We decorated for Halloween today, that was fun too.

All 5 of us went to the grocery store last night and it was really fun. No, I'm not being sarcastic (alert the media!), really it was fun. I know, we're party animals. We bought a few treats for the kids and were generally silly. Aaron and I were cracking each other up, and we all enjoyed each other's (others' ? others?) company  enjoyed the company of each other liked being together! (Sheesh, my brain hurts. Stupid grammar.) That really broke up the flow of the story didn't it? Not to mention, Will just sprinkled the contents of a large hole punch all over the carpet "Look mama it's snowing!"

Anyway! I was trying to tell you that we had fun together last night, and I really needed that.  Hypothetically speaking, if two people have been together almost two decades, and they have three little kids, the face of life sometimes feels drawn and papery and one of them may be driven to just get through the day, doing what needs to be done, so she can make it past dinner, and get everyone in bed without making that pinched-squinchy-mama face, too much. Hypothetically. So it was nice to step back say, hey, I'm having fun right now, and it feels good! (I'm not sure how pathetic that is, and I'm not stopping to think about it. I know some of you are saying, "What that woman needs is a good roll in the hay." Indeed, tonight.) Ahem, moving on!

I haven't posted to my Mommy Merits category in a while, but last night's spree reminded me of something we've done in the past that is fun, easy, and cheap (the three requirements for any activity taking place under our roof). You roll a die, draw straws or whatever, and the person who comes up high, or short, gets to choose the activity for the rest of the night. So if your two year old wants to dance the Hokey Pokey, or pound Play-dough until bedtime, that's what everyone does. Now I know it sounds tedious, but when you're all doing it together, for some reason it's (surprisingly) fun.

Idea The Second
We have this green plastic mailbox the previous owners left. I knew the kids would like to play with it, but I wasn't exactly sure how to get the most of its lettery potential. I came up with the idea of keeping scrap paper next to it, and writing down things for which we're thankful. Then on Thanksgiving we'll read them all.  Maybe we'll even decorate the mailbox, if I'm feeling motivated. (Chances of that? Nil.) If it works well, maybe we'll do it every month, because I've been wanting to incorporate an element of gratitude in our lives, but with all the complaining to be done, I just can't find the time.

Comments

[Jasra]

That mailbox thing is a great idea!

[DM]

I am laughing at the idea of you all doing the Hokey Pokey all night. That's cute. And the mail box idea is great. I love that.

I hate stupid grammar as well. I will rarely use the contraction for it is because I can never remember if it is its or it's.

[Marilyn]

Love the mailbox idea. :)

[Julie]

You are cracking me up with the whole concept of remembering to have fun. Definitely one of my personal challenges as well. Life is just so damn serious, you know?

[lizardek]

I have that pinched=squinchy-mama face a little too often, too. Thanks for the reminder. Now...where's that roll in the hay?!

[Nancy F.]

How about making each person in the family a mailbox....in which they can recieve letters from the rest of the family??

Used to do that in the classroom (sneaky way to get the kids to write) and I had only 2 rules: 1) you must sign your name and 2) it should be positive.

Have fun!

[liz]

I love those ideas!