No Excuse Mom Workouts (review)

  Yesterday I introduced you to hiking with your children and today I have another group to bring the kids to.  It's great to have a safe place, a free place, a place to socialize and a way to workout all embracing the fact that you have kids.

  No excuse mom is a group of women that meet atleast weekly to workout together.  Your leader coordinates the location and the workout routine.  You are free to bring your children as they will be inches away from you in a park or in the same room inside.

  Due to my injury I was unable to workout with them prior to now.  Today I went and this particular city was having a Zumba class.

Check out noexcusemom online to find the nearest location to you.  As the weather gets warmer they will be meeting up more in parks.  After your workouts let the kids run around about in the park or playground and everyone is guaranteed to have a much more relaxed calm afternoon.

This is a free group!  They meet in free areas and the workouts change regularly.  The ladies encourage each other and the kids either hang out in strollers or play amongst themselves.  This is a great social outlet and a nice slow way to get back some energy; that we all need whether we lost it from too many sleepless nights, or chasing toddlers.

Snow and Fun

  Yesterday we got our 2nd snowfall of the winter and new year.  This may not be a big deal to a lot of people but snow is a rarity here.  Also I think all children want to play in the snow.  This one granted us a little more than last time and actually stuck to the ground.

  Having it snow first thing in the morning is the best.  There is plenty of day light to play outside in and take advanced of it for all its worth.  Although the temperature is not the warmest you compensate for that.

  We got bundled up as you know it's frigid at 35° in VA!   Our "winter" coats do not match the "winter" coats of our neighbors up North.  For the most part it does get cold just not as cold for as long.  Also they do sell winter boots but you make the decision to buy a new pair every year (because the kids outgrow them) or just wear different boots.  My kids use rainbows or sneakers double and tripling socks.

Seeing the snow is a welcoming event!  Seeing it actually stick makes the day!

We must act quick!  You get dressed, run, play, snowballs and snowman.  All in a timely manner.  Sometimes as much as 15 minutes because it's cold outside!

  We have made record size snowman before but, today was not the day.  This is our dirty snowman.  There wasn't much snow so scrapping/rolling the snow collected the dirty and grass less than an inch under the snow all a soggy mess from the rain we had all day 2 days prior.


  Stay tune for other fun we had with the snow!

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Thanks Elf Day 10

  Good things come to those who wait!  It almost surprises me to see what elf has come up with to start the day.  Sometimes it happens before my very eyes.

  I do have to tell you sometimes Elf is hiding on me and that is a chore to go find him.  He may go missing as soon as he is discovered after his antics or just during the day; he seems to drift or be transplanted without me knowing anything about it.  So I walk around looking for him.  Sometimes the kids switch places with him so that the toys being picked on can get their revenge other times he seems to be put in time out due to his actions at the present time.

  Today was different.  My kids easily forgive and forget.  The kids woke up to a good Elf and that is more acceptable to them.

He made stairs out of legos and was climbing up the tree with our tree topper.  Apparently our Elf was going to put the star on the tree! 

Thank you, elf that was very nice and thoughtful of you!  We have yet to put our ornaments up so you putting the star up is a great start! 

  It was pretty smart of you to assemble your own stairs to climb up there. It must have been pretty hard to get those pieces to stick together.  I know when I have tried to make steps past 4 they always fall apart.

You have started out a great day for us Elf and we needed that.  Today will be a good day for everyone here, I'm sure.  Happy Holidays to you!

Date 27

 Today is the last day for dating your kids and there's only two days left of date ideas. I hope this month has offered you some creative new ideas for dating. Today's finally date idea with your kids is to have fun. I guess that's the goal of all dates is to have fun. What else is there?

  So today's date is to play games! You can play one on one, rotating amongst your kids children if you have more than one or play with all your children. A marathon of games. How about setting up games in a few rooms so you change rooms and games after 30 minutes. Set up your game system and play that too. Why pin yourself to just boardgames? You could even set up stations outside if you liked. A game of tag or catch. Regardless of what you choose.

  Have fun and play games with your child. Dating is not a chore; there are many options to have a good date besides dinner and a movie.

Date 23

  I hope this week is proving itself fun.  I hope you are enjoying your undivided time with your child.  Sadly, I need an excuse to stop what I am doing to give one on one attention to my kids.  Everyone is always going in so many different directions that it just becomes second nature to entertain or neglect kids.  But to stop and give undivided attention to just one takes effort.  I need an all hands on deck plan in effect to help. Older ones or dad has to step in so that I can hang out with one child over another.

  So today take your child out and provide them with  some  culture or not.  Today your date is to take them to the museum.  This weekend my youngest daughter and I spent some time at the local art museum.  She asked to stay and look around after we dropped her sisters off. I said sure why not.

  We actually spent the whole day out and about and she really liked it.  The art museum at a childs pace (with a boot) does require patience but as long as she enjoyed herself who cares if she doesn't know who made what.  We discussed different types of art.  I asked if she could make me a bowl with her playdough?  I asked if she could paint the face of a person?  If she could make an abstract picture.  Her little wheels were just turning.  I know she is plotting her future art debate.

  You don't need to go to an art museum.  We have a children's museum as well as even the botanic gardens.  So choose a place they would like to explore. A place you can walk at a comfortable pace and learn and communicate about.

  Have fun!  That's all that matters.  I'm sure your child will just love to experience something new.

Date 22

  Good morning!  Another date with your kids today! Are you excited?  Did you have fun yesterday?  I know that my kids act differently when they are separated as well.  I have less problems, I hear less yelling and I ultimately have less stress.  So when I can hang out with just one it is a little fun.  Boy only children have it made.

  Today it is another date outside!  Whether it's raining, snowing or a bright sunshine day.  Kids love to go outside.  Take a trip to the park.  Not the kind with slides and swings.  This time you and little one are going to walk and explore.  Make a scavenger hunt. I have a few pinned on pinterest.  Walk around a lake or just take a short trail through the woods.

  Today's date is just providing you with an option to spend some quiet quality time with each other. I don't mean quiet as in don't talk; I just mean quiet as in focused undivided attention without the squeals going down a slide.  My two younger kids like going for walks at the park a whole lot more than my older two.  They like to see the squirrels running, a turtle in the water, count bridges on our path or just all the fresh air they are getting.

  So there you go! Go on out and have some fresh air fun.  If you have more than one child maybe spend a half hour with each of them.  It's nice to see their personality without the others around.  I like to listen to them as the describe something to me.  It's so much easier to focus on them individually.  I know they like it too.