Time for fitness

Skye and I have been trying to find ways to get the family more active.

Yesterday, I packed up all the boys and Melissa, and we drove to Cates Park to chase each other around. We left with a mandate to be running fast, and playing the whole time. Skye joined us after about an hour, by walking there to meet us.

A1, A2 and A3 were experiencing a myriad of emotions at the playground. They could go from laughing hysterically to crying, to growling, within minutes. We all played tag, and that was really fun. I was happy for opportunities to run and increase my heart rate. Even though I'm pathetically slow, I laughed anyway.

A1 and A2 both had issues with not winning, or being "it." A2 would first volunteer to be "it," but when A1 was "it," and tagged A2, A2 cried and said it wasn't fair - he had slipped, or he didn't get a 10-second head start ... When we played soccer, A1 had really strong kicks that were painful to block. He was scolded a couple times, for kicking too hard around A3, so he felt badly and didn't want to play anymore.

I had to resort to cajoling both A1 and A2 into letting the other get their way. A2 earned a penalty kick, and when A1 moved in to protect the "net," I indicated with "sign language" that we should set things up for Aidan to score. So, A1 agreed, Aidan scored on an empty net, and everyone was happy, for a few seconds. A2 said the score was 2-1, and A1 corrected him, "No, it's 1-all." I nudged A2 and said, "It's okay. Austin thinks one of our goals didn't go in, because it "hit the post," but we know we scored." So Aidan agreed to let the official score be a tie.

Whatever it takes to keep these guys in the game. We're not burning any calories sitting on our butts and whining about how unfair life is ;)

We got out again tonight, for a walk as a family. We spent a few minutes in Parkgate Park, where Austin and Aidan taught Melissa how to play grounders. It was cute watching Aaron try to copy the big kids. He even tried to navigate the playground with his eyes closed ;)

Earlier today, Austin and Melissa walked to Cates Park and Little Cates. They played tag there, together. Austin probably exercised for about 3 hours today, in total. Good work!!