Unplugged 2010

So, I started this thing in 2008 that I intended to be an annual thing.  But then last year, I forgot.  So maybe it's a semi-bi-annual thing (I get those two things mixed up).

It's going unplugged.  For an entire week.  That means no TV, no computers, no video games, no iPod touches, etc.

Here's my updates from 2008 (here, here, and here).

For 2010, our unplugged week was last week. I picked one of the hottest weeks of the year.  Nice.  Which meant there was not a lot of playing outside in lieu of the plugged-in stuff.

We did have some exceptions to the unplugged rules this year.  If Don and I chose it, we could watch an episode or two of Silver Spoons as a family right before bed.  We did utilize this exception a few times.  Also, if we chose to watch a movie as a family, we could.  Don and the kids were home on Saturday afternoon and chose that option.  The last exception was one I didn't plan ahead of time, but maybe should've.

Exception #3:  If a little brother is stuck in a fitting room with his mom & older sister while said older sister tries on loads and loads and loads of clothes for school, said little brother can play on his mom's phone (but not get on YouTube).

Exception #3 saved me (and Bub) last Friday!

So, a quick rundown of our unplugged week.

Monday night started Bub's football practice (3 nights a week!), so Sis and I spent some time at practice with him til Don could come relieve us.  Then Sis helped me cook a huge, healthy meal of sauteed mushrooms, grilled zucchini, grilled shrimp, and quinoa (a new thing for us).  During the day with the babysitter, they swam, worked on a puzzle, went to the library, read, drew...

Tuesday:  The library again (Sis read 3 books on Monday!), more swimming, more reading.  Football practice again... it was 104 degrees at 6:00 on our way to practice!  So, Bub got out of practice early, but then he & Don played catch with the football for about 45 minutes when they got home.  So Sis & I stayed outside with them and enjoyed some family time.

Wednesday:  Spent the day with the normal babysitter's younger sister.  They went for a walk (HOT!), read some books/magazines, and SWAM!  Then when I picked them up, we went to a swim party with our Young Family's group from church.  They slept GREAT that night!

Thursday:  Believe it or not, Sis didn't want to swim!  But Bub still did.  So, Sis stayed in the house and read while Bub and M swam... again!  Football practice (got his practice helmet and pads!  *gulp*), a little Silver Spoons and all was good.

Friday:  I took a vacation day to take the kids school clothes shopping.  It actually turned out to be more fun than I expected (it helps I was expecting it to be terrible!  ha).  It tore me up a little, though, that most of Sis's clothes were bought from "grown up" (well, at least teenager-style) stores instead of kids' stores.  She was so happy, though...  And I made her try EVERYTHING on to make sure nothing was too grown-up (ie. floozy-ish) for a 10-year-old (that's a whole 'nother soap box I could rant on and on about...).  That evening, Don and I went to the Mayor's dinner auction for charity.

Saturday:  In the morning, Don and his friend B, rode their bikes for a mere 50 miles (!!!) while I stayed home with the kids.  Then as soon as he got home, I went shopping with C (B's wife).  I got home just in time to leave for dinner with Don and the kids (and some friends) before we went to see Footloose at the Muny, our outdoor musical theater.  Loved the 80's music, but some of the language was kinda sketchy.  :-/

All in all, it really wasn't that bad... in fact, I liked it!

So, much to the kids' chagrin, it's definitely something we'll make a semi- bi- annual thing.