what to do.

I don't know about you but the weather has really been teasing us around here.  We'll have a gorgeous day one day and then the next 3 days will be completely miserable with rain. rain. rain.   Even Cocoa doesn't like it.  She doesn't want to get wet.  (And I'm thinking to myself..."you're part Labrador! You're supposed to love water."  Apparently rain doesn't fit into the water category for her.)

So here are a couple of fun things for you and the people you love to do if you're in the middle of weird spring snow storms or April Showers.  For us we're having a totally gorgeous day today (yay!) but the next at least 5 days are all rain in the forecast.  So we'll be doing some of these bits of fun.

Have a read-a-thon. 

Go to the library, stock up on some books, come home, get cozy with blankets, and pillows.  Here are some ideas for a read-a-thon at home:

1. Decide on a charity that would benefit from your read-a-thon.(Ronald McDonald House, Reach Out and Read, and more.)

2. Choose the guidelines for your read-a-thon.  How long will you read?  Will pledges from family and friends be based on minutes?  What will be donated?  Money?  Books?

3.  Cuddle up with some books for the day for the benefit of children in need here in the U.S. or half way across the world.  The gift of a book can make a huge difference in a child's life...

4.  Collect for your pledges and then purchase new books for kids in need or send your contribution straight to the charity to do with as they need.

Create a family game time.

We all have a closet full or shelves stacked 10 deep of games and puzzles.  Are you playing them?  Now is the time to pull those dusty things from the closet and set up a marathon game day.  Play Connect Four, Clue, Monopoly, Mancala (love this one!), Phase 10, Apples to Apples, Pictionary, Pick up Sticks (don't poke your eye out), Guesstures, Cranium....

Have fun just playing games or as a nod to the NCAA playoffs set up a tournament.  The most important part is the chance to relax, stay inside where it's warm and dry...and, of course, don't forget the treats.

One of the things that I learned from my college major was that happy families play together.  It's easy to forget to play when life is so hectic and there are so many things to run to, put together, plan, be to on time, remember, drive to, schedule, etc.  It seems like we're trying to keep up with some invisible clock somewhere.  Ocassionally, it's nice to put the brakes on in the middle of regular day and just stop and smell the brownies bake while you play a couple of games with the people that really matter.

playful. LIFE.