To Braving Wet and Cold

If you're looking for a little family bonding time in this busy, buzzy electronic world, you have to be brave enough to turn off everything to get it. Turn the computer, cell phone, television, ipods, digital cameras...ad infinitum off. That's exactly what I did today. It's amazing what different creative activity kids can come up with without electronic distraction.

Of course, my house was in chaos, but it's all in the name of fun.

That's my DS3 on the above, with his new hair-cut, self-administered. Pay close attention to the hairline. :) Hover over the pictures to see the caption.

I am sure it's been discovered before. In my household, I have such intelligent and precocious kids, they somehow get around me. I have rules for how long they have to be on the computer, and only when they've read and practiced their piano lessons. If you're too young for a piano lessons, then only if you've read as long as you want to be on the computer.

DS1 flashes his dimples at me, and before I know it, he's vegging in front of the screen. He does earn it, but his little brothers take advantage of the computer being "open" and jump aboard.


DS2 at five years old can remember key-strokes for password up to 8 digits. I kid you not. He sees you logging in your password, and he's interested in doing the same, he'll remember it. I find it amazing as he doesn't read it. So off he goes and play when my attention is engage somewhere. Like when I was so caught up reading my sexy book for example. That's good for at least an hour before I would take a breather.

My daughter is not much into computer. She likes it, but she's just as happy with books as with computer. If she wanted to play she usually asks me for permission. Once she's on, her internal chronometer goes awry.

Today, or should I say, 5 hours ago, I had enough. D and I went out and went skating with all the kids. Actually, the kids skated, while we walked. It wasn't so cold, but it was drizzling hard enough to get the trails wet.

DS2 was having a hard time controlling his skates, we finally put him in the stroller. He can't walk, no shoes. It was funny when they were slipping around the little wooden bridge. Think spreadeagled legs, arms akimbo. Even the older kids went splat on the ground. They got their balance not long after that and we're skating like pros after.

My baby was getting cold in his stroller, so I put him in a sling and zipped him inside my jacket. He loved it so much, he fell asleep right away and stayed asleep until we're done. It was like being pregnant again, except I am more worried about waking him up. His allergic hives have gone away, his skin's clear today.

DS2 was walking, keeping abreast of his big brother on skates. Between keeping an eye on the kids and issuing an occasional grunt for the kids, D and I have wonderful time talking.

We must have walked and meandered over 4 miles following a river trail. We'll probably get runny noses from the being drizzled, but it was worth it!

SPECIAL NOTE:
I want to wish my Lil Bro and Momsquared a happy anniversary. Actually, they're married four years two days ago. D and I played matchmaker. Now, they have three wonderful kids, and one on the way, probably mid next year.

Happy Anniversary!