Weekend of Fun

Michael had his last class on Thursday night, and he doesn't start the fall session until the 27th. Woo-hoo! On Friday, we walked up to the playground by our development's pool. Ethan had fun going down the slide with Daddy, going on the zip-line, and watching a frog. It started to rain on us(as Michael predicted), so we went home and laid the boys down for their naps. After Ethan woke up, I wanted to go and do something, but since we don't have a lot(or any) of money to waste on frivolous things, we decided to have a fun day inside.

Michael and Ethan built a fort out of blankets and furniture. Daddy builds much better forts than Mommy does. Ethan and Michael had a blast crawling through the tunnel. Ethan even had a snack in the fort.


After the fort building, Michael entertained Caleb while Ethan and I baked cookies together for the first time! As most know, I used to be the baker in my house. While I still am, I don't bake nearly as much as I used to. I'm down from twice a week to once every 3-4 months. In fact, I haven't baked since May. Wow!

Ethan had so much fun helpping me stir, and watching the Kitchenaid beat everything together. He LOVED the chocolate chips. I've been looking forward to having him help me in the kitchen, and am so happy that he's old enough to 'help' bake. Christmas is going to be so much fun this year when we decorate and bake cookies as gifts.

Ethan definitely enjoys helping me out...


Eating a chocolate chip...


Sweeping up our mess...


Enjoying the fruits of our labor...




Here's a picture of Caleb, smiling while on the table. Michael took quite a few of him while Ethan and I were making cookies. See their Nursery for more pics.


On Saturday morning, we went to a few yard sales, and spent a grand total of $12.50. The first place was a couple blocks away from our house, so the boys and I went at 8:30 while Daddy was still sleeping. I spent $5.50 and got a bunch of fall clothes for both Caleb and Ethan, and a pair of shoes for Ethan. They had a sand and water table for $5, which we came back with the car and bought an hour later. Its in great condition, and has a castle that goes in it and everything. Ethan will have fun this summer, but he and Caleb are going to have even more fun playing with it together next year.

We then went to the Navy base, where they were having a community wide yard sale. We went to two, and drove by 3 or 4. We hit the jackpot, though, when we found a carpet sweeper. For those who don't know, Ethan loves the vacuum cleaner. He is always helping me vacuum by moving the cord for me. If I want him to be entertained for at least half an hour while I have to do something, I bring out the vacuum for him to play with and explore. Anyway, we were at a friends' house a few weeks back, and their daughter has a toy vacuum cleaner. For the four hours that we were there, that was the toy that Ethan loved the most. Michael and I were joking with our friends that it was too bad that they didn't make working toy vacuums, because then it would make our jobs a lot easier. Just send to kids to vacuum! Thats when we came up with the idea with getting Ethan a carpet sweeper for Christmas. I was even going to pay full retail price for it. At the yard sale today, however, I found it for the grand price of $1, and it had only been used twice. Ethan was 'sweeping up a storm'!


The weekend isn't even over yet, and already we've had a great time as a family. I love that what we have done has not only been inexpensive, but also productive and useful. This is something that Michael and I are trying to impress upon our children, and ourselves. The existentialist mindset is that of the pursuit of fun and amusement, simply for the sake of entertainment. Michael and I are not against fun, but we want our children to be productive; to be producers, not simply consumers. We had thought about doing something 'fun', like Chuck E Cheese, or the Aquarium, maybe going to a park and running around. They all would have been fine and good, but would they have been the best?

I'm so glad that we stayed in the AC, and had a good time working together as a family, having fun, but while being productive. Ethan won't remember this weekend, but by building on this foundation, he will be able to learn so much! He can learn how to bake, how to look for great deals on things that we would like to buy...and he will learn and know that his parents love and enjoy him. I want my children to know that they are needed assets to this family, that they are not just loved and enjoyed, but really and truly needed.