Winter break has come to an end and we’re back to our routine.  It was lots of fun even though there were no resorts, beaches, or exotic trips.  We were mainly home but did a few day trips locally.  Still, we managed to have an awesome time and even knocked out a few pending projects.  I think fun is much more satisfying after you’ve been productive.  Then you relish the relaxation because you feel it is well deserved.

We enjoyed a few holiday dinners with family and friends from near and far.  I think this was the best part since the holidays make you think of loved ones even more.  We ate, drank, played, watched movies and caught up with everyone’s lives.  Most of us love to shop so we even did that as a group activity which made it more entertaining and tolerable for the kids.  It didn’t hurt that they were able to use their gift cards to buy toys they wanted.

We took a trip to Philly to see the Pompeii exhibit at the Franklin Institute.  This was educational for all of us especially since both my boys are fascinated by volcanoes.  I was amazed at how the city was buried for close to a couple thousand years.  What was also incredible was that the artifacts they dug up showed a very advanced civilization.  There were medical instruments and building tools that looked modern as well as heated homes.

Another day we ventured into New York City with cousins that were visiting (double fun).  Though it was horribly crowded and made parking a nightmare, we managed to have a good time.  We readjusted our plans based on the parking and made good use of the subways and our feet.  This was great since I have been tracking my steps and trying to pump up my activity.  All the walking entitled us to a yummy dinner and lots of fresh guacamole at Dos Caminos (my boys’ favorite restaurant).  Walking down the city streets surrounded by thousands of people has a certain charm and it keeps you warmer!

On our way back from visiting their grandparents, my kids got a quick trip to the Maryland Science Center too.  They have some really cool exhibits.  My favorite was the Space section and I could have spent another hour in that room alone.  This trip was a spontaneous plan but ended up being great.  I think some of the best plans are the spontaneous ones.  It’s fun to go with the flow and do things based on your mood at the moment.

Last but not least, we had great quality time in our home.  We cleaned, painted and redecorated a bit so we felt accomplished.  The kids mostly played video games and built Legos but they also got started on some school projects.  It was a good balance of work and play (mostly play)!  I got to finish a great book- Ender’s Game and watched a good movie- American Hustle.  We played games with the kids, watched them be silly and dance.  There was also a lot more conversation since everyone was relaxed and not preoccupied.  This was the best because it was true quality time enabling me to bond and get to know my boys better.  They are growing and changing and it’s important to make yourself available to them for random chats.  I may enjoy vacations and travel but sometimes staying home, seeing loved ones and exploring locally can be just as wonderful!