WLW: Making Exercise Fit

 

 

I haven't participated in a WLW for quite some time, but when I read the topic this morning, I felt compelled to write (or maybe I'm just avoiding cleaning, dishes, and laundry?).

 

In Indiana, it had been my habit to get up at 4 or 5 am, when my husband's alarm went off, and go for a walk/ run around the neighborhood.  On days when I didn't feel walking was a good option, I would do some Pilates via Netflix.  Then my husband lost his job.  Then he got a job, and moved to North Dakota.  Then etc., etc., etc....  I struggle with transitions and finding a new normal.  So, I just stopped exercising.  I know, definitely not a good plan.

 

The new school year started here in ND last week.  We are about 7 blocks from the school, so I decided it made a lot of sense to walk to school.  Between drop off and pick-up, this gives me a total of about 28 blocks.  This is definitely not the intensity of work out I had before, and I know that if I want to loose weight (rather than maintain weight), I will need to step up my game.  But for now, I am "back in the game" of exercising regularly.  I also find that walking gives the kids and I more chance to talk-- bonus!

 

All of this is great, but what I feel is the best part of this is a change of mind-set.  We are currently in a rental house and shopping for a new home.  Yesterday we looked at a home and trace the route for the kids and I to walk to school from that house.  We definitely would not have done that 3 months ago!  Exercise for Mama is fantastic, but teaching my children that exercise can easily become a way of life, THAT is what it's all about!

 

Do you have ideas of fitting exercise into your life?  Share them with us all!  Just click on the button about and read all about it!

First Day of School, First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of the school year.  I had some mixed emotions about the whole thing (as I always do).  I know that Eli and Ruby were getting quite sick of each other, but on the other hand, it has been a LOT of fun exploring our new surroundings together.

 

 

Ready or not, yesterday was the day.  On the first day of school I always wake up with Nemo's voice in my head saying, "First day of school!  First day of school!".

 

The kids woke up to this Pintrest inspired breakfast table and a stack of pancakes.

I tried to sneak these into both of their lunch boxes.  Of course, both of them caught be.  I stink at being sneaky!

 



 

After lots of jobs, a 2nd outfit for Ruby, and lots of "Do we have?"s, it was time for the photo session-- Mom's favorite part...

 

 



 

...not so much Eli's favorite part!  I love this photo because I can practiclly hear him saying, "Mooooommmm!" when I see it.  I see this a lot, so I might as well have a photo of it!

I love when they look like they like each other!

 

 

Then it was time to walk to school.  Yes, walk.  We are only 7 blocks from school, much to my delight, we walked to and from school the first day.  I hope it becomes a regular thing.  I get to cross exercise off my list, the kids get to school-- it's a win/ win!

 



Because of some confusion on my part about pick-up procedures, it took me a while to find the kids after school.  This sent Ruby into tears for the first time.  Both of the kids shouted at the same time took turns telling me about their days on the way home.  Our next door neighbor even came out to ask the kids about their first day (which I thought was the coolest thing ever!). 

 

It wasn't until we were walking into the parking lot of our church-house when Ruby told me about missing recess because she spent too long eating lunch.  Poor girl (I feel sorry for her, but seriously, sometimes she spends an hour eating dinner-- it gets old-- maybe she'll learn to cut it down to 30 mins?).  After we came into the house, it was time to call Grammie and Granddaddy in Indiana and tell them about their day.  All in all, a great start to the new school year, until Eli's glasses broke.....



Counting Down the Days: Dakota Splashdown

A couple of weeks ago, while exploring the mall alone, I discovered an indoor water park.  The kids were SO excited when I told them and were promised a trip before school started.

David was not too sure about the whole thing at first.

Eli, Ruby, and Jason went right for the three water slides.  On the first one, Jason lost his glasses.  After some diving, his glasses were recovered, discovered to be someone else's glasses, and finally the right pair was found.  Seriously, he has this thing with loosing important stuff at water parks!

After a few minutes of clinging, David was warmed up and ready to go... down the frog and duck water slides over and over and over....

 

A wonderful time was had by all.  It has been so much fun to discover all the fun indoor things to do here in Minot.  They will really come in handy during those -25 degree winter days!

Play Date

We had a wonderful play date last week with some friends we met at a local park.  They moved here about 2 weeks after we did-- from Texas!

I got this shot before our friends arrived.  I almost deleted it, but I decided David's expression was too funny to get rid of!





This sphere is actually supposed to be a globe, which David is attempting to prevent from spinning.

We checked out all the little buildings in this Scandinavian "village", but really, the kids' favorite thing to do was roll down the big hills...

... or maybe it was to climb on the rocks!

... or was it splashing in what they referred to as the pee of "pinata guy"!  ... or playing "Would you rather?", the stomach-turning version!



I wonder if Ruby was telling the troll all her secrets?

Luckily, no children fell into the waterfall in the making of this blog post!  (As much as they tried!)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Lucky 13

August 14, 1999

August 14, 2012

Take Me Out to the Fair

This year the kids and I had the opportunity to attend two fairs.  Our county fair in Indiana and the state fair in North Dakota.  The county fair was filled will running into friends...

LOTS of sensory experiences...

(The woman who owned this animal was looking for "R" names for her crew.  When she met our Ruby she proudly declared she'd be using that name on the next newborn!)

and good-byes.



The North Dakota State Fair was filled with time with dad...



and lots of rides...

(Note to self:  35 year old women should not ride the teacups.  Ever.  Again.  That is all.  Although hearing David giggle uncontrollably through the whole thing almost made it worth it.  Almost.)

great food, and one game that a certain 10 year old could not be talked out of!



The Best of June 2012

It's already August and I haven't even shared most of June!  I guess there's just been a few other things going on the past couple of months (wink, wink)!  To save myself some energy, but not skip the amazing memories of June, I'm putting the best of June into one blog post.

1.  Our baby boys turns 2!  Although we had originally planned an all-out Sesame Street party, David's birthday was just right for our little guy.  I made him an Elmo "fruit cake" and we took him to the local outlet mall to ride the Elmo car.

2.  Carmen comes for a visit!  My friend Carmen and her family made to trek back to Indiana for a wonderful week of fun.  I said it last year and I'll say it again this year, when Carmen comes, it's like a vacation for all of us!  Water balloons, water gun fights, Wii time, indoor playground, and pizza lunch-- perfect!

3.  Field trip to Clifty Falls.  Although it was pushed back due to Jason's phone interview with Ackerman, the five of us took a field trip to Clifty Falls.  It is such a gorgeous place and the last time Jason and I had been there was when I was pregnant with Eli (11ish years ago, yikes).  I was so thankful we were really able to enjoy a day together while Jason was out of work.

4.  Interview trip to Minot, ND.  Jason and I were able to go to ND for a face-to-face interview, without children!  Although it was a quick and exhausting trip, it was nice to take it all in-- just the two of us!

5.  Laura's baby shower.  My friend Laura was expecting a long-awaited baby girl and Ruby and I were able to share in the fun.  Here is Laura sniffing candy bars inside a diaper!  As it turned out, this was the last time I got to see Laura before we left Indiana.

6.  "Daddy Day Camp".  One very hot afternoon we watched "Daddy Day Camp" and then had our own egg and 3-legged races.  Other than the really bad case of "road rash" I got from trying to catch up with Ruby and Jason, a great time was had by all.  The kids talked about that for at least a week!

7.  Camps.  Eli participated in Lego Robotics camp while Ruby took part in theatre camp.  Even though both kids needing to be dropped off and picked up from their camps at different times during the same week led to a lot of drive time for Mom and Dad, they both loved the experiences they had.  On Friday, Ruby had a small roll in "Willy Wonka".  I think her love for musical theatre has begun (Hum, I wonder where she got that from!).

8.  Soul Surfer.  One evening we rented "Soul Surfer" from Red Box (Haven't seen it?  Rent it.  Now.  I'm not kidding!).  To go along with the movie, we made Nutter Butter flip flops and had coconut M&Ms.  It was an all-around delicious night!

Wow!  What a June!