Are we ok, you ask?
Yep. We're fine. In fact, we wanted it this way. We're better off. Happier now even.
We've dropped our cable service.
We actually wanted to do this last year at this time, but apparently we were under contract for getting the HD DVR. So as soon as the contract was up, we told them to shut it down.
Our reasons? We just don't need it. Out of the thousands of channels, we actually are interested in very few. The kids' shows today don't impress Roger and I - they are full of kids and tweens getting into mischief, without their parents around to guide them, taking no responsibility in general and making fun of their friends. Not exactly Leave It To Beaver family values. Reality TV is pure trash and should only be shown repeatedly to prisoners as severe punishment for certain infractions. The News is also crap, showing the most horrible and dramatic things that happen and conveniently chopping segments to serve their own purpose for dramatic effect. I could go on and on, but I will spare you.
We are not the first to do this, in fact, many people we know are doing the very same thing. We have our DVD collection and Netflix for those times when we want to sit down as a family and watch something (which is how TV should be watched, IMO) and for times when a kid is ill and needs to remain on the couch.
The best part is.... so far no one has even missed it. We are already not a family who spends a lot of time with the TV on, so our lives are not very different.
So besides that, life is pretty normal. There are Cheerio's all over my floor under a certain small person's chair. The grass needs to be cut again. It's hot as lava outside. RJ has pulled out half of my Tupperware and containers from the lower cabinet and is now trying to eat the end of my phone charger... again. Chase is complaining about having to do 50 minutes of trombone today... he bargained out of his 20 minutes yesterday, so not only does it double, waiting a day adds 10 minutes. We're a week behind on spelling words but trying to catch up. The kids are challenging each other to see who can do more time on IXL math. Each is doing the grade they're going into, and so far we haven't hit any bumps. We are harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers daily. Peppers are growing, cantaloupes are getting taken over by the cukes and a single jalapeno has come out. Every day the kids grab pots and pans and wooden spoons and have a band concert. As long as I've had my cup of coffee, I just grab my own stuff and join in.
Pictured also are 2 empty pumpkin beer kegs from last year's Pumpkin Beer Tasting that still need to be returned! They make GREAT sound for the band.
Happily riding a digger.
"Mom, take me a picture."
I am trying, in general, to go through stuff from the attic (hotter than lava) and get rid of things we don't need. The kids' Bible Camp is over, their concert done but Indigo still rocks out to the CD and has taught Riley the choreography so they both dance. We swim every day. RJ plays in the sandbox until he eats it, gets a bucket shower and then goes down the slide naked until he's exhausted. He gave up crawling entirely a few weeks ago. He runs. Fast. Toward you if have food, the iPad, wires, spoons or something else deliciously exciting. Away from you if he just scored something to eat off the floor and knows you are going to dig it out of his mouth. Chase is getting into cooking and making whole meals for us.
We dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig in our mine the whole day through! - Seven Dwarves
Chase's dinner for us the other night... roasted fingerling potatoes with olive oil and fresh rosemary, roasted balsalmic and rosemary pork, stir-fried veggies and gravy. It was delicious.
The Italian Feast, a local church festival with food, games and rides, was this past weekend. We feasted on Pork, Meatballs and Fried Dough (so. delicious.) Roger got Suffrite and La Tripa, which I probably spelled wrong and contains parts of animals that you don't really want to hear about. He fed it to the little ones, who don't know any better. But I do!!
Feasting.
Roger's little sis got married on Sunday, it was a fantastic time and great food. The kids danced the whole night and really enjoyed themselves. Riley was the Flower Girl and looked lovely in her dress. She did her duty well, walking with her cuz down a big set of steps that made Mom nervous. We left RJ with my Mom because it didn't make sense to take a baby to a formal event. He got to eat, sleep and play without interruption and we all were able to fully enjoy the wedding without having to find things for him to do. He did get dressed up tho, and put a picture of himself in their card to let them know he was thinking of them.
Handsomest little boy ever!
The lovely Flower Girl getting her bow fixed by Grandma.
Rock Star.
Summer is halfway gone. Back to school supplies are in your face in every store. Already. Time is a-flyin.' Enjoy it while you can!
