get moving! winter inside and outside.

This time of year is about moving as much as it is also about pulling in and slowing down for the dark cold winter. With two boys we have to keep moving, no matter the weather!

Both A and G have a lot of energy and love being active. For us that means that while we do still like to get outside in the winter, a lot of what we do is inside (it gets cold in WI in winter!). The challenge is to find a fun variety of things to keep it interesting without taking up much space in our small house. We do have some out of the house action - A has karate a few times a week and both boys take a private dance class together weekly. We also have many other ways to go go go right here at home.

• We have a small exercise trampoline in the living room.
• The boys love the yoga ball for balancing, jumping, and tricks.
• We have table tennis and electronic darts.
• We love active games like twister or wii sports.
• We have been known to rollerblade in the dining room and sometimes pull out a futon in the living room for gymnastics extravaganzas.
• Of course I can't leave out daily dancing to loud music. Every day!
• The boys have wooden crossbow and bow & arrow sets and a felt target for the front door.
• We try to get outside for a walk or to a park whenever the weather is do-able, even if for a short time.
• If it ever snows (!) we will be outside sledding and playing in that too!
• We have rings to mount in an archway (I just need the anchors!)

This month the boys decided they wanted to do a 30 day wiiFit challenge, and so the 4 of us are doing 30 minutes a day each of yoga, balance training, strength training or cardio. It feels good to get moving even when it is blech outside - and it is a necessity when our winters can be so long.

What do you do in the winter to keep moving and active? What is your favorite in the house get moving activity?

flippin'

March has been a rough month for my guys - sleet, snow, rain, unusually cold temperatures, clouds. And while the past few days have been sunny (yay) it has still been really COLD. Much colder than it should be this time of year.



So while they have been out to ride bikes in the alley whenever it is dry, and we have a big yoga ball and trampoline inside, my guys have been wanting MORE physical activity at home, and INSIDE where they can wait it out until spring finally comes (their words).



So when spring fever hits and it is too cold what do you do? We pulled a futon out into the living room and the boys have been doing rolls, flips, handsprings and karate rolls all week.



They come back to it throughout the day. Their skills have improved daily, and at night they have both happily talked about how sore their tummy muscles are. And yes, some little boy flexing has been involved. ;) (Brothers)


Lots of fun, and very happy energetic boys! I think some almost seasonal temps are coming, but I have a feeling this futon will be out juuuuuuuust a bit longer.

Any kid spring fever going on in your house?


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climbing.

Once the weather gets cold we love to visit the climbing gym. We are lucky to live not too far from a great kid friendly place. We don't usually go much in summer as it gets pretty hot in there, so it has been awhile since the boys have climbed.


They were both *so* excited to go today, and clipped in immediately. Everything seemed to be going fine - I had G, Brice had A...and then I realized G was sobbing a few feet over my head. I let out his line to bring him down to see what was wrong - he was scared of how high he was going!


So, we sat on the side and just watched. We saw kids climbing. We saw adults on reverse angle walls losing grip and swinging out into open air way up at the ceiling. We saw people standing against the wall way up there with hands off for a minute to re-grip. We watched A climb a few times.


G realized that he wouldn't fall and said he wanted to try again. He climbed up just to my head level a few times "for practice" and then zooooom, he was off!


He was the first to hit the top - he climbed down, changed lines and climbed up to a spot with a ledge. He and A switched back and forth on their favorite line for a while, and then zoomed around trying out new spots. He was quick and confident. Wow! After almost 2 hours we had to go.


Both boys happily took off their harnesses and said he wanted to come back...tomorrow!

My little guy went through a range of emotions tonight...from fear and anxiety to determination to the major rush of sitting all the way at the top. I loved seeing that even though he was afraid he faced it, thought it through, and challenged himself to try again. Sweet boy.

Fear cannot take what you do not give it.
~Christopher Coan

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skate park.

Today the boys had their first skateboarding class! They have been looking forward to this for weeks, and even a cool gray rainy morning couldn't dim their enthusiasm.


G's class was first. G was great - he is so graceful he glides in anything requiring balance. The instructor is nice and laid back too (which means we will probably make it through all 3 weeks of the class! ;)).


A's class was next, and even though the sprinkles turned into steady rain, he kept going! You know he likes it when he stays on through that - he is a particular kind of kid. His class ended a bit early with all the wet, but not so early that he didn't get in a few of these...


...you know, the down the ramp sitting on the board - yep, that is him whizzing along feet up in the air. He got so much speed going he made it all the way to the edge of the parking lot! Woo hoo!

They get to go twice a week for a few weeks and they are hoping to improve their skills enough to try some new tricks, learn how to do small ramps, and just feel more comfortable going faster on their boards. Fun!

a first.

Last weekend A competed in his very first karate tournament. He has had the opportunity to enter before, but we knew he would let us know if/when he was ready to do more than just classes. This time when the tournament flyer was passed out, he told us he wanted to go and compete!

A is an intense sensitive kid. Huge crowds, bright lights, lots of noise ... all can be tough for him, so we knew to keep it steady and follow his lead to help him manage his first experience in a gym with over 1,000 people (it is the largest tournament in the state).


He practiced and practiced all week (he had his brother play judge) - from walking on the floor and approaching the judges, to his form, bow, and exit. He was ready, excited and determined!


We didn't go too early so we didn't have to sit for too long, but we went early enough to watch several of the black belts from his karate school compete in weapons. Sitting in the stands and cheering for people he knows was a great way to loosen up and get a feel for the place.

When it was his turn to do his form he was cool and totally focused. I was impressed that he was not flustered at all with all that was going on around him. He was awesome! :)


I love watching my boys as they make decisions, try new things, grow and expand their world, and pursue their interests. I'm so proud of him. He's quite an amazing kid!

karate belt.

Yesterday was A's first belt promotion in karate. Ohhhhh, he was excited. He has been counting down the days, the hours, the minutes. This is a kid who needs to know exactly what will happen, when it will happen, the order in which it will happen, and be comfortable that he understands every piece before something happens. So, since this was his first belt promotion he was a bit nervous. A is a spunky kid. When we arrived and checked in, all of the other kids were running, jumping, doing somersaults, cartwheels...A sat. Still. For over 15 minutes. Without moving. On the mat. Waiting.


They first did all of the forms together required at this level. A relaxed a lot, but was still very exacting and serious...with the worlds biggest smile, of course. At the end names were called and belts were presented and the kids went down the line of black belts to get handshakes and their certificate. He was so thrilled. And proud. Watching the emotions and excitement and focus and acknowledgement just makes my heart swell. What a sweet boy.


At the end he asked if he could have his photo taken with his karate instructor. I think this photo sums up how he feels about karate and this great teacher of his. Good job, little guy.

Karate.

I'm generally of the thought that when the boys are ready, show repeated interest, and take action to take a class, we will do it. I don't just sign them up for classes on my own - unless those 3 things happen. Of course, at their age they don't know what is out there so we do chat about what type of classes are available as their interest is piqued along the way. Most of the time they are not interested in the group instruction dynamic, and we do so much as a family that we cover most of their interests.

As A is getting older, he is beginning to independently request to learn more about things he is interested in, and ask specifically about classes, outings, or activities. One interest lately has been karate. After looking up everything he could about local schools and class options online, we went to observe a class last weekend. He loved watching so much that he wanted to start n-o-w!!! The owner brought him onto the floor for a second class so he could participate a bit too. We asked if this is what he wanted, and he answered with a very enthusiastic YES! He surprised me by asking about his gi (!?), which is the uniform, and did indeed receive one to wear to class. Monday was his first full class, and he had the biggest smile - literally from ear to ear - the entire time. He laughed and giggled and smiled for the full 30 minutes - bursting with joy. He went again today for a fundamentals class, and he loved it (and did NOT want to leave). This is all from a boy who is super intense and usually has a hard time with new situations and places, transitions, groups of unknown people, and loud places. I think that since he picked this all out himself and is in control of the decision, it paved the way for him to relax and enjoy himself. And, he obviously chose this because he is indeed ready for it.


It is fun to watch him learn and grow - I see him going from that little kid to the next level and I am awed by his energy and enthusiasm! Love it! Now G, he wants to take a class to do somersaults - still working on that request!