It Was Great!

Leap Day 2012 was a smashing success.  It did my heart good to see kids and their parents having such a great time.

By far the most popular equipment was the bounce house, followed by the roller coaster and trampoline, but I saw every single toy or piece of equipment being used at some point, if not continually....even if some items were not quite used as I'd envisioned.  Some enterprising older kid discovered that the Tot Tunnel could be used as a costume, and he or she was walking around in it!  I'm not sure Happy Hoppers were meant to be used as basketballs, but they didn't seem to do any harm.  Don't forget to save those stamped passports to display proudly in your child's schoolwork portfolio.

Door prizes will be distributed next week.  Thanks so much to the businesses and organizations that supported us, including Billy and Nancy Greer of the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Jeanne Calderon and Heather McCune-Hustwit of Music Together Chesapeake, and several other businesses contributing informational freebies or door prizes.  A visit from Louie of the Bowie Baysox brightened our day tremendously, especially on the heels of a brief power outage in the morning.  I'd be remiss not to thank the Severna Park Community Center for their beautiful facility and outstanding service.  A pink and brown child's coat and a pair of dark blue striped child's socks were left there in the Lost and Found.

Please contact me at leapdayfitness@gmail.com for feedback or with ideas for the next fitness event.  Several families have suggested that waiting for Leap Day 2016 is too far away!

Happy Leap Day!

We've turned the corner into counting down the hours: 15 to go as I write this.  It's been exciting to receive many enthusiastic phone calls from parents looking for more information about Leap Day 2012.

Here at home we're getting ready to pack up in preparation for tomorrow morning's trek to Severna Park.  We hope to see many families throughout the day.  Please let us know if you have questions: we hope to have the information table staffed all day.  Volunteers will have name badges with the Leap Day logo.

For any early birds who would like to lend a hand for set-up between 8-9 am, please do!  Likewise, those who may be around at 2 pm when Leap Day concludes would be our heroes if they could pitch in to pack things up.  The $5 fee will be waived for volunteers.

I would like to invite all participants to email your feedback and suggestions for future events to me at leapdayfitness@gmail.com

Until tomorrow, then!

One Week to Go!

One More Week until Leap Day 2012!

Thanks to Linda, Brenda, and Eleni for volunteering to help out in various ways.  Others are still welcomed to lend a hand.

The gym layout is nearly completed, mapping out stations and areas for the various activities.  Next up will be my task of organizing the door prizes.

A note about the check-in procedure...no advance registration is required.  You'll be able to pay the $5 per family at a table by the door (receipt available upon request) and you will need to sign a brief waiver affirming that this is not a "drop-off" event and that participation is "at your own risk."  Pick up a packet of handouts including a map of the stations, info about door prizes, and freebies.

Remember that you are welcome to bring a lunch for your family.

We can't wait to meet you and your family!

34 Days and Counting Down

We are really excited about Leap Day around here.  Invitations have been mailed out or electronically sent to local homeschoolers, generating some buzz.

No one has asked yet (we've had such a mild winter!), but in case of inclement weather that forces the Severna Park Community Center to close, we will have to reschedule.  That information would be posted here.  Since Leap Day's indoors, as long as the gym is open, we will be there.

Behind the scenes these days we are working on mapping out all the activities and where in the gym they will be, to facilitate set-up and participation.  As you enter the gym, look for the welcome table to pick up your packet of information, sign in, pay ($5 per family to help defray expenses), and learn about door prizes.

Can't wait to see you there.

Welcome, 2012

The New Year is here!  Welcome, 2012.  The beginning of the year, with its "New Year's resolutions," remains the most popular time of the year to join a gym, begin a weight-loss program, etc.  Everyone likes a fresh start, and perhaps the holidays boasted a menu that was a trifle on the rich side.

While I think turning over a new leaf is a great idea, I hope everyone will see Leap Day in the context of beginning (or continuing) a family habit.  Make a lifestyle course adjustment, if you like, rather than an all-out "do-or-die" thing.  I've been so grateful for the gentle voice of our 5-year-old, who cheerfully works out with her kids' video (PraiseMoves for Children) for PE.  She's such an encouragement to me.  "Mom, are you going to come exercise with me?"

Thanks to Laurette Willis, creator of PraiseMoves and PraiseMoves for Children, for donating a video and sending material in support of LeapDay 2012.  You can find these and many other excellent resources at http://praisemoves.com/

56 days 'til Leap Day!