This blog post is sponsored by CLIF Kid, a brand we love encouraging families to get out and play. The story I’m about to share and all the opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that believe in us.

“I didn’t realize you were so fast!” I told my daughter.

“Well, I did,” my husband said. And he gave her a high five.

The truth is they’ve been running and exercising together for years. This is how our babies play with their daddy. Lately my daughter spends less and less time in the garage with him. She’s busy with audiobooks, dolls, or cheer practice. Aware of this, I was so grateful to witness some of this tradition they’ve had going on.

When it comes to working out I find my motivation comes in waves. I either have a goal to shed some pounds and look good, or I’m feeling totally ok with all my extra cushion. I make all kinds of excuses for why I don’t have time to work out. I’m busy with the kids, homeschool, so much work, and then driving my daughter to her various activities. But when I do make the time to work out, I notice a difference. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

We canceled our gym membership late last year but thanks to my husband we have a garage gym and a ton of workout equipment. See, he’s the real fitness guru in our family. It used to annoy me when he’d bring home a new piece of workout equipment every other week, or when he’d spend hours upon hours in the garage. But I’ve come to really appreciate it.

Last week he loaded up a bunch of equipment and drove over to a local park. He brought weights, a couple of sleds, battle ropes, a box jump, and a cooler with drinks, CLIF Kids Zbar Filled filled to keep the kids fueled and other snacks. He also brought our son’s balance bike.

I could tell our daughter knew the drill. She stretched out and got pumped for some racing. Then the three of them lined up. Our son on his bike, our daughter with a sled tethered to her, and my husband loaded up with weights and a heavy sled.

I deemed myself official referee and photographer to capture the race. My daughter surprised me. Fast. Even while pulling a weight behind her. And she won!

She didn’t jump and celebrate like I would have. She was ready to turn around and go again, even asking her daddy to time her so she could race against herself.

This is their jam. And it was beautiful.

“Your turn,” my husband turned to me. He startled me out of my admiring gaze. I laughed but he was dead serious. So I put my camera down and pushed the heavy sled he was using (after he took the 40 pound weights off).

As I set up, the kids looked at me with wide eyes.

“Mom is going to exercise?”

Their look of shock almost made me feel worse than I felt pushing that thing.

But it’s true. I haven’t been setting a great example of staying active. I guess I can’t blame them.

They cheered for me as my husband had me do a couple more runs (and really, this was nothing compared to the workout he or my daughter got) and they didn’t laugh when I nearly passed out, which I appreciated.

Getting out to play looks a little different for every family. We love pool time, tossing around a football in the backyard, water balloon fights, and working out together… Well, some of us.

Being together is what I love most. Getting a little exercise in the process? Well, that’s a nice bonus.

What does getting out to play look like for your family?

I’m passionate about getting my children outdoors to play, and making meaningful memories together. That’s why I’ve partnered with CLIF Kid for 2017, to share our adventures getting out and playing together as a family. CLIF Kid Zbar® Filled is crafted with creamy, delicious nut butter filling and a blend of nutrients for energy to help keep your kids zipping and zooming along. Their products are free of high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors.  You can learn more about this product here. 

Tags: clif kid, family workout