Middle Child's Day 2015

I haven't been letting the kids play video games for a little while because of... circumstances.  Behaviors after playing the games and not getting along during the games, etc.  You know?
So Jr. was quite pleased today, August 12, when he asked to play a Wii game and I said, "Well... it is Middle Child's Day so... O.K."

When Things Don't Go According To Plan

You know those days when you make plans to be selfish and it just doesn't work out?
March 22 is National Goof Off Day.  I even put on the menu plan for dinner, "Fend For Yourself and Your Little Brothers."  That and water since it's also World Water Day.
Remember the Saturday challenge we did a few years ago?  I put balloon fragments on cups again to remind the kids to drink plenty of water on World Water Day.

Besides that, I planned to do some quick phone calls and emails for my calling after church, then get to the goofing off part and work on a youtube video or two.
The phone calls and emails ended up lasting a lot longer than expected, but they were for good things.  Lucky's nap didn't last as long as I would have liked so that put a damper on my selfishness because I just had to take care of the baby.  And he wouldn't let me play on my keyboard uninterrupted. 
I figured I'd end up having to make dinner anyway, but Jeremy made taco salad.  Thanks, Jeremy.
The computer was occupied all afternoon/evening so I couldn't work on my videos, but I did play some games on Jeremy's netbook and I eventually got some time to record some music on my keyboard.
There was some Wii playing among the kids so there was plenty of goofing off.  I just didn't do as much as I planned (although I didn't really expect to spend all afternoon goofing off).
I didn't pay attention to the time (you don't pay attention to the time while you're goofing off) so the kids got to bed later than they should have.  Oops.
And now I'm working on a blog post while goofing off playing MarioKart.  Jeremy says I'm quite the multi tasker.
I think I'll go drink some water then play some more.

We Time- Spring

Jr. and I scheduled some Mommy-Son time for March 20.  Since it is the first day of Spring, Jr. suggested we play frisbee golf... on Wii Sports Resort. 

In order for it to be one on one time for the two of us, Jeremy took Jr. Jr. and Nichole out to a park.

And Lucky slept.  Thank you, Lucky.

That special one on one time is so important.  Sometimes it can be as simple as playing a game together.  Jr. was so excited when he came home from school because he knew we were going to have that Mommy-Son time.  I love it.

Science Fiction Day 2014

Today, January 2, for Science Fiction Day the kids and I had a little discussion about genres.  We talked a little bit about fantasy vs. science fiction.  I mentioned that Pirates of the Caribbean would be considered fantasy where Star Wars would be considered science fiction.  Jr. then came up with the brilliant idea of celebrating by playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii.  So I let the kids play after they picked up some of the living room and vacuumed.

I spent a good amount of time watching Doctor Who for Science Fiction Day.  Apparently since it's the New Year, now I'm on a Christmas kick.  I watched several Christmas episodes of Doctor Who.

And now that the day is almost done, Jeremy and I are going to wind down by watching a "Sci-Fi Classic," The Giant Gila Monster.  I think I was first introduced to this movie on Mystery Science Theater 3000.  That shows you what kind of movie it is.  Several years ago we got a DVD with two of those kinds of movies.  The Giant Gila Monster and Creature from the Haunted Sea.  Every once in a while, you just want to watch a hokey sci-fi monster movie.  Especially when you have an excuse like Science Fiction Day.

Happy celebrating.

Thanksgiving Break

It's fun when the kids get a break from school.  Fun family time.  Just a few of the things we have been able to do during their break are these:
The kids got to eat popcorn and watch a movie.

They got to dance with the Wii.

 We went to Thanksgiving Point to the Museum of Ancient Life.

We visited friends who we haven't seen for years (and I didn't take any pictures while we were there).

The kids have been building forts in their room.

While Jeremy was smoking up the apartment with our Thanksgiving turkey (it's supposed to happen that way), we all got to be on Mommy and Daddy's bed to watch a movie.

We ate Thanksgiving dinner together.

It's fun to have some time together to just celebrate being a family.

National Punch Day 2013

Jr. was looking through my blog from last year and came across my post about National Punch Day, September 20.  Last year the kids got to play LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean on the Wii because it had characters punching each other.  He requested getting to play it again for the holiday this year.  It's cute how the kids like to celebrate similarly from year to year on some holidays.
Besides playing the Wii game, Nichole and Jr. also got Fruit Punch Capri Suns in their lunches.
Again I reminded the kids that we do NOT punch real people.  I wasn't actually worried about them punching others, but it doesn't hurt to remind them to be nice.
On his way home from work tonight, Jeremy picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Punch for me.  I haven't had that in a while.

 

Ah, nostalgia.  

We always need to do simple celebrating on this holiday since we don't go simple the day before on Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Catch of the Day

National Punch Day 2012

It's amazing what kinds of things will spark meaningful conversation with your children.  During lunch today, I was sitting down with the boys as they were enjoying their Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Jammers.  We were discussing how today, September 20, is National Punch Day (hence the Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Jammers).  Jr. and I were discussing how if the conditions were right (meaning the kids are using good behavior, everyone does their homework, and there's enough time), Nichole and Jr. would be able to play LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean on the Wii later (because some of the characters punch each other and it's National Punch Day).  Then Jr. and I got into a discussion about how different families allow different things in their homes.  There are some families who wouldn't allow their children to play that game because it has punching in it.  And that's fine.  There are other games that I wouldn't let my children play, but I'm comfortable with the Wii LEGO games.  Everything is made of Lego pieces so when something or someone gets destroyed, they just fall to pieces.  And the kids know that even if characters punch each other in the game, we shouldn't do that in real life.  So Jr. and I had a nice little discussion about some of these things.  Every home and family is different, but it's important that our children know what is and what is not acceptable in our home.  I also won't let Nichole and Jr. watch the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, at their age, though I know some other families who do.  But I will explain to the kids what's going on in the game because it's based on the movies and I have seen the movies.  In fact, Jeremy and I watched the first one last night to round out Talk Like a Pirate Day, even though we did our big celebrating early.

P.S.  As I was writing this post, Jr. called to me from the other room where he was reading.  He pointed out to me in the book where one of the characters playfully punched another in the arm.  National Punch Day!  Woohoo.

Jeremy and I have talked about when our kids get older and they realize that not everybody celebrates so many holidays.  I wonder how many people will start celebrating more because of our children's influence.

Star Wars Day 2011

So, do you want to know what we did to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4th?
Here goes:
Jeremy used his pancake pen to make Star Wars shaped pancakes. He made a whole bunch. A few of the shapes he made were Master Yoda, an X-Wing Fighter, Darth Vader's head, and an Imperial Walker.

For dinner, we had "Sand"wich People (and carrot sticks). We didn't have any cookie cutters in the shape of Tusken Raiders, so we settled for gingerbread men. The filling was a tuna fish mixture, and the kids ate all of theirs. *Gasp.*

And to drink- blue milk (just like Luke Skywalker used to drink on Tatooine).

We had to watch Episode IV for "research" purposes. I mean how else would we know what our Death Star Cheeseball was supposed to look like? Jr. and I made it (click on the picture to see it larger).

And of course we played Lego Star Wars on the Wii.

And... we couldn't resist. Nichole and I did our hair in Princess Leia buns.

We love finding reasons to celebrate.

Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday, looking through the ads for the grocery store, I saw that a lot of good things were on sale- a lot of good things to be used for Mexican food. So to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we had food. Yum. And we had our friend, Nessa, over to eat with us. Yum.
Fortunately, I was able to get good ingredients for making good food yesterday. Unfortunately, I was up with Jr. late last night because he said his ear hurt. Poor little guy. Fortunately, Jeremy got up earlier than me and started making the food this morning so I could sleep in. Unfortunately, the kids weren't being so easy on Daddy so I got up anyway.

All in all we had good food and fun. While I was still making the food, Nessa went through some Spanish vocabulary words with the kids. Nessa also brought over a Wii game- Samba de Amigo, where you shake maracas. We had some fun shaking maracas for Cinco de Mayo.

Jr. didn't quite get the rhythm thing, but he was sure cute.

Nessa and I had some fun playing at the same time.

Nichole wasn't interested in playing the Wii game, but she loved dancing to the music. She can see her reflection in the glass doors of our entertainment center and loves dancing while looking at herself.

In case you're wondering, this is what we made- taco salad, salsa, cilantro lime dressing, refried beans, and spanish rice. Yum.

Wii Have Been Busy

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Here are a few of my favorite moments:

During our Easter Egg Hunt-

Mommy: Nichole, who's in charge of the lesson for Family Home Evening?

Nichole: I don't know.

Mommy: Who's in charge of the treat?

Nichole: I don't know. [walks away]

Mommy: Jr., who has the lesson for Family Home Evening?

Jr.: I don't know. Oh, an egg!

Do the Dino Dance.

Fun with kids while the parents are at the hospital. Friends of ours were expecting a baby and had to go to the hospital to monitor the mom. She had to stay there for a couple days, then she got to go home and be on bed rest for a couple days, then she had to go back to the hospital to have the baby. The baby is healthy, by the way.

Bedtime Story.

And the most recent thing. Wii finally got our prizes for the photo contest we won a month and a half ago. Wii got a Swiffer WetJet and some Mastercard Reward Cards. Our first purchase? A Wii and WiiFit Plus. Wii also got WiiSports Resort as a free gift where wii got our Wii. On the way home from the store, wii stopped by a park with a play area to get some exercise.

Don't worry. Wii will have plenty more exercise pictures to show the more wii play with the Wii.