This week is Spring Break and without having any exciting destination to go to, we instead are coming up with every possibly activity to partake in to keep the kids from going crazy. Actually, scratch that. That sentence should read, "we are coming up with every possible activity to keep MOM from going crazy. Just joking! Okay, maybe not.
The activities started last weekend when Michael wanted to make comic books. A couple of years ago, Aunt Megan and Uncle Adam gave Michael a Spider Man kit to make actual comic books with the kids' own pictures using a software online. Just a few weeks ago, we found the instruction manual again so on Saturday morning we went to work printing new comics for the kids to color in. With most activities that involve their creativity, it wasn't too long before the boys started brainstorming ways they could turn their efforts into an entrepreneurial endeavor. Soon, there were talks about creating as many comic books as they could and selling them to everyone in the neighborhood and to their family for at least $20 a piece. (Secretly I love their entrepreneurial spirit and wish I had more of their risk taking qualities. Who knows maybe some day they will be starting their own actual business).
After the comic book making activity commenced, the kids were looking for the next grand activity. And knowing a tent is always a ton of fun, we decided to set the tent up for some living room camping. All three of them, and possibly a few of the neighborhood kids, LOVED it! At one point, our two person pop up tent looked more like a clown car at a circus. And with the barrels of laughs coming from inside the netted canopy, it was clear, the kids were having a blast. Right in the comforts of our own home.
And when one camps, why not practice one's artistic skills. The kids then decided to brush up on their sketching skills. Gabriel drew an elephant in the tall dry grass. Michael decided to go all Van Gogh on me and sketched a human body. And Isabelle, well, we think she painted a bus. Its similar to a Jackson Pollock masterpiece, and if you stare at it long enough, I do think there is a chance a bus could be in her drawing.
Living room camping wasn't all that we did. We also created masterpiece projects using tiny plastic beads, which we formed into shapes and melted to fit together. The boys had done this during their after school program last year and were super excited to try it again. Gabriel created a star necklace and a Raven's color cross. Michael designed Mickey Mouse and a Dallas Cowboys star. They are determined to keep creating more pieces so they can add them to their "gallery" and sell them to make money.
 |
| Isabelle was fascinated with what they were doing, but keep getting pulled away by her favorite new pastime. |
 |
| Concentrating very hard. |
 |
| Proud of his finished product! |
 |
| The Mickey Mouse and Star necklace the boys made on the table. Along with the 11,000 tiny beads, many of which visited our floor before being returned to their original home. |
 |
| Here's what Isabelle enjoyed this spring break. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! She'd watch Mickey all day, even though we don't let her. |
One other activity we enjoyed this week, to my surprise, was baking. This morning when we all got up, the boys asked me if they could make me breakfast. Did I mention I was surprised? While I ended up making breakfast for all of us, the boys were determined they wanted to make something so I let them. Michael decided immediately he wanted to make Orange-Ade (his favorite combo of Lemonade and Orange Juice). He immediately got to work making it as he's done it before and knew all the steps. Meanwhile Gabriel was sitting at the kitchen table, reading my cookbooks. After finding what he determined to be the perfect recipe, he showed me it and asked if we had all the ingredients. I reviewed it and said yes, and both boys were off, ready to make Chocolate Chip Cookies. Gabriel had picked a recipe I had never used and while my instinct was to tell him to make the recipe I usually make, I held my tongue and let them enjoy every minute being in charge and doing it on their own. While I stood in the kitchen and answered questions when asked (Mom, which one is a teaspoon?, What is VAN-ILL-A?" ), I let the boys do it all.
 |
| My two proud bakers and the little taste-tester! |
And let me say, words do not express how proud I am/was of their efforts. They followed the recipe exactly as it was written and stopped to ask questions when they were unsure. While they really wanted to make the cookies right away, they followed the recipe and put the dough in the fridge for 2 hours to chill before baking. Gabriel was so excited, while waiting for the two hours to pass by, I think he was having a hard time thinking of anything other than the warm, chewy, M&M filled cookie goodness. He repeated 7 times in one hour, Mom I can't WAIT to eat those cookies! After two hours of waiting and three baking pans in the over, the cookies were done. Not only did they turn out better than what I can normally make, they are the tastiest cookies I've had in a long time. Who would have thought to put vanilla pudding in the batter. Kudos to Gabriel, he found himself a great recipe and to Michael for being a great ingredient measurer.
And boy were they proud. When the neighbor kids came over to play, the first thing Gabriel said to them was, "Would you like to try one of the cookies Michael and I made? We think they are really good!" And their friends were sold. After eating one of the boy's cookies, I overheard Harlen whisper to Gabriel, "Gabriel, I think your cookies are really really really good! Do you think I can have 12 more?"
It may seem like a silly thing to be so proud of. The fact that my boys baked a batch of cookies, not only makes me extremely proud but it also means a lot. I've always liked cooking and baking and to see them take an interest in something I enjoy,is heart-warming. In addition to that, I could tell that the boys' desire to bake cookies, was an effort to do something nice for me. I guess my love of cookies isn't too well hidden. Throughout the day, Gabriel and Michael were so expressive in their love. Gabriel spontaneously walked up to me, hugged me and said, "Mom- I love you." several times, and Michael told me to sit on the couch, relax and let him do something for me. How nice can it get? This mom is so proud of her kids, especially her boys.
While this spring break, our destinations were not far and our plans as simple as simple can be. Yet, our goal was the same as those families off enjoying wonderful vacations from afar. In a world that has gotten so full of responsibilities, so full of commitments and booked schedules, a world where an unscheduled child is a rarity, this spring break we're turning things upside down. For us, it's been a week of unscheduled play, a week of fun in doing what you want, when you want. And its been the time to just let kids be kids. Isn't spring break the best? If you're not sure what the answer to that questions is, just ask my boys and me, we'll be sure to tell you!
Until next time,
angie
No comments:
Post a Comment