Thursday, November 17, 2011

5-7pm Time Slot

I need some advice. Gary is gone for a whole lotta evenings now (dinner and bedtime) and I have no idea what to do with the kids from 5-7pm. It gets dark before 5pm and it's really wet (and cold!) out. We usually eat at 5pm and they are done at 5:10pm. We don't do bath time every night so what can I do to fill 2 hours? Oh, and I really need to get out of the house or I feel like I'm going to go crazy.

Tonight I took them grocery shopping and then we did a loop around the mall. I wanted some exercise but chasing Koen around (or watching them tackle each other in the mall) is not my idea of fun. Also, the amount of energy that I have is not in abundance. I need something where they can get all their energy out but is low stress for me. Hmmm...maybe I should take them swimming?

Any ideas that don't cost any (or much) money?

10 comments:

  1. Yeah! I was going to suggest swimming! And what about the library? And maybe fridays or another night have a movie night with them and make popcorn etc?

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  2. Haha I was going to say swimming aswell!

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  3. Anonymous8:12 PM

    Take them to McDonald's and let them play in the play center. You don't have to buy anything there or it could be a special treat n buy a cone then play......

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  4. i don't have any suggestions, am just amazed that dinner starts at 5 and is done at 5:10. :)

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  5. I think swimming it will be (and I like the idea of the McDonalds play area!). My only problem with swimming is Koen's skin. It is so sensitive and winter is a tough time for him.
    Kelly-my kids inhale their food like their daddy. In that time they have two servings. I need to feed them by 5pm or they'll just need more and more snacks. I also think it's good to have time to have their food settle before bedtime:)

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  6. 1. McDonalds play area is great, cuz not only will they expend energy, but also aquire some natural immunity! :)
    2. At a recent Public Health Skin presentation I went to, they were saying swimming in chlorinated pools is actually GOOD for dry skin/eczema. I know. I was confused, too. They said the humidity is good for it, and afterwards, just rinse the kid off in shower water, pat the kid down (not 'rub'), and put some olive oil on their skin (olive oil, fyi, is great for dry skin...no scents, no unnatural preservatives etc.). I KNOW my child will have dry skin, so I'm trying to get prepared for that... :)
    3. Have Uncle/Aunt come over to play mario cart or read with them! :)

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  7. If you live close to a rec centre, they often have drop in gymnastics and stuff. I know the Delta ones do and I think it may be around that time. Not sure what there is in Surrey but check out Rec centres for some ideas maybe.

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  8. I find the idea of going swimming without Mike exhausting - but that said, Kai sounds like a much better listener than Finn. I do love swimming as a family. This is a good post for me as I'm in the same boat as you with Mike gone a lot of evenings - sometimes the time flies by and other times I'm sure the clock got stuck! I like the McDonalds idea for a treat, my kids could spend hours at the play area. Dance parties are always popular over here.

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  9. Guilford mall has a free kids play area! Swimming with two kids always made ME really tired!! McDonald's is a good idea. Library? Come to my house? =) My boys will wear yours out in two minutes.

    ALSO: exciting! I got permission to review a new book on VBAC! It has a bunch of really recent updated research and lots of birth stories in it; I'm excited to get my hands on it. You will be the first person I lend it to. xo

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  10. There's a place called Captain Kids in Langley across the road from Colossus (in the sports plex). It's $3 a kid (cheaper than McDonald's food), and it's a HUGE play place. As long as your kids don't get stuck and need rescuing, you'd love it! As well, it's got in and out privileges - so they can be in there as long as they want to be! We just found it this winter, and it's great for the rainy weather.

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