Tag Archives: playing

Friends and Strangers at the Bounce House

03/05/2015 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

Have you ever been to a bounce house? Think of those giant inflatables that fill the backyards of homes for a kids’ birthday party, only it’s all indoors and filled with 10+ giant inflatables! In other words, a kids’ (and most adults’) wonderland!

As part of our Dallas Dads Group, I scheduled a Meetup at a local bounce house called Jump For Fun (fitting name I’d say) for us dads to gather and have fun with our kids. We had 4 dads attend, including me, and we each had one kid. It was hard to sit and talk with the other guys since I had to keep my eyes on Avery. She was all over the place!

Okay, so not first, but she started moving after warming up to her surroundings.

Until I put her inside one of the inflatables……

Yeah, that was her first and last time in that one. Not sure what made her so upset, but I blame her current teething issue as the main culprit. Once back out on the floor though, her mood changed back to happy status.

But we obviously didn’t go to a bounce house to run around the floor, so grabbed Avery and we went through several of the fun-filled obstacles together. She was confused at times, but I could tell she enjoyed it overall. But man, it was difficult trying to traverse some of the slippery inflatable steps with Avery in one arm! Regardless, we did it plenty of times, and even took on Batman!

He was all talk. One of our neighborhood dads and friends, Jason, was there with his daughter, Zoey, and we took turns taking our girls down a giant slide.

Avery, with her cutting teeth, had her hand in her mouth most of the time we were there. Nothing a little tickling can’t do to fix the hand-in-mouth issue.

Jason and Zoey were able to go up and down several times in the time it took us to go once.

Zoey is older and she was having a blast running all over the place. Notice, no hands in mouth for her since she has all her teeth!

While wondering around, Avery made a new, older, friend who seemed to like picking her up.

Seemed sweet and innocent enough, until she dropped her like a hot potato!

I guess they made up though, and the girl was more careful afterward.

I don’t know if it was the trauma of being dropped, her cutting teeth, or just because she’s a sweetheart, but Avery went up to a lady sitting on a bench, took the magazine sitting next to her, and held it up as if asking her to read it. The kind mom of two boys, Katie, kindly held Avery in her lap and read a little. Avery seemed to enjoy.

Everyone had a great time and we’re hoping to make the place a regular meetup for our Dallas Dads Group soon. Maybe next time Avery won’t be in the middle of teething and actually smile for a picture.

Eh, it wasn’t crying, so I’ll consider it a win in my book. Whatever book that is, I don’t know. I’m happy with the group of dads that met up and hope to be able to talk with them more next time. Which, thanks to our awesome group, we’ll have the chance plenty of times in the near and distant future!

Avery had a very nice nap after we made it home. Think we need to do this a lot more!

If you have been to a bounce house or one of the backyard parties with an inflatable, how do you like them?

Do you join in on the jumping or just watch?

Life, Parenting

Welcome Back, Hunger and Happiness!

02/12/2015 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

After a weekend and a couple days of being ill, I am grateful to welcome hunger and happiness back into my life! No, not the book, never heard of it until I wrote the title to this post.

And hey, I’m having dinner with the family now! That’s beyond silver, it’s a platinum lining!

I woke up Wednesday morning with an actual appetite and body that felt normal again. Geez, it wasn’t that long, but sure did feel like for-ev-er. Bonus points if you get the reference. Sandlot, anyone?

Eating was not forced and I happily made a Nuttzo Banana Omelet for Avery and me to chow down on for breakfast.

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It was ~~good~~ freakin’ delicious and so easy to make! A hit with daddy and daughter that will be repeated many times for sure!

You know that euphoric feeling you get after recovering from sickness or simply feeling down? Well, that’s how I felt yesterday and it seemed to rub off on Avery too. I took advantage of my rekindled energy and walked/jogged almost 2 miles with her to a nearby playground.

Stocked with swings, slides, and a bigger area to run around than our small neighborhood playground, it was a nice change.

Still full of mulch that stuck all over her pants and socks after taking her shoes off, but she loved it. Or at least this makes me think so…

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Giggles and crazy legs everywhere! I’m sorry those up North are getting such a beating with snow on top of snow on top of more snow, but we’re living it up here in Texas and making full use of the great outdoors!

Sorry about the snow, Northerners! I'm happy! — Sorry about the snow, Northerners! I’m happy!

I was worried about having cryfest 2015 when it came time to take Avery back home since she usually hates leaving. But, after about 40 minutes of playing, she actually walked to her stroller and had no problem getting in and making the trip back. Phew!!

Hump Day was a great day to be back to my old self and just in time for what Kelley and I had planned for the night. G-Ma said she would watch Avery so we could go out for drinks for a few hours and have much needed together time. Drinking right after getting over being sick? Sure, why not?

We each had two beers on draft and shared another. The one we shared was a Texas seasonal from Shiner and it tasted very much like liquid cake. Probably why it’s chocolate stout called Birthday Beer. We felt it was similar to Bailey’s Irish Cream. Tasty, yes, but one too sweet to drink a full one alone.

The night was full of stouts, including the featured pint for Pint Night, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, where you get to keep the glass. Win!

It was a nice glass.... — It was a nice glass….

But, I left it there like I had something inhibiting my brain processing correctly. Loss!

We were worried I might not be ready to go, but I felt ready enough! Plus it was nice to get out with my beautiful wife, high-water jeans and all!

Thanks again to my mom/G-Ma for watching Avery. She’s been a major help since Avery was born (actually, since I was born) and I love that Avery enjoys her company too. So much so, that she peed on the carpet after bath time upon our return home! #Toddlers

How do you normally celebrate getting over being sick?

Have you ever done something ill-advised (like drinking) right after recovery?

Life, Parenting

How My Broken Foot is Making Me a Better Dad

09/10/2014 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Are you someone who depends on having a plan? You feel anxious or even worried if you don’t have something laid out for the next day or two?

This is basically how I have been for the past few years, and it mostly revolves around exercise and food. I “need” to know what workout I’m doing the next day, and exactly how my food is prepared which is why I prefer making all of my own meals.

Obsessive? Probably, but it’s better than how I used to go out to eat frequently and would order fast food without ever questioning where the so called “food” came from or it’s actual nutritional profile. So I’m okay with obsessive.

For exercise, I could definitely tone it down, but it’s almost like an addiction. I feel a sense of relief and well-being after finishing a good lifting or HIIT session and refuse to give it up. When I didn’t have a set routine planned out for the day, I could always count on running to give me my “fix.” But then it happened, a stress fracture in my left foot. #damn

At least someone enjoys "the boot" — At least someone enjoys “the boot”

And of course running is the main culprit, and I’m sure daily burpees took their toll on my 4th metatarsal. So, now something I did every day must be put on hold for 2+ months. This is an OCD person’s nightmare!

Or so I think; I’m not really sure if I’m full-blown OCD, but I’m sure Going Mom would say otherwise. If, before my injury, I was told I could no longer run or do most weight bearing activities, I’d become an instant basket-case. As it turns out, I’m actually handling it quite well…..I think.

Instead of running, I ride my bike on a trainer in the garage or go for a swim in the neighborhood pool. The pool will close soon, but Kelley, Avery, and I made good use of it last week.

I’m so thankful to my lovely wife for coming down with me and watching Avery as I swam laps. I think Avery enjoyed it too!

I was worried the fractured foot would not allow me squat or deadlift like I normally do for lifting session, but it’s actually helped. Since proper form when squatting/deadlifting is to keep most of your weight on your heels, I am forced to do so and am getting better workout as a result. That weight that used to be light, really gets heavy when lifting the right way!

Instead of my daily 31 burpees, I am now doing 31 1-legged squats per leg each day. Not only are they harder, but now I’m working different muscles and feeling it a lot more! Change is good.

What does all of this have to do with becoming a better dad? Well, although I still have the “need” for exercise and am specific about my food, I have learned that I’m able to adapt to changes. Just ask my wife, she’ll agree without hesitation that I am stubborn about getting in a workout for the day and if we have to go out to eat, it’s always a battle. I still have a way’s to go, for sure, but I’m making changes and realize the world is not falling apart and I’m still healthy.

I have found that my training doesn’t have to be so intense all of the time and now I spend more time with Avery instead of brewing on the next workout or spending another 20 minutes grinding it out in the garage. Avery is usually very cooperative when in the garage with me, but now I can hang out with her inside and play with her more.

Working out doesn’t have to be full of complicated moves, and now I’m keeping things basic by lifting heavy weights followed by a quick conditioning routine and then done; playtime with Avery.

Another at-home dad and I have teamed with the City Dads Group to start our own Dallas Dads Group and we’ll have our first meetup this Saturday, the 13th. Prior to my injured foot, I was worried some of the meetings might interfere with my training plans, but now that’s not a big deal.

The top priority is making time for Avery and my wife; working out doesn’t have to be set in stone. Plus, I’m sure playing with Avery at the various meetup locations will be more than enough exercise. Especially as she keeps getting closer and closer to walking.

Now I’m more excited than ever to start bringing Avery to our Dallas Dads Group meetings, and hope to meet a lot of other great dads and their kids along the way. Going Mom will readily agree I still have a ways to go, but progress is progress, and I’m heading in the right direction! Maybe I can teach our baby how to leave the rug flat so daddy’s broken foot doesn’t trip!

Teaching myself how to adapt to changes and not stress so much is vital to being the awesome dad I aspire to be, and thanks to my broken foot, I’m getting there; one ~~step~~ limp at a time.

Have you ever had a setback due to an injury?

How did you adjust while in recovery?