Action Shots

My children are crazy fearless when it comes to the kiddie pool.

You would think this hurts, but they love it.

1 - 2 - 3 - GO!

How To Workout With Kids

Being a Mom of small children means that quite often, you get little-to-no time to yourself in a day.  It is quite possible that the first time you have time without a little one attached to you might be when your husband gets home from work.  Or maybe, just maybe, you can finagle it so that you have time to yourself in the bathroom. (How many of you have been on the toilet while holding a little one?)  But that could be cut short by yelling and screaming…

So how, if you can barely squeeze in things you need to do, can you ever squeeze in things you want to do?  There are days when things are so crazy that if all the kids are napping at one time, I have to spend that time cleaning.  Or maybe I didn’t sleep well the night before because Irina wanted to eat and snuggle all night… then nap time for the kids means nap time for me as well.

I really do want to start working out again regularly, but I can’t always squeeze it into alone time.  Last summer I was working out every day at home, and the kids were almost always awake and in the same room with me when I did.  I just started working out again today, and was wondering how things would go…

(Yes, he likes to lift weights in his underwear… he does things the old school way).

There are a couple things to keep in mind when trying to work out with kids around:

1. Be flexible. Literally. You will have kids trying to jump on you while you’re doing a sit-up. Or maybe trying to grab your leg for a free ride while doing a lunge. Just keep reminding them of when that is okay to do, and be ready to pause suddenly to keep from stepping on toes.

2. Be Flexible. Figuratively. If you are doing an exercise in which it is safe for them to tunnel back and forth through your legs, let them! What’s the harm? Today when I was lying on my back doing arm workouts, Elijah thought it a good time to come up and shake my tummy. Not flattering at all, but otherwise totally fine. So I let him. He thought it was hilarious. (So did I really).

3. Be Patient. You will most likely have to remind them to stay off of you and let you work out for a few days before it kicks in. Maybe even 2 weeks of working out every day. But then, when they finally understand and obey, you will be able to workout at home!

4. Include them! My kids love trying the exercises too. As you are doing jumping jacks, ask your kids if they can do it too. A simple invitation usually inspires them to participate!

5. Have Fun! So long as you are getting tired, you are accomplishing your goal. Who cares if you took a giggle break? So what if you deviated from the DVD and did squat & punch for longer than normal because your kids were doing it and loving it?

6. Remember the example you are setting. It is great for your kids to see you active and having fun. Remember in a few years it might not be so easy to get them to go outside and play and be active. But if you like to do it, and they have seen you do it for years, it just may be a tad easier to convince them.

Irina’s First Beach Trip

Last week we went to the beach with some on my family and a few friends I haven’t seen in years.  It was a quick trip, and we didn’t stay long because it was one of the hottest days of summer we have had so far!  But it was long enough to have some fun in the sun!

(She got to come out and enjoy the sun for about a minute or two)

Children Are A Blessing…

I have never been a fan of difficult conversations.  I have never even been a fan of conversations where people *might* disagree.  I also don’t like when people push their ideas of how things should be done onto me.

Because of this I dread Doctor’s visits.  I dread the kids’ pediatrician visits because I don’t see eye-to-eye with the Pediatrician about vaccines.  So it comes up every visit.  Ugh.  I dread the 6 week post-partum check-up because most Doctor’s do not understand our family’s position on Birth Control.  I don’t want to feel like I have to fight/justify my stance after every child I have.

With every child, I have seen a different Doctor.

With Elijah, I was asked if I wanted Birth Control.  I said no.  The response was “Oh, I totally understand- a lot of people want their 2 children close together so they can be good playmates and so you can get the labor/pregnancy thing out of the way early on.”  No, I don’t think you DO understand.

With Elena, I was asked if I wanted Birth Control.  I said no.  The response was (in an authoratative, snotty, tone) “What are you going to do then??? You can’t just breastfeed.  You DO realize that is NOT effective birth control, right?”  ”Yes,  I do understand that, thank you.”  ”Well, then, you better prepare yourself to be pregnant VERY SOON, because it will happen.”  ”Thank you, I am fine with that.”   “Really?  Just how many kids do you want?!?”

With Irina, I was asked if I wanted Birth Control.  I said no.  The response was “Children are a Blessing, right?”

Big sigh of relief.  Finally a Doctor who understands me!  I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.  I don’t want to have to defend my beliefs every time I go to the Doctor.  I don’t want to have to hear their schpeel about how I am ruining my body, how it’s not healthy, how I don’t know what I’m getting into, or whatever.

This is a decision of Faith, not Ignorance.  And it’s really nice to have that decision respected.

In The Dog House

Yesterday Elijah wanted a house for his dog, so I quickly (quickly) put together a card board box dog house.

Everything was roses and lilies for a total of 10 seconds. Until Elena decided she could fit in the dog house just as well as the dog and hijacked the house. Much to the consternation of Elijah. So many tears followed. I hate when a creative idea backfires on me.

But then I remembered we have bigger boxes in the garage, so I ran downstairs, dumped something out (who cares what it was… I had to move fast before a full out brawl happened), and then again very quickly made another dog house.

Happiness was again restored to the house of Sobrak-Seaton.

Summer Fun

On Sunday we went to Oma and Opa’s for a birthday/goodbye party for Michaela. She is going to Rome for the semester! And of course, even though it was her party, she was the one behind the camera taking all these lovely photos.

Swimming:

She keeps her tongue out most of the time while swimming:

Elijah trying out the boogie board:

And then realizing he doesn’t like it if I’m not holding on:

Looking pretty in her dress:

Finding things in purses/the kitchen to have a make shift snorkel set:

Dress Up

Often I catch the fun, silly moments that happen during the day on my cell phone camera instead of our nice one. I would love to be able to run and get the nice camera and snap a picture, but having tried this many times and missed the moment, I usually just get the picture on my phone. Some of these moments are catching my children in odd clothing, things they found around the house and decided to put on. Sometimes this could be them trading clothes (Elijah wearing Elena’s pink pants, Elena wearing Elijah’s underwear), something out of the dress up box (capes, hats, etc), or even things that aren’t meant to be worn (such as that animal cracker bucket on Elijah’s head…).

Dinosaurs and Dragons OH MY!

First off, Elena got a new bed this week! She loves it, and was so excited when Grandma dropped it off. This bed used to be Anna’s, it used to sit right in between my and Erin’s beds! Lizzy repainted it for Elena, thanks Lizzy!

With a new bed comes the thrill of playing on it, so Elijah and Elena lost no time in getting right to it. They apparently were able to see all sorts of new things from the vantage point of the bed, looking out the window.

My favorite part is the end, with Elena. Do you think my children might have a flair for the dramatic??

Elena’s Friends: Peyton and … Elmo?

This post is for Erin… We realized after seeing you guys on Sunday that Elena is calling Mo-mo Elmo.  :)

Turn About

Elena is a good little girl.  She usually asks permission before she does something, or eats something.  She runs up, says what she wants to do, and then runs away happily when I tell her yes.

Recently however, she has been turning things around on me.  Our conversations go something like this:

Elena: Haz cookie?

Me: A cookie?

So far, so good.  But, because I ask a question in return in order to confirm what she is asking (because she is still hard to understand), Elena takes that as me asking her  if she would like a cookie.  This is how things end:

Elena: OK!  Thanks!  (As she runs away to get the cookie).

And I end up feeling tricked.