Sunday, June 23, 2013

Swimming

Amber and Jade have been drown-proof for a few years now. Paisley was swimming pretty well 2 summers ago, but last summer didn't get much water time so this year she started out pretty scared of the water. Shyla was a baby last summer but has always loved the water. This year - Amber and Jade are still drown-proof and can swim pretty quickly. Paisley has figured out how to swim underwater and pick her head up to take breaths when she needs to! She now loves jumping of the side and swimming to the other side or the steps or someone. I put her in swimming lessons at the gym - mainly because it was free - and she's the top of her class. =) Shyla has zero fear of the water. She plops herself in whether I'm watching her or not. So I always have to be sure I'm watching her! She LOVES it though! She comes up out of the water with just the biggest grin on her face! So it's a good thing I don't have to be focused on keeping Paisley from drowning as well, or I think we might be one child less by the time fall rolls around.... Here's some pics from Paisley's swimming class:


Now let me get something off my chest - we've been swimming at the gym a lot these last couple weeks. Well, I had a pkg of swim diapers for Shyla, but every time we went swimming, she still told me when she had to go potty and would freak out if I didn't take her. And every time we came home, her diaper was clean. So when I ran out of swim diapers, I took her commando a few times. Again, she told me when she had to pee and I took her. Zero accidents. Well, the gym is apparently being more strict about kids under 3 wearing a swim diaper cause they've had to close the pool 3 times in the last 2 weeks. I get it. I totally understand. However, Shyla doesn't need them. Doesn't use them. They're a complete waste of money. And considering how expensive the membership fee is, I feel like they should offer free ones. Last week, I took the girls swimming and the lifeguard manager kicked us out. She told me if Shyla had an accident, she could lose pool privileges and maybe even gym membership. I said I was willing to take that risk. And was told, "Well, we're not." What the heck?? Anyways, I don't really know what to do. I want to keep taking the girls swimming, but really don't want to buy more diapers. Lame.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Goodbye, Sister Dear!

Shelley and company are moving to Japan for the next 3 years. =( We're going to miss you guys so much! Hopefully, David and I will be able to go visit in a couple years. That's the goal anyways! Before they left for Japan, they stopped here for a weekend of fun. Here's what we did:
After hanging out at home for a bit (and apparently taking a nap on my couch), we went to the splash park.







Saturday morning we had breakfast at Denny's before going to the Phoenix Children's Museum. 







Funny thing about this fort - Amber originally started it, but then David and Greg got into "helping". Amber spent part of the time in a corner pouting cause they took over her project. lol When they were finally done, some guy came in the room with his kids, looks at it for a minute, and says to Greg, "Nice blanket fort, man." Hahahaha!!! Shelley and I almost died laughing over that!





After a super late lunch and quick naps for the littlest 2, we went swimming at the gym!
Shelley took these cute underwater pics of my littlest fishies with her cool waterproof camera. =) 

Sunday we just relaxed at home and let the kids make as many memories as possible. Monday before it's legal to be out of bed, they all left. =( Good luck on your travels, Sis! Love you all!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Getting Motivated

For those of you who know me (and an fyi for those who don't), you know that working out is NOT something I do willingly - if at all. It's not fun for me. It's not a destresser. It's not a release of pent-up energy. I hate being sweaty. I hate working hard and seeing a big fat zero results. I hate having wet hair - so the extra showers are not something I look forward to. I don't have any work-out clothes. I don't want to spend money on work-out clothes that fit me now but theoretically won't in a few months so I'll have to buy new ones all over again. My kids make me feel guilty for leaving them. Do you get the point?? I just don't like it. But.....every time I've had a gym membership, I've used it. I've gone to the gym. I've gone to the classes. I've swam laps in the pool. I've taken the kids to the child center. I use it cause I'm paying for it. That's my motivation - using something that takes my money from me even if I don't. So I get my money's worth. David's been wanting to get a gym membership at LifeTime Fitness. It's a fantastic gym with a million different things to do and tons of kid activities and pools with slides and towel service - with a equally fantastic pricetag attached to it. Well, we signed up. So now I have motivation to start exercising. Gotta get my money's worth! We will spend all day there if needed to make me feel okay about the monthly dues! lol Okay, maybe not all day. I do have other things to do! But - I plan on going to a class most days and meeting David after dinner (after he's done with work) some days. I actually have an appointment tomorrow with a personal trainer to take measurements and bmi and cholesterol and crap beforehand to see where I'm starting at and to give me suggestions and a fitness plan to get me where I want to be. The membership is month-to-month so we can cancel at any time. They also gave us $200 of extra services to use. Like for swimming lessons for the kids, or personal trainer days, or boot camp, or rock climbing lessons. And the trainer I'm meeting with tomorrow is included - not extra. So we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I can be more fit and slim - right in time for winter when we're all covered up and bundled. Haha. But next year......you just wait and see!