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I love the fact that the kids want to exercise.
Today, Daughter took her first spin on the indoor bike. And Middle Guy took his second official spin on the elliptical. (I think Little Guy was on the Wii...he still has a couple years to catch up and develop his inner athlete, right-o?)
Looking for a kid-friendly, affordable home treadmill. I would use it (and the kids a bit) but probably not H. Advice anyone?
I took the kids (just Daughter and Middle Guy - Little Guy had a playdate - an occasion of holiday-like proportions -- separate post -- separate time) skating today.
Author's note: I left work a little early to hit the doctor on the way to pickup the kids at school. I have a sinus infection and could no longer ignore the dizziness. Doc gave me meds and something for the dizziness. I realize it is VERY odd to still go skating. But we had planned it. And what is planned happens, right? Besides, I thought MAYBE the dizziness could even HELP (and certainly not HURT) my (umm) ice-imbalance issues.
Again, I had a nice time. We were "on the ice" about an hour. It was cold but oddly beautiful. I find the rote-ness of just making it around the rink both soothing and fascinating. I find satisfaction in just making it around the loop. I love the fact that the kids are on their own and OK - without being totally attached or eyes-on-them every second. I love the fact that I am not MUCH better than they are on the ice. While somewhat humbling for me - it must be encouraging and inspiring to them to see me learning, too. I like that I'm doing something I'm not very good at ... and I'm ok with it. I just like that WE are doing it. Together.
I was struck by some insights on the whole thing, too.
Middle Guy is ... fearless and stubborn. He truly thinks he can skate. He literally IRISH JIGS across the rink, always on the brink of falling. But not always falling. The kid LIVES on the brink. It is SO SO SO not me - that I admire it in him.
Daughter is... much more like I am. Tentative but stubborn. She prefers to do things she does well ... but is determined to learn this difficult skill. That said, she INCHES along, with her arms out like an airplane landing in the Hudson. I'm so proud of her. She hates that it's not easier. But she's sticking with it -- even as her younger brother flails confidently by her, slashing ice everywhere.
It's an amazing and interesting tableaux for sure. Next time I promise to take pictures...I think I can do it. I think I can.
"I shiver in my bones just thinkin' of the weather" - great line from a song long ago.
Sometimes you wake up, look out the window and smile at the heavy white branches all bejeweled in snow icicles. You think of sleds and fun boots, kids playing and giggling with loud laughter and beautiful crisp air that almost takes your breath away.
Other times you wake up, look out the window and heave a heavy sigh of sadness as you look at simply more snow. More snow to shovel, to navigate, to slow down traffic, to trudge through, to insulate you in total coldness. More negotiations about gloves, hats, scarves and boots. Just more snow.
Today, I'm somewhere in between the two. It's pretty. It is free falling so gracefully. It has blanketed the previously grey mush with a fine white layer of freshness. That said, it's also ... more snow.
The past few years I have noticed that I have become the crazy lady who shouts "SLOW DOWN" at speeding cars. It's always instinctive - almost gutteral. And always very Mama Bear.
My specialty is parking lots or sidestreets. Who ARE these people who speed so fast? Careless of playing kids who think they are immortal? Ignorant of pets or people?
As someone who is often (always) in a hurry, I find it humorous that I am the one yelling at tail-lights to SLOW IT DOWN.
On MLK day we took the kids up to the top of the John Hancock for lunch. It was a beautiful day and you could see for miles.
Sometimes it's nice to be on top of the world.
I did it! I blurbed.
One thing on my "list" has been to self-publish my blog. I wanted to do "A Mom Thing" to have as a souvenir for the kids. Thought it would be fun to have one year at a time.
After much input from my bloggy friends Danielle and Jessi, I settled upon Blurb. It seemed to support the typepad platform. And I liked their simple-speak-instruction.
So one day a few weeks ago I just sat down and did it. I kept a private blog while H was sick so I thought I'd start with that one.
It took me two tries (one time it crashed) and a few hours but was amazingly simple. Admittedly I could have spent a lot more time on it (designing, editing, adding photos) ... but this was more of an experiment. 360 pages and one beautiful hard covered book later it was done. 1 week later it actually arrived in my mailbox. All for under a hundred bucks. It's beautiful.
So glad I did it.
Those of you who "follow me" know that BFH stands for "big fat house." That's our home. I have a love-notsolove relationship with it. Considering there were pigeons and squatters living in it when we bought it ... considering I was 8(ish) months pregnant (with MG) and doing evictions...considering we had to pretty much strip it to its bones and start over...considering there have been four(ish) phases of work to make this house a home...just considering.
It's always been H's dream house. His vision. And I think I've said before, he's nothing if not an IDEA MAN.
Fast forward. Daughter is learning about her community and had to build a model of our home. Every kid did. They even provided 2-flat and 3-flat (soo Chicago) models so you could do it to scale.
Unfortunately, they did not provide BFH 100+ year old Victorian models. (I told H if I was building the house with her, it would have looked like a 3-flat with a cone for the turret.) H was undeterred. He took out the plat of survey and architect plans. He took out his ruler and his fancy calculator and his exacto knife. H and Daughter hunkered down and built a mini BFH. She learned a lot. It was cute to watch.
And it's really quite impressive.
Next Daddy project. The Wienermobile as pine derby car...stay tuned.
