Spring Break Chronicles 2012 - Day 4

Tuesday was Day 4 of spring break and we started the day how we ended the day, and that is in our tent.  We slept out in our tent again Tuesday night and it was a relaxing and refreshing sleep.  We thought about sleeping in our tent again Wednesday night but looked at the weather report and saw there was a chance of rain and didn't want to get caught since we didn't have the protective rain cover for the tent.

Above: Malik and Malcolm II on the trail in the woods

Below: Syann on the trail in the woods

Above: Malcolm I and his princess, Syann, walking on the trail in the woods

Below: Picture of San Luis Park

After some Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast everyone did their own thing for awhile.  The kids played, the grown-ups had Internet time and conversation, and I finished a writing assignment.  About mid-day, just before lunch time, we decided to head to the park.  Usually we go to Tom Brown Park, but we went to a different park this time.  We went to the San Luis Park.  This park does not have a big playground like Tom Brown Park, but they do have a playground area none-the-less.  We started off our visit to the park with a walk in the woods.  We have to start with a walk in the woods because once the kids get on the playground it is hard to get them off.  We went walking on the mail trail and went all the way around until it brought us back to where we could cross over the connector bridge.

 Above: turtles that we fed in the water under the bridge

Below: Malcolm I and Malik watching the turtles eat

Above: Malcolm II throwing bread in the water

Below: Malcolm II pointing at the turtles in the water

Once we got to the bridge and started to cross over it we stopped at one point to look at and feed the turtles in the water.  At first there were only a few turtles, but once the kids started dropping bread in the water the turtles started coming from all over.  It was nice to see so many of them, but sad to see that their water and them were covered with algae and that people can't take five seconds to throw their trash in the trash can instead of the water.  We hovered where the turtles were feeding for awhile until I spotted a snack slithering in the water.  That was our cue to move on and head to the playground.

Below: Picture 1= Malcolm II on the playground, picture 2=Malik and picture 3 is Syann

  After getting over the small bridge and talking the kids to the playground we sat for a minute and watched them play.  Of course we had to switch off standing next to our two-year old because she wants to do everything her brothers did but can't.  After playground time we went home to have lunch.  The kids enjoyed their favorite cheese pizza Lunchables while the husband and I had left-overs from the night before.  There was some more play time and down time then of course the typical Gambles movie night and then sleep.  All in all it was another GREAT spring break day!!

Above: A great view, wonderful kids, and a GREAT father!!

Spring Break Chronicles 2012 - Day 3

Yesterday was day 3 of spring break and it is when the real part of break begins because the kids would have normally gone to school but since they are on break they were home.  We didn't have any plans for day 3...we just kind of went with the flow of things.  The kids spent the morning playing and we watched some movies.  I gave each of the kids a journal so they could draw pictures or write or whatever they wanted to use it for.  It was just a little something to make spring break more interesting.

 About a little more than half-way through the day my husband makes the suggestion that we have a camp-out, and of course the kids agreed.  So, my husband proceeded to get the tent ready in the backyard.  If you haven't been to our new place recently then you don't know that our backyard has a few trees and leaves all over the place so it is like being in the woods.  After the tent was set-up we went to the store to look for something we needed then came back home to get ready for our camp-out.  I made one last trip to Publix for a few items and came home only to realize that I forgot something important that we needed and had to go back.  By that time it was getting to late for me to cook what I was prepared to cook so I had to pick-up some fried chicken from the bakery and head back home.

Once I got back home we all ate and then we all freshened up with a nice shower, got our night clothes on, packed up our picnic basket, got our movie on the laptop ready, got a couple of stories along with a couple of flashlights, and then went outside to our tent.  When we went outside my husband had the covers and the air mattress all ready for us to lay down and get comfortable.  We even had our dog inside the tent with us for company and protection.  We watched the movie Happy Feet Two.  We looked at some books.  The boys played with their Leapster Explorer's.  We played games and talked and had some good old fashioned family fun.  Day 3 ended with us all falling asleep in our tent.  It was a great day yesterday and with a great start to spring break already I know that the rest of the week is sure to be even more fun and adventurous.

Spring Break Chronicles 2012 - Day 2

Yesterday was day 2 of spring break and it was pretty much uneventful.  The kids were so tired from staying up late the night before that they were still sleeping when I got up to get ready for church.  I didn't have the heart to wake them up, plus they would have been very cranky, so I went by myself.  The third Sunday is the day I am scheduled to volunteer in the church nursery so I got to have fun with the kids while getting my church on at the same time.

After I came back from church everyone was awake.  I sat around for awhile before fixing everyone some lunch.  A good portion of our day on Sunday, Day 2, was spent watching movies.  For those who don't know the Gambles Family LOVES movies.  We especially like animation movies and movies about mystical places/worlds.  It is a nice escape from reality.  Every now and then we have a movie day where we just sit and watch movies all day and that is what Day 2 of spring break was for us; a movie day.  After lunch and a couple more movies we went to the store and got some ice cream, along with a couple other household needs then went back home.  I proceeded to cook us a late dinner, tacos, and then we watched some more movies.  Everyone fell asleep in the living room, except the husband who went to sleep upstairs in a bed.  When I woke up this morning prepared to have a great day 3 I was surrounding on the couch by three children; which is something that happens quite often.

Day 2 of spring break yesterday was a relaxing family movie day and we had a nice time just enjoying each other's company.  That is the best part about spring break.  We can do what we want.  We can go where we want.  Or, we can go nowhere at all and still have a good time because we value our time together no matter where we are or what we are doing.  After all, family is what it's all about!!

Spring Break Chronicles 2012 - Day 1

Spring break officially started Friday afternoon once the kids got out of school, however, we consider Saturday to be day 1 since it was the first full day.  It was great waking up knowing that for the upcoming week I don't have to set my alarm.  The only time my alarm has to be set is to wake up for church Sunday morning.

Day 1 started off great.  It was very relaxing and soothing for me and my family.  We saw my mother off to New Mexico on her cross country trip to engage in job interviews and enjoy her spring break from her teaching job here in Florida.  We ate our breakfast, of course, and then we watched some movies and the kids played.  Our outing yesterday was to the duck pond.  We all got dressed, we dropped off the hubby to help his frat brothers decorate for a ball, and me and the kids proceeded to Lake Ella.  First we stopped at Publix to pick up some cereal without any sugar or taste to use to feed the ducks instead of bread.  The way our kids throw the food to the animals we have found that cereal lasts longer.  We walked around the lake and fed the few ducks we saw and a couple of turtles had the pleasure of enjoying the generic Cherios cereal.  At the completion of our lap we got around to where they have this big tree in the park.  It's a tree that all kids feel compelled to climb, as my boys always do.  I let them climb for a little bit while my daughter chased a few birds.  Then we hopped back in the car and went to go get some slushies from Sonic.

For those who don't know Sonic usually has slushies half price from 2-4 and it was around that time so it was great!!  We each got one and I got an extra blue coconut flavor to take to my other half.  We scooped up the husband from his decorating duties and went home to each lunch and enjoy the afternoon before our first date night in months.  Yesterday my husband and I actually secured a sitter, thank you Cedrica, and were able to go out to his fraternity's annual scholarship ball.  It was nice to eat, dance, talk with some other adults, and just have a good time.  When we were done for the night we picked up the kids went home and went to sleep.

That is how day 1 of spring break went yesterday on Saturday, March 17th.  Yes it was St. Patrick's Day but we didn't go crazy.  We had some good old fashioned family fun.  Who knows what adventure awaits as Day 2 begins today but I will be sure to let you know.  Stay tuned for more on Spring Break Chronicles 2012.

Get Ready...

Today is the last day of school before spring break begins for my kids and thousands of other students in the Big Bend area.  Working parents have been scrambling for weeks trying to figure out what camp of relative their kids will go with.  Stay at home parents have been trying to figure out how they will manage their day with extra kids hanging around.  Kids have been saying to themselves how am I going to make this spring break last.  Spring break can be a great time to spend with family and friends.  The possibilities for what can be done are endless as long as you use your imagination and let your creativity flow.

One great adventure that can await a family is a road trip.  A road trip can be a great way to see what wonders our country holds.  For example, a road trip to the great state of New Mexico will take you through Texas, Arkansas, and other such states.  You will get to see great mountains and great plains depending on the direction you choose to take.  Taking a trip further north towards the State of New York will also take you through mountains, but they will be the kinds where you may have to drive on the edge and through cities and places you never even knew existed.  The great part about this is you can see something you have never seen before and document your adventure with a video camera or phone.

Another great trip during spring break would be to the beach.  What better way to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer.  You can build a sand castle, take off your shoes and walk along the water's edge, spread a a blanket and have a picnic.  Your beach adventure awaits.

And lastly, but certainly not least, you can pick a great monumental city or place and make a spring break vacation.  For example, why not take a spring break vacation to Washington, D.C. and see the monuments, visit all of the museums, taste great food, and experience all culture and history this great place has to offer.

Bottom line, whether you choose to go somewhere or have your own adventure at home, make the most out of everyday that you have.  Make spring break count!!