The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

(Nancy Kerrigan skates and poses with excited kids from Easter Seals in Las Vegas)

...I'm talking about the holidays of course! There is nothing that says "it's Christmas!" like a figure skating show with headliner Amy Grant and two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan in the middle of a desert. Okay, that is going to need a little bit of explaining I think.

On Tuesday, 11/11, some of the greatest figure skaters (and most well-loved!) descended upon the city of sin, Las Vegas, to bring a little holiday cheer for "Amway presents Holiday Tribute on Ice." The show took place at The Orleans and while it was a toasty 70 - 80 degrees outside, the cast, crew and sponsors bundled up inside to set up Christmas trees, rehearse for the show and make sure everything was in working order for a fabulous show! And it was well worth it... the show came together magically! Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith performed Christmas classics flawlessly and the skaters did amazing. If you missed the live show, fear not, you can enjoy it on NBC Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 from 4 - 6 p.m. EST. It will also be aired on the Style Network on the following dates:

December 21, 2008
10 - 11 a.m. EST
December 22, 2008
4 - 5 p.m. EST
December 24, 2008
2 - 3 p.m. EST

Part of what made this show so great, had nothing to do with the actual show and everything to do with holiday spirit. On Monday morning, the skaters were honored to serve lunch to and spend time with troops and their families from Nellis Air Force Base to show them how much they appreciate their dedication to our country. Kentucky Fried Chicken provided the food and the skaters provided the waitstaff... themselves! After lunch, the skaters returned to the ice while the troops and their families took front-row seats to watch the dress rehearsal and returned Tuesday to watch the show!

Later in the day, Easter Seals rounded up a group of kids and brought them to the arena to meet the skaters and get the opportunity to skate out on the ice with them! Hand-in-hand with some and holding others, the skaters shared their love of skating with each child. Kids bounded off the ice with big smiles and excited eyes to tell their friends and parents what it's like to ice skate with a champion... as I laced up skates for the kids, I couldn't help but smile myself as each one gave me different reasons for being so excited to try it out. There were plenty of cameras and media there to document the special day... and I think it's safe to say that everyone left the rink a little happier than when they arrived.

What's next on the list? Looks like I'll be headed to Dayton, OH for "Skate for the Heart" with Kenny G. This exciting show is aiming to raise awareness for heart disease. What am I most excited about? Well, it looks like Kenny G was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards for his newest CD and there is nothing that makes a skating routine hotter (or more fun) than a Latin groove... check back and I'll keep you updated!