Since I switched to part-time work hours when the big kids went back to school, they no longer go to daycare. So on breaks from school, I have so far been fortunate enough to have been able to take time off to spend with them. That means two full weeks off work for me! Unfortunately, Jock had used up ALL of his paid time for 2013 off when James came home, when he and Kaylen went to Haiti, some other random days off, and a few sick days -- so he has worked every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day - even the Eves.
For the kids, that means LOTS of days to sleep in (until 7 am instead of 6 am), and LOTS of time to play with our new toys! Due to some behavior, sharing, and attitude issues, we also implemented time limits on screen time. Typically the limited screen time is used during James' naptime, so we had many evenings with no TVs or iPads. This left lots more time for making lego creations, playing Barbies, playing hide-and-seek, reading books, singing the alphabet song and matching up letters, painting nails, putting puzzles together, and playing games. It was very refreshing to see my children (for the most part) playing with each other, cooperating, focusing on quiet education activities, etc.
We had supper at HuHot last Friday, to get out of the house -- and because I'd been too busy playing and realized too late that I'd forgotten to get supper ready - oops! We made a few one-on-one shopping trips in the evenings to make returns and spend Christmas money. We made one trip to the mall for more returns and Christmas gift-card spending and then out for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. We went to see the movie "Frozen" on New Year's Day. GREAT movie!
Below are some photos of our family fun days.
Bop-It has been a fun challenge this week!
I helped him with the first three, and then he matched up the rest all by himself on the chart while I fixed supper. They were all in the right place - with only the "U" upside-down! So proud! :)
I didn't know he was this good at puzzles either - it's been a while since we've had them out! I just helped him when it looked like he was getting frustrated - but this was his look most of the time - concentrating so hard, thinking, studying the pieces... He LOVES puzzles! We have six 24-piece puzzles, and he probably spent a full 2 hours on them - doing each one multiple times!
Settlers of Catan: I think this might've been quite an exhausting game for Jock - two learning and one getting upset over having very poor luck with the game.
This one required a little more assistance because it had a LOT of pieces, but I pointed to each piece on the box and he'd try to find the piece. Once found, he could easily put it in where it went.
Yahtzee! Daddy won, with two Yahtzees!
She seems to have developed a joy for reading to little ones when she was in Haiti! And she's even very good with shortening the story when he gets antsy. But most times he sits for multiple books - he loves to read/listen to books!
While the girls and I shopped at Justice, Daddy took the boys to the mall playplace!
I think he was pretending to be Superman - "Stop the train!"
