FRIDAY: Grama Day turns into... a read-a-thon

NOTE: This post was written a full five days before it was scheduled to show up on the blog... I am taking a week off of Screen-Time of any kind, including blogging... This attempt required lots of planning ahead so we wouldn't end up twiddling our thumbs, and so we would have happy memories of our Screen-Free Week. These are our exciting plans for today:

• Sing, sing, sing! (Karaoke anyone?)
• Our family will host a Read-a-thon from 1:30-4:30 at our house. Come join us! Oh, but you'll be reading this after the fact, so... maybe host one at your house next week and invite us!!!
• Go eat pizza at Grama's house!
• Look at baby books

Only two days left before we can veg out in front of a screen. Since I'm writing this in advance, I have to wonder how we're holding out... Especially the three-year old who can't quite fathom life without movies and oh-how-long-a-week-seems at that age...

THURSDAY: Electronics and Water Don't Mix

Back on Sunday, April 28th, I pre-wrote this post. I won't be able to check it for accuracy until Monday, May 6th, when Screen-Free Week has officially ended... But these were the plans we came up with for how to spend our free time since we won't be burdened with TV, Computer, iPods, and video games!

• Family Reading!
• Visit the Library!
• Go Swimming! (Actually, I have to excuse myself from this activity since the chlorine causes problems with my body... however, I will remain screen-free as my children swim with Daddy! Instead, I'll work on scrapbooking, writing letters to loved ones, and/or organizing my Mom-cave.)

I'm picturing a lot of extra free time... and a lot of fun activities that are becoming "old-fashioned" and maybe even antiquated out of existence. I hope I won't be disappointed... and I've been talking it up to my kiddos, wanting to encourage them and get them on board that I hope they won't be disappointed!!!

WEDNESDAY: not really hump day

This post, along with the first two this week and the next three, were actually written on Sunday, April 28. Since we are celebrating Screen-Free Week I had to train myself on how to use the "scheduling" button -- and I guess I won't know if I succeeded until I get back online Monday, May 6th...

We held a planning meeting of what to do on Wednesday, May 1st, instead of watching TV or writing up blog posts or checking facebook. Each child got to determine activities for their specific day, and today was TJ's day! He planned:

• Alone Time (this is when we each pick a corner of the house and enjoy some peace and quiet -- I should dedicate an entire blog post to it, because it's really one of my favorite ways to treat the madness that can take over in our large household -- and even the kiddos like it!)
• Play basketball with Daddy
• Go to Scouts (this is every Wednesday anyway, but hey, it's Screen-Free!)

TJ and Truman are the ones who head off to Scouts, so I'll have to have some activities in mind since I'll be home with the rest of the kiddos. OBVIOUSLY I won't have time to fulfill ALL of my screen-free drams, but I've narrowed it down to a few things we'll pick from:

• eat I-Screem (I just spelled Ice Cream wrong so it would look closer to Screen, but it's still NOT screen so we can have it during Screen-Free week, right?!?!)
• Make some kind of yummy treat together from scratch (maybe Secret-Ingredient Fudge?!)
• Dig in the Garden (I hope it's good weather)
• Make up poetry about our family
• Sidewalk Chalk!
• Fly a kite!
• Make puppets out of socks and have a puppet show
• Go visit random old folks at a nursing home (though we don't want to confuse them into thinking we're relatives that they have forgotten)
• Blow Bubbles
• Play musical instruments together

What's on your Screen-Free Wishlist?!?