Pennsylvania winter's are very cold and snowy. From November to April, it's usually too cold to play outside. So the kids and the parents get cabin fever. So they try to find fun indoor activities away from the house.
It's the first snowfall of the year and the kids want to make a snowman. Getting the kids dressed to go outside is an ordeal. It takes 1 1/2 hours to dress them, for 20 minutes of play. Jon takes them outside, while Kate makes hot chocolate and is on standby as the stragglers start coming in. The kids are 3 1/2 years old this year so the snow is more fun and they can walk better in their boots, too. As soon as they get dressed and outside, there is always 1 or 2 who have to pee - so its back to square one.
They take the kids to the Crayola Factory - where they make crayons and have fun activities for the kids to do. The kids watch the DVD player in the van in the drive over. Once they get there, they eat first so there are no "I'm hungry meltdowns" later. The potty breaks start and Joel announces he "has a wiener and daddy's have wieners." The innocence of children! The see a demonstration on how crayons are made. The sextuplets are into coloring so they are going to have a good time. Then its time for a potty break. Kate tries to get Jon's attention in a crowded room, so she screams at him and everyone in the room looks. Kate acts like its Jon fault, but he says she just walks off.
Then its time to make a project. Kate threatens the kids that they better not get anything messy on their clothes. Jon tells her to just relax and quit being so neurotic - to just them have fun. In the meantime, Collin unwraps some play dough (white fluffy stuff) and he starts to eat it. Kate goes ballistic. The kids want to start coloring with markers and Kate says absolutely not. Mady is upset and says she never gets to do anything. Jon says she shouldn't have dressed them in nice clothes, and Kate says they have to look nice. Misplaced priorities, maybe? It's more important that kids look nice instead of having fun? The next station is projects with paper - like paper bag puppets. Kate is overwrought and says this is for relaxed people, not her. Mady has a meltdown and has to sit out. Cara is upset that Kate asks the little kids what station they want to do and didn't ask the twins what they wanted. The meltdowns continue and Kate announces "We're done!" They realize as the kids get older, it doesn't mean the outings will get easier.
While I agree, I think Kate should relax and let the kids have fun without worrying so much about the mess. Let them wear old play clothes - or take paint smocks with you if you are too embarrassed that your kids don't look nice all the time. What will the kids look back on and remember when they grow up? How nice they looked or how uptight their mom was all the time?
It's the first snowfall of the year and the kids want to make a snowman. Getting the kids dressed to go outside is an ordeal. It takes 1 1/2 hours to dress them, for 20 minutes of play. Jon takes them outside, while Kate makes hot chocolate and is on standby as the stragglers start coming in. The kids are 3 1/2 years old this year so the snow is more fun and they can walk better in their boots, too. As soon as they get dressed and outside, there is always 1 or 2 who have to pee - so its back to square one.
They take the kids to the Crayola Factory - where they make crayons and have fun activities for the kids to do. The kids watch the DVD player in the van in the drive over. Once they get there, they eat first so there are no "I'm hungry meltdowns" later. The potty breaks start and Joel announces he "has a wiener and daddy's have wieners." The innocence of children! The see a demonstration on how crayons are made. The sextuplets are into coloring so they are going to have a good time. Then its time for a potty break. Kate tries to get Jon's attention in a crowded room, so she screams at him and everyone in the room looks. Kate acts like its Jon fault, but he says she just walks off.
Then its time to make a project. Kate threatens the kids that they better not get anything messy on their clothes. Jon tells her to just relax and quit being so neurotic - to just them have fun. In the meantime, Collin unwraps some play dough (white fluffy stuff) and he starts to eat it. Kate goes ballistic. The kids want to start coloring with markers and Kate says absolutely not. Mady is upset and says she never gets to do anything. Jon says she shouldn't have dressed them in nice clothes, and Kate says they have to look nice. Misplaced priorities, maybe? It's more important that kids look nice instead of having fun? The next station is projects with paper - like paper bag puppets. Kate is overwrought and says this is for relaxed people, not her. Mady has a meltdown and has to sit out. Cara is upset that Kate asks the little kids what station they want to do and didn't ask the twins what they wanted. The meltdowns continue and Kate announces "We're done!" They realize as the kids get older, it doesn't mean the outings will get easier.
While I agree, I think Kate should relax and let the kids have fun without worrying so much about the mess. Let them wear old play clothes - or take paint smocks with you if you are too embarrassed that your kids don't look nice all the time. What will the kids look back on and remember when they grow up? How nice they looked or how uptight their mom was all the time?