I was really looking forward to this break for many reasons. Not only did I crave the break but I got super excited about planning what we'd do. (Let me insert here that if I was on spring break by myself I'd want no agenda and I'd probably read books marathon style. With kids, it's kinda not smart to not plan anything...they get antsy.) Anyhow, I really got into it and ideas just kept coming as the week drew closer and closer. We wanted/needed a relaxing week but we also needed some adventure. It was the perfect blend of both and as I type this, I couldn't be more grateful for the time we had these last 9 days. It was relaxing, easy, fun, exciting, educational, family-oriented, and filled with both comfortable and out-of-the-norm.
Here were some of the main ideas running through my mind:
The boys absolutely love a schedule (just knowing what's coming next, if anything) and enjoy writing our weekly events on a magnetic calendar on our refrigerator. I found this one from Lakeshore and think this will work great for our summer vacation as well. We erased and added/changed new things as the week went on, but this was a spot to record our happenings and the boys referenced it often.
So, here's a little recap of our week.
MONDAY:
The boys woke up to see a wrapped present for each day of the break. They had already opened one of the gifts on our first official day of break which was the Friday before Easter. That gift was the egg-dying pirate set.
Monday's gift was 2 Nerf football/spiral throwing things they could go play with in the yard. One currently resides on our roof. :) We stayed in pj's and enjoyed playing at home. We completed our first art project which was painting bird feeders for our back yard. We picked these up from the dollar section of Target some weeks ago when the boys saw them and begged. :)
So the birdhouses were moved up high in the tree.
We started our read-aloud. Kyle read aloud The Twits by Roald Dahl while Gavin and I looked on from another copy. My 3rd grade teacher read this book to my class and I'd always remembered liking it. Kyle read a few chapters each day during the vacation until it was finished. Glad to say the boys loved it. Later that afternoon, the boys did their regular Taekwondo classes and we ended the night in the jacuzzi.
TUESDAY:
Tuesday was one of only 2 days we needed to wake up and be somewhere at a certain time. This day was an outing to LA to the Natural History Museum. The first Tuesday of every month is free, so we were happy to take advantage of that with our cousins from Calabasas (an hour north of LA - traffic speaking). The boys have never taken much of an interest in dinosaurs, which is why we haven't been there yet before, but I felt they were at an age where they might like it and it could spark some interest for them. They really enjoyed it all. It was great seeing family, too. Lisa is always a fun companion.
It was cute (and great!) to hear the boys discussing all of the animals we saw.
All these boys!
Brothers :)
Could little Cole be any cuter? The answer is no. :)
We ended the day with a baseball game for Kyle.
WEDNESDAY:
Another relaxing day at home. We read our book(s) and worked on art project #2 which was painting their personal cork boards for all their pictures, mementos, and art projects, etc. These will go up side by side in their room and display the ever growing/changing cluster of memory keepsakes. They both took a lot of pride in their work and have spent a lot of time arranging and re-arranging the items on display.
This was Gavin's serious work face.
And this is what he gave me when I asked for a smile! ;)
Kyle says, "Painting is so relaxing."
While our project was drying, we visited the Discovery Science Center, which we have an annual pass for and tend to use about each quarter. This time, we invited Gavin's close friend from school and he and his mommy joined us for the afternoon. I didn't snap many pictures but this was one of them in a wind tunnel. :)
And this was one of them saying, "Goodbye." These boys are really cute about their friendship.
The evening followed with Taekwondo, cooking, and jacuzzi games with present #3 (dive glow sticks for the jacuzzi).
THURSDAY:
A co-worker of mine offered to get the boys and I in to Disneyland's California Adventure!! Couldn't say no to that, so Thursday am we met her at 8am for a full day of Disney fun. Gavin's friend (and family) met us there since they have season passes and heard we were going. The kids all had fun together.
Kyle's getting so big!
But he still wants to hold my hand! :)
I love how you can barely see Caleb and Gavin but you can tell they are holding hands. This Cars ride was one of their favorites.
We had a long and wonderful day!
FRIDAY:
Kyle wanted to go to work with Daddy where he helps change pillow cases, cleans equipment and wipes down tables. Gavie and I brought over lunch and we ate together before picking up GG from the airport! She came during a work trip so it was short but very sweet. The boys loved showing her everything and playing in the jacuzzi.
SATURDAY and SUNDAY:
Baseball games with Grammie and Grandpa there to watch (Grandparent's Day at the Ballpark!) and playing with Miss Esther, our beloved babysitter who grew up. She also came for the games and stayed the morning to play with the boys just because she loves them. So fun to see her. She sent me these pics and I just can't believe how quickly time has flown and how much I already forget about when they were this little! This first pic was from when she first met the boys and started watching Gavin at my parents' house part time while I worked.
On Saturday
That evening and again the following evening, we rode bikes as a family to a dinner. We discovered a new place down the street that we're excited about.
And that's a wrap for our spring break. (Sigh) Time to turn the computer off and start making lunches. Why is it those are the hardest things to do each night?! :)
Here were some of the main ideas running through my mind:
- cook and bake together, teaching the boys some meals they could take more ownership of in the future
- read, read, read (Both myself and the boys.)
- play with toys/puzzles/games that haven't been used in a while
- enjoy painting and art projects
- see friends and relatives
- learn new things at a few museums
- enjoy a surprise trip to CA Adventure (Disneyland!)
- ball games and Taekwondo
- beach
The boys absolutely love a schedule (just knowing what's coming next, if anything) and enjoy writing our weekly events on a magnetic calendar on our refrigerator. I found this one from Lakeshore and think this will work great for our summer vacation as well. We erased and added/changed new things as the week went on, but this was a spot to record our happenings and the boys referenced it often.
MONDAY:
The boys woke up to see a wrapped present for each day of the break. They had already opened one of the gifts on our first official day of break which was the Friday before Easter. That gift was the egg-dying pirate set.
Loved this cute pop of color here on the Plumeria branches until we realized perhaps Murdo would scare away any potential customers.
TUESDAY:
Tuesday was one of only 2 days we needed to wake up and be somewhere at a certain time. This day was an outing to LA to the Natural History Museum. The first Tuesday of every month is free, so we were happy to take advantage of that with our cousins from Calabasas (an hour north of LA - traffic speaking). The boys have never taken much of an interest in dinosaurs, which is why we haven't been there yet before, but I felt they were at an age where they might like it and it could spark some interest for them. They really enjoyed it all. It was great seeing family, too. Lisa is always a fun companion.
Saying good-bye is always hard but totally adorable to watch.
WEDNESDAY:
Another relaxing day at home. We read our book(s) and worked on art project #2 which was painting their personal cork boards for all their pictures, mementos, and art projects, etc. These will go up side by side in their room and display the ever growing/changing cluster of memory keepsakes. They both took a lot of pride in their work and have spent a lot of time arranging and re-arranging the items on display.
THURSDAY:
A co-worker of mine offered to get the boys and I in to Disneyland's California Adventure!! Couldn't say no to that, so Thursday am we met her at 8am for a full day of Disney fun. Gavin's friend (and family) met us there since they have season passes and heard we were going. The kids all had fun together.
FRIDAY:
Kyle wanted to go to work with Daddy where he helps change pillow cases, cleans equipment and wipes down tables. Gavie and I brought over lunch and we ate together before picking up GG from the airport! She came during a work trip so it was short but very sweet. The boys loved showing her everything and playing in the jacuzzi.
SATURDAY and SUNDAY:
Baseball games with Grammie and Grandpa there to watch (Grandparent's Day at the Ballpark!) and playing with Miss Esther, our beloved babysitter who grew up. She also came for the games and stayed the morning to play with the boys just because she loves them. So fun to see her. She sent me these pics and I just can't believe how quickly time has flown and how much I already forget about when they were this little! This first pic was from when she first met the boys and started watching Gavin at my parents' house part time while I worked.
And that's a wrap for our spring break. (Sigh) Time to turn the computer off and start making lunches. Why is it those are the hardest things to do each night?! :)
