FOUR FUN FRIDAYS

Although we haven't planned anything in advance, we've had some low-key family time the last four Friday nights.

First, an evening of Redbox movies, popsicles, and Sprite raspberry sherbet floats. We were in the midst of a fever and cough working its way through our family when a friend dropped off frozen treats and cash, a movie night in a bag, on a Thursday night. We enjoyed the gift the following night. 

Second, eating popsicles and popcorn while watching the video of a friend and her family on a twelve day, 93 mile hike along the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. Doug, Jess, and their seven kids (plus one in utero at seven months pregnant) had a great adventure last summer and it was fun to watch some some of it.

Third, popcorn and game night. We played a couple rounds of Yahtzee and then some Headbanz Act Up. Devon created the last game we played, which proved to be entertaining. One person picked an unknown word from the dictionary and spelled it for everyone else, then the other people had to write down and come up with a definition for it. Some were educated guesses, others were purely done for laughs. 

Fourth, popcorn, mini Reese's Pieces, and Youtube. Naomi had asked to show us a video she thought was funny, which morphed into about 90 minutes of watching various TV talent shows that had as cringing, laughing, and being impressed. 

I must confess that if we don't already have something planned on a Friday night, then I'm generally ready to crawl into bed with a book after dinner and just take a break from the other Ws. It's not about conflict or anything, but by the end of the week my desire to invest time in my family is at its lowest point. Given that the kids and I are together all the time, I don't feel a strong need to spend even more time together. But being in the same house isn't the same as being together. Interacting as you take care of school and home responsibilities isn't the same as relaxing together. And choosing to spend time together isn't the same has having to. 

Despite some having come in the midst of illness or on the heels of a heated conflict, the last few Friday nights have been fun and I anticipate that we'll continue spending them in a similar fashion from here on out. There will obviously be times where it won't be possible (our open houses, for example), some Ws won't participate (off at church events or other activities), or we all desperately need to hunker down in our own corners for quiet time alone more than we need to interact with each other (no guilt for needing a break from humanity). And that's fine. But as much as possible, I want to be better about choosing to spend a chunk of time, even it's just an hour, doing something fun as a family at home, whether or not we all (especially me) actually feel like it. It's definitely been worthwhile for the last month!

Sidenote: The pictures in this post have absolutely nothing at all to do with our Friday evenings. We took them on Saturday, just for kicks, and I decided to add them when I was typing up this post.

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