a different kind of busy

So life is just busy.  It seems like it's usually busy for just about everyone....just with different things at different times.  But just so I can remember what it was busy for us in Feb of 2013, here's a little list (in no particular order):  play groups, preschool, dinner, laundry, basketball & acting; photo books, sweeping, organizing, finger painting, library trips & puzzles; sledding, making bread, shoveling snow, reading books, and we actually went to a family movie last week!  It's great!  I'm always exhausted by the end of the day, but I think that's how it's supposed to be.  I love being a mom and and I love doing what I do with my kiddos.

We're doing one thing just a little different around here, as of Monday.  As a family, we are doing a 30-day NO screen challenge.  No tv.  No (unnecessary) phone apps.  No extracurricular computer (games etc).  No Wii.  No just-for-fun Ipad games.  Nuttin.  And for those who have chosen to participate (everyone happened to raise their hand in agreement), there will be a family surprise at the end of those 30 days!  Something totally awesome / cool...other than getting the tv back.  I just want ALL of us to see that there are many other things we can enjoy in life that doesn't entail sitting in front of a screen or swiping a finger across a screen!  The great thing is that the TV isn't even in our family room anymore.  And with it out of sight and out of mind...the kids have really only once or twice (usually when a friend is over) even asked about it.  They just know it's gone.  They know it's not an option and they've automatically just chosen a different activity!  I'm sure this would be much easier to do during a warmer time of year when they could use up a lot of time outside...but that just makes the challenge all the more...challenging and rewarding!!  I've already loved seeing what they've come up with as replacements.  Long lost games, books, and crafts have been resurrected; Benson's been perfecting his basketball shot on the hoop hanging over the door;  Claire's found a sticker book that she was glued to for hours and Mabel finds treasures in the game shelves that everyone soon explores.  It's been fun already...with very few...next-to-no-complaints attached.  But it's only been 5 days.  We'll see if it gets easier or harder as the challenge continues!!

Word searches have become a new morning favorite.