So far, I've been babysitting regularly for about four or five months, now. It's been a challenging experience from which I have learned so much. And today, I and the boys I care for went down to the lake for ice-skating.
I'm no great skater myself, but it was still a blast. I tried to go as fast as possible without losing my balance --- not very fast --- and the boys were chasing after each other and their hockey-playing friend (who is actually quite good).
I was exploring a large crack in the ice when I realized that one could see how deep the ice was according the the crack, for it went all the way through to the cold water underneath.
I showed the boys, who immediately proceeded to attempt to hammer a hole in the ice with a hard stick. They couldn't get very far. Not only was it cold, and the ice very strong, but the layer on which we stood was over six inches thick.
We were observing another area where two cracks ran over each other in an X, when we heard a deep, quiet boom. That's the only way I can think to describe how it sounded when the ice shifted slightly under our combined weight. I knew it wasn't enough to send us into the icy water, but natural fear and caution drove me to persuade the boys to move nearer the shore, just in case. It was exhilarating.
After this adventure, we returned back to their house --- for not only was it dark, but we were growing cold --- and played games after a hearty meal of pepperoni and sausage pizza, along with mugs of hot cocoa.
It was a very nice day.
Indeed... ;)
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