As kids grow up, spending time together becomes a challenge each and every day.

Wake them up, get dressed, eat and then rush out the door to get them to school on time. Pick them up, come home and have a snack, let them watch TV and play while you cook dinner, clean up, bath time, brush teeth, and then off to bed.

Does this have to be this kind of routine?  NO! We have started to fit in little spurts of quality time which the kids love.  It means we are not always in bed right at the stroke of 8pm, but it means they appreciate the time they have with their parents.

We love being outside so we are making time to be with the kids.  After picking up them up from school, we are spending time at the park, taking our snacks with us and enjoying nature.  The last time we were at the park, we saw mother ducks with several baby ducks taking them for a swim. We saw turtles swimming in the creek. We climbed trees and blew the white seeds off dandelions.

After dinner, we get out the bikes and race up and down the sidewalk or going all way around our block.  Last time we didn’t make it around the block because we met a new neighbor who has four adorable girls. We stopped to talk and play with them for a while.

We also keep to our Friday movie night.  The kids can’t wait until after dinner for this family tradition. We have an air popper now (thanks Aunt Carol) so we can make our popcorn and sit on the couch for some quality time before bed.

We still seem to be crazy on weekends with soccer games, birthday parties, church and errands, but these little moments in our day make living life and being with our kids worthwhile.