Canadian Backyard Ice Rink Party: Nikon MOM Captures Memories #NikonMOMents

Canadian Backyard Ice Rink Party: Nikon MOM Captures Memories #NikonMOMents

Over the course of the next 6 months follow hashtag #NikonMOMents for social shares from the Nikon MOMents team. Each of us will be posting five personal events where we will capture our memories at the heart of the image! This is my third NikonMOMents event from my five part series.

  1. Read my first Nikon Mom post here: Family Camping
  2. Read my second Nikon Mom post: Christmas Piano Recital

Ever since we have been homeowners (over 15 years) which was long before we had any kids, my husband has always built a backyard ice rink. This has been something extremely important to him, not that he had a backyard rink as a child, but to enjoy his love of skating and hockey every chance he can.

Since we have had kids our rink has expanded in size and has become more meaningful. The three older children have all learnt to skate in daddy’s hands on our own backyard ice rink and that is a priceless memory you can never lose. The kids and daddy sneak out after school or after dinner and skate their hearts out passing the pucks between each other it really is something special to watch.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Having a gem like this in your backyard yard is something that needs to be shared. Us Canadian’s have long cold Winters and getting the chance to enjoy fresh air together as a family with friends makes the winter not seem so long. This is the third year we have opened our rink up to all the kids’ friends from school and their families. This year we had eight families come over and enjoy some great Canadian fun in our backyard.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Now I will be honest here, when I choose our annual backyard skating event as my Nikon moment, I didn’t think capturing the moments would be such a challenge. As the hostess of a super cool party it does require lots of socialization. Come on we all have been in hibernation for four months already, right Canadians?

Plus who wants to pose for pictures when their friends are over skating with them? I accepted the challenge to balance all ends and with that challenge I feel pretty great about the outcome.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Every party needs great snacks and our guest insisted on pitching in and making something special to share. We kept the snacks close to the rink so parents didn’t need to unlace and re-lace skates the whole party. Friends of ours brought a s’mores mix he found on Pinterest which was simple but so cool; pretzels, mini marshmallows & chocolate chips.

Simple party s'mores mix

The snacks were a huge hit with the girls at the party who were all picking the chocolate chips out of the mixture above. I don’t blame them I would of been doing the same if there was room for me at the kids table.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Well the girls were eating the chocolate the boys were grilling up hot dogs over the warm fire pit. Having hot dogs may not be my first pick to serve at a party but it was the kids suggestion. Plus this year I plan on keeping it simple and hot dogs ended up being a hit with all the girls and boys.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

This is my favorite picture from the day. The fact that I tilted my camera a wee bit and shot it on an angle just makes the picture pop much more than it would of looking straight on. Little K was so happy about the ketchup and mustard filled goodness he was about to bite into.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Even the non-skaters enjoyed sometime being mindful in all the day had to offer.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

For the next two pictures I snuck away into the house to get a higher angle of the party. These are a little grainy because I was shooting through the window and screen but I felt it gave you a great view of the ice.

By this time many of the kids were playing off in the snowbanks and tree forts but a few hard core skaters were still enjoying the open freedom of the ice.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

Of course us parents weren’t far from the warmth of the roaring fire and great conversation. 

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

No matter if you stayed up or fell down the day was a huge success, filled with memories for all the little people whose families came out to enjoy an old fashion Canadian backyard skate.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

You know the party was a success when almost four hours later the sun was down and the last family to leave was heading home for bed. As people were leaving they where saying “thanks we cannot wait for next years skating party!” Remarks like that just make me smile.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

We went through over 100 cups of warm apple cider and Little K was determined to get one last cup before calling it a night.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

The last two pictures are of our backyard ice rink once the party was over and the clean-up was done. The night sky was dark and the view was so peaceful. On my NIKON D3300 I used the effects button and switched it to night vision.

Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

In this picture I took a comparison picture using my Samsung Note 3, the difference is incredible. You cannot even see my husband in his red snow pants over by the table. 
Nikon Canada Nikon Moments, Canadian Backyard Ice Rink, Canadian Winter Skating Party

I was thankful to have my Nikon along for the evening to capture memories to look back on over the years to come. Plus after seeing the comparison picture I am grateful I didn’t have to trust my smartphone to do a good job because it is obvious I would of been disappointed if that was the case.


Learn and explore with me through Nikon’s Learn & Explore series and tag with #NikonMOMents 


When was the last time you were enjoying the cold Canadian winter outside? 

Thank you for reading In R Dream! 

“Disclosure: I am part of the Mom Central Canada Nikon MOMents team
and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

 



15 thoughts on “Canadian Backyard Ice Rink Party: Nikon MOM Captures Memories #NikonMOMents”

  • I can’t believe that’s your backyard. It’s just amazing and truly… Magical. My husband is very jealous. Please have us over next winter… Lol
    Looks like a great day.

  • This is what it’s all about family, friends and enjoying the great outdoors and doing what us Canadians do best!! but the way some townships are acting banning ski rinks and tobogganing, no one is going to be enjoying this activity. Your pictures all turned out great and everyone looks like they are really enjoying themselves!!

    • Thanks Lynda it was a great day spent with some amazing friends. I am very against what has been seen in the media recently. It is very sad that they are taking away good old fashion Canadian fun from these children.

  • I would love to have a backyard rink. We don’t have a big enough yard.. Loved your pics, and I am super jealous of the rink 🙂

  • awe how special!! my husband and his brothers had a skating rink while growing up, they were always playing hockey together. that is something i am hoping for for when my daughters get a bit older that we have the space for them to have their own little ice rink!

  • I confess I am completely jealous! That looks like so much fun. You captured the whole experience beautifully with your Nikon. How awesome that your husband creates/keeps up the rink each year. This will make amazing memories for the kids! I liked your comparison photo at the end too. You can do so much more with the DSLR camera. 🙂

    • Thanks Joann! We absolutely love our rink and to be able to share it makes it that much more special. You’re right the DSLR camera captures the memories perfectly!

  • What a great post, Tammy! You have an awesome backyard & that is SO cool that you guys make that ice rink & how fun to have a party like that. Love the photo of the “hot dog pride” 😉 Such a cool angle. I also love the shots where you can see snow falling and the close-up that zeroes in on the ice 🙂

    • Heather I wish it snowed all day but of course it was as people were leaving or gone. Yes the “hot dog pride” picture is my favorite! I wish you lived closer I would totally have you over for a skate 🙂

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