An Entire Week of NO Work

I had a full week off work this week.  I decided we are not going anywhere.   (I am in traffic on my way to work and my way home five days a week.)  I never let the kids eat anywhere in the house except the kitchen table but this week was an exception. This week the kids ate breakfast on the family room floor while watching cartoons.  Then proceeded to spill orange juice all over the floor.  I sat in my son's bedroom to find out about his Lego creations.  There was a story behind each Lego car, truck, and army looking thingy.  I sat with my daughter to create her Barbie outfits.  I listened to them fight with each other which is actually quite hilarious.  Just this morning I could hear the two of them arguing and I like to let them try to work it out before I intervene.  Then I heard the real cry like my daughter was really upset.  I went down stairs and she was upset because my son told her we were going to Costco and when she asked why, he would only say "because".  She said the word because was making her cry.  I could only laugh historically.  I actually got to see my husband for more than an hour a day :-).  We ate dinner at the dinner table as a family each night.  Everything was calm, no rush to be anywhere.
We had a car issue but it was fixed.  I get so nervous with car repairs because it generally costs a lot to repair vehicles.  You know what...  it cost some money but we will get through this and I need to move on from this anxiety.  Life is going to happen, stuff breaks, things get dirty and it all can be fixed and cleaned.  Most importantly it was fun to let the kids break from the normal house rules this week.  I want them to look back and have stories about "remember when mom did... remember when mom let us..."  This week not one dollar was spent on dining out, buying new clothes, buying things that we don't really need, or going to an amusement park... It was filled with happy greetings each morning, hugs all day, kisses constantly, dancing at times- The stuff money cannot buy.

I decided each time we want to go out to eat at a restaurant I am going to move that money to savings and we will see where we are in 2014.  It is so expensive to eat out for just a family of four.

I hope everyone is having a great start to this year.  If you aren't it will get better I promise.  Next week is back to work, back to the grind but I am armed with a some new organization tools that should keep working and getting kids ready for school each day that should help out.  After I put them to the test I will share with you.