Spring Break Revisited

This year we've gotten into the habit of being complete homebodies during school breaks.  Sometimes I go as far as saying, "Maybe...we'll see...call me the morning you are planning on going and I will let you know," when we get invitations to do things.  Laaaaaaaaaazy!  It may seem like we are party poopers, but really it just feels good to have nothing that we have to do once in awhile.  It doesn't mean we don't do anything, it just means I don't make a lot of plans and we let the day take us where it may!

We had originally planned on going to California over the spring break week, but the more we thought about it the more we just wanted to stay home, relax and get a few house projects completed (like the Bunk Room).  It meant we'd miss out on the greenness, orange blossom smell and my sis, but our weather here had been so nice that I wasn't feeling the green-need like I usually do this time of year, plus we weren't going to be able to see my sister much anyhow because she had a huge final test for her Master's Degree at the end of the week we were going to be there.

So other than the ski days, we stayed home.  And it was a great week!  The weather was beyond perfect, sunny and hot, so the kids could play outside a lot which makes for happy boyss and cuts down on the cabin fever fighting.  We only got about 2 of the 25 things on the home project list done, but we had a lot of fun and took advantage of the rare opportunity to put our feet up and chill.

Here are a few of the things we did:

We met some friends at the dollar movie theater for a viewing of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.  We saw The Squeakuel with my sister two Christmases ago, and I texted her afterward letting her know she missed another quality sequel to the amazing Alvin and the Chipmunks film legacy.  She was terribly upset that we didn't wait for her visit in two weeks so she could see it with us.  :)

Of course, there was soccer.  It seems that there is always soccer.  Good thing those boys are so fun to watch!

Our creative juices found imaginative outlets--one of my favorite things about nothing-planned vacation days--as Ben and Josh took duct tape to new levels, creating duct tape gloves and wallets, and Tommy and Luke planned out and, with help from Mom's hot-glue gun, put together some sock puppets.

We basked in the glorious weather--70 degrees and up day after day!--and let our kites soar (and tangle strings) in the gentle breezes.

Of course there was the unavoidable bickering of brothers spending too-much together time, but also several sweet moments of togetherness.  Thank you, Dav Pilkey's Dragon anthology, for the special moment below.

I found time to make a couple of fleece twin-size no-sew blankets for Zac and Ben's beds.  Those just about max out my fabric craft skills!  I can also sew on buttons.  I glue Scout badges.  The boys are enjoying every snuggly minute with them, which makes them so worth the effort and cost (dang that licensed college fleece is pricey, even on sale!).

Zac and I participated in a "Mom and Zac Book Club."  We read Rules by Cynthia Lord, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Zac and I both loved the books and had some great discussions about all three.  He sure is a smart, thoughtful kid!

Ummm...that's about it!  It was just play, play, play.  Just like we like it.