Stroller Strides

This morning, Spencer and I made it to our first Stroller Strides session.  Elaine Waterman, who owns the Longmont franchise, is offering a great coupon for this week - all classes this week are free.  Can't beat that! 

We had a good time.  I didn't realize how out of shape I was, and that was a bit disheartening, but it was a very effective workout, and the cameraderie was nice.  A few things I learned today: definitely bring your water bottle.  Also bring snacks that your kids really like, preferably ones that take time to eat.  Consider bringing some easy small toys (without lots of small parts that can be thrown on the ground) to entertain your little one.  There is lots of interaction and songs, but there is also plenty of time watching Mommy do jumping jacks and lunges that can be boring.  And put your park toys (sand buckets, etc.) into the basket of your stroller before starting out, since we wind up at the play structure of the park before we get back to our cars.

It is a bit more workout than I am ready for right now, honestly, but hopefully soon it will be easier.  Like anything, you get what you put into it, and Elaine offers lots of options for various fitness levels.

We loved the Just Between Friends sale this past weekend - many, many thanks to Lainey and Jen for sharing their friends passes with me!  We bought a TON of stuff.  They're coming back in August, I think.  I love these sales so much.  I have learned a few things from past sales, and now I have a strategy when shopping.  First, teachers and first-time parents get all the benefits of consigning without having to consign.  Consigners and volunteers can shop the presale, and they can also take a buddy with them.  They can also shop the half-price sale the day before the general public, and can take a friend with them then, too.  I usually get everything my heart desires that is reasonably priced on the first day, at the presale.  I then go back to the half-price sale and buy for my son's next size.  (That is, right now he wears a 2T, so I am shopping for 3T.  It all gets washed and put into a labeled bag, and then when he outgrows something, it is easy to find, and when I need to get something, I don't have to pay full price for it.)  I'm very happy with it all.

We also saw Babies this past weekend.  We took Spencer with us, and it was not entirely successful.  He is just not quite ready for the movie theater yet, since he wants to tell me about what he is seeing on screen.  The movie was also not entirely appropriate for a young two-year-old.  The breasts didn't bother me - they are all in the context of nursing, and Spencer is completely familiar with that.  There is a little genital nudity, but it is also in a normal context - nude young baby discovers that he has interesting parts.  No big deal.  The slaughtered animals bothered me a little (as far as my son seeing them), but mostly, you just see a dead animal and can understand that it is being butchered.  I think it would be entirely appropriate for a 3 or four-year-old child; it is sweet and very entertaining.  But I wouldn't recommend it for an actual baby.

After the JBF sale, they gave out a flier detailing the free summer movies at the Longmont theater today.  Scroll down the page on the link for the Longmont location.  I think we'll try the Clifford movie for Spencer.