Family Fun

I stayed with my grandparents a lot when I was growing up. They would watch my brother and I while my mom worked.

I remember raking leaves in the backyard. I remember running over to the park next door but most of all I remember playing in the sprinkler during the summer.

It was one of those sprinklers that start low on one side, sweep up in an arc, and then go down towards the other side, and back and forth. My brother and I would play for what seemed like hours jumping over the sprinkler or standing in the water’s path waiting to be sprayed with the water.

Sometimes we would wear our bathing suits but I think mostly we wore our clothes. Funny, I remember playing in the sprinkler, I remember Grandma and Grandpa sitting in their lawn chairs on the patio watching us, but I don’t remember what we wore while playing. I guess that wasn’t what was important. The important thing was we were having fun and making summertime memories although at that age we weren’t aware of the memories we were making.

When my eldest was younger, I would set up the sprinkler for him to play in. No go. He wanted no part of it. I would play in the sprinkler and show him what to do but he didn’t like it and wasn’t about to get in it. This happened every time I set it up so eventually I stopped.

When his younger brother was born and got a little older I tried it again. Nope. Little brother didn’t like water and eldest only wanted to play in Poppy and Grandma’s pool. I wasn’t going to take him to Poppy and Grandma’s so if he wanted to play in the water it would be this or nothing. He chose nothing every single time I set up the sprinkler. So much for passing down family traditions.

Now I have youngest and with it being summer I thought I would give it another shot. She loves it! She really loves it! I didn’t even have to show her what to do she just jumped right in and let the water spray over her. Even the boys are joining in on the fun.

I enjoy watching the kiddos playing in the sprinkler knowing that when I was their ages I had done the same thing. I even bought the same kind of sprinkler that I used to play in. I sit in my lawn chair just like my grandparents and watch my children play. I enjoy watching the smiles on their faces as they are racing the sprinkler or just standing there letting the water spray over them.

Summer is a time of fun and play so I want to know: what are some of your summertime family traditions?

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day in the neighborhood. Won’t you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?

Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up!

Today while youngest kiddo was taking a nap I let the two older kiddos build a gingerbread house. Yes, I’m sure youngest kiddo would have had fun decorating it also but I can only handle so much family fun or I get a headache. That’s how wonderfully motherly I am.

I have always wanted to do this with the kiddos so this year I actually bought a kit and hid it in my room until Christmas break. (Hey, I need something to keep them entertained. What’s better than gingerbread, icing and lots of candy?) (See how motherly I am.)

The kiddos loved it! They had so much fun putting it together and decorating it and for the first time all day they weren’t fighting. I loved it! For the first time they weren’t fighting all day!

We had a lot of fun and next year I will definitely do it again and quite possibly let the youngest kiddo help also. (Please let me still have my headache then because I am so wonderfully motherly.)

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!

Once when oldest kiddo was younger he asked hubby for a bedtime story. This is the story hubby gave him.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who asked his dad for a story and his dad said, “Once upon a time, there was little boy who asked his dad for a story and his dad said, “Once upon a time, there was a little boy who asked his dad for a story and his dad said, “Once upon a time, there was a little boy who asked his dad for a story and his dad said…

Kiddos were rolling on the floor laughing. Needless to say, that story has become a staple in our household and has had a few variations over time but it is still a family favorite.

Today has been an interesting day. Since hub and I have been running fevers we stayed home from church today. It has been nice. I had forgotten how relaxing the weekend can be. Hub took a nap this morning while I played Hide-N-Seek with the kiddos.

Hide-N-Seek was fun considering there really isn’t anyplace to hide in our house. Hiding consists of putting a blanket over you and hoping nobody notices you. We don’t play for the hiding aspect of it; we play for the fun. I mean really…we once played Hide-N-Seek in the car while waiting in line at McDonald’s drive-thru…where can you hide in a 5 passenger sedan…you can’t.

This afternoon I took a nap. I wanted one but had no intentions of taking one but my body has a will of it’s own and overruled my brain. After my nap I took a bubble bath and started reading Off the Record by Elizabeth White.

While I was napping the kiddos were playing games on the computer and I’m not sure what hub was doing. I know at one point he was playing Pokemon with the kiddos.

So yes, today has been a day of rest and relaxation and I’m praying we are feeling better tomorrow.