222
I have reached the milestone of 222 posts on my little Raindrops blog.
It's just little because today I was thinking about my blog and life in general. I think most times you get out of something whatever you put into it.
I don't put much effort into this--that's just kind of my blogging style. Other blogging style things you may have noticed is that I don't post pictures of my children, I don't link to anyone or anything, I don't talk a lot about what we are doing, and I don't read blogs of people I don't know personally. You may do these things and that's great.
I love blogging as a means of keeping up with friends and family who I don't get to see as often as I'd like too, so I guess that's why I do it. Plus, I find I occasionally have a thing or two to share of "what's on my mind."
Thank you for stopping by and thanks for having a blog so I can stop by yours. We'll see if I can maintain this non-chalance until post 333!
A fun idea
My kids won't be back in school for a week, which is great. I look forward to the break from our normal routine.
But I also know that while we have some things planned here and there, there will be moments of boredom that set in.
So, while Sam was sleeping, Matthew helped me make a game. We filled some empty easter eggs with slips of paper. Each egg had one paper with an idea of an activity we can do together. These are not any grand ideas, just normal things with a couple of surprises (surprises like make chocolate chip cookies..do our new puzzle...etc.) I was going to hide the eggs, but decided it would be better that that just pick one out of the basket when needed. So excited for them to pick their eggs tomorrow and the next day and the next...
Okay, no more blogging, must go to step aerobics!
A pleasant surprise
We were already in the car this afternoon picking up Girl Scout cookies. So, I said let's go to the park. Josh had no baseball equipment or fellow baseball players so I knew there would be some grumbling. But we forged on.
At the park they played very nicely for a while, then they started getting on each others' nerves so we made up a couple of obstacle courses. Then, I discovered my cell phone has a stop watch function. They took turns racing around the bases being timed, and that was fun. Any of my siblings will recognize that these 2 distractions are modeled after things my dad did with us.
Then, the pleasant surprise. Another family was there who brought a beautiful kite! Their child recognized Caro from school and invited her to have a turn. Then they all had turns flying this most awesome kite. It was a cheery, rainbow well-made kite with a fancy wooden string-holder that had two handles. The bright colors of the kite were such a contrast to the overcast and dreary afternoon sky. It danced in the wind and was so fun to watch. We couldn't help but smile and laugh. This child shared so well. I guess he figured it was much more fun to fly with friends (even newly made friends) than to fly it solo. Sweet Julian and his kite made our afternoon so fun and special. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.
Jamaican attitude
I've managed to hang onto that relaxed feeling from the cruise, which is pretty good for 3 days back home. (although last night while feeding the children dinner on my own (like I do every weekday night), Mark called and I said, let's go to the dining room, this is too hard!)
Our tour guide in Jamaica got us talking the local talk--"ya mon, no mon" and "no problem." I even got a "Jamaica--No problem" t-shirt after I got soaked after swimming in a waterfall. But I was like, hey, when else will I swim in a waterfall ever, so why not. See, no problem!
Don't want to practice piano--no problem!
Dishes in the sink--no problem!
Must play trains right this second--no problem!
Piles of laundry--no problem!
Really, putting no problem at the end of anything you are stewing about really makes a huge difference.
We also stopped in Cozumel and Grand Cayman and the Bahamas. I learned no local vernacular there, just learned that there are lots of beautiful beaches.
How was your week?
I had a great week, thanks!
By the numbers:
SPF: 50, and I still got tan!
Books read: 5 (2 were books I finished-had started reading them at home)
Virgin Pina Coladas: 5
Movies not seen before: 4 (Juno, No Reservations, Bourne Ultimatum, the Bee Movie)
Twice a day workouts: 3
Once a day workouts: 2
Tables for two: 13, 6 breakfasts and 7 dinners
Beautiful beaches: 3
Times we snorkeled: 2
Countries visited: 4 (3 for the first time)
Times we called home: 3
Times we checked email: 2
Blogs written or read: 0
Conversations interrupted: minimal
Hugs and kisses upon arriving home: many
