One of the few positive side-effects of Bryan’s surgery is how absolutely clear our calendar has been over the past week. We’re sort of yes people -- lots of activities, play dates, dinners with friends… Or more accurately I’m the yes person I suppose. Honestly prior to the surgery, I don’t think I realized how busy I was keeping us. (And it really is me at the helm of this “over-committing”, as if it were up to him, Bryan would have us hanging out at home doing “nothing” pretty much every weekend.)
Perhaps I’m a little scared of having big blocks of free time at our disposal, but after a few days with minimal commitments, I’ve become a fan. We’ve read a lot more, gone on impromptu walks around the neighborhood, spent an hour just swinging and sliding on the play gym… No hustle, no racing around, just seeing what unfolds next.
It’s a pretty timely revelation -- how much I like this less scheduled, more spontaneous existence -- as with the holidays looming, the potential for me to commit us to multiple activities every. single. day. is very real. In this spirit, last night I started thinking through my plan to "simplify and really enjoy the holidays” (#35.)
I started by making a little list of the 3-5 activities I'd really like to experience as a family in December (vs. the scads of activities I think we should do…) I also pounced on Bryan’s drug induced agreeability to discuss gifts. The consensus (which frankly we would have arrived at regardless of the pain killers) was that rather than buying lots of little things for the girls this year (that they’ll just end up squabbling over), we’re going to get them one big gift to share, focused on their mutual love of playing dress-up. We're leaning toward this groovy toy chest (it’s made of sustainable wood from Russia by an ex-tv network marketing executive turned stay-at-home mom turned self-taught furniture designer/builder…Awesome!) filled with dress up clothes, hats, baubles, etc... Then we’ll just wrap a few new books and art supplies for under the tree, fill the stockings and we’re good to go.
That's the plan at least... We'll see how it goes.
11 comments:
I so hear you girl on being a "yes-gal"! Although I will say Friday dinners with you guys have been really fun! Hopefully you won't simplify us out. Hee hee.
LOVE the dress up chest! And dress-up is all it's about now anyway-isn't it!
Hope your husband is healing well. I love this post, and the idea of making life more spontaneous and simple :)
amy...we're totally lovin friday dinners with you guys too...those won't fall off the list!
xox
I like that idea! We're taking a similar approach - trying to keep the magic in Christmas for as long as we can make it last - and stave off the commercialization and focus on getting lots of junk for the sake of getting lots of junk, etc.
I love your idea of choosing 3-5 holiday activities that mean something extra special...I think we will have to do that too. Great gift idea for the girls -- C-Man is starting to get into the whole dress-up thing too! And I am glad to hear Bryan is home and on his way to recovery.
oh, i adore this chest too! best wishes for a quick recovery!
Great gift idea - we're sticking to one larger gift as well. Probably a tool bench for our boy. Also a great reminder to keep things simple.
that is a great idea, the one big gift. i hate how disposable all of those little things become - such a waste!
I'm so glad Bryan's surgery went well~
I hope your husband recovers quickly, but for now enjoy your time together, sounds like you've been keeping busy with some great projects and more to come! keep sharing!
What a fabulous idea! My mom did something similar for my little sister one year - a giant hatbox filled with hats, feather boas, fancy skirts, marabou heels, costume jewelry and a parasol. I still remember feeling slightly jealous - though I was "way" too old to be playing dress-up! Your girls will be in heaven!
That sounds like a fantastic way to do gifts :)
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