Keeping it simple

Saturday was blustery and cold.  A strong bitter wind was blowing and the snow kept coming down off and on throughout the day.  Dave was upstairs sleeping after a long night shift and the kiddos and I all had the lingering of a nasty cold.  After one look at my boogery, coughing, bored kiddos I declared it a pajama party read-a-thon day and although it wasn't even 8:00 in the morning yet we quickly changed back into our pajamas and didn't bother with brushing our hair (as the pictures will clearly show).

First up was a tasty treat- tropical smoothies.  Because really, what kind of pajama party read-a-thon would it be without a treat.  I added a few cups of almond milk to the blender and let the kiddos pick out whatever fruits and veggies they wanted to toss in.  They had a blast chopping and peeling and tossing in strawberries, oranges, apples, carrots, pineapple and even a little coconut extract for good measure.  Smoothie success.  Which believe me, isn't always the case when you give three little ones that much freedom with the ingredient list.

Next up- the read-a-thon.  We all grabbed miscellaneous pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and books galore and piled them up in the middle of the all ready messy living room and settled down for a read.  I read to the kids for a few hours and then they took turns reading to me and the others. It was a good day. Boogers and all.

Sunday, shortly after waking from our mandatory Sunday nap we discovered the power was out and that dinner (pulled pork in the crock pot) was still very much undercooked and cold. Dave, ever the thinker, pulled out a few dutch ovens and warmed some charcoal outside in the smokehouse he recently built. An hour later we had ourselves a little candlelit dutch oven feast.. pulled pork sandwiches and an amazing strawberry cobbler.  We talked.  We laughed.  We ate.  The kids thought it was the best adventure ever.  Later, when the children were in bed and Dave and I were sitting quietly on the couch in front of the fireplace the power came back on.  Dave made the comment that he was sad the power was back on.  I was too.

Reflecting on this weekend it's really hit me that as much fun as it is to go out to the movies, bowling, the zoo (etc) as a family, sometimes the best adventures and memories happen by keeping it simple. In fact, it seems the kiddos talk about and remember the simple adventures more.  All of a sudden I'm not feeling so bad about choosing not to go to Disneyland with the girls' dance company.