This was the kind of day that I love. Not every moment was ‘lovely’…but for the most part, it was the kind of day you look back on and say, “Yep, that was a good day.”
Today we had no schedule. No agenda. No To-Do list (well, there is a To-Do list, but it wasn’t happening today!). It was a family day. Kevin had been away for a few days, and Nannie & PaPo – whom had saved the day by taking care of the little girls yesterday so I could chaperone Addi’s school field trip – left this morning. So what is a family to do with a whole day to themselves? And a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day at that!
I don’t want my kids to grow up with a sense of entitlement, such that they feel as though their every waking moment should be filled with mindless entertainment, catering-by-the-parents-to-the-children, extravagant spoiling…you get the idea. However, it is rare in our family that we have a day like today…with nothing what-so-ever on the calendar, so to speak. Of course, there are always things that could be done. Did Kevin have work at the office waiting on him? Yes. Was there a pile of laundry waiting to be done? Yes…more than one pile. Was there yard work waiting for us? Of course. But today we spent our entire day enjoying each other. Well, with the exception of the little girls getting a late nap, which meant they were pretty stinkin’ whiney for most of the day. And then there was the conversation we had to have with Hale & Addi, explaining that when THEY were the ages of Sydney & Reid, they got to do all the things that they try to convince us NOT to let Sydney & Reid do because “they’ll mess it up.” Other than all that, it was a super day!
We started off by taking the kids to see an animated movie they’ve been wanting to see, called Alpha & Omega. It’s about two wolf packs who eventually overcome their adversity so that they might be a more effective pack, together. Hmmm…good lesson for the kids…better together. BUT…it cost us sixty bucks for our family of six to watch that movie. Yep. You read that right. SIXTY BUCKS for an hour & a half-long kids movie. It was only offered in 3D, which upped the price. Did we have to go ahead and pay the sixty bucks? No. But we fell into the trap…not wanting to disappoint the kids. And not only did we pay sixty bucks for movie tickets, we spent an additional fifteen dollars on popcorn & pop! Grrrrrr!
Exit movie experience, which by the way, was without major incident! It is so nice to be able to do things as a complete family now, as the kids get older. As I looked at Hale & Addi on my left, and Sydney & Reid on my right, with their too-big-for-their-faces 3D glasses on, stuffing their mouths full of too-expensive-popcorn, I couldn’t help but smile, and thank God for my family. And as I often do, I thought to myself (about myself)…”Who would’ve thought?!”
So as if the movie theater didn’t cost us enough (anyone keeping track knows that we’re already at $75 for the day so far), we stopped at the kids’ favorite Mexican restaurant, Bandido’s, on the way home. Bandido’s has a small arcade room that our kids go nuts over. Interestingly enough, they’ve never actually PLAYED any of the games because we’ve never given them money to do so. They just love to go in and pretend like they are playing. Sweet. Chalk one up for the ‘rents…a FREE activity for the day! But then we were seated, and apparently nobody was really hungry except for Mommy & Daddy. (Fortunately, we’ve learned to find two kids’ meals on the menu and then divide those two meals between the four kids, because on their own, they NEVER eat an entire meal. ) But again, no major incident…just a couple trips to the bathroom for potty breaks and Sydney trying to convince us that the wait staff needed to sing Happy Birthday to her like they did for the girl at the table next to us.
Back home, it was OBVIOUS that it was naptime for the little girls. So after a quick de-lousing, off to dreamland they went. Kevin & Hale went to ride in a combine with our good friend, Gary. Hale has been enjoying this particular activity since he was a year old. It’s just something he does every harvest. It is a good way for him to learn a little about the farming industry, get a good look at how the equipment works (which I think is his favorite part), and spend some good quality time with his dad! While the boys were ‘down on the farm’, Addi & I were making plans for the remainder of our day. Addi is all about GAMES! She loves games of all kinds, but especially board games. So she chose an evening filled with Sorry!, Twister, Go Fish, War and Uno. Upon the boys’ return & girls waking up from naps, we took to the great outdoors for a game of Twister, PIG (basketball), “adventures” around the property, scooter-riding, sidewalk chalk and playing with our four-legged kids.
Back inside, it was shower time…and while all that was going on, Daddy built the best blanket fort in all the land, down in the basement! Tonight is the first time that the little girls have slept in one of our ‘famous’ forts! They were over-the-moon excited! Rarely do you see them volunteering to go to bed! I’m not sure that even now, two hours since being put to bed, that they are actually asleep yet. But this is what it’s all about…making memories!
I know…it was a long description of one random Saturday in our lives. But I just loves days like this. Our family. The kids have their moments when they absolutely drive me up the wall. They can be whiney, selfish, self-centered, irritating, demanding, and annoying. Hmmmm…aren’t I that way sometimes, too?
I love my family beyond measure. I am incredibly blessed. I will wake up in the morning and thank God, as I do every morning, for what He has given me. Or should I say ‘loaned’ me. This life is not permanent. But while I’m here, I’m going to LOVE days like these.