and I was glad of the sled or stroller to push to help stand up. Finally, I pushed my tearful girl in her stroller past the hordes of skaters who looked at me like I was a very bad mama. I took my skates off and then Reid’s. Her feet seemed cold but not terribly so. She refused the Beaver Tails that Aunt Karin had got when we thought Reid would be happy once I was holding her and then we returned the sleigh and headed for the car. Once inside the World Exchange Plaza, we took Reid’s boots off and her feet were little red blocks of ice. Poor baby! Aunt Karin wrapped Reid’s feet in her blanket while Reid had some mama milk. Once warmed inside and out, Reid-the-happy-girl came back and we ate subs for lunch.
Reid didn’t make it more than a couple of blocks in the car before falling asleep. Aunt Karin stayed in the car with Reid while I went in and got the turkey and and then had a nap. I slept more than two hours and Reid slept nearly three. Donald came for a birthday supper. Reid was excited about the cake and candles and singing but wouldn’t help blow the candles out. She didn’t eat cake but ate some vanilla ice cream. This shows that she is a blend of Ken (who isn’t keen on cake) and me (who tends not to choose fancy ice cream).
Reid’s long nap and late night on Saturday came back to bite me as she didn’t fall asleep until after 9:00. I would’ve been asleep at 8:00 except for the smiling, cuddly child in my arms who had many kisses to bestow.