Winter with Kids

I was very active as a kid and still remain very active as an adult and therefore my children are active. It is a good thing but sometimes they wear me out! I love finding new things to get their wiggles out and to keep them busy especially during the long winter months when it is too cold to be outside. Here are a few of our favorite winter activities...

Living Room Dance Party.
This is kind of a Saturday morning tradition at our home. We turn up the Pandora tunes and dance our little hearts out until I'm too tired to keep up with them anymore. And I'm not talking about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse tunes, this is like full on, up beat, dance music (edited and appropriate of course) that I enjoy and my kids can enjoy too.

Pillow Fights and Wrestle Wars.
For some reason the above activity generally turns into this activity. Probably because I have two boys! Kids love this though, boys and girls. Try it on a bed for more cushion and more body slamming.

Indoor Sports.
Sign your child up for an indoor sport such as gymnastics, tumbling, indoor swim lessons, or dance that a young toddler is very much ready and able to do. Kids love being involved in their very own activity that is just for them. It teaches them great skills, socially and physically. Just call up your local Rec Center to see what classes they offer. Or if you live locally, I just happen to teach tumbling classes at FlipOut Tumbling. I offer a Mommy and Me class and a Preschool class on Tuesday mornings. I also teach private lessons for all ages and skill levels.

Indoor Jumping & Bouncing.
Indoor trampoline gyms and bounce house places are popping up everywhere. Kids love them! My kids could easily jump for three hours straight before they even begin to get tired. My personal favorite if you are local is Jump On It. They offer a Mom and Me jump time on Wednesday and Thursday from 10-11am. So fun!

2013 Resolutions

This post is a bit overdue as well...

I love making goals. This is something Nic hates doing and it is almost awkward to bring up with him so I do it all by myself and generally don't share it with anybody. But then I am not holding myself accountable really. So this year, I'm blogging it for all to see. Maybe this will help me do better. I think setting goals for yourself is really important. I am always trying to find ways to improve my life and feel more "balanced" if you will. When things get unbalanced, life feels crazy, and I go insane.

So here's to a more balanced 2013...a year full of sexiness and sanity!

1. Smile more.
2. Spend more quality one on one time with each of my kids.
3. Pay more compliments to my hubby.
4. Relearn gymnastics (specifically a side aerial, front aerial, and standing back flip)
5. Do a yoga workout once a week.
6. Focus more on family history.
7. Fix my sewing machine. Then learn how to sew.

Have you set goals for yourself? What are some things you are working on this year?

Tree Hunting

Saturday morning we went hunting. Hunting? Yes. As a family, in fact. And with some friends. It was cold so we wore snow gear. It was up a curvy road so Nixon got car sick. The snow was up to our knees so we had to carry the small children. Once the hunt was over we had to drag it all the way back to the truck by hand where we could finally rest our tired arms and legs and warm up our fingers and tummies with some hot cocoa.

Sound like fun?!

Our family started a new Christmas tradition last year with some friends. We go tree hunting. We go up into the mountains with our families and we look for the perfect Christmas tree to bring home. The perfect tree that will hold all the festive ornaments, and stand tall over the presents that Santa will soon be bringing. A tree that is full, but not too full, small enough to fit into our humble home, but not too small, and that has the perfect point to place a star at the top.

If you are looking for a fun family tradition to start of your own, I highly recommend this one. It can be a little bit of work (especially with little ones) so I suggest making a fun day out of it. This year we invited our friends over in the morning for a special breakfast. Together we cooked omelets made to order just the way you like it, and waffles with buttermilk syrup and fresh fruit. After breakfast we headed up into the mountains to find our spot where we wanted to hunt. While the adults hiked around looking for that "perfect" tree the kids made slides on the snowy mountain side. They slid down on their bums, their tummies and even upside down on their backs. Then when the hunt was over we had a large thermos of hot water in the car to mix up some hot cocoa so that we could warm up before the drive home.

Family time is special and it is important. It is memories and traditions like these that children do not forget. And what better way than to share it with some of your favorite people. A happy family is what keeps me sane. So stay sane ladies and create your own special memories with your family and loved ones.

Click here for more information on Christmas tree cutting in Utah.