No Excuses Exercise: Matt Ross Community Center in Overland Park #DoItAnyway

I have started Weight Watchers once again ... I am entirely powerless over food. The good news is that last year I got somewhat of a handle on it ... I have all the tricks down but not giving in to temptations and stress eating and emotional eating is the problem. Plus I sit a lot for homeschooling and for my at-home work and I don't move as much as I should be moving for a woman in her 40s.

So back in November I also joined our local community center. I mostly joined because the weather was getting super cold and getting outside was not working out most of the time and I know we love to swim ... so I got a 3-month membership, which also includes the exercise room and gymnasium privileges.

Every now and then I would get to the gym alone to treadmill. Sometimes Aron would play in the Explorer Room or pool with the kids while I would treadmill. Sometimes I would play with the kids or go to the pool while he would do the bikes. Last night we tried out the gymnasium for the first time and they had a blast. I was just sitting there reading a book when I realized the walking track goes around the gym ... and I grabbed my music player and earbuds and went walking for about 15 minutes.

The thing is: I was in jeans. I had on a long-sleeved shirt. I had on shoes that were not good for walking. I had not planned on exercising.

Excuses.

I did it anyway. Do it anyway!

This is part of the track that goes 1/10 of a mile around the basketball courts and exercise room

At the top of the pic you can see the windows to the exercise room

This is the exercise room looking out into the pool area. I love to watch my kids on the slide when I'm on the treadmill!

Just part of the Explorer Room ... this pic does not do it justice!

Have Your Next Birthday Party at Sky Zone Kansas City!!!

**Please check out my full review here where I talk about our experience!

Once again I must say I love being a mommy blogger! Thanks to Sky Zone Kansas City, Callie is going to get a super fun birthday party there for free! I get to review this awesome place we have been dying to go! The birthday party package includes 10 jumpers for an hour and a half, sky socks, pizzas and unlimited drinks! I can't wait to go and report back to you how awesome it is! Here's some info about Sky Zone:

Sky Zone is the world's first indoor trampoline park. We're the inventors of "fun fitness" and the makers of trampolines as far as the eye can see. We give you one of the greatest workouts ever combined with awesome, healthy fun. We've been voted the number one "out of the box" workout and the "best party ever." Experience WOW - the weightlessness of bouncing, flipping and landing in a pit filled with 10,000 foam cubes. 

We are dedicated to providing you with the pure joy that comes with flying. We are sky lovers, thrill seekers and people who believe that jumping is freedom. We believe fitness can be fun and play can be smart. We are healthy and bursting with energy. We fly high and keep it safe. We are Sky Zone. My Readers Save $3 Off Open Jump at Sky Zone and 10% Off a Supreme Birthday Party. Click on the Sky Zone coupon here for more information and to redeem.

Little Ones Using Imagination Versus Electronics

Igniting Imagination in Your Child Through Creative Play

While it is widely known that the early years of your child’s life are essential in helping them learn, develop, and play, sometimes it can be tricky to come up with new and creative ways to hold the attention of your baby or toddler. Rather than give in and give them your Smartphone, a tablet, or similar handheld electronic apparatus, give them something that instead forces them to use what’s arguably their biggest asset - their imagination.

Beyond the School Setting

While your child probably receives lots of stimulation in a daycare or preschool setting through organized activities and interaction with their peers, it’s up to you to take care of things on your own home turf. When you know where to look, your home offers endless opportunities for creative play with your child. Try dressing up and role-playing or other forms of “real-life play,” and make sure to have regularly scheduled play dates to encourage socialization with other children. Never underestimate the importance of art and music, either. Try forming a family band and put on a show for friends and neighbors, or have some fun with finger paint or a full watercolor set.

Here’s the bottom line – it’s up to you to make the most of your time with your children, and to create an environment that’s both enjoyable and ideal for fostering imaginative play.

Leavenworth Virtual School December Field Trip to Crown Center

I got the little kids up early for this awesome field trip! We hit McD's for some breakfast on the road and headed down to Crown Center in Kansas City. Here are the highlights!

At The Coterie Crown Center to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Lunch at Crayola Cafe

Eva and I love the white Christmas trees and had to get a shot with them

My 5 babies posing at Crown Center.

The play area always rocks

Joel is turning into Mr. Ice Skater ... at Ice Terrace

Eva and Samuel. He's wearing his Breathe Right strip he digs and Eva did not skate today.

Callie is Miss Ice Skater

Michael helping Sam along

Eva with me and Michael

Mommy skating swiftly by Samuel. Just kidding; I'm just posing; I only went around the rink like ONCE.

We got to meet Miss Aly and even the principal, Mr. Brinkman. We also met a few kids and parents and look forward to going on the next field trip. I wish we could make the Fun Fridays but they are an hour away and start in the morning ... if I want to do any homeschooling with my bigs I have to keep the littles asleep in the mornings. Maybe we can hit some of those in the spring after we are more on track and in the swing of things. The kids really like the virtual school Calvert deal ... and especially doing it through the Leavenworth school district. Who knows ... maybe we will even be moving closer to that area next year ...

#Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tickets for FREE from 101 #TheFox Kansas City

While running errands yesterday I heard something on The Fox saying CALL NOW to win tickets to something so I whipped out the cell and called. It was busy so I tried a few more times then:

"YOU ARE CALLER  NUMBER 11!"

I'm like, okay, (thinking, I don't even know what caller I was supposed to be to win).

"YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA TICKETS!"

And then I got REALLY EXCITED! I love this group and so does Aron ... they are the ones who do the rock n' roll Christmas songs with drums and electric guitar and generally kick butt. We have been wanting to see them for a long time and I ALMOST ordered tickets but just didn't. And now we are going for free! We were in the neighborhood of the radio station (Mission Bank Building) so I swung by with the kids to pick up the tickets ... next year I'd love for them to go with us but for now they are going to have fun with a sitter!