Get Outdoors Challenge :: April 14

Outdoor fun :: april 7 :: rainy day

Outside in the rain this afternoon!

We all had so much fun, not something we usually do, but the rain was refreshing and reviving. I gave the kids some "exercices" as we took Orion for a walk around the neighbourhood, things like spin from this lightpost to that one, hop on one foot now, walk backwards, run, skip, etc... Great fun!

There are many participants in this Great Outdoor Challenge! 5 Orange Potatoes has posted a list here.

Orion

We have had Orion, our husky puppy, for over one month now.

We all have fallen in love and help take care of him. I am glad we waited until Celeste was five, because she can even help out and take him outside when needed.

Orion has started obedience classes and had lots to say during the first meeting! We have been doing our homework every day with him and he is learning fast.
Having had huskies before, I can't help but compare him to our other two, Orion is much more calmer than Alika and Naomi ever were. He listens better too, but then it might have to do with us too :)
I take him for two long walks every day, one in the morning around 6 and again in the evening. Each walk is at least 45 minutes, the evening one is usually longer and the kids come with me.

We really enjoy walking along one particular path, near the train tracks and the farmer fields. Here are a few photos I took last night from our walk..I even used one of my favourites pics for a new banner to this blog. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

First race of the year!

Last night I ran my first race of the year. It was a night time (around 7pm) 5 km race with many participants, almost 1000! The weather was hot but the course was great, a bit of forest, fields, a tiny tunnel...very nice. My time wasn't amazing, 33:16, but I was pleased since I didn't run much of this past winter. Now I am looking forward to more races over the summer and fall!

Going further every time...

Another Beautiful Afternoon...

The kids and I went for a bike ride yesterday. We just ventured out, not really knowing where we were going...but ended up at a waterfront park we had been before anyway! It was another beautiful day, on the way back the kids had slushies...and then, for them, the day turned out to be even better! The leftovers of a garage sale were at the end of a driveway with a big FREE sign on them. Fairy noticed some Barbies, and since Princess just started getting interested in them, I let her have a look...She found several princess ones, Belle, Snow White...and outfits for all them, even a prince! We think it's Beast... Dragon was pleased to find a light saber and a few Spiderwick MacDonald's toys! The best find I thought were a collection of finger puppets. The kids have a little theater already.
Anyway, it felt like Christmas to them! I just kept thinking of that saying...one person's garbage is another one's treasure! You can see their "stash" in the last picture.

Keeping our bodies active during the winter...

I have been on the lookout for new ways to be active during the long winter months, with the kids and also for myself.
I found this fun little alphabet workout on YouTube and we tried it this morning. We used a water bottle for weight. It seems simple but you end up doing a few squats and stretching your arms too.
We also have been doing this DVD workout by Scott Cole called Get Fit America for Kids . It is a mix of Tai Chi and Yoga, with lots of fun moves for the kids (I enjoy it too!).