Discovering Portland: Ice Skating

So, we had an impromptu visit to the Lloyd Center today.  Originally, we planned to go to the zoo with the kids, Peter's mom, Peter's cousin (Kim), and Kim's dad (Bill).  However, it escaped our minds that it was "second Tuesday" at the zoo and that meant it was $4.00 to get in (which doesn't affect us, since we are members) and it was CROWDED.  No parking anywhere and the line to get inside was insane.  So, we nixed the idea and started brainstorming about what to do.  After some deliberation, we found ourselves at the Lloyd Center, which is a fancy mall in NE Portland (akin to the Beverly Center in LA or Scottsdale Fashion Square in AZ).  We knew that there was an ice skating rink there, so that's what we decided on.  It was the first time for the kids and the first time in a LONG time for the adults (I hadn't been since 8th grade, at Laurel Plaza, before the Northridge Quake destroyed it).  Despite a nasty fall for Peter's uncle (who is ok, thank the Lord), we had a spectacular time!  Jeremiah did really well for his first time.  Alayna pouted at first, because she couldn't do it, but eventually started having fun just going around the rink, hanging onto the wall.  It was the first time Peter and I had gone together and we loved it!  I definitely see us going there for a date sometime after the kids go back to school.  Peter is great on skates, thanks to hockey, so the rest of us slowed him down.  All in all, even though our plans got diverted, we had a fantastic time!  Yay for ice skating!